Patents Assigned to Cochlear Limited
  • System and method for adaptive calibration of subcutaneous microphone
    Patent number: 11523227
    Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one housing configured to be implanted within a body of a recipient, at least one acoustic transducer positioned on or within the at least one housing, at least one motion sensor positioned on or within the at least one housing, gain circuitry configured to apply a gain to transducer output signals from the at least one acoustic transducer, at least one storage device, and at least one processor operatively coupled to the at least one acoustic transducer, the at least one motion sensor, the gain circuitry, and the at least one storage device. The at least one processor is configured to adjust the gain circuitry in response to a reference acoustic sensitivity function, a reference vibration response function, the transducer output signals, and sensor output signals from the at least one motion sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Thomas Leroux
  • Dynamic stimulus resolution adaption
    Patent number: 11510014
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques that use acoustic scene (environmental) analysis to determine the sound class of sound signals received at a hearing prosthesis and, accordingly, assess the estimated listening difficulty that the acoustic environment presents to a recipient of the hearing prosthesis. This difficulty of the recipient's listening situation can be used to adjust, adapt, or otherwise set the resolution of the electrical stimulation signals delivered to the recipient to evoke perception of the sound signals. In other words, the resolution of the electrical stimulation signals is dynamically adapted based on the present acoustic environment of the hearing prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Zachary Mark Smith
  • Multiple sound source encoding in hearing prostheses
    Patent number: 11510015
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for enhancing a hearing prosthesis recipient's perception of multiple frequencies present in received sound signals. The hearing prosthesis is configured to extract a plurality of frequencies from the received sound signals and to use the plurality of frequencies to modulate the amplitudes of different stimulation pulse sequences that are to be delivered to the recipient via different stimulation channels. The hearing prosthesis may also adapt a stimulation resolution of the stimulation pulse sequences when delivering the modulated stimulation pulses sequences to the recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Naomi Croghan, Harish Krishnamoorthi, Zachary Mark Smith
  • Systems and methods for customizing auditory devices
    Patent number: 11503413
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for customizing an auditory prosthesis or other medical device. Customizing the auditory prosthesis includes obtaining and evaluating system data. The system data includes data from multiple sensors, including one or more sensors of an auditory prosthesis and one or more sensors of a recipient computing device. Based on the evaluation of the system data, a target behavior is determined, such as operating the auditory prosthesis in a particular sonic environment or with particular auditory prosthesis settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Jan Patrick Frieding, Carl Uvesten, Fredrik Breitholtz, Nicholas Feeney
  • Horizontal abutment extender
    Patent number: 11496845
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes an elongate body, a first connector, and a second connector. The first connector has a first axis and is configured to be repeatedly attached to and detached from a percutaneous implant of a bone conduction acoustic prosthesis system. The second connector has a second axis and is configured to be repeatedly attached to and detached from a component of the acoustic prosthesis system, the component external to the recipient. The first axis and the second axis are offset from one another along a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Emelie Lager, Madeleine Gustavsson, Henrik Fyrlund
  • Acoustic output device with antenna
    Patent number: 11491331
    Abstract: A BTE prosthetic device for use in a medical system or prosthesis comprises a connector configured to mechanically attach an auxiliary device of the system to the BTE prosthetic device. The connector is electrically connected to a transceiver of the BTE prosthetic device. The connector operates as an electromagnetic antenna for transmitting and/or receiving signals between the BTE prosthetic and other components of the medical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Werner Meskens, Tadeusz Jurkiewicz, Steve Winnal, Limin Zhong
  • Event detection in an implantable auditory prosthesis
    Patent number: 11484218
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for monitoring the physical state of a stimulating assembly to, for example, detect the occurrence of an adverse event. More specifically, an elongate stimulating assembly comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced contacts is at least partially implanted into a recipient. Electrical measurements are performed at one or more of the plurality of contacts and the electrical measurements are evaluated relative to one another to determine the physical state of the stimulating assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin Peter Johnston, Paul Michael Carter, Stuart John Kay, Andrea Lam, Shaun Ashwin Kumar, Joerg Pesch
  • Implanted medical devices having electrode assemblies
    Patent number: 11484704
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are electrode assemblies configured for use with a medical device, such as an implantable medical device. In one aspect, the disclosed electrode assembly includes at least a first electrode and a second electrode, each of which is configured to deliver electrical stimuli to a body part of a recipient. The electrode assembly also includes a first wire that is attached at one end to the first electrode and comprises a conductor that has a first diameter, and a second wire that is attached to the second electrode and comprises a conductor that has a second diameter, with the first diameter being greater than the second diameter. Additionally, each of the first wire and the second wire pass through a proximal end of the assembly is configured to connect the one of the electrodes to a stimulation unit of a medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Frank Risi
  • Individualized own voice detection in a hearing prosthesis
    Patent number: 11477587
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for training a hearing prosthesis to classify/categorize received sound signals as either including a recipient's own voice (i.e., the voice or speech of the recipient of the hearing prosthesis) or external voice (i.e., the voice or speech of one or more persons other than the recipient). The techniques presented herein use the captured voice (speech) of the recipient to train the hearing prosthesis to perform the classification of the sound signals as including the recipient's own voice or external voice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Matthew Brown
  • Implant system
    Patent number: 11477586
    Abstract: A compensation system for an implantable actuator is disclosed where the implantable actuator includes a sealed housing containing a driving arrangement for the actuator. The compensation system includes an external pressure sensor for measuring an external pressure outside of the sealed housing and a compensation module for determining a compensation factor for the implantable actuator based on the external pressure. In one embodiment, the compensation is directed to a direct acoustic cochlear stimulation (DACS) implantable actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Peter B. J. Van Gerwen
  • Microphone unit having a pressurized chamber
    Patent number: 11470411
    Abstract: Disclosed examples generally include methods and apparatuses related to microphone units, such as may be found in implantable medical devices (e.g., cochlear implants). Microphone units generally include a microphone element connected to a chamber having a concave floor with the chamber covered by a membrane. Microphone units can be configured to produce an output based on pressure waves (e.g., sound waves) that reach the membrane. In an example, a microphone unit has a pressurized gas within the chamber below the membrane such that, while in a static state, the membrane deflects away from the chamber floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Joris Walraevens, Patrik Kennes, Vincente Osorio, Stijn Eeckhoudt, Koen Erik Van den Heuvel
  • Transformable speech processor module for a hearing prosthesis
    Patent number: 11439821
    Abstract: A method for operating an external component of a cochlear implant hearing system. The external component includes a speech processor module operable in a stand-alone mode of operation and a body-worn mode of operation, and a protective case. The method includes operating the speech processor module in the stand-alone mode, determining when the speech processor module is mounted in the case, and operating the speech processor module in the body-worn mode in response to determining that the speech processor module is mounted in the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Derek Ian Darley, Michael Goorevich, Peter Scott Single
  • Hybrid electrically- and mechanically-stimulating cochlear implant
    Patent number: 11445312
    Abstract: Wires and coils within an electrode assembly electromagnetically interact and cause mechanical motion of the assembly. This mechanical motion can be used to supplement or replace the electrical stimulation provided by a standard cochlear implant and provides targeted acoustic stimulation to the cochlea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Jan Vermeiren, Kristof Buytaert, Rishubh Verma
  • Advanced electrode array insertion with conditioning
    Patent number: 11439811
    Abstract: A method, including obtaining information indicative of a phenomenon sensed at a read electrode of a cochlear implant electrode array relative to a reference and/or at a read electrode remote from the electrode array relative to a reference, where one of the electrodes of the cochlear implant electrode array was energized executing a first analysis of the information to identify one or more first meanings from among a first group of meanings of the sensed phenomenon, conditioning the obtained information based on the identified one or more first meanings, and executing a second analysis of the conditioned information to identify one or more second meanings from among a second group of meanings of the sensed phenomenon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Ángel Ramos de Miguel, Sr., Ángel Manuel Ramos Macías, D. Juan Carlos Falcon Gonzalez, Riaan Rottier, Christopher Bennett
  • Bone conduction devices utilizing multiple actuators
    Patent number: 11445311
    Abstract: A bone conduction device includes split high-frequency and low-frequency actuators. The frequency response of the low-frequency actuator can be restricted to the lower range of hearing frequencies to improve performance. The high-frequency actuator can be implanted under tissue close to the cochlea to improve transmission efficiency, since high-frequency vibrations suffer greater attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Wim Bervoets, Joris Walraevens, Patrik Kennes
  • Fixation system for an implantable medical device
    Patent number: 11439834
    Abstract: A medical implant, such as an implantable component (22) of a tissue-stimulating prosthesis. One example of such a prosthesis being a cochlear implant. The component (22) is adapted to be implanted at or adjacent a tissue surface within the recipient, such as a bone surface. The component (22) has a housing and at least one flange (42) extending outwardly therefrom. The flange (42) can be secured to the tissue surface via a tissue fixation device, such as a bone screw (43).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Peter Gibson, Lars Vendelbo Johansen
  • Wireless communication in an implantable medical device system
    Patent number: 11433245
    Abstract: Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to techniques for the transfer of isochronous stimulation data over a standardized isochronous audio or data link between components of an implantable medical device system. More specifically, as described further below, a first component is configured to generate dynamic stimulation data based on one or more received sound signals. The first component is configured to obtain static configuration data and to encode the dynamic stimulation data and the static configuration data into a series of isochronous wireless packets. The first component is configured to transmit the series of wireless packets over an isochronous wireless channel to a second component of the implantable medical device system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Werner Meskens, Koen Van Herck
  • Securing an implanted medical device in a patient
    Patent number: 11426576
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for implanting and securing an implanted medical device in a recipient. The implantable medical device of the generally includes an electrode assembly that comprises an elongate carrier member having at least one stimulating electrode positioned thereon. The carrier member further has a fixation structure positioned thereon configured to interact with a portion of the rigid structure to longitudinally secure the carrier member in the recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Peter Gibson
  • Progressive insertion middle ear protector
    Patent number: 11426582
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a stimulation assembly having an elongate body and a plurality of stimulation elements longitudinally spaced from one another along a portion of the elongate body. The stimulation assembly includes a first set of the stimulation elements and a second set of the stimulation elements. The apparatus further includes a tube over the second set of the stimulation elements. The tube is configured to be removed from the stimulation assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Daniel Smyth, Nicholas Pawsey, Peter Gibson
  • Passive integrity management of an implantable device
    Patent number: 11432084
    Abstract: A medical device prosthesis, including a housing and a piezoelectric transducer including a piezoelectric component, wherein the piezoelectric transducer is supported in the housing via at least one spring. In some embodiments, the medical device prosthesis is a bone conduction device, such as a transcutaneous passive or active bone conduction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Tommy Bergs, Marcus Vardfjäll, Kristian Gunnar Asnes