Patents by Inventor Volkmar Hamacher

Volkmar Hamacher 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: 20230015963
    Abstract: A system may include a unit for capturing signals induced at electrodes of an electrode array in response to stimulation of a cochlea by applying auditory nerve stimulation signals to the electrodes; a memory unit for storing the captured signals and/or data derived from the captured signals; and an electrode migration detection unit for detecting electrode migration relative to the cochlea by comparing presently captured signals and/or data derived from such presently captured signals to stored previously captured signals and/or data derived from such previously captured signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Volkmar Hamacher, Patrick J. Boyle
  • Publication number: 20220367028
    Abstract: An illustrative insertion management system may be configured to provide, as a first input to a machine learning model, geometric model data specific to a recipient of a cochlear implant and representative of a geometrical model of a cochlea of the recipient, provide, as a second input to the machine learning model, procedure data representative of one or more contextual attributes of a lead insertion procedure in which an electrode lead is inserted to the cochlea of the recipient, and generate, based on an output of the machine learning model that takes into account the geometric model data and the procedure data, procedure assistance data configured to assist a user in performing the lead insertion procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Ersin Avci, Tim Nauwelaers, Volkmar Hamacher, Pierre Guillon
  • Patent number: 11491332
    Abstract: A system includes a unit for capturing ECAP signals induced at electrodes of an electrode array in response to stimulation of a cochlea by applying auditory nerve stimulation signals to the electrodes; a memory unit for storing the captured ECAP signals and/or ECAP data derived from the captured ECAP signals; an electrode migration detection unit for detecting electrode migration relative to the cochlea by comparing presently captured ECAP signals and/or ECAP data derived from such presently captured ECAP signals to stored previously captured ECAP signals and/or ECAP data derived from such previously captured ECAP signals; and a unit for outputting an alarm signal in case that electrode migration is detected by the electrode migration detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Volkmar Hamacher, Patrick J. Boyle
  • Publication number: 20220265162
    Abstract: An illustrative insertion management system may be configured to monitor, during a lead insertion procedure in which an electrode lead having a plurality of electrodes is inserted into a cochlea of a recipient of a cochlear implant, impedance values for a subset of electrodes included in the plurality of electrodes, the subset of electrodes being less than a total number of the plurality of electrodes; detect, during the lead insertion procedure and based on the monitoring, an anomaly in the impedance values; and generate, during the lead insertion procedure and based on the anomaly, translocation log data indicating that a translocation event in which the electrode lead translocates from a first scala of the cochlea to a second scala of the cochlea is about to occur or has occurred during the lead insertion procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Johannes H.M. Frijns, Jeroen J. Briaire, Patrick J. Boyle, Volkmar Hamacher, Leonid M. Litvak
  • Patent number: 11235150
    Abstract: A cochlear implant, for use with a micro camera, including a stimulation assembly, a cochlear lead with an electrode array, a lens associated with the distal region of the electrode array, an optical fiber bundle that extends proximally from the lens and outwardly from the proximal region of the cochlear lead, a camera interface in which the proximal end of the optical fiber bundle is located and that is configured to receive the micro camera, and at least one illumination guide that extends from the camera interface to the cochlear lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Martin Grossoehmichen, Konstantin Silberzahn, Tim Nauwelaers, Volkmar Hamacher
  • Patent number: 11159900
    Abstract: A bimodal hearing stimulation system comprises an implantable stimulation assembly for applying neural stimulation to a patient's hearing according to an electrical stimulation signal; an acoustic stimulation unit for applying acoustic stimulation to the patient's hearing according to an acoustic stimulation signal; and a sound processor for generating the electric stimulation signal and the acoustic stimulation signal from an input audio signal. The sound processor is configured to divide the input audio signal into a plurality of frequency bands. The sound processor comprises a weighting unit for dynamically determining for each of the frequency bands a relative loudness weight of the electric stimulation and a relative loudness weight of the acoustic stimulation as a function of the present level of the input audio signal in the respective frequency band. The sound processor is configured to apply the weighting function when generating the electric stimulation signal and the acoustic stimulation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Volkmar Hamacher, Josef Chalupper
  • Patent number: 10994137
    Abstract: A neural stimulation system comprises a microphone arrangement for capturing an audio signal from ambient sound, a sound processor unit, a headpiece, and an implantable neural stimulator, the sound processor unit comprising a housing to be worn behind a patient's ear or at a patient's body, and a signal processing unit within the sound processor unit housing for generating a neural stimulation signal from the captured audio signal, the sound processor being communicatively coupled to the headpiece for supplying the neural stimulation signal to the headpiece, the headpiece comprising a housing separate from the housing of the sound processor and to be fixed at the patient's head, a signal transmission unit for transmitting the neural stimulation signal to a signal receiving unit of the implantable cochlear stimulator, and a user interface for controlling operation of the sound processor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Raphael Sebastian Koning, Volkmar Hamacher
  • Publication number: 20200330763
    Abstract: A system includes a unit for capturing ECAP signals induced at electrodes of an electrode array in response to stimulation of a cochlea by applying auditory nerve stimulation signals to the electrodes; a memory unit for storing the captured ECAP signals and/or ECAP data derived from the captured ECAP signals; an electrode migration detection unit for detecting electrode migration relative to the cochlea by comparing presently captured ECAP signals and/or ECAP data derived from such presently captured ECAP signals to stored previously captured ECAP signals and/or ECAP data derived from such previously captured ECAP signals; and a unit for outputting an alarm signal in case that electrode migration is detected by the electrode migration detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Volkmar Hamacher, Patrick J. Boyle
  • Patent number: 10744323
    Abstract: There is provided a cochlear implant system, comprising a sound processor for generating an auditory nerve stimulation signal from an input audio signal; an implantable stimulation assembly comprising an electrode array for electrical stimulation of the cochlea according to the neural stimulation signal; and an electrode migration monitoring unit including a unit for capturing ECAP signals induced at the electrodes of the electrode array in response to stimulation of the cochlea by applying auditory nerve stimulation signals to the electrodes, an electrode migration detection unit for detecting electrode migration relative to the cochlea by comparing presently captured ECAP signals and/or ECAP data derived from such presently captured ECAP signals to stored previously captured ECAP signals and/or ECAP data derived from such previously captured ECAP signals, and a unit for outputting an alarm signal in case that electrode migration is detected by the electrode migration detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Volkmar Hamacher, Patrick J. Boyle
  • Publication number: 20200188668
    Abstract: A cochlear implant, for use with a micro camera, including a stimulation assembly, a cochlear lead with an electrode array, a lens associated with the distal region of the electrode array, an optical fiber bundle that extends proximally from the lens and outwardly from the proximal region of the cochlear lead, a camera interface in which the proximal end of the optical fiber bundle is located and that is configured to receive the micro camera, and at least one illumination guide that extends from the camera interface to the cochlear lead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Martin Grossoehmichen, Konstantin Silberzahn, Tim Nauwelaers, Volkmar Hamacher
  • Publication number: 20200077212
    Abstract: A bimodal hearing stimulation system comprises an implantable stimulation assembly for applying neural stimulation to a patient's hearing according to an electrical stimulation signal; an acoustic stimulation unit for applying acoustic stimulation to the patient's hearing according to an acoustic stimulation signal; and a sound processor for generating the electric stimulation signal and the acoustic stimulation signal from an input audio signal. The sound processor is configured to divide the input audio signal into a plurality of frequency bands. The sound processor comprises a weighting unit for dynamically determining for each of the frequency bands a relative loudness weight of the electric stimulation and a relative loudness weight of the acoustic stimulation as a function of the present level of the input audio signal in the respective frequency band. The sound processor is configured to apply the weighting function when generating the electric stimulation signal and the acoustic stimulation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Volkmar Hamacher, Josef Chalupper
  • Patent number: 10524067
    Abstract: There is provided a hearing assistance system, comprising an audio streaming device, a first hearing device for stimulating a first ear of a user, and a second hearing device for stimulating a second ear of the user, the audio streaming device comprising an audio input interface for receiving an input stereo audio signal, a unit for analyzing the input stereo audio signal in order to determine at least one azimuthal localization cue by comparing the two channels of the stereo signal, a unit for processing the input stereo audio signal in order to produce an output stereo audio signal, and a unit for supplying one channel of the output stereo audio signal to the first hearing device and for supplying the other channel of the output stereo audio signal to the second hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Volkmar Hamacher, Stefan Fredelake, Phillipp Hehrmann
  • Publication number: 20190134397
    Abstract: A neural stimulation system comprises a microphone arrangement for capturing an audio signal from ambient sound, a sound processor unit, a headpiece, and an implantable neural stimulator, the sound processor unit comprising a housing to be worn behind a patient's ear or at a patient's body, and a signal processing unit within the sound processor unit housing for generating a neural stimulation signal from the captured audio signal, the sound processor being communicatively coupled to the headpiece for supplying the neural stimulation signal to the headpiece, the headpiece comprising a housing separate from the housing of the sound processor and to be fixed at the patient's head, a signal transmission unit for transmitting the neural stimulation signal to a signal receiving unit of the implantable cochlear stimulator, and a user interface for controlling operation of the sound processor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Raphael Sebastian Koning, Volkmar Hamacher
  • Patent number: 10124168
    Abstract: There is provided a hearing assistance system comprising an auditory prosthesis device for neural stimulation of a patient's hearing at one of the patient's ears and a hearing aid for acoustic stimulation of the patient's hearing at the same one or the other one of the patient's ears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Volkmar Hamacher, Josef Chalupper
  • Patent number: 10111019
    Abstract: A behind-the-ear sound processor module includes a BTE-housing; an adjustable microphone module attached to the BTE-housing for capturing input audio signals from ambient sound; and a sound processor unit for generating, from the input audio signals, a neural hearing stimulation signal to be supplied to an implantable neural stimulation arrangement, wherein the microphone module comprises a plurality of microphones and a support element for carrying the microphones, wherein the support element is movable between a beamformer position enabling the plurality of microphones to act as a directional microphone array in a beamformer audio signal processing mode of the sound processor unit and a T-Mic position enabling at least one of the microphones to act as a T-Mic in a T-Mic audio signal processing mode of the sound processor unit at a position closer to the entrance of the ear canal than in the beamformer position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Patrick Joseph Boyle, Volkmar Hamacher
  • Publication number: 20180243560
    Abstract: There is provided a cochlear implant system, comprising a sound processor for generating an auditory nerve stimulation signal from an input audio signal; an implantable stimulation assembly comprising an electrode array for electrical stimulation of the cochlea according to the neural stimulation signal; and an electrode migration monitoring unit including a unit for capturing ECAP signals induced at the electrodes of the electrode array in response to stimulation of the cochlea by applying auditory nerve stimulation signals to the electrodes, an electrode migration detection unit for detecting electrode migration relative to the cochlea by comparing presently captured ECAP signals and/or ECAP data derived from such presently captured ECAP signals to stored previously captured ECAP signals and/or ECAP data derived from such previously captured ECAP signals, and a unit for outputting an alarm signal in case that electrode migration is detected by the electrode migration detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Volkmar Hamacher, Patrick J. Boyle
  • Publication number: 20180176702
    Abstract: A behind-the-ear sound processor module includes a BTE-housing; an adjustable microphone module attached to the BTE-housing for capturing input audio signals from ambient sound; and a sound processor unit for generating, from the input audio signals, a neural hearing stimulation signal to be supplied to an implantable neural stimulation arrangement, wherein the microphone module comprises a plurality of microphones and a support element for carrying the microphones, wherein the support element is movable between a beamformer position enabling the plurality of microphones to act as a directional microphone array in a beamformer audio signal processing mode of the sound processor unit and a T-Mic position enabling at least one of the microphones to act as a T-Mic in a T-Mic audio signal processing mode of the sound processor unit at a position closer to the entrance of the ear canal than in the beamformer position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Patrick Joseph Boyle, Volkmar Hamacher
  • Publication number: 20180014133
    Abstract: There is provided a hearing assistance system, comprising an audio streaming device, a first hearing device for stimulating a first ear of a user, and a second hearing device for stimulating a second ear of the user, the audio streaming device comprising an audio input interface for receiving an input stereo audio signal, a unit for analyzing the input stereo audio signal in order to determine at least one azimuthal localization cue by comparing the two channels of the stereo signal, a unit for processing the input stereo audio signal in order to produce an output stereo audio signal, and a unit for supplying one channel of the output stereo audio signal to the first hearing device and for supplying the other channel of the output stereo audio signal to the second hearing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Volkmar Hamacher, Stefan Fredelake, Phillipp Hehrmann
  • Patent number: 9802044
    Abstract: A system for stimulation of a patient's ipsilateral cochlea, having at least two spaced apart patient-worn microphones for providing first and second audio signals from ambient sound; a sound processor for generating an ipsilateral auditory nerve stimulation signal in a plurality of output channels from at least one of the input audio signals; and a stimulation assembly for being implanted within the ipsilateral cochlea and having a plurality of stimulation channels for ipsilateral stimulation of the patient's hearing according to the ipsilateral auditory nerve stimulation signal. The sound processor comprising a DOA unit for determining periodically a main direction of incidence of ambient sound from a sound source by analyzing the first and second audio signals, and a directional information coding unit for coding information concerning the determined main direction of incidence in the ipsilateral auditory nerve stimulation signal in manner to enable the patient to localize the sound source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Volkmar Hamacher, Josef Chalupper
  • Patent number: 9713714
    Abstract: A system includes a cochlear implant electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of stimulation channels; means for dividing an audio signal into a plurality of analysis channels; means for establishing an electrode-nerve-interface model of hearing stimulation via the cochlear implant electrode arrangement; means for determining a signal level value and a noise level value for each analysis channel by analyzing the respective frequency domain signal; means for determining a noise reduction gain parameter for at least some of the analysis channels as a function of the signal level value and the noise level value of the respective analysis channel; means for applying noise reduction to the frequency domain signal according to the noise reduction gain parameters to generate a noise reduced frequency domain signal; and means for generating a stimulation signal for each of the stimulation channels according to the noise reduced frequency domain signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Waldo Nogueira, Volkmar Hamacher