Cochlear Limited

Cisco Technology, Inc.

Stephen Fung

Alexander Von Brasch

Kieran Reed

Alex Von Brasch

John Michael Heasman

Kartik Natarajan

Michael Goorevich

Tadeusz Jurkiewicz

Kerrie Plant

Presented herein are substantially automated techniques that enable an electro-acoustic or other hearing prosthesis implanted in a recipient to use objective measurements to determine when the recipient is likely experiencing sound perception changes. Once one or more perception changes are detected, the hearing prosthesis may initiate one or more remedial actions to, for example, address the perception changes. As described further below, the one or more remedial actions may include adjustments to the recipient's operational map to reverse the one or more perception changes.

Perception change-based adjustments in hearing prostheses

Presented herein are audio training techniques that facilitate the rehabilitation of a recipient of an auditory prosthesis. In certain embodiments, the audio training techniques presented herein may include real time training aspects in which the recipient's surrounding (ambient) auditory environment, including the sounds present therein, is analyzed in real time. The recipient can then be provided with a real time identity (e.g., audible or visible representation/description) of the sounds present in the auditory environment. The identity of the sounds can be provided to the recipient automatically and/or in response to recipient queries.

Audio training

Presented herein are techniques for generating, updating, and/or using a virtual hearing model associated with a recipient of an auditory prosthesis. The virtual hearing model is generated and updated for the recipient based on psychoacoustics data associated with the recipient and, in certain cases, based on psychoacoustics data gathered from one or more selected populations of auditory prosthesis recipients. The recipient-specific virtual hearing model can be used, in real-time, to determine one or more settings for the auditory prosthesis.

Dynamic virtual hearing modelling

A system, including a central processor apparatus configured to receive input from a plurality of sound capture devices, wherein the central processor apparatus is configured to collectively evaluate the input from the plurality of sound capture devices to identify at least one spatial location that is more conducive to hearing with a hearing prosthesis relative to another spatial location.

Acoustic spot identification

A method, including capturing first sound with a hearing prosthesis, classifying the first sound using the hearing prosthesis according to a first feature regime, capturing second sound with the hearing prosthesis, and classifying the second sound using the hearing prosthesis according to a second feature regime different from the first feature regime.

Advanced scene classification for prosthesis

Presented herein are techniques for monitoring the sensory outcome of a recipient of a sensory prosthesis in an ambient environment that includes one or more controllable network connected devices. The sensory outcome of the recipient in the environment is used to make operational changes to the one or more controllable network connected devices in order to create an improved environment for recipient.

Sensory-based environmental adaptation

A method, including the actions of obtaining access to a virtual reality system; activating a cochlear implant such that the cochlear implant evokes a hearing percept based on first input; and receiving second input from the virtual reality system in temporal proximity with the evocation of the hearing percept based on the first input, wherein the cochlear implant evokes a hearing percept based on the first input, and the second input is correlated with the first input.

Advanced artificial sound hearing training

A body worn or implantable hearing prosthesis, including a device configured to capture an audio environment of a recipient and evoke a hearing percept based at least in part on the captured audio environment, wherein the hearing prosthesis is configured to identify, based on the captured audio environment, one or more biomarkers present in the audio environment indicative of the recipient's ability to hear.

Utilization of vocal acoustic biomarkers for assistive listening device utilization

Sensory-based environmental adaption

A wearable component of an implantable medical device adapted to work with a sensor that detects the strength of the magnetic field emanating from a magnet situated in the implanted portion of the device. The wearable component can be fitted with a magnet that can be programmed or adjusted to the required strength. The system can automatically determine the required magnet strength, and also program the magnet to have the required value. The technology removes the conventional means or the need of audiologist/clinician to perform manual determination of the magnet strength by trial-and-error, and streamlines the process of magnet determination. The tedious and error-prone manual process can now be an automated additional step in the process of fitting an auditory prosthesis. The system removes the need for manual intervention and guess-work by the clinician fitting the wearable component. The system helps to standardize fitting practice across clinics.

Controlled fitting of an implantable medical device

Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to individualized (recipient-specific) techniques for fitting an auditory/hearing prosthesis to a recipient. In the individualized fitting techniques, a fitting system obtains data/information that is specific to the recipient to which the auditory prosthesis is being fitted. The fitting system is configured to analyze the recipient-specific data and to generate an individualized fitting plan/program that is specifically tailored to the recipient.

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Dundas Valley, Australia

Stephen Fung