Patents by Inventor Achim Kitschmann

Achim Kitschmann has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220105349
    Abstract: Implantable medical devices have a feedthrough from the device to the outside world to pass electrical current from electronics inside the implant to the patient or vice versa. A plurality of sensors and/or signal wires in a wire bundle must connect to the feedthrough and implant in living tissue in the patient. Chemical and physical forces work against the wire connections on the feedthrough. Disclosed embodiments include a biocompatible housing that can be used for an implantable medical device. The biocompatible housing includes a recess with at least one wire exit port, the recess having at least one feedthrough assembly mounted therein. A wire of the feedthrough assembly passes out the wire exit port, and the recess has a top hermetically sealed over it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Dana D. Tompkins, Christopher D. Gongora, Achim Kitschmann, Jennifer Losasso-Tompkins, Claude Clément
  • Patent number: 11147978
    Abstract: Implantable medical devices have a feedthrough from the device to the outside world to pass electrical current from electronics inside the implant to the patient or vice versa. A plurality of sensors and/or signal wires must connect to the feedthrough and implant in living tissue. Chemical and physical forces work against the wire connections. Embodiments of the present invention include a biocompatible cap or top, shaped to attach onto a rim of the feedthrough device. One or more wire bundle ports are included on the cap. One or two layers of a sealant (e.g., epoxy) can be injected under the cap. A first layer can rigidly protect the wire bonds, and an elastomeric silicone can cover the epoxy for a flexible protector. Other embodiments include an implant housing with a recess for the feedthrough; a top can protect the recess. One or more sealants can cover the feedthrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: WYSS CENTER FOR BIO AND NEURO ENGINEERING
    Inventors: Dana D. Tompkins, Christopher D. Gongora, Achim Kitschmann, Jennifer Losasso-Tompkins, Claude Clément
  • Publication number: 20210128927
    Abstract: Implantable medical devices have a feedthrough from the device to the outside world to pass electrical current from electronics inside the implant to the patient or vice versa. A plurality of sensors and/or signal wires in a wire bundle must connect to the feedthrough and implant in living tissue in the patient. Chemical and physical forces work against the wire connections on the feedthrough. The several embodiments of the present invention include a biocompatible cap or top, shaped to attach onto the rim of the feedthrough device. One or more wire bundle ports are included on the cap. One or two layers of a sealant such as epoxy can be injected under the cap. A first layer of epoxy can rigidly protect the wire bonds while an elastomeric silicone can cover the epoxy for a flexible protector. Other embodiments include an implant housing with a recess for the feedthrough; a top can protect the recess. One or more sealants can cover the feedthrough in the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Dana D. Tompkins, Christopher D. Gongora, Achim Kitschmann, Jennifer Losasso-Tompkins, Claude Clément
  • Publication number: 20130178855
    Abstract: An at least partially implantable hearing aid, having: a microphone arrangement (74) for capturing audio signals from ambient sound; an audio signal processing unit (66) for processing the audio signals captured by the microphone arrangement; an implantable actuator unit (54) for stimulating the patient's hearing according to the processed audio signals; a tube (24) for being implanted into the patient's temporal bone (26), the tube having an engagement structure (46) at the outer surface for engagement into a fixation structure (44) milled into the patient's temporal bone, wherein the tube comprises means (36) for receiving the actuator unit in an implanted condition of the tube from the proximal end of the tube and means for fixing the actuator unit in a final position relative to the tube, in which final position the actuator unit extends beyond the distal end of the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: ADVANCED BIONICS AG
    Inventors: Gérard Loquet, Achim Kitschmann, Stefan Menzl
  • Publication number: 20120016181
    Abstract: There is provided an at least partially implantable hearing system comprising a microphone assembly for capturing audio signals from ambient sound; an audio signal processing unit for processing the audio signals captured by the microphone assembly; an implantable main electromechanical output transducer for direct mechanical stimulation of the cochlea according to the audio signals processed by the audio signal processing unit; an implantable box having a central part and an open flange for penetrating through the cochlear wall into the perilymph fluid, wherein the inner cross section of the central part is larger than the inner cross section of the flange; and wherein the electromechanical output transducer is for acting on the perilymph fluid in the central part of the box through a port provided at the box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: ADVANCED BIONICS AG
    Inventors: Stefan Menzl, Achim Kitschmann, Gerard Loquet
  • Patent number: 6053868
    Abstract: The apparatus for a cardiological therapy, in particular an ablation apparatus, comprises an ultrasonic transducer and an applicator which is arranged at the transducer and provided for an endocardial energy output. An echocardiographic thickness measurement of the myocardium can be performed by means of the transducer. Control means are provided by means of which the energy output is metered with the applicator and can be performed in a manner matched to the measured thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Sulzer Osypka GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Geistert, Achim Kitschmann
  • Patent number: 5928278
    Abstract: The defibrillation electrode is intended for a temporary and epicardial use after heart operations. For the purpose of local stimulation of the surface of the heart the electrode comprises at its distal end a wire having a distal end which can be drawn out of an anchoring position. The stimulation wire or a plurality of stimulation wires is or are preformed in such a manner that it or they fractally covers or cover a global surface of influence largely uniformly and with relatively large radii of curvature. The surface of influence has a largely iso-diametral form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Sulzer Osypka GmbH
    Inventor: Achim Kitschmann