Pairing systems for pairing external devices to a cochlear implant system can comprise an external housing and an external pairing system. The external housing may comprise a first surface and one or more compartments, each configured to house an external device capable of wirelessly interfacing with an implantable cochlear implant system. The external pairing device may comprise a second surface and one or more corresponding near field communication devices. The near field communication devices may be arranged such that the first surface of the external housing can be aligned with the second surface of the external pairing device in such a way that each of the near field communication devices aligns with a corresponding compartment of the external housing. The external pairing device can provide communication between a programming device and external devices contained within compartments of the external housing via one or more corresponding near field communication devices.

A cochlear implant is disclosed. The cochlear implant provides electrical stimulation to auditory nerve fibers of a cochlea of a recipient of the cochlear implant. The cochlear implant includes an interface to provide audio stimulation information based on an external signal, an electrode lead including a plurality of electrodes to provide electrical stimulation the auditory nerve fibers based on the audio stimulation information, a differential power supplier to provide an anodic current and a cathodic current based on the audio stimulation information, and a mode unit connected to one or more electrodes of the plurality of electrodes. The mode unit sets the one or more electrodes into a mode of a plurality of modes based on the audio stimulation information. The plurality of modes includes an active mode, and in the active mode the one or more electrodes receives the anodic current or the cathodic current.

A cochlear hearing aid system for providing electrical stimulation to auditory nerve fibers of a cochlea of a recipient of the cochlear hearing aid system is disclosed. The cochlear hearing aid system comprises a microphone configured to receive an acoustical signal and provide an audio signal based on the acoustical signal; a signal processor unit configured to receive the audio signal and process the audio signal; an electrode lead including a plurality of electrodes configured to stimulate the auditory nerve fibers based on the processed audio signal, wherein the electrode lead comprises: an electrode carrier maintaining the electrode contacts and wires, wherein the electrode carrier is made of silicone and is loaded by dexamethasone; a first layer (or sub-layers) of gelatin which is coated and chemically cross-linked selectively on a silicone outer surface of the electrode lead, wherein dexamethasone sodium phosphate is embedded in the first layer (or sub-layers); and a second layer of gelatin which is coated and physically cross-linked onto the first layer.

A cochlear implant system for processing polyphonic pitch includes an electrode array for implanting in a cochlea of a patient. The electrode array includes a first set of electrodes, where each electrode of the first set is for implanting on a first region of the cochlea. The electrode array also includes a second set of electrodes, where each electrode of the second set is for implanting on a second region of the cochlea. The system also includes a sound processor configured to capture a sound signal having polyphonic pitch. For each electrode of the first set and second set, the speech processor generates at least two different modulated frequency signals from the sound signal, such that each of the modulated frequency signals corresponds to a different pitch in the sound signal. The speech processor stimulates the electrode by simultaneously applying the at least two different modulated frequency signals.

Presented herein are techniques for extracting features from sound signals received at a hearing prosthesis at least partially based on an environmental classification of the sound signals. More specifically, one or more sound signals are received at a hearing prosthesis and are converted in to stimulation control signals for use in delivering stimulation to a recipient of the hearing prosthesis. The hearing prosthesis determines an environmental classification of the sound environment associated with the one or more sound signals and is configured to use the environmental classification in the determination of a feature-based adjustment for incorporation into the stimulation control signals.

A device, including an implantable microphone, including a transducer, and a chamber in which a gas is located such that vibrations originating external to the microphone based on sound are effectively transmitted therethrough, wherein the transducer is in effective vibration communication with the gas, wherein the transducer is configured to convert the vibrations traveling via the gas to an electrical signal, the chamber and the transducer correspond to a microphone system, wherein the chamber corresponds to a front volume of the microphone system, and the transducer includes a back volume corresponding to the back volume of the microphone system, and the implantable microphone is configured to enable pressure adjustment of the front and/or back volume in real time.

The present invention is directed to a wearable system wherein elements of the system, including various sensors adapted to detect biometric and other data and/or to deliver drugs, are positioned proximal to, on the ear or in the ear canal of a person. In embodiments of the invention, elements of the system are positioned on the ear or in the ear canal for extended periods of time. For example, an element of the system may be positioned on the tympanic membrane of a user and left there overnight, for multiple days, months, or years. Because of the position and longevity of the system elements in the ear canal, the present invention has many advantages over prior wearable biometric and drug delivery devices.

A magnetic system for a medical implant system is described. A planar implant receiver coil is configured to lie underneath and parallel to overlying skin of an implanted patient for transcutaneous communication of an implant communications signal. A planar ring-shaped attachment magnet also is configured to lie underneath and parallel to the overlying skin and radially surrounds the receiver coil. The attachment magnet is characterized by a magnetic field configured to avoid creating torque on the attachment magnet in the presence of an external magnetic field.

A device for securing an external transmitter of a cochlear implant to the head of the wearer. A pouch containing the external transmitter is secured using a plurality of straps coupled to a decorative shell worn on a person's head. The pouch and the decorative shell are designed to allow sound to pass unhindered from the environment to the inner ear. The plurality of straps are adjustable to allow precise placement of the external transmitter over the internal receiver. The external transmitter is also secured using a pouch coupled to a decorative shell. The external transmitter is further secured using a sealer coupled to the transmitter and further coupled to the head using an adhesive barrier. The sealer is made of a semi-transparent material. The device ensures that an external transmitter remains in place.

Presented herein are hybrid multi-phasic stimulation techniques for stimulation of tissue of a recipient of an implantable medical device. In particular, in accordance with the hybrid multi-phasic stimulation techniques, at least one stimulation current pulse is delivered to the tissue of the recipient in order to stimulate the tissue. The at least one stimulation current pulse injects charge into the tissue that is then removed through the combination of at least one discharging current pulse and a period of electrode shorting.