Patents Assigned to Cochlear Limited
  • Medical device coupling arrangement
    Patent number: 9516434
    Abstract: Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to a coupling arrangement for securing an external component to a recipient of an implantable medical device. The coupling arrangement is configured to magnetically couple the external component to a recipient so as to minimize damage to tissue of the recipient adjacent to the coupling arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Göran Björn, Henrik Fyrlund, Stefan Magnander
  • Combined functional component and implantable actuator positioning mechanism
    Patent number: 9516433
    Abstract: An implantable component including an implantable body including a functional component of the implantable medical device, and implantable actuator positioning mechanism connected to and extending from the implantable body, the actuator positioning mechanism configured to removably receive an implantable actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: C. Roger Leigh
  • Audio processing pipeline for auditory prosthesis having a common, and two or more stimulator-specific, frequency-analysis stages
    Patent number: 9510114
    Abstract: An audio processing pipeline, for an auditory prosthesis, includes: a common stage, including a common frequency analysis filter bank, configured to generate a common set of processed signals based on an input audio signal; and first and second stimulator-specific stages, responsive to the common set of signals and including first and second frequency-analysis filter banks, configured to generate first and second sets of processed signals adapted for the first and second hearing stimulators, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Michael Goorevich, Paul Holmberg, Adam Hersbach
  • Fitting of hearing devices
    Patent number: 9479879
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recipient fitting of a hearing device. An embodiment of the present invention determines the transmission loss for sound applied to the recipient by the hearing device. Separate gains are then determined for compensating for the determined transmission loss and the measured hearing loss of the recipient. For example, in an embodiment, the hearing device may compensate for transmission losses in a 1:1 manner (i.e., the transmission loss in 100% compensated for). The hearing device may apply a different gain to compensate for the hearing loss, such as a gain that is a fraction (e.g., 33-55%) of the measured hearing loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Mark Flynn, Bjorn Davidsson
  • Pre-processing of a channelized music signal
    Patent number: 9473852
    Abstract: A method for pre-processing a channelized music signal to improve perception and appreciation for a hearing prosthesis recipient. In one example, the channelized music signal is a stereo input signal. A device, such as a handheld device, hearing prosthesis, or audio cable, for example, applies a mask to a stereo input signal to extract a center-mixed component from the stereo signal and outputs an output signal comprised of a weighted combination of the extracted center-mixed component and a residual signal comprising a non-extracted part of the stereo input signal. The center-mixed component may contain components, such as leading vocals and/or drums, preferred by hearing prosthesis recipients relative to other components, such as backing vocals or other instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Wim Buyens
  • Bone conduction device including a balanced electromagnetic actuator having radial and axial air gaps
    Patent number: 9445207
    Abstract: A bone conduction device configured to couple to an abutment of an anchor system anchored to a recipient's skull. The bone conduction device includes a vibrating electromagnetic actuator configured to vibrate in response to sound signals received by the bone conduction device, and a coupling apparatus configured to attach the bone conduction device to the abutment so as to impart to the recipient's skull vibrations generated by the vibrating electromagnetic actuator. The vibrating electromagnetic actuator includes a bobbin assembly and a counterweight assembly. Two axial air gaps are located between the bobbin assembly and the counterweight assembly and two radial air gaps are located between the bobbin assembly and the counterweight assembly. No substantial amount of the dynamic magnetic flux passes through the radial air gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Kristian Asnes
  • Cochlear implant stimulation
    Patent number: 9440073
    Abstract: Presented herein are trans-modiolar stimulation techniques in which stimulation current is sourced (delivered) by at least one intra-cochlear stimulating contact and is sunk at a group of other intra-cochlear stimulating contacts. The group of other intra-cochlear stimulating contacts is positioned (located) across a section of the recipient's modiolus from the intra-cochlear stimulating contact that sources the stimulation. As such, stimulation current generally passes through the modiolus to stimulate spiral ganglion cells and evoke a hearing percept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Wolfram Frederik Dueck, Nicholas Charles Kendall Pawsey, Peter Raymond Sibary, Claudia Tasche
  • Electromagnetic transducer with air gap substitute
    Patent number: 9432782
    Abstract: A balanced electromagnetic transducer, including first and second components connected together by a flexible component, at least a part of which flexes upon exposure of the transducer to energy, wherein the transducer is configured to generate a static magnetic flux that passes from the first component to the second component via the flexible component and travels across no more than two air gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Johan Gustafsson, Tommy Bergs
  • Hearing prosthesis electrode array with resiliently flexible tip member
    Patent number: 9427568
    Abstract: A tip member for inserting into the cochlea, a device comprising: an elongate member including at least one electrode mounted thereon; and a tip member extending distally from a distal end of the elongate member, the tip member comprising a tapered portion tapering distally and a blunt end portion at a distal end of the tapered portion, wherein the tip member is resiliently flexible, and a method for making such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Fysh Dadd, Claudiu Treaba, Peter Gibson
  • Cartridge for an electrode array insertion device
    Patent number: 9415208
    Abstract: A device, system and method for inserting a pre-curved electrode array (100) held in a substantially straight configuration by a straightening member (101) into a cochlea of a subject. As the electrode array (100) is inserted into the cochlea by the device, the straightening member (101) is held by the device such that the electrode array (100) advances off the straightening member (101) such that it is free to take on its pre-curved configuration in the cochlea of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Fysh Dadd, Peter Gibson, Miroslaw Mackiewicz, Katherine Meagher, Claudiu Treaba, Henry Hon Sang Tsui, Desmond McCusker
  • Automatic gain control for implanted microphone
    Patent number: 9420384
    Abstract: A method for use in an implantable hearing instrument, including receiving an output signal from an implanted microphone implanted in a person, identifying a first characteristic of said output signal, based on said first characteristic, amplifying said microphone output signal by at least one of a plurality of gain settings to produce an amplified signal, wherein said plurality of gain setting comprise at least two different gain settings, inputting said amplified signal into a signal processor, processing said amplified signal to generate a transducer drive signal; and using said transducer drive signal to drive implanted auditory stimulation device implanted in a person to stimulate an auditory component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: David L. Basinger
  • Calibration of current sources and sinks in a stimulating medical device
    Patent number: 9409027
    Abstract: A stimulating medical device, comprising a plurality of electrodes, and a current source and a current sink connected to each one of the electrodes. The medical device also comprises a calibration arrangement configured to compare the current provided by a selected one of the current sources to the current sunk by a selected one of the current sinks, and configured to adjust an operational parameter of at least one of the source and sink based on said comparison such that the current provided by the selected current source is substantially the same as the current sunk by the current sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Matthew Markey, Yashodhan Moghe
  • Diagnostic testing and adaption
    Patent number: 9409017
    Abstract: Presented herein is diagnostic and adaptive circuitry for use in an implantable medical system (prosthesis) having at least two physically separate implantable modules (packages) that are electrically connected by a lead assembly (cable). The diagnostic and adaptive circuitry is configured to execute testing and adaptive (corrective) functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Kostas Tsampazis, Adrian Robert Cryer
  • Securing an implanted medical device in a patient
    Patent number: 9402990
    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: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Peter Gibson
  • Hearing prosthesis with a standard wire interface
    Patent number: 9403004
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for receiving a data signal and a power signal by a hearing prosthesis are disclosed. An input signal is received at a first unit of a hearing prosthesis. The first unit receives the input signal at a wired interface module that conforms to a standardized interface. The first unit identifies a data signal and a power signal included in the input signal. The first unit transfers at least a portion of the power signal to a second unit of the hearing prosthesis. The second unit is implanted in a body and is configured to stimulate an auditory organ, allowing a user to perceive at least a portion of a sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Werner Meskens, Erika Baelen, Koen van den Heuvel, Peter van Gerwen
  • Hearing prosthesis accessory
    Patent number: 9398384
    Abstract: Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to a protective sleeve for an external component of a hearing prosthesis. The protective sleeve comprises a base plug configured to be inserted into a main body. The main body and base plug are each primarily formed from a substantially flexible material and each comprises one or more substantially rigid members. When the base plug is inserted into the main body the substantially rigid members operate to deform a portion of substantially flexible material forming part of the main body or base plug to seal the base plug to the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: David Harte, Taduesz Jurkiewicz, Slobodan Ilic, Hans Yoo
  • Implantable medical device feedthroughs and housings
    Patent number: 9381590
    Abstract: Embodiments are generally directed to a feedthrough for an implantable medical device. The feedthrough comprises an insulator having one or more conductors extending therethrough that is hermetically connected (joined) to a housing of the implantable medical device. More specifically, the housing includes an aperture and the insulator is configured be positioned in the aperture. Braze material is configured to be positioned in one or more indentations in at least one of the housing or the insulator such that the braze material is disposed in the indentations between the insulator and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Powell, Graham Ball, Melvyn Clarke, Charles Roger Aaron Leigh, Grahame Walling, Kenny Crichton
  • Stimulating assembly fixation features
    Patent number: 9375565
    Abstract: Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to a stimulating assembly of a cochlear implant. The stimulating assembly comprises one or more fixation features configured to be inserted into a recipient's cochlea via an opening in the cochlea. Following insertion, the one or more fixation features are configured to engage an inner surface of the cochlea adjacent to the opening to prevent movement of the stimulating assembly out of the cochlea through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Charles Kendall Pawsey, Frank Risi
  • Hearing prosthesis system having interchangeable housings
    Patent number: 9375572
    Abstract: There is disclosed a hearing prosthesis comprising a first housing containing a primary signal processor that receives signals output by a microphone; and a second housing removably connectable to the first housing; wherein a user interface is provided on the second housing that provides control of one or more features of the operation of the primary signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Gunther Van Der Borght, Jan Janssen
  • Laminated roofing shingle
    Patent number: 5369929
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Elk Corporation of Dallas
    Inventors: Casimir P. Weaver, Matti Kiik, William J. Schultz, Patrick T. Stapleton
  • Hearing prosthesis sleeve
    Patent number: D762857
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Slobodan Ilic, Hans Yoo, Tadeusz Jurkiewicz, David Harte