22 results about "Auditory prosthesis" patented technology

Presented herein are techniques for monitoring the physical state of a stimulation assembly to, for example, detect the occurrence of an adverse event. More specifically, an elongate stimulation assembly comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced contacts is at least partially implanted into a recipient. Electrical measurements are performed at one or more of the plurality of contacts, and the electrical measurements are evaluated relative to each other to determine a physical state of the stimulation assembly.

A method is provided which includes determining a status of a sound processor of an auditory prosthesis, and selectively initiating autonomous programming of the sound processor based, at least in part, on the determined status of the sound processor.

A method of increasing an ability of a recipient of a hearing prosthesis' ability to hear with the hearing prosthesis, including obtaining data indicative of a first characteristic of content, wherein the content is an audio or an audio-visual content, obtaining data indicative of a second characteristic of the content, identifying, based on the first and second characteristics, specific content and using at least one item of the specific content with the hearing prosthesis such that a hearing percept in the recipient is evoked based on the at least one item of specific content.

Presented herein are techniques that make use of objective measurements obtained in response to acoustic stimulation signals. More specifically, at least one measure of outer hair cell function and at least one measure of auditory nerve function are obtained from a tonotopic region of an inner ear of a recipient of a hearing prosthesis. The at least one measure of auditory nerve function and the least one measure of outer hair cell function are then analyzed relative to one another.

Presented herein are techniques for adapting / transitioning operation of a medical prosthesis, such as an auditory prosthesis, from a first or initial group of settings to a second or target group of settings. The adaptation in the operation of the medical prosthesis from the first group of settings to the second group of settings occurs over a period of time and in a series of individualized (recipient-specific) incremental steps. That is, the adaptation process occurs in incremental steps that are set based on attributes / characteristics of the recipient of the specific medical prosthesis so that the adaptation is made as unobtrusive to the recipient as possible.

Presented herein are techniques for adapting / transitioning operation of a medical prosthesis, such as an auditory prosthesis, from a first or initial group of settings to a second or target group of settings. The adaptation in the operation of the medical prosthesis from the first group of settings to the second group of settings occurs over a period of time and in a series of individualized (recipient-specific) incremental steps. That is, the adaptation process occurs in incremental steps that are set based on attributes / characteristics of the recipient of the specific medical prosthesis so that the adaptation is made as unobtrusive to the recipient as possible.

Presented herein are techniques for increasing sensitivity of a hearing prosthesis to sound signals received from the “side” of a recipient. The sensitivity of the hearing prosthesis to sound signals received from the side of a recipient is provided by a spatial pre-filter that is configured to use a primary reference signal (i.e., a first directional signal) and a side reference signal (i.e., a second directional signal having at least one null directed to the side of the recipient) to calculate a side gain mask. The side gain mask includes gains for each of a plurality of frequency channels associated with the received sound signals.

Systems and methods for performing non-obtrusive, automatic adjustment of an auditory prosthesis are disclosed. A control expression can be detected during a conversation. Upon detection of the control expression, an audio setting adjustment can be selected and applied to the auditory prosthesis. Multiple adjustments can be made in response to identifying multiple control expressions during a conversation.

An auditory prosthesis comprising an actuator for providing mechanical stimulation to a recipient. The auditory prosthesis comprises a measurement circuit for use in determining the resonance peak(s) of the actuator. In an embodiment, the measurement circuit measures the voltage drop across the actuator and / or current through the actuator during a frequency sweep of the operational frequencies of the actuator. These measured voltages and / or currents are then analyzed for discontinuities that are indicative of a resonance peak of the actuator. In another embodiment, rather than using a frequency sweep to measure voltages and / or currents across the actuator, the measurement circuit instead applies a voltage impulse to the actuator and then measure the voltage and / or current across the actuator for a period of time after application of the impulse. The measured voltages and / or currents are then analyzed to identify resonance peak(s) of the actuator.

Presented herein are techniques for monitoring the physical state of a stimulating assembly to, for example, detect the occurrence of an adverse event. More specifically, an elongate stimulating assembly comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced contacts is at least partially implanted into a recipient. Electrical measurements are performed at one or more of the plurality of contacts and the electrical measurements are evaluated relative to one another to determine the physical state of the stimulating assembly.

Treatment actions can be taken based on an analysis of the ability of a recipient of an auditory prosthesis to perceive musical activities. The occurrence of musical activities and the recipient's response thereto can be determined based on transducers. The recipient's musical perception can be determined by analyzing the signals from the transducers as stand-alone measures or by comparing the signals against known music. The treatment actions can relate to the treatment of a hearing-impairment of the recipient of the auditory prosthesis, such as by modifying the settings of the auditory prosthesis to affect the ongoing operation of the auditory prosthesis.

Systems and methods are provided for customizing an auditory prosthesis or other medical device. Customizing the auditory prosthesis includes obtaining and evaluating system data. The system data includes data from multiple sensors, including one or more sensors of an auditory prosthesis and one or more sensors of a recipient computing device. Based on the evaluation of the system data, a target behavior is determined, such as operating the auditory prosthesis in a particular sonic environment or with particular auditory prosthesis settings.

What is presented herein is a technique for determining an estimated battery autonomy (e.g., estimated run time) of a medical device having at least one actuator / transducer configured to mechanically stimulate a recipient. The medical device is specifically configured for the recipient and, as such, operates according to a plurality of recipient-specific settings. The configuration of the medical device for the recipient (e.g., the plurality of recipient-specific settings) as well as the frequency and sound level current consumption characteristics of the medical device are used to determine the estimated battery autonomy of the medical device. An environmental profile of the recipient can also be used along with the configuration of the medical device for the recipient as well as the frequency and sound level current consumption characteristics of the medical device to determine the estimated battery autonomy.

An actuator provides vibrational stimulation to a recipient of a bone conduction device. To ensure proper operation of the actuator, a known signal is delivered to a coil associated therewith. An output signal from the coil is analyzed for distortion, the presence of which indicates that the actuator is out of balance. If distortion is present, adjustments are made to the position of certain embodiments within the actuator to obtain a properly balanced device. Methods also include testing for distortion, after manufacture of the device.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for performing fitting of an auditory prosthesis using tactile responses. A tactile feedback device determines a physical manipulation in response to a test stimulus. A type of adjustment can be determined based upon the type of the physical manipulation and the type of the test signal. A scaling of the adjustment can be determined based on the degree of the physical manipulation.

A method is provided which includes determining a status of a sound processor of an auditory prosthesis, and selectively initiating autonomous programming of the sound processor based, at least in part, on the determined status of the sound processor.

Presented herein are techniques for generating, updating, and / or using a virtual hearing model associated with a recipient of an auditory prosthesis. The virtual hearing model is generated and updated for the recipient based on psychoacoustics data associated with the recipient and, in certain cases, based on psychoacoustics data gathered from one or more selected populations of auditory prosthesis recipients. The recipient-specific virtual hearing model can be used, in real-time, to determine one or more settings for the auditory prosthesis.

An auditory prosthesis includes a fixation system manufactured in whole or in part from a deformable material, such as a viscoelastic material. The viscoelastic material responds viscously to loads applied over an extended period of time. Thus, the material is able to accommodate growth of a recipient's anatomy without becoming disconnected or misaligned from any attachment points. This allows the device to accommodate growth of a recipient over time.

Presented herein are techniques for adapting settings / operations of a remote microphone device associated with an auditory prosthesis based on a desired / preferred listening direction of a recipient of the auditory prosthesis. More specifically, an auditory prosthesis worn by a recipient and a remote microphone device, which are configured to wirelessly communicate with one another, are both positioned in the same spatial area. At least one of a recipient-specified (e.g., recipient-preferred) region of interest within the spatial area, or a recipient-specified listening direction, is determined. Based on a determined relative positioning (e.g., location and orientation) of the remote microphone device and the auditory prosthesis, operation of the remote microphone device is dynamically adapted so that the remote microphone device can focus on (e.g., have increased sensitivity to) sounds originating from the recipient-specified region of interest / listening direction.

Systems and methods for performing non-obtrusive, automatic adjustment of an auditory prosthesis are disclosed. A control expression can be detected during a conversation. Upon detection of the control expression, an audio setting adjustment can be selected and applied to the auditory prosthesis. Multiple adjustments can be made in response to identifying multiple control expressions during a conversation.

Presented herein are audio training techniques that facilitate the rehabilitation of a recipient of an auditory prosthesis. In certain embodiments, the audio training techniques presented herein may include real time training aspects in which the recipient's surrounding (ambient) auditory environment, including the sounds present therein, is analyzed in real time. The recipient can then be provided with a real time identity (e.g., audible or visible representation / description) of the sounds present in the auditory environment. The identity of the sounds can be provided to the recipient automatically and / or in response to recipient queries.

Examples disclosed herein are relevant to monitoring and treating sensory conditions affecting an individual. Sensors and intelligence integrated within a sensory prosthesis (e.g., an auditory prosthesis) can automatically obtain objective data regarding the ability of one or more of an individual's senses during day-to-day activities. A treatment action can be taken based on the objective data. Further disclosed herein are techniques relating to reducing the gathering of irrelevant sensory input and automatically transmitting relevant data to a caregiver device.