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

An auditory prosthesis system comprising:

• an audio accessory configured to be external to a patient and that includes
• a plurality of microphones that:
• receive incoming audio, and
• convert the incoming audio into a plurality of audio signals;
• a first communication port that connects directly to a communication port of a body-worn sound processor apparatus by way of a first cable, the communication port of the body-worn sound processor apparatus designed to interface the body-worn sound processor apparatus directly with a headpiece that facilitates wireless coupling of the body-worn sound processor apparatus to a cochlear implant implanted within the patient;
• 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 plurality of microphones and the first and second communication ports and that:
• generates a processed audio signal by processing the plurality of audio signals converted by the plurality of microphones from the incoming audio;
• and
• provides the processed audio signal to the body-worn sound processor apparatus to enable the body-worn sound processor apparatus to:
• generate, based at least in part on the processed audio signal, a control parameter that controls an operation of the cochlear implant;
• 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.

A method comprising:

• obtaining, by a control module included within an audio accessory associated with a patient, a plurality of audio signals converted from incoming audio received by a plurality of microphones;
• generating, by the control module, a processed audio signal by processing the plurality of audio signals converted from the incoming audio received by the plurality of microphones;
• and
• providing, by the control module, the processed audio signal to a body-worn sound processor apparatus by way of a first cable that connects a first communication port of the audio accessory directly to a communication port of the body-worn sound processor apparatus designed to interface the body-worn sound processor apparatus directly with a headpiece that facilitates wireless coupling of the body-worn sound processor apparatus to a cochlear implant implanted within the patient, wherein the providing of the processed audio signal to the body-worn sound processor apparatus enables the body-worn sound processor apparatus to:
• generate, based at least in part on the processed audio signal, a control parameter that controls an operation of the cochlear implant;
• and
• transmit the control parameter to the headpiece for wireless transmission to the cochlear implant by way of the first cable and a second cable that connects a second communication port of the audio accessory directly to a communication port of the headpiece designed to interface the headpiece directly with the body-worn sound processor apparatus.