Patents by Inventor Karen Cauwels

Karen Cauwels has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20150245906
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator for an implantable hearing aid device including a mechanical output structure that has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is a mechanical attachment structure to attach a stapes prosthesis, and wherein the second portion is a wire-like member coupling the mechanical attachment structure to a magnetically permeable armature shaft assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Hans BERNHARD, Joel FONTANNAZ, Christian PECLAT, Markus HALLER, Karen CAUWELS, Ben KLOECK, Karel HUYBRECHTS, Christof STIEGER, Rudolph HAUSLER, Thomas KAISER
  • Publication number: 20140163309
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator for an implantable hearing aid device including a mechanical output structure that has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is a mechanical attachment structure to attach a stapes prosthesis, and wherein the second portion is a wire-like member coupling the mechanical attachment structure to a magnetically permeable armature shaft assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Hans BERNHARD, Joel FONTANNAZ, Christian PECLAT, Markus HALLER, Karen CAUWELS, Ben KLOECK, Karel HUYBRECHTS, Christof STIEGER, Rudolph HAUSLER, Thomas KAISER
  • Patent number: 8602964
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator (100) suitable, for example, in hearing aid applications is disclosed. Certain embodiments of the actuator comprise a hermetic titanium housing (1), a mechanical output structure (110) emulating the long process of incus (8), and means for efficiently generating movement in the audible frequency range. The electromechanical actuator (100) may be configured to be coupled to the inner ear fluids via a conventional stapes prosthesis. The implantable actuator (100), which may be considered to be operably equivalent to a loudspeaker of a conventional hearing aid, may bypass the outer and the middle ear in order to directly drive the inner ear fluids. As such, embodiments of the electromechanical actuator of the present invention may be used to remedy any source of conductive hearing loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Hans Bernhard, Joel Fontannaz, Christian Peclat, Markus Haller, Karen Cauwels, Ben Kloeck, Karel Huybrechts, Christof Stieger, Rudolph Hausler, Thomas Kaiser
  • Publication number: 20080188707
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator (100) suitable, for example, in hearing aid applications is disclosed. Certain embodiments of the actuator comprise a hermetic titanium housing (1), a mechanical output structure (110) emulating the long process of incus (8), and means for efficiently generating movement in the audible frequency range. The electromechanical actuator (100) may be configured to be coupled to the inner ear fluids via a conventional stapes prosthesis. The implantable actuator (100), which may be considered to be operably equivalent to a loudspeaker of a conventional hearing aid, may bypass the outer and the middle ear in order to directly drive the inner ear fluids. As such, embodiments of the electromechanical actuator of the present invention may be used to remedy any source of conductive hearing loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Hans Bernard, Joel Fontannaz, Christian Peclat, Markus Haller, Karen Cauwels, Ben Kloeck, Karel Huybrechts, Christof Stieger, Rudolph Hausler, Thomas Kaiser