Patents by Inventor Andi Vonlanthen

Andi Vonlanthen 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).

  • Patent number: 11317225
    Abstract: A custom fit hearing device that includes an in-ear housing designed to fit at least partially in a hearing device user's ear canal. The in-ear housing includes one or more areas on its outer-surface that are designed to provide retention of the in-ear housing in the ear canal. The one of more area may be rougher than the rest of the outer-surface of the in-ear housing, may have greater a friction coefficient than the rest of the outer-surface of the in-ear housing, may be made of a different material than the rest of the outer-surface of the in-ear housing, may contain granular material and/or may include surface features such as shapes extending outward from the outer-surface or undulations/ripples in the outer-surface. The in-ear housing may be produced using virtual designs and a 3D scan of the ear canal and may be manufactured using additive manufacturing or 3D printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Erdal Karamuk, Jana-Kosima Schwarzlos-Sooprayen, Natasha Thumm, Andi Vonlanthen
  • Patent number: 10897676
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device for insertion of a deep-in-the-canal hearing aid—alternatively designatable as extended wear hearing aid—into an ear canal of an individual user, at a pre-determined insertion depth (d) thereof. The insertion device comprises a customized support comprising an outer profile conforming to the shapes of at least a portion of a conchal cavity and of an ear canal of said individual user; and a guide channel, disposed internal to said outer profile, extending between a lateral entry opening thereof, for loading said hearing aid; and a medial exit opening thereof, for releasing said hearing aid into said ear canal. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an insertion device for inserting a hearing aid deep into an ear canal of an individual hearing aid user, at a pre-determined insertion depth (d) thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Paul Wagner, Michael Au, Barjinder Chana, Karamuk Erdal, Mehnaz Khan, Daniel Baer, Gerald van Oerle, Andi Vonlanthen
  • Publication number: 20200186905
    Abstract: A custom fit hearing device that includes an in-ear housing designed to fit at least partially in a hearing device user's ear canal. The in-ear housing includes one or more areas on its outer-surface that are designed to provide retention of the in-ear housing in the ear canal. The one of more area may be rougher than the rest of the outer-surface of the in-ear housing, may have greater a friction coefficient than the rest of the outer-surface of the in-ear housing, may be made of a different material than the rest of the outer-surface of the in-ear housing, may contain granular material and/or may include surface features such as shapes extending outward from the outer-surface or undulations/ripples in the outer-surface. The in-ear housing may be produced using virtual designs and a 3D scan of the ear canal and may be manufactured using additive manufacturing or 3D printing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Erdal Karamuk, Jana-Kosima Schwarzlos-Sooprayen, Natasha Thumm, Andi Vonlanthen
  • Patent number: 10433082
    Abstract: There is provided a method for fitting of a binaural hearing system comprising a first hearing device and a second hearing device to a patient suffering from an asymmetric hearing loss for first time use, wherein the difference in hearing loss between the two ears is at least 5 dB on average in a main frequency range between 500 Hz and 4 kHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Andi Vonlanthen, Volker Kuehnel
  • Publication number: 20190253818
    Abstract: There is provided a method for fitting of a binaural hearing system comprising a first hearing device and a second hearing device to a patient suffering from an asymmetric hearing loss for first time use, wherein the difference in hearing loss between the two ears is at least 5 dB on average in a main frequency range between 500 Hz and 4 kHz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Andi Vonlanthen, Volker Kuehnel
  • Publication number: 20190230453
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device for insertion of a deep-in-the-canal hearing aid—alternatively designatable as extended wear hearing aid—into an ear canal of an individual user, at a pre-determined insertion depth (d) thereof. The insertion device comprises a customized support comprising an outer profile conforming to the shapes of at least a portion of a conchal cavity and of an ear canal of said individual user; and a guide channel, disposed internal to said outer profile, extending between a lateral entry opening thereof, for loading said hearing aid; and a medial exit opening thereof, for releasing said hearing aid into said ear canal. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an insertion device for inserting a hearing aid deep into an ear canal of an individual hearing aid user, at a pre-determined insertion depth (d) thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Paul Wagner, Michael Au, Barjinder Chana, Karamuk Erdal, Mehnaz Khan, Daniel Baer, Gerald van Oerle, Andi Vonlanthen
  • Patent number: 10136232
    Abstract: A transducer protection system for the protection of at least one transducer opening in a housing of a hearing device, including a support and a plurality of fibers each fixed at one end to the support and free to move on the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Erdal Karamuk, Josef Mueller, Andi Vonlanthen, Thomas Jenni
  • Patent number: 10021495
    Abstract: An antenna module for a hearing device includes a hollow core provided with an axial passageway and a winding around the core which is connectable with a hearing device. The antenna module is arranged to be at least partially contained within the ear canal of a user. This enables the antenna to be separated from sources of interference, since it can be positioned inside the ear canal away from hearing device electronics, thus reducing requirements for shielding and/or compensation. The invention further relates to an ear tip and a hearing device including such an antenna module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Andi Vonlanthen, Stephan Gehring, Christoph Leist, Andreas Jakob, Daniel Probst
  • Patent number: 9832579
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an encapulated hearing device (50), e.g. for long-term wear, in which an electronics module (10) is encapsulated into a thermoformed hull (30) by means of an appropriate adhesive (41). This thermoformed hull (30) acts as an improved barrier between the electronics module (10) and the environment of the inner ear, reducing the risk of moisture reaching electrical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Erdal Karamuk, Bruno Gabathuler, Andi Vonlanthen, Stephanie Thomas, Markus Muller
  • Publication number: 20170318404
    Abstract: A transducer protection system for the protection of at least one transducer opening in a housing of a hearing device, including a support and a plurality of fibers each fixed at one end to the support and free to move on the other end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Erdal Karamuk, Josef Mueller, Andi Vonlanthen, Thomas Jenny
  • Patent number: 9647462
    Abstract: A hearing instrument having an audio signal source for providing for audio signals; an audio signal processing unit for processing said audio signals; a unit to be worn at or in a user's ear or to be implanted in the user's head for stimulating the user's hearing according to the processed audio signals, and a rechargeable power source, in which the rechargeable power source is a wound capacitor comprising a capacitor foil arrangement which has at least a first electrically conducting layer, a second electrically conducting layer and a dielectric layer in-between and which is wound in a manner so as to form an induction coil for generating a current for charging of the capacitor when exposed to an external alternating electromagnetic field generated by a charging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Jan Angst, Erdal Karamuk, Hilmar Meier, Roland Hug, Andi Vonlanthen
  • Patent number: 9571943
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a hearing device with a housing and a receiver module which comprises a shell (16) with a cavity having an opening (17), wherein at least part of the shell (16) forms part of the housing, and wherein an electro-acoustic transducer, comprising a motor assembly (2) and an acoustic assembly (3) including a membrane, is arranged within the cavity, the acoustic assembly (3) being disposed within the shell (16) such that the cavity is divided into a front chamber (12) and a back chamber (13), the motor assembly (2) being disposed within the back chamber (13) or the front chamber (12) and being operatively coupled to the membrane, and the front chamber (12) being in acoustic communication with the exterior of the shell (16) via the opening (17), wherein the shell (16) has an outer surface individually shaped according to a measured inner shape of a section of an ear canal of a user of the hearing device. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing such a receiver module is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Roland Hug, Jonas Meyer, Sébastien Aubert, Daniel Baer, Jan Angst, Erdal Karamuk, Hilmar Meier, Andi Vonlanthen
  • Publication number: 20160330555
    Abstract: An antenna module for a hearing device includes a hollow core provided with an axial passageway and a winding around the core which is connectable with a hearing device. The antenna module is arranged to be at least partially contained within the ear canal of a user. This enables the antenna to be separated from sources of interference, since it can be positioned inside the ear canal away from hearing device electronics, thus reducing requirements for shielding and/or compensation. The invention further relates to an ear tip and a hearing device including such an antenna module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Andi Vonlanthen, Stephan Gehring, Christoph Leist, Andreas Jakob, Daniel Probst
  • Patent number: 9426588
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an antenna module for a hearing device. The antenna module comprises a hollow core provided with an axial passageway and a winding around the core which is connectable with a hearing device. The antenna module is arranged to be at least partially contained within the ear canal of a user. This enables the antenna to be separated from sources of interference, since it can be positioned inside the ear canal away from hearing device electronics, thus reducing requirements for shielding and/or compensation. The invention further relates to an ear tip and a hearing device comprising such an antenna module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: SONOVA AG
    Inventors: Andi Vonlanthen, Stephan Gehring, Christoph Leist, Andreas Jakob, Daniel Probst
  • Patent number: 9301065
    Abstract: A hearing device comprising a battery compartment including a metal-air battery and a microphone assembly arranged nearby or coupled to the battery compartment, the battery compartment and/or the microphone assembly in protected using an elastic polymer membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Sonova AG
    Inventors: Erdal Karamuk, Andi Vonlanthen
  • Publication number: 20150312688
    Abstract: A hearing device comprising a battery compartment including a metal-air battery and a microphone assembly arranged nearby or coupled to the battery compartment, the battery compartment and/or the microphone assembly in protected using an elastic polymer membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Erdal Karamuk, Andi VONLANTHEN
  • Publication number: 20150249896
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an encapulated hearing device (50), e.g. for long-term wear, in which an electronics module (10) is encapsulated into a thermoformed hull (30) by means of an appropriate adhesive (41). This thermoformed hull (30) acts as an improved barrier between the electronics module (10) and the environment of the inner ear, reducing the risk of moisture reaching electrical components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Erdal Karamuk, Bruno Gabathuler, Andi Vonlanthen, Stephanie Thomas, Markus Muller
  • Patent number: 9088853
    Abstract: A hearing instrument receiver system for operation in an ear canal of a user for converting audio signals into sound, comprising a lateral receiver, a medial receiver and a flexible joint assembly connecting the medial end of the lateral receiver and the lateral end of the medial receiver in such a manner that the lateral receiver and the medial receiver are pivotable relative to each other in order to follow the shape of the ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Jan Angst, Erdal Karamuk, Hilmar Meier, Roland Hug, Andi Vonlanthen
  • Patent number: 9071916
    Abstract: A telephone handset (1), e.g. a mobile phone, is equipped with an add-on module (41). Thereby, the module (41) comprises a microphone unit (9a) which is operated instead of the microphone unit intrinsically provided in the handset (1). Further, the module (41) comprises a short-range wireless transmission unit (23a) which is operated instead of a speaker unit (7) which is intrinsically provided in the handset (1). The short-range wireless communication unit (23a) establishes communication with a respective short-range wireless communication unit (19a) in a hearing device (10) as soon as a distance between the telephone handset (1) and the hearing device (10) drops below a predetermined threshold value as detected by a distance detection unit (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Valentin Chapero-Rueda, Andi Vonlanthen, Lukas Florian Erni, Stefan Haenggi
  • Publication number: 20150146900
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an antenna module for a hearing device. The antenna module comprises a hollow core provided with an axial passageway and a winding around the core which is connectable with a hearing device. The antenna module is arranged to be at least partially contained within the ear canal of a user. This enables the antenna to be separated from sources of interference, since it can be positioned inside the ear canal away from hearing device electronics, thus reducing requirements for shielding and/or compensation. The invention further relates to an ear tip and a hearing device comprising such an antenna module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Andi Vonlanthen, Stephan Gehring, Christoph Leist, Andreas Jakob, Daniel Probst