Patents Assigned to Cochlear Limited
  • Patent number: 9313589
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically configuring a medical device that is at least partially implanted in a human recipient and that includes a transducer arranged to stimulate a physiological system of the recipient, such as a middle-ear implant for instance. The energy level of a signal provided to drive the transducer is progressively increased until there is a threshold electrical change indicative of a threshold change in impedance of the transducer. In the context of a middle-ear implant, for instance, the threshold electrical change indicative of the threshold change in impedance of the transducer may be indicative of the acoustic reflex. The energy level of the signal at that point is then used as a basis to set an operational parameter of the medical device, such as a comfort-level of the middle-ear implant for instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Martin Hillbratt, André Sadeghi, Mark Flynn
  • Patent number: 9308367
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are generally directed to taking measurements in a hearing prosthesis. In an embodiment, a power circuit, which may be a switched mode power circuit, is shut down during performance of the measurements to reduce interference. Then, power capacitively stored by the power circuit is used to power the hearing prosthesis during performance of the measurements. In an embodiment, the power circuit increases its voltage just prior to performance of the measurements. This serves to increase the amount of energy capacitively stored by the power circuit and thus extends the period of time during which the measurements may be taken while the power circuit is shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: John Chambers, Mathew Ross Markey, David John Reid, Padraig Hurley
  • Patent number: 9295848
    Abstract: An improved antenna device for BTE devices, such a hearing prostheses, is disclosed. Antenna elements (111, 114) are disposed in the BTE body (101) and in the earhook (102), with dielectric material (112, 113) disposed between, so as to form a capacitive coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Werner Meskens
  • Patent number: 9301068
    Abstract: The present application discloses systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for determining prescription rules for a hearing prosthesis. A method in accordance with the present disclosure includes identifying a threshold hearing level and an uncomfortable loudness level for a channel of a hearing prosthesis. In one example, the threshold hearing level and the uncomfortable loudness level are determined in response to a stimulation signal generated utilizing the hearing prosthesis in situ on a recipient. In the present example, the stimulation signal corresponds to the channel of the hearing prosthesis. The method further includes developing a prescription rule based on the threshold hearing level and the uncomfortable loudness level. Generally, the prescription rule includes at least one of a linear compression scheme and a wide dynamic range compression scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Erwin Cas, Mark C. Flynn, Christopher J. James
  • Patent number: 9283376
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are generally directed to a modulation enhancement strategy that helps improve ITD perception by explicitly modulating the electrical stimulation signal. In an embodiment, the timing of the applied modulations is based on amplitude inflections (i.e., peaks or troughs) in the received sound signal. In an embodiment, the identified inflections (i.e., peaks or troughs) represent the most energetic portions of the signal over a particular time period (e.g., the time period prior to the inflection having a length equal to the expected fundamental period of the signal. Further, in an embodiment, the cochlear implant applies a delay to the stimulation signal to help maintain interaural timing cues. The application of this delay helps account for the traveling wave delay in the acoustic path of the opposite ear in embodiments in which the opposite ear is fitted with a hearing aid or is not fitted with a hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Jan Wouters, Tom Francart
  • Patent number: 9272142
    Abstract: The present application discloses systems and methods for displaying and operating a user interface having one or more channel group controllers corresponding to one or more groups of hearing prosthesis channels. The hearing prosthesis may be configured to generate a plurality of signals via a plurality of channels based on a channel profile. The channel profile may define at least one intensity level for each channel. In operation, the user interface may be configured to instruct the hearing prosthesis to change the channel profile of the plurality of channels in response to receiving an input via one of the channel group controllers. The user interface may be used to fit a hearing prosthesis to a recipient. In one embodiment, an initial channel profile may be automatically determined, and the prosthesis channel profile may be adjusted by changing a representative intensity level corresponding to the channel profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Botros, Bastiaan Van Dijk, Rami Banna
  • Patent number: 9271092
    Abstract: An implant including a bone fixture configured to anchor to bone of a recipient, and a structural component configured to be connected to the bone fixture and connect a functional component of the implant to the bone fixture, wherein at least one of the bone fixture or the structural component includes a deformable element configured to deform to form an anti-microbial seal between the bone fixture and the structural component, and the at least one deformable element and the respective at least one bone fixture or structural component form a monolithic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Goran Bjorn, Marcus Andersson
  • Patent number: 9248287
    Abstract: Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to a sound processor accessory configured to be mechanically and electrically connected to a sound processor of an auditory prosthesis. The sound processor accessory comprises first and second sound input elements that are each configured to independently provide electrical signals representing sound signals to the sound processor via a shared connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Oliver Ridler
  • Patent number: 9247353
    Abstract: An acoustic coupler for a hearing device. The hearing device including a microphone. The acoustic coupler includes an earphone receptacle formed to releasably engage an earphone therein and a securing feature formed to detachably engage the coupler to the hearing device in proximity to the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Michael Bewley
  • Patent number: 9247357
    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 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Peter B. J. Van Gerwen
  • Patent number: 9238140
    Abstract: An improved arrangement for detecting DC current leakage in implanted devices is disclosed. Currents are monitored, so that any unexpected imbalance indicates that a fault condition has occurred. The principle of the system is that if everything working correctly, the same current should be flowing into the tissue from VDDH-ELEC as is passing out of the tissue into VSS_ELEC. Any difference is indicative of current flowing into or out of the tissue from unknown paths, which is indicative of some fault. This replaces routine monitoring for specific faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Yashodhan Moghe, Helmut Christian Eder
  • Patent number: 9240193
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for processing an audio signal are provided. An example method includes mapping a fundamental frequency of an audio signal to a modulation frequency. An output of the mapping is less than the fundamental frequency when the fundamental frequency is greater than an intersection frequency. The intersection frequency is a frequency at which the output of the mapping is the fundamental frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Christopher James
  • Patent number: 9227058
    Abstract: The present application discloses systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for transferring data and/or data over a communication link. A medical device in one example includes receiver(s) configured to receive first signals, which include power signals and first stimulation data, and second signals, which include second stimulation data. Each of the first stimulation data and the second stimulation data includes data encoded according to a same data encoding protocol. The device also includes control circuitry coupled to the one or more receivers and configured to operate in a first mode and in a second mode. The control circuitry is configured in the first mode to apply the power signals to provide power to the medical device and to apply the first stimulation data to a medical device recipient. Further, the control circuitry is configured in the second mode to apply the second stimulation data to the medical device recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Werner Meskens
  • Patent number: 9232327
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and computing devices for fitting bilateral hearing prostheses. An example method includes sending a signal to a first hearing prosthesis and a second hearing prosthesis. The signal causes the first hearing prosthesis to deliver a first stimulus to a body part in a left auditory pathway of a user. The signal also causes the second hearing prosthesis to deliver a second stimulus to a body part in a right auditory pathway of the user. The first stimulus and the second stimulus cause the user to perceive a sound and are delivered simultaneously. The method also includes receiving an indication of a perception of the sound by the user. The method further includes determining an adjustment to at least one of the first stimulus or the second stimulus based on the perception of the sound by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Zachary M. Smith
  • Patent number: 9216288
    Abstract: The present application discloses systems and methods for operating a stimulation prosthesis that contains a command module and a stimulator module that communicate by a data link. The stimulation prosthesis has at least two operating states: a configuration state and a stimulation state. In one embodiment, the stimulation prosthesis may use a communication protocol that is suitable for the current operating state. The risk of unintended transitions between the operating states due to data transmission errors is substantially eliminated. And in accordance with another embodiment, in addition to switching stimulation strategies, the stimulation prosthesis may also switch stimulation data formats to a format that is optimized for the new stimulation strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Brett Swanson
  • Patent number: 9191759
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for data transmission through a recipient's skull bone. In one aspect of the present technology there is provided a bilateral system, comprising a first mechanical stimulator configured to transmit first data through vibrations of a skull of a recipient, and a sensor device configured to receive the first transmitted data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Martin E. Hillbratt, Marcus Andersson
  • Patent number: 9179222
    Abstract: A device includes a sound input element for receiving a sound signal and converting the sound signal into an electrical signal. The device also includes an actuator and a sound processor for processing the electrical signal to generate a stimulation signal. The sound processor is configured to apply frequency shifting on the stimulation signal to generate a frequency shifted stimulation signal and to apply the frequency shifted stimulation signal as an output from the device. The frequency shifting can be triggered by detecting that the stimulation signal is associated with frequencies above an output limit of the device for a recipient and/or the stimulation signal can be applied as vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Martin E. G. Hillbratt, Mark C. Flynn
  • Patent number: 9173585
    Abstract: This method of determining an intracochlea tissue impedance comprises using at least two stimulating electrodes to apply an electrical stimulus to intracochlea tissue. A voltage caused by the stimulus is measured between two measuring electrodes distinct from the stimulating electrodes. From the voltage a stimulus-response characteristic of tissue between the two measuring electrodes is determined. This allows the tissue/electrode interface impedance and potential and the tissue impedance and potential to be uniquely determined. In turn, modiolus currents can be estimated in monopolar stimulation mode. Also provided is automated initiation of re-mapping of the device when tissue characteristics change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Kostas Tsampazis, Paul Carter, Herbert Mauch
  • Patent number: 9173042
    Abstract: A screw-shaped anchoring fixture for anchoring a prosthesis in the skull bone. The anchoring fixture comprises a main body configured to be implanted into the bone and a flange configured to function as a stop to prevent the main body from completely penetrating through the bone. The main body comprises a distal tapered apical portion, a first portion, and a second portion. The inner diameter of the second portion is greater than the inner diameter of the first portion. The method for inserting the anchoring fixture includes providing the anchoring fixture, drilling a hole, and inserting the anchoring fixture into the hole until the flange contacts the skull bone, wherein the hole has a diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the first portion and less than the outer diameter of the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Lars Jinton, Erik Holgersson, Peter Elmberg
  • Patent number: 9166655
    Abstract: A communication system for an active implantable medical device. The communication system includes an isolation transformer a coil coupled to the isolation transformer, and first and second communication components each coupled to the isolation transformer such that the first and second communication components are electrically isolated from the coil, and such that the isolation transformer enables the first and second communication components to communicate, via magnetic induction (MI) using the coil, with at least one external component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Werner Meskens, Erika J. Van Baelen, Tony M. Nygard