Systems and methods for increasing learning via transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation is presented. The disclosure can include positioning a device within a human ear and delivering specifically timed and modulated pulses of electrical energy to the auricular vagus nerve transcutaneously, avoiding invasive procedures commonly associated with vagus nerve stimulation. The present disclosure can enhance reading comprehension, facilitate the learning letter-sound relationships, and provide for increased retention of new languages for a patient, all without surgically implanting a device into a patient.

An improved implantable auditory stimulation system includes two or more implanted microphones for transcutaneous detection of acoustic signals. Each of the implanted microphones provides an output signal. The microphone output signals may be combinatively utilized by an implanted processor to generate a signal for driving an implanted auditory stimulation device. The implanted microphones may be located at offset subcutaneous locations and/or may be provided with different design sensitivities, wherein combinative processing of the microphone output signals may yield an improved drive signal. In one embodiment, the microphone signal may be processed for beamforming and/or directionality purposes.

Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to techniques for separately transferring power and data from an external device to an implantable component of a partially or fully implantable medical device. The separated power and data transfer techniques use a single external coil and a single implantable coil. The external coil is part of an external resonant circuit, while the implantable coil is part of an implantable resonant circuit. The external coil is configured to transcutaneously transfer power and data to the implantable coil using separate (different) power and data time slots. At least one of the external or internal resonant circuit is substantially more damped during the data time slot than during the power time slot.

A hearing device for electrically coupling to skin of a user includes a body having a housing forming at least part of an outer surface. The device includes an acoustic transducer and an electrode disposed at least partially in the body. The electrode includes an outer conductor disposed at least partially in the housing and an inner conductor electrically coupled to the outer conductor and disposed subflush to the outer surface. A method of forming the hearing device includes providing a cast shell, forming an elastomeric conductor in a cavity of the cast shell, and removing a thin outer wall of the cast shell to form the housing of the hearing device.

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.

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.

Adjustable auricular nerve stimulation devices, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed herein. A representative device for delivering an electrical signal to a subject includes a signal delivery element including at least two electrodes configured to deliver the electrical signal to a first portion of the subject’s ear. The device also includes a retention element configured to engage a second portion of the subject’s ear. The device further includes an adjustment mechanism permitting movement of the signal delivery element relative to the retention element to place the at least two electrodes in contact with the first portion of the subject’s ear.

The present invention relates to an auricular neurostimulation device wearable by a user and configured to stimulate the Auricular Branch of Vagus Nerve (ABVN) on the user’s ear: the device comprises at least two electrodes designed to be located in the cymba and in the cavity of the cavum conchae respectively; the electrodes stimulate the nerve ramifications of the cymba and the cavum conchae, respectively, when an electrical voltage difference is applied between them. The invention further refers to an auricular neurostimulation system comprising an auricular neurostimulation device as described and a charging case where the device can charge an internal battery and where the device discharges into this case the data captured by the photoplethysmographic or biosensor during stimulation and sends them to a dedicated platform in the cloud. The invention also refers to a method of operation of an auricular neurostimulation system as described.

A hearing system performs nonlinear processing of signals received from a plurality of microphones using a neural network to enhance a target signal in a noisy environment. In various embodiments, the neural network can be trained to improve a signal-to-noise ratio without causing substantial distortion of the target signal. An example of the target sound includes speech, and the neural network is used to improve speech intelligibility.

A bone conduction apparatus according to the present invention includes: a decoding unit decoding audio data; a digital-to-analog converter converting the decoded audio data to an analog signal, and outputting an analog audio signal; a bone conduction unit converting the analog audio signal to a bone conduction signal, and outputting the bone conduction signal; a metal electrode placed at an outside of a housing in which the bone conduction unit is provided; a frequency generator generating a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) signal; and a TENS signal amplification unit amplifying the TENS signal, and applying the resulting signal to the metal electrode.