Presented herein are techniques for monitoring the healing of a recipient of an implantable medical device after a surgical procedure, such as after initial implantation of the implantable medical device in the recipient. The implantable medical device comprises one or more implantable sensors configured to detect input signals and to generate sensor output signals therefrom. The sensor output signals are analyzed to determine when the recipient is sufficiently healed from the surgical procedure so as to activate (switch-on) the implantable medical device.

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.

Antibacterial coatings and methods of making the antibacterial coatings are described herein. A first branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) layer is formed and a first glyoxal layer is formed on a surface of the BPEI layer. The first BPEI layer and the first glyoxal layer are cured to form a crosslinked BPEI coating. The first BPEI layer can be modified with superhydrophobic moieties, superhydrophilic moieties, or negatively charged moieties to increase the antifouling characteristics of the coating. The first BPEI layer can be modified with contact-killing bactericidal moieties to increase the bactericidal characteristics of the coating.

An optimization system for testing a patient's hearing comprises a controller, an ear piece, and a memory. The controller: provides a series of tones to the ear piece; receives feedback from the patient between each tone; generates a data point to be used in an audiogram after receiving each feedback; after each data point is generated, computes a statistical distribution based on the generated data points; identifies an area of the statistical distribution most in need of additional data; and selects a subsequent tone to provide in the series of tones. Each feedback indicates whether the respective tone was detected or not detected, and each data point is based on the respective feedback. Each subsequent tone provided in the series of tones is a tone represented in the area of the statistical distribution most in need of additional data at the time of selection.

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.

A system may obtain a set of features characterizing a segment of inertial measurement unit (IMU) data generated by an IMU of an ear-wearable device. The system may apply a machine learning model (MLM) that takes the features characterizing the segment of the IMU data as input. The system may determine, based on output values produced by the MLM, whether a user of the ear-wearable device has potentially been subject to physical abuse. The system may then perform an action in response to determining that the user of the ear-wearable device has potentially been subject to physical abuse.

An apparatus includes at least one first circuit configured to generate a first time-varying magnetic field for magnetic induction power transfer to a device, at least one second circuit configured to generate and/or receive a second time-varying magnetic field for magnetic induction data transfer to and/or from the device, and at least one third circuit configured to generate a third time-varying magnetic field in response to a time-varying electric current. The third time-varying magnetic field is configured to at least partially inhibit degradation of said data transfer from the first time-varying magnetic field. The apparatus further includes at least one fourth circuit configured to generate the time-varying electric current in response to a received portion of the first time-varying magnetic field.

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.