Cochlear Limited

Derek Ian Darley

John Louis Parker

Michael Goorevich

Peter Scott Single

Fysh Dadd

Peter Gibson

Claudiu G Treaba

Tadeusz Jurkiewicz

Dusan Milojevic

Rupert Christian Scheiner

Desmond A McCusker

Henry Hon Sang Tsui

Peter Kuster

Desmond A Mccusker

Edmond D Capcelea

Peter Sprada

Joel Fontannaz

Emmanuel Gremion

Alf Dal'Castel

Dusan Milojevicrg

Claudiu-Gheorghe Treaba

Desmond Andrew Mccusker

A method for operating an external component of a cochlear implant hearing system. The external component includes a speech processor module operable in a stand-alone mode of operation and a body-worn mode of operation, and a protective case. The method includes operating the speech processor module in the stand-alone mode, determining when the speech processor module is mounted in the case, and operating the speech processor module in the body-worn mode in response to determining that the speech processor module is mounted in the case.

Transformable speech processor module for a hearing prosthesis

A reference electrode for an inner ear stimulation device is disclosed. The reference electrode is to be implanted and includes a protruding conductor portion and an insulated conducting portion connected to a lead for connection to the device. The protruding conductor portion is shaped so as to present a generally smooth surface without any substantial projections to impede removal in the event that the electrode is withdrawn in the direction of the lead. The smooth profile and lack of an undercut assist in preventing biofilm accumulation and growth. This reduces the risk of post-surgical complications such as infection.

Reference electrodes for inner ear stimulation devices

A bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient, comprising: a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal; an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing the acoustic sound signal; a transducer configured to generate mechanical forces representing the electrical signal for delivery to the recipient's bone; and one or more vibration extensions mechanically coupled to the transducer and configured to be inserted into the ear canal of the recipient, and further configured to vibrate in order to transmit the mechanical forces generated from the transducer to the recipient's bone.

Hearing device having one or more in-the-canal vibrating extensions

A bone conduction device, comprising: a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal; an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing said acoustic sound signal; and a transducer configured to generate motion of a mass component based on said electrical signal so as to generate one or more mechanical forces resulting in one or more of motion and vibration of a recipient's skull thereby causing sound perception, wherein one or more of the size and shape of said mass component is selectable at least partially based on a desired mechanical force to be generated by said transducer.

Customizable mass arrangements for bone conduction devices

An external component of a cochlear implant hearing system. The external component includes a speech processor module operable in a stand-alone mode of operation and a body-worn mode of operation, a protective case configured to have said speech processor module removably mounted therein; and an operational mode controller configured to determine when said speech processor module is mounted in said case and to place said speech processor module in said body-worn mode of operation when said module is mounted in said case.

A method () of forming an electrically conducting feedthrough. The method () comprises a first step () of forming an electrically conductive structure () comprising a sacrificial component and a non-sacrificial component. At least a portion of the non-sacrificial component can then be coated with a relatively electrically insulating material () prior to removal of at least a portion of the sacrificial component from the electrically conductive structure. The structure of the feedthrough provides electrical connection through the wall of a housing of an implantable component while preventing unwanted transfer of materials between the interior of the component and the surrounding environment.

Feedthrough for electrical connectors

A cochlear implant electrode assembly device comprising an elongate electrode carrier member, a stiffening element, and a stiffening sheath that at least partially envelops the elongate member. The member is made of a resiliently flexible first material and has a plurality of electrodes mounted thereon. The member has a first configuration that allows it to be inserted into an implantee's cochlea. The member also has a second configuration wherein the member is curved to match an inside surface of the cochlea, and at least one intermediate configuration between the first and second configurations. Both the stiffening element and sheath are made of a material that is relatively stiffer than the member. The stiffening element and the stiffening sheath in combination bias the elongate member into the first configuration. If either the stiffening element or the stiffening sheath is removed or deactivated, the elongate member adopts an intermediate configuration.

Electrode assembly having a flexible tip

Method of making feedthroughs for electrical connectors

A cochlear implant electrode assembly () comprising an elongate electrode carrier member (), a bioresorbable stiffening element () and an outer layer () surrounding the stiffening element (). The carrier member () is made of a resiliently flexible first material and has a plurality of electrodes () mounted thereon and has a first configuration selected to allow it to be inserted into an implantee's cochlea, and at least a second configuration wherein it is curved to match a surface of the cochlea. The bioresorbable stiffening element () has a configuration selected for biasing the elongate member () into the first configuration and is made of a second material relatively stiffer than the first material and which dissolves or softens on exposure to cochlear fluids to permit the elongate member () to at least approach or adopt the second configuration. The outer layer () surrounding the stiffening element () is made of a material sufficiently resiliently flexible to allow the elongate member () to at least approach or adopt the second configuration. The outer layer () has a first rate of cochlear fluid ingress therethrough and has at least one fluid ingress means () formed therein. The rate of cochlear fluid ingress through the fluid ingress means () is greater than the first rate of cochlear fluid ingress through the outer layer ().

Cochlear implant electrode array

A cochlear implant electrode assembly device () comprising an elongate electrode carrier member (), a first stiffening element (), and a second stiffening element (). The carrier member () is made of a resiliently flexible first material and has a plurality of electrodes () mounted thereon. The carrier member () has a first configuration selected to allow it to be inserted into an implantee's cochlea (), a second configuration wherein it is curved in shape to match a surface of the cochlea (), and at least one intermediate configuration between the first and second configurations. Both the first and second stiffening elements () are made of a material relatively stiffer than said the material and in combination bias the elongate member into the first configuration. If either the first stiffening element () or the second stiffening element () are removed, the elongate member () adopts the at least one intermediate configuration.

Double stylet insertion tool for a cochlear implant electrode array

In one embodiment of the invention, a transcutaneous transfer system is disclosed. The system comprises: an inductively-coupled coil system comprising an external and an internal coil adapted to be transcutaneously juxtaposed along a coupling axis; an internal magnet fixed relative to the internal coil; an external magnet assembly coupled to the external coil; and an apparatus to securely retain the magnet assembly in a desired one of a plurality of positions along a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the coupling axis in response to tool-less manipulation of the apparatus.

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Cromer Heights, Australia

Derek Ian Darley