Audio accessory for auditory prosthesis system that includes body-worn sound processor apparatus

An auditory prosthesis system comprising:

• a body-worn sound processor apparatus configured to be external to a patient and control an operation of a cochlear implant implanted within the patient;
• a headpiece configured to be external to the patient and facilitate wireless coupling of the body-worn sound processor apparatus to the cochlear implant;
• an audio accessory configured to be external to the patient and that includes
• a microphone configured to receive incoming audio and convert the incoming audio into an audio signal;
• a first communication port configured to connect directly to a communication port of the body-worn sound processor apparatus by way of a first cable;
• and
• a second communication port configured to connect directly to a communication port of the headpiece by way of a second cable, the communication port of the headpiece designed to interface the headpiece directly with the body-worn sound processor apparatus;
• an auxiliary audio input configured to receive incoming auxiliary audio;
• and
• a control module communicatively coupled to the microphone, the first and second communication ports, and the auxiliary audio input and that is configured to provide the audio signal and the incoming auxiliary audio to the body-worn sound processor apparatus by way of the first cable;
• wherein the body-worn sound processor apparatus is configured to:
• generate, based on the audio signal, a control parameter;
• generate, based at least in part on the incoming auxiliary audio, an additional control parameter;
• and
• transmit, by way of the first and second cables and the first and second communication ports, the control parameter and the additional control parameter to the headpiece for wireless transmission to the cochlear implant.

An auditory prosthesis system comprising:

• an audio accessory configured to be external to a patient and that includes
• a microphone that receives incoming audio and converts the incoming audio into an audio signal;
• a first communication port that connects directly to a communication port of the body-worn sound processor apparatus by way of a first cable;
• a second communication port that connects directly to a communication port of the headpiece by way of a second cable, the communication port of the headpiece designed to interface the headpiece directly with the body-worn sound processor apparatus;
• and
• a control module communicatively coupled to the microphone and the first and second communication ports and that provides the audio signal to the body-worn sound processor apparatus by way of the first cable;
• wherein the body-worn sound processor is further configured to
• generate, based on the audio signal, a control parameter;
• and
• transmit, by way of the first and second cables and the first and second communication ports, the control parameter to the headpiece for wireless transmission to the cochlear implant;
• and
• wherein the communication port of the body-worn sound processor apparatus comprises a headpiece-input port designed to receive an audio signal from a microphone included in the headpiece and transmit data directly to the headpiece for wireless transmission to the cochlear implant.