Patents Assigned to Cochlear Limited
  • Bone fixture for a medical prosthesis
    Patent number: 11389180
    Abstract: Presented herein is a bone fixture for a medical prosthesis. The bone fixture includes a self-drilling threaded body that is configured to be inserted into a recipient's bone. The threaded body includes a bone removal mechanism configured to cut away parts of the bone that are in the path of the threaded body and to remove portions of the cut parts of the bone, sometimes referred to herein as bone fragments, from the hole. The bone fixture also comprises a coupling section that is attached to a proximal end of the threaded body. The coupling section is configured to be positioned external to the recipient's bone and includes a connector interface that is entirely/completely proximal to the threaded body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Marcus Andersson, Stefan Magnander
  • Contaminant-proof microphone assembly
    Patent number: 11395058
    Abstract: Presented herein are contaminant-proof microphone assemblies for use with devices/apparatuses, such as auditory prostheses, that include one or more microphones disposed within a housing. A contaminant-proof microphone assembly in accordance with certain embodiments presented herein includes a microphone, a microphone plug, and a contaminant-proof membrane. The microphone plug has a first end coupled to the microphone and a second end that is configured to be positioned adjacent the contaminant-proof membrane. As such, the microphone plug is disposed between a sound inlet of the microphone and the contaminant-proof membrane. The microphone plug may be configured to mate with the housing or a gasket attached to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Nathan Isaacson, Adam Mujaj
  • Sub-surface indicator lighting
    Patent number: 11388530
    Abstract: Presented herein are devices/apparatuses having indicator lights (visual indicators), such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), positioned underneath/below the outer surface of a housing of the device. However, the indicator lights positioned below the outer surface of the housing, sometimes referred to herein as “sub-surface” or “sub-housing” indicator lights, are optically coupled to the outer surface of the housing via one or more optical connectors (e.g., light guides, light pipes, light diffusers, etc.). As such, the light emitted by the sub-surface indicator lights is still visible at the outer surface of the device housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Nathan Isaacson, Jan Patrick Frieding
  • Smoothing power consumption of an active medical device
    Patent number: 11388531
    Abstract: An active medical device, including an input receiver configured to receive a frequency-varying input signal, and a functional component that reacts to the input signal and consumes power at a rate dependant on the frequency of portions of the input signal to which the functional component reacts, wherein the active medical device is configured to adjust one or more portions of the input signal corresponding to portions of the input signal where the functional component consumes power at a rate that is greater than that of other portions of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Werner Meskens, Carl Van Himbeeck
  • Relay interface for connecting an implanted medical device to an external electronics device
    Patent number: 11376442
    Abstract: An interface relay system for use with a fully implantable medical devices that permits transcutaneous coupling of the implanted medical device to a consumer electronics device. In one embodiment, coupling the implanted medical device to the external electronics device provides a back-up source of power for operating the implanted medical device. In another embodiment, coupling the implanted medical device to the external electronics device allows for providing unidirectional and/or bidirectional data transfer between the devices. In one arrangement, the consumer electronics device may be connectable to a communications/data network to allow for network communication between the implantable medical device and a remote processing platform/server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Scott Allan Miller, Denis Dupeyron
  • Medical electroporation
    Patent number: 11376423
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques that enable electroporation of the cells of a recipient of a tissue-stimulating prostheses while the tissue-stimulating prosthesis is implanted in the recipient. Tissue-stimulating prostheses in accordance with embodiments presented herein are configured such that the stimulation electronics (e.g., current sources and integrated circuit) of the prosthesis are not exposed to the high voltages used in electroporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Torsten Lehmann, Paul Michael Carter, John Michael Heasman
  • Implantable vibratory device using limited components
    Patent number: 11368802
    Abstract: A prosthesis including an implantable component including an LC circuit, wherein a piezoelectric material forms at least a part of the capacitance portion of the LC circuit, the piezoelectric material expands and/or contracts upon the application of a variable magnetic field to the inductor of the LC circuit, the LC circuit has an electrical self-resonance frequency below 20 kHz, and the piezoelectric material forms part of an actuator configured to output a force to tissue of a recipient in which the implantable component is implanted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Werner Meskens
  • Wireless streaming sound processing unit
    Patent number: 11357982
    Abstract: At least one of the first or second hearing prostheses of a binaural hearing prosthesis system includes a dual-mode sound processing unit that is configured to selectively operate in a “sound processing mode” or in a “wireless streaming mode.” When operating in the sound processing mode, the dual-mode sound processing unit is configured to convert received sound signals into output signals for use in stimulating a first ear of a recipient. However, while operating in the wireless streaming mode, the dual-mode sound processing unit is configured to capture input signals (e.g., sound signals, data signals, etc.) and to encode those input signals for direct or indirect wireless transmission to the sound processing unit of the other hearing prosthesis of the binaural hearing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Jan Patrick Friedling
  • Charging-induced implant operation
    Patent number: 11351389
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for initiating a night-time mode of operation in an implantable hearing prosthesis in response to detection of night-time recharging operations. More specifically, an implantable hearing prosthesis comprises a rechargeable battery that is configured to be recharged via an external night-time charging device, such as a pillow charger. The implantable hearing prosthesis is configured to detect inductive charging of the rechargeable battery by the external night-time charging device. In response, the implantable hearing prosthesis is switched to a night-time mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Jan Raymond Janssen, Koen Van den Heuvel, Richard Bruce Murphy
  • Inductance coil with varied geometry
    Patent number: 11348720
    Abstract: An inductance communication coil, including a conductor having at least one conductive turn, wherein a width of the conductor is wider at a first location relative to that at a second location. The conductor can be made out of metal. In some embodiments, the first location and the second location are on the same turn. In some embodiments, the conductor includes a plurality of turns, wherein the first location is at a first turn and the second location is at a second turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Oliver John Ridler, Patrik Kennes, Kurt Forrester
  • External and implantable coils for auditory prostheses
    Patent number: 11344736
    Abstract: Certain medical devices, such as auditory prostheses, have an implantable portion and an external portion. The implantable portion and external portion each include a transmission/receiver coil that communicates signals between the two portions. The implanted coil is implanted about the ear canal while the external coil is disposed about the pinna or in the ear canal itself. The proximity of the two coils allows for signal transmission between the implantable and external portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt, Werner Meskens, Koen Erik Van den Heuvel
  • Shielding device for signal transmission coil
    Patent number: 11338147
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses are used to transmit data between external and internal portions of auditory prostheses or other medical devices. The external portion of the auditory prosthesis includes a magnet and an implanted coil that provides stimulation to the device recipient. A shaped shield material can be placed between the external coil and the sound processing hardware to improve efficiency and effectiveness between the external coil and implanted coil. Adverse effects on tuning frequencies can be reduced by disposing the shield material away from the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Oliver John Ridler, Adam Mujaj, Thomas Cooney
  • Hierarchical environmental classification in a hearing prosthesis
    Patent number: 11337011
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for generating a hierarchical classification of a set of sound signals received at hearing prosthesis. The hierarchical classification includes a plurality of nested classifications of a sound environment associated with the set of sound signals received at hearing prosthesis, including a primary classification and one or more secondary classifications that each represent different characteristics of the sound environment. The primary classification represents a basic categorization of the sound environment, while the secondary classifications define sub-categories/refinements of the associated primary classification and/or other secondary classifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Michael Goorevich, Obaid ur Rehman Qazi, Carl Puchner
  • Dynamic fitting for bone conduction device
    Patent number: 11330381
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a support configured to be worn on a head of a recipient and to hold at least one bone conduction device next to the recipient's skull. The at least one bone conduction device provides auditory stimulation to the recipient. The support is configured to generate a force that presses against the head and to actively adjust the force while the support is worn by the recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Per Hillström, Kristian Gunnar Asnes
  • Monitoring stimulating assembly insertion
    Patent number: 11305109
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for monitoring the insertion of an intra-cochlear stimulating assembly for the occurrence of one or more insertion stop conditions. The insertion stop conditions are detectable events indicating that movement of the stimulating assembly into a recipient's cochlea should be at least temporarily stopped. The insertion monitoring is based on objectively measured inner ear potentials, such as acoustically-evoked potentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: John Michael Heasman, Peter Gibson, Stephen O'Leary, Luke Campbell
  • Implantable device having one or more screws
    Patent number: 11298554
    Abstract: An implantable device for mounting to a patient's bone includes a housing and at least one osseointegrating protuberance. The housing includes a surface having an abutting portion configured to abut the bone when the housing is implanted in the patient, the abutting portion defining a housing axis orthogonal to the surface. The at least one osseointegrating protuberance: extends from the surface of the housing; is adapted to abut the patient's bone; and has a substantially smooth shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Peter Gibson
  • Mastoid bone start drill bit
    Patent number: 11291462
    Abstract: A drill bit for drilling into bone, including at least a first, second and third longitudinally extending substantially straight flute blades, wherein the drill bit has an extrapolated outer profile established by rotation of the first, second and third flute blades 360 degrees about a longitudinal axis thereof, the extrapolated outer profile includes a first surface having tangents more perpendicular than parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the extrapolated outer profile includes a second surface having tangents more parallel than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Göran Björn, Jerry Frimanson
  • Advanced electrode array insertion
    Patent number: 11285314
    Abstract: An apparatus including an actuator and an electrode array support, wherein the apparatus is configured to insert an electrode array into a cochlea via controlled actuation of the actuator, wherein the controlled actuation is at least partially based on data that is at least partially based on electrical characteristics associated with the recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Charles Pawsey, Frank Risi
  • Advanced artificial sound hearing training
    Patent number: 11290827
    Abstract: A method, including the actions of obtaining access to a virtual reality system; activating a cochlear implant such that the cochlear implant evokes a hearing percept based on first input; and receiving second input from the virtual reality system in temporal proximity with the evocation of the hearing percept based on the first input, wherein the cochlear implant evokes a hearing percept based on the first input, and the second input is correlated with the first input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Fung, Alexander Von Brasch, Kieran Reed
  • Implant tool
    Patent number: D955578
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Stina Millgård