Patents by Inventor Gentiana I. Wenzel

Gentiana I. Wenzel 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: 9192778
    Abstract: The invention provides a cochlea stimulator for implantation comprising optical fibers of which are coupled to an irradiation source that is controlled by a modulator to generate irradiation specific for a pre-determined range of sound-frequencies. The cochlea stimulator effects a frequency-specific activation of the organ of Corti needed for speech perception especially in noisy environment and more complex sounds. For imparting excitation signals which are generated by modulated pulsed laser irradiation conducted within an optical fiber in order to elicit nervous signals in residual functional organ of Corti sections, the auditory prosthesis preferably contains optical fibers which are dimensioned to terminate in end sections within the cochlea at different sites or sections of the organ of Corti. e.g. having different lengths for locating their end sections at different internal parts of the cochlea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignees: MEDIZINISCHE HOCHSCHULE HANNOVER, LEIBNIZ UNIVERSITAT HANNOVER
    Inventors: Thomas Lenarz, Holger Lubatschowski, Guenter Reuter, Gentiana I. Wenzel, Hubert H. Lim, Wolfgang Ertmer
  • Patent number: 8600089
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hearing aid device for humans with impaired hearing, who have an at least partially functional cochlea and a functional nervous signalling pathway from the cochlea via the auditory nerve to the brain. The hearing aid device contains a receiver, a transducer of the sound or other acoustic signals into electrical current serving as a signal representing a sound, a pulsed irradiation source connected to the transducer for receiving the electrical current and for generating modulated pulsed irradiation in dependence from the electrical current, and preferably one or more optical fibers optically coupled to the exit of the pulsed irradiation source, wherein the optical path for conduction of irradiation within the device ends directly opposite a functional element of the natural vibration transduction pathway, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
    Inventors: Gentiana I. Wenzel, Hubert H. Lim, Thomas Lenarz, Holger Lubatschowski
  • Patent number: 8545383
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hearing aid device for humans with impaired hearing, who have an at least partially functional cochlea and a functional nervous signalling pathway from the cochlea via the auditory nerve to the brain. The hearing aid device contains a receiver, a transducer of the sound or other acoustic signals into electrical current serving as a signal representing a sound, a pulsed irradiation source connected to the transducer for receiving the electrical current and for generating modulated pulsed irradiation in dependence from the electrical current, and preferably one or more optical fibers optically coupled to the exit of the pulsed irradiation source, wherein the optical path for conduction of irradiation within the device ends directly opposite a functional element of the natural vibration transduction pathway, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
    Inventors: Gentiana I. Wenzel, Hubert H. Lim, Thomas Lenarz, Holger Lubatschowski
  • Publication number: 20100197995
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hearing aid device for humans with impaired hearing, who have an at least partially functional cochlea and a functional nervous signalling pathway from the cochlea via the auditory nerve to the brain. The hearing aid device contains a receiver, a transducer of the sound or other acoustic signals into electrical current serving as a signal representing a sound, a pulsed irradiation source connected to the transducer for receiving the electrical current and for generating modulated pulsed irradiation in dependence from the electrical current, and preferably one or more optical fibres optically coupled to the exit of the pulsed irradiation source, wherein the optical path for conduction of irradiation within the device ends directly opposite a functional element of the natural vibration transduction pathway, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicants: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Laser Zentrum Hannover e. V.
    Inventors: Gentiana I. Wenzel, Hubert H. Lim, Thomas Lenarz, Holger Lubatschowski
  • Publication number: 20100198317
    Abstract: The invention provides a cochlea stimulator for implantation comprising optical fibres of which are coupled to an irradiation source that is controlled by a modulator to generate irradiation specific for a pre-determined range of sound-frequencies. The cochlea stimulator effects a frequency-specific activation of the organ of Corti needed for speech perception especially in noisy environment and more complex sounds. For imparting excitation signals which are generated by modulated pulsed laser irradiation conducted within an optical fibre in order to elicit nervous signals in residual functional organ of Corti sections, the auditory prosthesis preferably contains optical fibres which are dimensioned to terminate in end sections within the cochlea at different sites or sections of the organ of Corti. e.g. having different lengths for locating their end sections at different internal parts of the cochlea.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicants: MEDIZINISCHE HOCHSCHULE HANNOVER, LASER ZENTRUM HANNOVER E. V.
    Inventors: Thomas Lenarz, Holger Lubatschowski, Guenter Reuter, Gentiana I. Wenzel, Hubert H. Lim, Wolfgang Ertmer