Method and system for configuration of a medical device that stimulates a human physiological system

A method comprising:

• progressively varying an energy level of a signal provided to drive a transducer (i) implanted in a human recipient and (ii) vibrationally coupled with a middle ear of the recipient, the transducer being a component of a medical device and being arranged to stimulate a physiological system of the recipient;
• upon varying the energy level of the signal, determining the energy level of the signal at which a circuit component in series with the transducer experiences a change in electrical characteristic that is disproportionate to change in the energy level of the signal;
• and
• using the determined energy level as a basis to set an operational parameter of the medical device.

A middle-ear implant system with automatic self-configuration functionality, the middle-ear implant system comprising:

• a transducer arranged to be vibrationally coupled with a middle ear within a human recipient;
• a signal generator for providing a signal to drive the transducer;
• a circuit component in series with the transducer and the signal generator;
• a controller configured to (i) progressively vary an energy level of the signal provided by the signal generator, (ii) upon varying the energy level of the signal, determine the energy level of the signal when the circuit component experiences a change in voltage or current that is threshold disproportionate to change in the energy level of the signal, and (iii) automatically set an operational parameter of the middle-ear implant system based on the determined energy level of the signal, whereby the threshold disproportionate change in voltage or current across the circuit component results from a threshold change in impedance of the transducer.