Patents by Inventor Bryan J. Norton
Bryan J. Norton 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).
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Patent number: 9011509Abstract: Method and apparatus for optically stimulating neurons of a plurality of auditory nerve pathways of a person to provide auditory sensations for the person including generating a plurality of pulsed light signals having one or more successive pulses; delivering the plurality of pulsed light signals to one or more auditory nerve pathways of the cochlea of the person; selectively controlling the plurality of light signals to optically stimulate and trigger nerve action potentials (NAPs) in the one or more auditory nerve pathways, wherein the selectively controlling includes empirically testing the delivering of the plurality of light signals and determining which optical-stimulation parameters used during the testing are most effective for optically stimulating the auditory nerve pathways of the person, and using results of the testing such that the delivering includes delivering the plurality of light signals with the optical-stimulation parameters that were determined to be most effective for optically stimulaType: GrantFiled: July 21, 2012Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Ryan C. Stafford, Jonathon D. Wells, James W. Stafford, Bryan J. Norton
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Patent number: 8998914Abstract: Method and apparatus for optically stimulating neurons of a plurality of auditory nerve pathways of a person to provide auditory sensations for the person including generating a plurality of pulsed light signals having one or more successive pulses; delivering the plurality of pulsed light signals to one or more auditory nerve pathways of the cochlea of the person; selectively controlling the plurality of light signals to optically stimulate and trigger nerve action potentials (NAPs) in the one or more auditory nerve pathways. In some embodiments, the stimulation rate (i.e., pulse-repetition rate) is optimized for the patient based on comfort levels, speech-recognition scores, and temperature feedback from monitors in the cochlea. In some embodiments, the methods of the present invention find practical lower and upper limits to the rate of stimulation to increase the speech-recognition scores while implementing safety limits to preventing overheating.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Ryan C. Stafford, Jonathon D. Wells, James W. Stafford, Bryan J. Norton
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Patent number: 8894697Abstract: Method and apparatus for optically stimulating neurons of a plurality of auditory nerve pathways of a person to provide auditory sensations for the person including generating a plurality of pulsed light signals having one or more successive pulses; delivering the plurality of pulsed light signals to one or more auditory nerve pathways of the cochlea of the person; selectively controlling the plurality of light signals to optically stimulate and trigger nerve action potentials (NAPs) in the one or more auditory nerve pathways. In some embodiments of the present invention, pulse-repetition rate and peak pulse power are held constant, while pulse width is modulated to evoke a sufficient dynamic range of NAPs (i.e., different NAP strengths), thus encoding sound-loudness information for the listener.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Ryan C. Stafford, James W. Stafford, Bryan J. Norton
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Patent number: 8792978Abstract: Apparatus and method for optical- or optical-and-electrical stimulation of e.g., auditory nerve pathways, for example spiral ganglion in the cochlea or neurons in the cochlear nerve. Several configurations for guiding and directing the optical stimulation are disclosed. Several configurations for guiding and directing the electrical field (used in some embodiments, for sensitization) in and through the destination tissue to which the optical stimulation is directed are disclosed. In some embodiments, and array of IR VCSELs emit stimulation light, in particular to tissue in the cochlea for restoring hearing. In some embodiments, an electrical signal is also applied in a manner that reduces the amount of light in a pulse that is otherwise needed to elicit a NAP. In some embodiments, a heat dissipater is used to spread the heat generated by operation of the lasers and their circuits, to avoid heat damage to the tissue.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2010Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Jonathon D. Wells, Andrew Xing, Mark P. Bendett, Matthew D. Keller, Bryan J. Norton, James M. Owen, Shuming Yuan, Robert W. Royse, Charles A. Lemaire
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Publication number: 20130023964Abstract: Method and apparatus for optically stimulating neurons of a plurality of auditory nerve pathways of a person to provide auditory sensations for the person including generating a plurality of pulsed light signals having one or more successive pulses; delivering the plurality of pulsed light signals to one or more auditory nerve pathways of the cochlea of the person; selectively controlling the plurality of light signals to optically stimulate and trigger nerve action potentials (NAPs) in the one or more auditory nerve pathways. In some embodiments of the present invention, pulse-repetition rate and peak pulse power are held constant, while pulse width is modulated to evoke a sufficient dynamic range of NAPs (i.e., different NAP strengths), thus encoding sound-loudness information for the listener.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2012Publication date: January 24, 2013Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONInventors: Ryan C. Stafford, James W. Stafford, Bryan J. Norton
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Publication number: 20130023961Abstract: Method and apparatus for optically stimulating neurons of a plurality of auditory nerve pathways of a person to provide auditory sensations for the person including generating a plurality of pulsed light signals having one or more successive pulses; delivering the plurality of pulsed light signals to one or more auditory nerve pathways of the cochlea of the person; selectively controlling the plurality of light signals to optically stimulate and trigger nerve action potentials (NAPs) in the one or more auditory nerve pathways, wherein the selectively controlling includes empirically testing the delivering of the plurality of light signals and determining which optical-stimulation parameters used during the testing are most effective for optically stimulating the auditory nerve pathways of the person, and using results of the testing such that the delivering includes delivering the plurality of light signals with the optical-stimulation parameters that were determined to be most effective for optically stimulaType: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2012Publication date: January 24, 2013Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONInventors: Ryan C. Stafford, Jonathon D. Wells, James W. Stafford, Bryan J. Norton
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Publication number: 20130023965Abstract: Method and apparatus for optically stimulating neurons of a plurality of auditory nerve pathways of a person to provide auditory sensations for the person including generating a plurality of pulsed light signals having one or more successive pulses; delivering the plurality of pulsed light signals to one or more auditory nerve pathways of the cochlea of the person; selectively controlling the plurality of light signals to optically stimulate and trigger nerve action potentials (NAPs) in the one or more auditory nerve pathways. In some embodiments, the stimulation rate (i.e., pulse-repetition rate) is optimized for the patient based on comfort levels, speech-recognition scores, and temperature feedback from monitors in the cochlea. In some embodiments, the methods of the present invention find practical lower and upper limits to the rate of stimulation to increase the speech-recognition scores while implementing safety limits to preventing overheating.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2012Publication date: January 24, 2013Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONInventors: Ryan C. Stafford, Jonathon D. Wells, James W. Stafford, Bryan J. Norton
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Publication number: 20110295331Abstract: Apparatus and method for optical- or optical-and-electrical stimulation of e.g., auditory nerve pathways, for example spiral ganglion in the cochlea or neurons in the cochlear nerve. Several configurations for guiding and directing the optical stimulation are disclosed. Several configurations for guiding and directing the electrical field (used in some embodiments, for sensitization) in and through the destination tissue to which the optical stimulation is directed are disclosed. In some embodiments, and array of IR VCSELs emit stimulation light, in particular to tissue in the cochlea for restoring hearing. In some embodiments, an electrical signal is also applied in a manner that reduces the amount of light in a pulse that is otherwise needed to elicit a NAP. In some embodiments, a heat dissipater is used to spread the heat generated by operation of the lasers and their circuits, to avoid heat damage to the tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2010Publication date: December 1, 2011Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONInventors: Jonathon D. Wells, Andrew Xing, Mark P. Bendett, Matthew D. Keller, Bryan J. Norton, James M. Owen, Shuming Yuan, Robert W. Royse, Charles A. Lemaire