Patents Assigned to Cochlear Limited
  • Patent number: 9020169
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for determining a data rate for a communication between bilateral hearing prostheses are disclosed. A first hearing prosthesis transmits a first signal to a second hearing prosthesis during a first transmission interval. The second hearing prosthesis transmits a second signal to the first hearing prosthesis during a second transmission interval. The first signal includes an indication of a data rate for the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Werner Meskens
  • Patent number: 9020174
    Abstract: A bone conduction hearing aid device comprising a vibrator configured to vibrate in response to sound signals received by the device. The device further comprises a housing mass forming a housing for one or more operational components of the device, wherein the housing mass is attached to the vibrator so as to move in response to the vibration. The device also comprises a coupling configured to attach the device to a recipient so as to deliver the generated mechanical to the recipient's skull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Kristian Åsnes, Patrick Wilhelm Strömsten
  • Patent number: 9020621
    Abstract: A network based processing element for processing audio information improves the understanding of speech or music for intended listeners based on an identifier. The processing involves performing a media enhancement function, where a parameter affecting the utilization or performance aspects of the media enhancement function are dependent upon the identifier. A “media enhancement server” (MES) is included, whereby the audio of a telephone call, video call, multimedia program or other stream to be heard by a specific listener is processed using a personalized audio enhancement parameter to enhance the audio signal such that the listener will enjoy a benefit, such as better comprehension of the information, reduced listening effort, and more listening comfort during the call. The personalized parameters are stored and retrieved based upon the identifier, and used within the MES. The audio portion of the call or stream could be speech, music, or a combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: James Proctor, Mark Skowronski, James R. Bress, Lee S. Krause, George Shenoda
  • Patent number: 9008787
    Abstract: A method and system for charge imbalance compensation in a stimulating medical device is provided. The stimulating medical device includes at least one electrode contact configured for providing stimulation to a recipient. A charge imbalance compensation system in the stimulating medical device measures any residual charge remaining on the electrode contact that may result from an imbalance in the applied stimulation. If the measured residual charge exceeds a threshold, the charge imbalance compensation system causes a compensator current to be applied to reduce the residual charge. This residual charge may be measured by measuring a potential difference between the electrode contact and a reference electrode; or, by measuring a potential difference across a capacitor in-series with the electrode contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Paul M. Carter, Torsten Lehmann, Christopher van den Honert, Ibrahim Ibrahim, Tony M. Nygard
  • Patent number: 9005202
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a percutaneous implant abutment for bone anchored implant devices adapted to be anchored in the craniofacial region of a person, such as bone anchored hearing aids. The abutment comprises a skin penetration body having a skin contacting surface. The skin contacting surface has been modified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Marcus Andersson
  • Patent number: 9008786
    Abstract: A tissue-stimulating prosthesis receives an input signal and determines a set of stimulation signals for use in generating electrical stimulation that will cause the recipient to perceive the input signal. The prosthesis determines a set of stimulation signals based on the perceptual power of at least one of the frequency components of the input signal or the perceptual power of one or more stimulation signals within the set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Tim Neal, Bastiaan van Dijk
  • Patent number: 9008796
    Abstract: An implantable component of a medical device, comprising a polymeric surface. The component includes one or more macro-surface features at the polymeric surface having a configuration that, following application of a liquid drug to the surface retains a quantity of the liquid drug adjacent the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Edmond Capcelea, Fysh Dadd, Kristien J. M. Verhoeven
  • Patent number: 8996121
    Abstract: A prosthesis including an external device and an implantable component. The external device includes a first inductive communication component. The implantable component includes a second inductive communication component, wherein the implantable component is configured to be implanted under skin of a recipient. The external device is configured to transmit power via magnetic induction transcutaneously to the implantable component via the second inductive communication component. The internal component is configured to receive at least a portion of the power transmitted from the external device via the inductive communication component. At least one of the first and second inductive communication components comprise an inductive communication component configured to vary its effective coil area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Werner Meskens
  • Patent number: 8996127
    Abstract: Assessment of neuron excitation is implemented by quantifying the interaction between focused and unfocused stimulation applied to a cochlear array. By applying focused and unfocused stimulation to the electrode array and comparing the difference in the responses to the two types of stimulation the interaction may be determined. The magnitude of the interaction may be related to neural excitation and using this data a neural excitation profile may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Christopher van den Honert, Zachary Smith, Christopher J. Long, Daniel M. Lisogurski, Robert P. Carlyon
  • Patent number: 8989413
    Abstract: A hearing prosthesis, the hearing prosthesis including a plurality of sound capture devices and a determinator configured to generate a parameter indicative of an orientation of the plurality of sound capture devices relative to a reference, wherein the hearing prosthesis is configured to adjust a direction of focus of the hearing prosthesis based on at least the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Oliver Ridler, Martin James Cosenza
  • Patent number: 8972020
    Abstract: Presented herein is a shapeable coil cable for use in connection with an implantable medical device comprising first and second external components. The shapeable coil cable is a conformable and non-resilient member that is sufficiently pliable to accept a configuration set by a user and sufficiently rigid to retain the configuration set by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Ferdie Josef Djunaedi, Tad Jurkiewicz
  • Patent number: 8965520
    Abstract: Automatically analyzing neural activity. The method comprises: applying electrical stimulation to a target neural region at an initial current level that approximates a typical threshold-Neural Response Telemetry (NRT) level; recording an NRT measurement of neural activity within the target neural region in response to the stimulation; and utilizing a machine-learned expert system to predict, based on one or more features of the neural activity, whether the NRT measurement contains a neural response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Botros, Bastiaan van Dijk, Matthijs Killian
  • Patent number: 8958589
    Abstract: An In-The-Ear (ITE) device is disclosed. This ITE is adapted for connection to a cable from a Behind-The-Ear (BTE) device, the ITE device including a releasable mechanical retention device for the cable, such that the cable may be customized in length and may be attached to the retention device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Slobodan Ilic, Phillip Stallard, Thomas Hunkeler, Olivier Blättler
  • Patent number: 8955211
    Abstract: A method of forming an electrode array is disclosed, the method comprising: forming an elongate comb structure comprising a plurality of longitudinally-spaced electrode contacts extending from and supported by a spine; electrically connecting each of a plurality of electrically conductive pathways to a respective one of the plurality of electrode contacts; placing the conductive pathways adjacent the contacts; placing silicone over the conductive pathways and contacts; curing the silicone so as to substantially retain the longitudinal spacing between neighboring contacts; and severing the spine from the plurality of electrode contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Fysh Dadd, Andy Ho, Shahram Manouchehri, Nicholas Charles Kendall Pawsey, Peter Schuller, Peter Raymond Sibary
  • Patent number: 8954158
    Abstract: An apparatus and method optimizing complex channel configurations to produce minimal channel interactions is provided. The method includes selecting multiple channels from a channel configuration including a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels includes multiple electrodes. The method also includes measuring an interaction between selected channels and determining a significance of the measured interaction. The method further includes adjusting a focus of the channel configuration based on the significance of measured interaction, wherein the focus of the channel configuration is not adjusted if the interaction between the selected channels determined to be insignificant. The measuring, determining and adjusting is repeated until the interaction between the selected channels is determined to be insignificant or the magnitude of the interaction is determined to be minimized, thereby optimizing the channel configuration for the selected channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Zachary M. Smith
  • Patent number: 8953810
    Abstract: Aspect of the present invention are generally directed to synchronization between a first auditory prosthesis and a second auditory prosthesis of a bilateral auditory prosthesis system. In this system, a primary wireless communications channel, usable for synchronizing the first and second prostheses, may be disabled to, for example, conserve power. Then, upon detection of a trigger in sound received by one or more of the prostheses, the primary wireless communication channel is enabled and the prostheses synchronized using the primary wireless communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Werner Meskens, Tony M. Nygard
  • Patent number: 8945216
    Abstract: A system for fitting a hearing prosthesis to a recipient. The system comprises a stimulation arrangement configured to at least one of mechanically and acoustically stimulate the recipient's inner ear based on an input signal; a neural response detection arrangement configured to detect the recipient's neural responses to the stimulation; and a processor configured to assess the recipient's neural responses, and to adjust operation of the hearing prosthesis based on the assessment of the neural responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: John Parker, Herbert Baechler, Markus Haller
  • Patent number: 8934984
    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 an 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: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Werner Meskens, Tadeusz Jurkiewicz, Steve Winnall, Limin Zhong
  • Patent number: 8929577
    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: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Kristian Asnes
  • Patent number: D723171
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Slobodan Ilic, Hans Yoo, Tadeusz Jurkiewicz, David Harte