An apparatus includes a container and a medical device configured to be implanted on or within the recipient's body. The medical device is contained within a sealed region of the container prior to implantation of the medical device. The medical device includes at least one housing containing circuitry and a plurality of signal ports spaced from the at least one housing. The plurality of signal ports is configured to be in communication with a portion of the recipient's body. The medical device further includes an elongate assembly extending from the at least one housing and configured to transmit signals between the circuitry and the plurality of signal ports. The assembly has at least one portion having a shape while the medical device is within the sealed region, the shape including at least one loop and/or a plurality of serpentine turns.

A cochlear implant includes an electrode array having a plurality of electrode contacts arranged along at least a portion of a length of an electrode array, and a processing arrangement configured to map at least one electrode contact to first and/or second mappings. The first mapping provides a first electrical stimulation from the electrode contact to a first ground electrode positioned external to a patient's cochlea to stimulate hearing at a first location in the cochlea positioned adjacent to the electrode contact when the implant is inserted into the cochlea. The second mapping provides a second electrical stimulation from the electrode contact to the second ground electrode to stimulate hearing at a location in the cochlea positioned further towards the apex of the cochlea as compared to a distal end of the electrode array when the implant is inserted into the cochlea.

A system comprises an auditory device processor, an auditory device output mechanism, an auditory input sensor, a database including a reference bank of environmental sounds and corresponding sound profiles, and a memory. The auditory device processor is configured to: while the auditory input sensor is detecting a first environmental sound, receive a sound selection from the user, wherein the sound selection is associated with the first environmental sound; store a first sound profile in the reference bank corresponding to the first environmental sound; receive a second environmental sound detected by the auditory input sensor; analyze a frequency content of the second environmental sound; compare the frequency content of the second environmental sound with the reference bank of environmental sounds and corresponding sound profiles stored in the database; in response to the comparison, select one of the sound profiles corresponding to the second environmental sound; and automatically adjust the parameter settings.

Cochlear implant systems can comprise an implantable subsystem comprising a cochlear electrode, a stimulator, a battery, and a first near field communication interface positioned subcutaneously proximate an ear canal. Cochlear implant systems can further comprise a removable earplug comprising a sensor, a second near field communication interface, and a signal processor. The removable earplug can be inserted into an ear canal to align the first and second near field communication interfaces. Once aligned, the battery can provide electrical power to the removable earplug via the near field communication interfaces. The signal processor can receive input signals from the sensor of the removable earplug and generate a stimulation signal representative of the auditory signals. The signal processor can communicate the stimulation signal to the stimulator via the near field communication interfaces.

Cochlear implant systems can comprise a cochlear implant system comprising a cochlear electrode, a stimulator, an input source, and an implantable battery and/or communication module. The signal processor may be programmed with a transfer function and be configured to receive input signals from the input source and output a stimulation signal to the stimulator based on the received input signals with the transfer function. The system may be configured to receive a status indicator signal indicative of whether an external auditory aid device is active and update the transfer function of the signal processor if the external auditory aid device is active. For example, the signal processor can operate programmed with a first transfer function if the external auditory aid device is not active and with a second transfer function if the external auditory aid device is active.

A neural stimulator, suitable for implanting in a recipient, and configured to combine vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) with cochlear stimulation, to result in faster adaptation to new sounds and maps, and alleviation of tinnitus in the recipient.

Presented herein are implantable sound sensors that include a non-uniform diaphragm mechanically coupled to a vibrating structure of a recipient's middle or inner ear. The non-uniform diaphragm includes a central region and a peripheral region, where the thickness of the central region is greater than the thickness of the peripheral region.

An exemplary electrode lead includes a flexible body formed of a flexible insulating material, an electrode contact disposed on a side of the flexible body, a coiled electrode wire provided within the flexible body so as to extend along a length of the flexible body and electrically connect the electrode contact to a signal source, and a coiled reinforcing element provided within the flexible body so as to extend together with the coiled electrode wire along the length of the flexible body. A winding direction of the coiled electrode wire is opposite a winding direction of the coiled reinforcing element and a winding pitch of the coiled electrode wire is smaller than a winding pitch of the coiled reinforcing element. Corresponding methods of manufacturing an electrode lead are also described.

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.

Methods and arrangements are described for developing a virtual channel matrix for mapping analysis channels to stimulation channels for a cochlear implant patient by selecting a stimulation channel and measuring the amplitude growth function for the selected stimulation channel in response to commands to the cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation pulses for the stimulation channel, where each stimulation pulse comprises a negative and a positive phase separated in time by a first inter-phase-gap; and measuring the amplitude growth function for the selected stimulation channel in response to commands to the cochlear implant to apply electrical stimulation pulses for the stimulation channel, where each stimulation pulse comprises a negative and positive phase separated in time by a second inter-phase-gap and whereby the first and second inter-phase-gaps are different. Thereafter Determining the slopes of the measured amplitude growth functions for the stimulation channel measured with the first and second inter-phase-gaps, and calculating an indicator based at least in part on the difference of the slopes of the amplitude growth functions indicative of the local neural survival for that stimulation channel. Thereafter Repeating this process for each stimulation channel where an indicator shall be derived and selecting for the virtual channel matrix the stimulation channels with best local neural survival by optimizing a function based at least in part on the calculated indicators of the stimulation channels.