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.

A cochlear implant including a cochlear lead, an antenna, a stimulation processor, and a magnet apparatus, associated with the antenna, including a case defining a central axis, a magnet frame within the case and rotatable about the central axis of the case, and a plurality of elongate diametrically magnetized magnets that are located in the magnet frame, the magnets defining a longitudinal axis and a N-S direction and being freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to the magnet frame.

Implantable medical devices (IMDs) are disclosed which are capable of wirelessly receiving power from a magnetic field to power the IMD or charge its battery, but which do not use a wire-wound coil for magnetic field reception. The IMD can include a case housing control circuitry for the IMD, in which at least a portion of the case is conductive, with a case current formed in the conductive case portion in response to the magnetic field. The IMD includes power reception circuitry inside the case, and includes various examples of first and second electrical connections used to divert at least some of the case current as a power current to the power reception circuitry, thus allowing the power reception circuitry to use the power current to provide power to the IMD or to charge its battery.

A neuromodulation system includes a conductive element, a magnetic field generator, a power module and a computer processor. The conductive element located internal a patient's body. At least a portion of the conductive element is positioned adjacent to a target tissue. The magnetic field generator is positioned external to the patient's body. The magnetic field generator generates a time varying magnetic field for inducing stimulation of the target tissue in combination with the conductive element to produce stimulation that is larger than that which would occur in the absence of the conductive element. The power module supplies power to the magnetic field generator. The computer processor controls the time varying magnetic field provided by the magnetic field generator according to at least one set of stimulation parameters.

Systems, devices and methods allow inductive recharging of a power source located within or coupled to an implantable medical device while the device is implanted in a patient. The recharging system/device in some examples includes a first electrical coil and a second electrical coil configured to generate opposing magnetic fields forming a resultant magnetic field within a recharging envelope located between the coils. A third coil of the implantable medical device may be positioned within the recharging envelope so that the resultant magnetic field is imposed on the third coil, causing electrical energy to be induced in the third coil, the induced electrical energy used to recharge a power source of an implantable medical device coupled to the third coil, and/or to power operation of the implantable medical device.

A device system and method for wirelessly communicating through tissue is provided. The device system comprises an implanted device with an array of antennas aligned with a tandem device with an array of antennas outside of the body. The two devices wirelessly communicate in a bi-directional manner. The implanted device can act as a physiological sensor and stimulator, and the external device can act as a controller and relay. Such configurations allow for a range of uses within research and clinical settings.

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.

An on-body antenna is provided that overcomes mismatch loss problems associated with current on-body antennas and is capable of operating over a wide range of frequencies with low transmission loss. At least a first antenna element of the on-body antenna is configured to receive an oscillating electric current and to radiate an oscillating electromagnetic field over a predetermined range of frequencies. The first antenna element is made of non-electrically-conductive material having a first relative permittivity. At least a second material having a second relative permittivity can be disposed on or in the first antenna element. Disposing the second material provides the first antenna element with an effective permittivity that can be closely matched to a frequency-dependent permittivity of biological tissue of a subject. The first non-electrically-conductive material and the second material can be preselected to have relative permittivities that allow anisotropy to be achieved.

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.

A space-saving configuration for electronics is disclosed in which at least four circuit boards are arranged to form sides of a five-or-greater sided geometric prism that are perpendicular to a common plane. That is, they are stood up on their sides and connected with flex cable to approximate a cylinder. Each circuit board can include one or more sides with electrical components. The circuit boards make up at least half of the five-or-greater sided geometric prism such that the circuit boards wrap at least halfway around. A common connector on one of the circuit boards can be configured to receive power from an underlying motherboard, and flex cables connecting adjacent circuit boards in series distribute power received from the connector to each of the circuit boards in series.