Patents by Inventor Tracey L Kruger

Tracey L Kruger 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).

  • Patent number: 9232320
    Abstract: An exemplary auditory prosthesis system includes a sound processor module configured to process an audio signal and operate in accordance with a plurality of control parameters and an accessory header module configured to be selectively coupled to the sound processor module and facilitate external adjustment of one or more control parameters included in the plurality of control parameters while coupled to the sound processor module. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Lee F. Hartley, Tracey L. Kruger
  • Patent number: 9191751
    Abstract: An exemplary apparatus for use with an auditory prosthesis system includes a housing, a connector port disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to be communicatively coupled to an auxiliary audio input device, a telecoil disposed at least partially within the housing, and a multi-position switch disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to selectively enable the auxiliary audio input device and the telecoil. The auxiliary audio input device is enabled and the telecoil is disabled when the switch is in a first position, both the auxiliary audio input device and the telecoil are enabled when the switch is in a second position, and the telecoil is enabled and the auxiliary audio input device is disabled when the switch is in a third position. Corresponding apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Lee F. Hartley, Roger S. Meier, Glen A. Griffith, Tracey L. Kruger, R. Tissa Karunasiri, Scott A. Crawford, Frank Nigro
  • Patent number: 8996120
    Abstract: An exemplary method of adjusting one or more perceived attributes of an audio signal includes mapping each of the plurality of perceived attributes to one or more control parameters governing an operation of an implantable cochlear stimulator, receiving data representative of an input command to adjust one or more of the perceived attributes, adjusting at least one of the one or more control parameters in response to the received input command and in accordance with the mapping of the perceived attributes to the one or more control parameters, and directing the implantable cochlear stimulator to apply electrical stimulation to one or more stimulation sites within the patient in accordance with the at least one adjusted control parameter. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Guillermo A. Calle, Tracey L. Kruger
  • Patent number: 8918182
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes a fitting subsystem detecting a communicative coupling of a cochlear implant associated with a patient to a sound processor connected to the fitting subsystem and automatically determining, in response to the communicative coupling, an implant side associated with the cochlear implant in accordance with one or more implant side selection factors. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Fernando Chapa, Guillermo A. Calle, Tracey L. Kruger, Jacob Johnston
  • Publication number: 20140233775
    Abstract: An exemplary apparatus for use with an auditory prosthesis system includes a housing, a connector port disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to be communicatively coupled to an auxiliary audio input device, a telecoil disposed at least partially within the housing, and a multi-position switch disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to selectively enable the auxiliary audio input device and the telecoil. The auxiliary audio input device is enabled and the telecoil is disabled when the switch is in a first position, both the auxiliary audio input device and the telecoil are enabled when the switch is in a second position, and the telecoil is enabled and the auxiliary audio input device is disabled when the switch is in a third position. Corresponding apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: ADVANCED BIONICS AG
    Inventors: Lee F. Hartley, Roger S. Meier, Glen A. Griffith, Tracey L. Kruger, R. Tissa Karunasiri, Scott A. Crawford, Frank Nigro
  • Publication number: 20130308803
    Abstract: An exemplary auditory prosthesis system includes a sound processor module configured to process an audio signal and operate in accordance with a plurality of control parameters and an accessory header module configured to be selectively coupled to the sound processor module and facilitate external adjustment of one or more control parameters included in the plurality of control parameters while coupled to the sound processor module. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: ADVANCED BIONICS AG
    Inventors: Lee F. Hartley, Tracey L. Kruger
  • Patent number: 8233989
    Abstract: Alternative stimuli, i.e., stimuli other than the constant amplitude stimuli used in prior fitting schemes, are used to set the parameters of a hearing prosthesis, such as a cochlear implant system. The use of such alternative stimuli allows the entire fitting process to be completed in a very short time period, and generally eliminates the need for secondary adjustments. In one preferred embodiment, the alternative stimuli comprise white noise that is internally generated within the speech processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics, LLC
    Inventors: Philip A. Segel, Edward H. Overstreet, Tracey L. Kruger, Lakshmi N. Mishra
  • Patent number: 8177112
    Abstract: A kit of fixation devices for cochlear implant speech processors comprising a spring loaded alligator clip including front and rear pivotally connected legs, a top portion of the front leg forming a support latch with an upper portion of one of several vertically extending cradles shaped to receive and support speech processors of different size while (i) allowing for replacement of the battery pack of the processor, (ii) protecting the control panel thereof against accidental actuation and (iii) supporting the processor cable, the front and rear legs of the alligator clip including hooks for engaging and capturing a safety pin that may have been already attached to the clothing of a user of the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics, LLC
    Inventors: Scott A. Crawford, Lee F. Hartley, Tracey L. Kruger
  • Publication number: 20120053656
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes a fitting subsystem detecting a communicative coupling of a cochlear implant associated with a patient to a sound processor connected to the fitting subsystem and automatically determining, in response to the communicative coupling, an implant side associated with the cochlear implant in accordance with one or more implant side selection factors. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Advanced Bionics AG, c/o Froriep Renggli
    Inventors: Fernando Chapa, Guillermo A. Calle, Tracey L. Kruger, Jacob Johnston
  • Patent number: 7933657
    Abstract: Alternative stimuli, i.e., stimuli other than the constant amplitude stimuli used in prior fitting schemes, are used to set the parameters of a cochlear implant system. The use of such alternative stimuli allows the entire fitting process to be completed in a very short time period, and generally eliminates the need for secondary adjustments. In one preferred embodiment, the alternative stimuli comprise white noise that is internally generated within the speech processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics, LLC
    Inventors: Philip A. Segel, Edward H. Overstreet, Tracey L. Kruger, Lakshmi N. Mishra
  • Patent number: 7835800
    Abstract: An adaptive place-pitch ranking procedure for use with a cochlear implant or other neural stimulation system provides a systematic method for quantifying the magnitude and direction of errors along the place-pitch continuum. The method may be conducted and completed in a relatively short period of time. In use, the implant user or listener is asked to rank the percepts obtained after a sequential presentation of monopolar stimulation pulses are applied to a selected spatially-defined electrode pair. The spatially-defined electrode pair may be a physical electrode pair or a virtual electrode pair. A virtual electrode pair includes at least one virtual electrode contact. Should the patient's judgment of pitch order be correct for all applied interrogations, then no further testing involving the tested electrode pair (two electrode contacts) is undertaken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics, LLC
    Inventors: Philip A Segel, Tracey L Kruger, Leonid M Litvak
  • Patent number: 7835799
    Abstract: An adaptive place-pitch ranking procedure for use with a cochlear implant or other neural stimulation system provides a systematic method for quantifying the magnitude and direction of errors along the place-pitch continuum. The method may be conducted and completed in a relatively short period of time. In use, the implant user or listener is asked to rank the percepts obtained after a sequential presentation of monopolar stimulation pulses are applied to a selected spatially-defined electrode pair. The spatially-defined electrode pair may be a physical electrode pair or a virtual electrode pair. A virtual electrode pair includes at least one virtual electrode contact. Should the patient's judgment of pitch order be correct for all applied interrogations, then no further testing involving the tested electrode pair (two electrode contacts) is undertaken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics, LLC
    Inventors: Philip A Segel, Tracey L Kruger, Leonid M Litvak
  • Patent number: 7571005
    Abstract: An adaptive place-pitch ranking procedure for use with a cochlear implant or other neural stimulation system provides a systematic method for quantifying the magnitude and direction of errors along the place-pitch continuum. The method may be conducted and completed in a relatively short period of time. In use, the implant user or listener is asked to rank the percepts obtained after a sequential presentation of monopolar stimulation pulses are applied to a selected spatially-defined electrode pair. The spatially-defined electrode pair may be a physical electrode pair or a virtual electrode pair. A virtual electrode pair includes at least one virtual electrode contact. Should the patient's judgment of pitch order be correct for all applied interrogations, then no further testing involving the tested electrode pair (two electrode contacts) is undertaken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics, LLC
    Inventors: Philip A Segel, Tracey L. Kruger, Leonid M Litvak
  • Patent number: 7496406
    Abstract: Alternative stimuli, i.e., stimuli other than the constant amplitude stimuli used in prior fitting schemes, is used to set the parameters of a cochlear implant system. The use of such alternative stimuli allows the entire fitting process to be completed in a very short time period, and generally eliminates the need for secondary adjustments. In one preferred embodiment, the alternative stimuli comprise white noise that is internally generated within the speech processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics, LLC
    Inventors: Philip A. Segel, Edward H. Overstreet, Tracey L. Kruger, Lakshmi Narayan Mishra
  • Patent number: 7493170
    Abstract: An adaptive place-pitch ranking procedure for use with a cochlear implant or other neural stimulation system provides a systematic method for quantifying the magnitude and direction of errors along the place-pitch continuum. The method may be conducted and completed in a relatively short period of time. In use, the implant user or listener is asked to rank the percepts obtained after a sequential presentation of monopolar stimulation pulses are applied to a selected spatially-defined electrode pair. Should the patient's judgment of pitch order be correct for all applied interrogations, then no further testing involving the tested electrode pair (two electrode contacts) is undertaken. However, should there be errors in the place-pitch ranking, which errors evidence perceptual place-confusions, then a search is undertaken for the spread of the perceptual confusion by separating the target channel and competing channel by one electrode contact at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Advnaced Bionics, LLC
    Inventors: Philip A Segel, Tracey L Kruger
  • Patent number: 7103417
    Abstract: An adaptive place-pitch ranking procedure for use with a cochlear implant or other neural stimulation system provides a systematic method for quantifying the magnitude and direction of errors along the place-pitch continuum. The method may be conducted and completed in a relatively short period of time. In use, the implant user or listener is asked to rank the percepts obtained after a sequential presentation of monopolar stimulation pulses are applied to a selected spatially-defined electrode pair. Should the patient's judgment of pitch order be correct for all applied interrogations, then no further testing involving the tested electrode pair (two electrode contacts) is undertaken. However, should there be errors in the place-pitch ranking, which errors evidence perceptual place-confusions, then a search is undertaken for the spread of the perceptual confusion by separating the target channel and competing channel by one electrode contact at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics Corporation
    Inventors: Philip A Segel, Tracey L Kruger