Patents Assigned to Cochlear Limited
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Functionality migration
    Patent number: 11426592
    Abstract: A sensory supplement medical device, including a stimulation device configured to implement a first functionality of the sensory supplement medical device corresponding to the providing of sensory supplement to a recipient to evoke a sensory percept, wherein the sensory supplement medical device is configured to implement a secondary functionality different from the first functionality, and the sensory supplement medical device is configured to migrate the second functionality to a device remote from the sensory supplement medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Harry Xiao, Jan Patrick Frieding, Kenneth Oplinger, Rishubh Verma, Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt, Michael Trieu
  • Ear canal microphone utilizing communications with hearing implant
    Patent number: 11418897
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing configured to be positioned within an ear canal of a recipient, at least one transducer, and at least one communication circuit. The at least one transducer is configured to respond to sound within the ear canal by generating output signals indicative of the sound. The at least one communication circuit has at least one resonance frequency and is configured to receive the output signals from the at least one transducer and to modulate the at least one resonance frequency in response to the output signals from the at least one transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Kenneth Oplinger, Sören Nilsson
  • Contralateral sound capture with respect to stimulation energy source
    Patent number: 11412334
    Abstract: A hearing prosthesis system, including a sound capture device configured to capture a sound and generate a signal based on the captured sound, and a vibratory portion configured to vibrate in response to the signal to evoke a hearing percept via bone conduction, wherein the system is configured to capture the sound on a first side of a recipient where the sound capture device is located and transfer the signal to a second side of the recipient where the vibratory portion is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Marcus Andersson
  • Advanced assistance for prosthesis assisted communication
    Patent number: 11405733
    Abstract: A system, including a signal input, a processor a signal output, wherein the processor is configured to generate an instruction related to data related to a recipient of a sensory prosthesis based on input into the signal input, and the signal output is configured to output data indicative of the instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Kenneth Oplinger, Rowan Christopher Page