Patents by Inventor Hans Leysieffer

Hans Leysieffer 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: 8437489
    Abstract: A hearing instrument with at least one microphone and signal processing includes at least two receivers having a different frequency response. At least a first one of the receivers can be placed outside the ear canal, for example in a behind-the-ear component. A behind-the-ear component and an external component can be provided for being placed in the user's ear canal or in the user's ear with a connection link between the behind-the-ear component and the external component. The sound processing means can feed the first receiver with a first signal of a first central frequency and the second receiver with a second signal of a second central frequency. The signal processing means can be one or two signal processing units. A frequency separating filter can have an input operatively connected to an output of the signal processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Sven von Dombrowski, Hans Leysieffer, Bruno Gabathuler
  • Patent number: 8105229
    Abstract: An at least partially implantable hearing system comprising at least one electromechanical output transducer; a micromanipulator for positioning the transducer and for fixing the transducer in a position set by the micromanipulator, the micromanipulator being adapted to be fixedly attached by fixing means to a skull cap; and a releasable coupling unit disposed between the transducer and the micromanipulator, said coupling unit, in an assembled state, fixing the transducer with respect to the micromanipulator, and, in a released state, permitting removal of the transducer from the micromanipulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Gerd M. Müller, Hans Leysieffer
  • Patent number: 8073174
    Abstract: A fixation element for an implantable microphone is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the fixation element comprises an essentially cylindrical portion adapted to be inserted into a bore which crosses a wall of the auditory canal of a user, said cylindrical portion, at least in an implanted state of the fixation element, surrounding an outer circumferential portion of a housing part of the microphone, which housing part is provided with a sound receiving member. The cylindrical portion includes at least one elastic region of increased diameter, said elastic region contacting, in the implanted state of the fixation element, a wall of said bore and providing, by elastic restoring forces, for a friction which is sufficiently high to fix said cylindrical portion in at least one of the two axial directions of said bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Gerd M. Mueller, Hans Leysieffer
  • Patent number: 7933419
    Abstract: The hearing device is operable in a fitting mode and in a listening mode and comprises a transducer for receiving, in the fitting mode, audio test signals, and for converting the audio test signals into signals to be perceived by the user in the fitting mode. It comprises a parameter memory means for storing parameter settings, which parameter settings are obtained from user input received through a user interface in response to the signals perceived by the user in the fitting mode. And it comprises a signal processor using the parameter settings for correcting audio signals at least in the listening mode. The user interface is comprised in the hearing device and the hearing device comprises an audio signal source, in which audio signal source the audio test signals are stored or generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ueli Roeck, Alfred Stirnemann, Hans Leysieffer
  • Publication number: 20110091060
    Abstract: A hearing instrument includes a behind-the-ear component and an external component for being placed in the user's ear canal or in the user's ear and a connection link between the behind-the-ear component and the external component. The connection link is reversibly pluggable to the behind-the-ear component and/or the in-the-ear-canal component and has a length that is reversibly adjustable. Fixation means is provided for reversibly fixing the adjusted length of the connection link. The in-the-ear-canal component may be connected to the fixation means and detached therefrom when the same is in the ear canal. An in-the-ear-canal component to be placed in a user's ear canal can have fixation means for fixing it in the ear canal. The fixation means includes an outer shell shaped to fit in the user's ear canal and a mounting structure for holding the in-the-ear-canal component. The outer shell is preferably resilient, with an elasticity allowing temporal deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: PHONAK AG
    Inventors: Sven von Dombrowski, Hans Leysieffer, Bruno Gabathuler
  • Publication number: 20110091061
    Abstract: A hearing instrument with at least one microphone and signal processing includes at least two receivers having a different frequency response. At least a first one of the receivers can be placed outside the ear canal, for example in a behind-the-ear component. A behind-the-ear component and an external component can be provided for being placed in the user's ear canal or in the user's ear with a connection link between the behind-the-ear component and the external component. The sound processing means can feed the first receiver with a first signal of a first central frequency and the second receiver with a second signal of a second central frequency. The signal processing means can be one or two signal processing units. A frequency separating filter can have an input operatively connected to an output of the signal processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Sven von Dombrowski, Hans Leysieffer, Bruno Gabathuler
  • Patent number: 7844065
    Abstract: According to the first aspect of the invention, a hearing instrument with at least one microphone and signal processing comprises at least two receivers having a different frequency response. At least a first one of the receivers is placed outside the ear canal, for example in a behind-the-ear component. According to the second aspect of the invention, a hearing instrument comprising a behind-the-ear component and an external component for being placed in the user's ear canal or in the user's ear as well as a connection link between the behind-the-ear component and the external component is provided, where the connection link is reversibly pluggable to the behind-the-ear component and/or the in-the-ear-canal component and has a length that is reversibly adjustable. The hearing instrument also comprises fixation means for reversibly fixing the adjusted length of the connection link. A hearing instrument according to the third aspect comprises a fixation means separate from the in-the-ear-canal component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Sven von Dombrowski, Hans Leysieffer, Bruno Gabathuler
  • Patent number: 7713651
    Abstract: A secondary electrochemical cell with at least one positive electrode includes an active material and one negative electrode, which are held directly in a hermetically tight housing which has at least one detector element or which is dynamically connected to one such detector element. The detector element is designed or can be set to acquire a predetermined unallowable operating state of the secondary electrochemical cell, and in an unallowable operating state of the secondary electrochemical cell, to actuate at least one switching element which prevents recharging and/or discharging of the secondary electrochemical cell. By making the housing as a hermetically tight protective housing, which is part of an implantable medical device, contamination of surrounding tissue with toxic substances and hazard to the implant wearer by the malfunction of the secondary electrochemical cell can be precluded under all operating conditions with simultaneously great reduction of all dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Hans Leysieffer, Dirk A. Fiedler, Dieter Müller
  • Patent number: 7376563
    Abstract: A system for rehabilitation of a hearing disorder which comprises at least one acoustic sensor for picking up an acoustic signal and converting it into an electrical audio signal, an electronic signal processing unit for audio signal processing and amplification, an electrical power supply unit which supplies individual components of the system with current, and an actuator arrangement which is provided with one or more electroacoustic, electromechanical or purely electrical output-side actuators or any combination of these actuators for stimulation of damaged hearing, wherein the signal processing unit has a speech analysis and recognition module and a speech synthesis module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Hans Leysieffer, Bernd Waldmann
  • Publication number: 20070259255
    Abstract: A secondary electrochemical cell with at least one positive electrode includes an active material and one negative electrode, which are held directly in a hermetically tight housing which has at least one detector element or which is dynamically connected to one such detector element. The detector element is designed or can be set to acquire a predetermined unallowable operating state of the secondary electrochemical cell, and in an unallowable operating state of the secondary electrochemical cell, to actuate at least one switching element which prevents recharging and/or discharging of the secondary electrochemical cell. By making the housing as a hermetically tight protective housing, which is part of an implantable medical device, contamination of surrounding tissue with toxic substances and hazard to the implant wearer by the malfunction of the secondary electrochemical cell can be precluded under all operating conditions with simultaneously great reduction of all dimensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Hans Leysieffer, Dirk Fiedler, Dieter Muller
  • Publication number: 20070249890
    Abstract: An at least partially implantable hearing system comprising at least one electromechanical output transducer; a micromanipulator for positioning the transducer and for fixing the transducer in a position set by the micromanipulator, the micromanipulator being adapted to be fixedly attached by fixing means to a skull cap; and a releasable coupling unit disposed between the transducer and the micromanipulator, said coupling unit, in an assembled state, fixing the transducer with respect to the micromanipulator, and, in a released state, permitting removal of the transducer from the micromanipulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Gerd Muller, Hans Leysieffer
  • Patent number: 7232625
    Abstract: A secondary electrochemical cell with at least one positive electrode includes an active material and one negative electrode, which are held directly in a hermetically tight housing which has at least one detector element or which is dynamically connected to one such detector element. The detector element is designed or can be set to acquire a predetermined unallowable operating state of the secondary electrochemical cell, and in an unallowable operating state of the secondary electrochemical cell, to actuate at least one switching element which prevents recharging and/or discharging of the secondary electrochemical cell. By making the housing as a hermetically tight protective housing, which is part of an implantable medical device, contamination of surrounding tissue with toxic substances and hazard to the implant wearer by the malfunction of the secondary electrochemical cell can be precluded under all operating conditions with simultaneously great reduction of all dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Hans Leysieffer, Dirk A. Fiedler, Dieter Muller
  • Patent number: 7226406
    Abstract: An at least partially implantable hearing system comprising at least one electromechanical output transducer; a micromanipulator for positioning the transducer and for fixing the transducer in a position set by the micromanipulator, the micromanipulator being adapted to be fixedly attached by fixing means to a skull cap; and a releasable coupling unit disposed between the transducer and the micromanipulator, said coupling unit, in an assembled state, fixing the transducer with respect to the micromanipulator, and, in a released state, permitting removal of the transducer from the micromanipulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Gerd M Müller, Hans Leysieffer
  • Publication number: 20070076909
    Abstract: The hearing device is operable in a fitting mode and in a listening mode and comprises a transducer for receiving, in the fitting mode, audio test signals, and for converting the audio test signals into signals to be perceived by the user in the fitting mode. It comprises a parameter memory means for storing parameter settings, which parameter settings are obtained from user input received through a user interface in response to the signals perceived by the user in the fitting mode. And it comprises a signal processor using the parameter settings for correcting audio signals at least in the listening mode. The user interface is comprised in the hearing device and the hearing device comprises an audio signal source, in which audio signal source the audio test signals are stored or generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ueli Roeck, Alfred Stirnemann, Hans Leysieffer
  • Publication number: 20060233410
    Abstract: A fixation element for an implantable microphone is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the fixation element comprises an essentially cylindrical portion adapted to be inserted into a bore which crosses a wall of the auditory canal of a user, said cylindrical portion, at least in an implanted state of the fixation element, surrounding an outer circumferential portion of a housing part of the microphone, which housing part is provided with a sound receiving member. The cylindrical portion includes at least one elastic region of increased diameter, said elastic region contacting, in the implanted state of the fixation element, a wall of said bore and providing, by elastic restoring forces, for a friction which is sufficiently high to fix said cylindrical portion in at least one of the two axial directions of said bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Gerd Muller, Hans Leysieffer
  • Publication number: 20060159298
    Abstract: According to the first aspect of the invention, a hearing instrument with at least one microphone and signal processing comprises at least two receivers having a different frequency response. At least a first one of the receivers is placed outside the ear canal, for example in a behind-the-ear component. According to the second aspect of the invention, a hearing instrument comprising a behind-the-ear component and an external component for being placed in the user's ear canal or in the user's ear as well as a connection link between the behind-the-ear component and the external component is provided, where the connection link is reversibly pluggable to the behind-the-ear component and/or the in-the-ear-canal component and has a length that is reversibly adjustable. The hearing instrument also comprises fixation means for reversibly fixing the adjusted length of the connection link. A hearing instrument according to the third aspect comprises a fixation means separate from the in-the-ear-canal component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventors: Sven von Dombrowski, Hans Leysieffer, Bruno Gabathuler
  • Patent number: 7058192
    Abstract: A fixation element for an implantable microphone is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment the fixation element comprises an essentially cylindrical portion adapted to be inserted into a bore which crosses a wall of the auditory canal of a user, said cylindrical portion, at least in an implanted state of the fixation element, surrounding an outer circumferential portion of a housing part of the microphone, which housing part is provided with a sound receiving member. The cylindrical portion includes at least one elastic region of increased diameter, said elastic region contacting, in the implanted state of the fixation element, a wall of said bore and providing, by elastic restoring forces, for a friction which is sufficiently high to fix said cylindrical portion in at least one of the two axial directions of said bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventors: Gerd M Müller, Hans Leysieffer
  • Patent number: 6807445
    Abstract: A totally implantable hearing system for rehabilitation of hearing disorders, comprising at least one implantable sensor for picking up at least airborne sound and for converting it into electrical airborne sound signals, and at least one implantable sensor for picking up at least body sound-induced signals and for converting them into electrical body sound signals. The hearing system further comprises an electronic module including electronic means for processing and amplification of said airborne sound signals and said body sound signals. The electronic means include means for individually adjusting the ratio of airborne sound signals to body sound signals. The hearing system also comprises an output-side actuator arrangement for stimulation of the middle or inner ear, and an electrical power supply unit which supplies individual components of the system with energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Joachim W. Baumann, Hans Leysieffer
  • Patent number: 6788790
    Abstract: Partially and fully implantable hearing system for rehabilitation of a pure sensorineural hearing loss or combined conduction and inner ear impairment, with a microphone (10) which delivers an audio signal, an electronic signal processing and amplification unit (40, 50, 80, 140, 141) which is located in an audio signal processing electronic hearing system path, an implantable electromechanical output transducer (20) and a unit (60) for power supply of the implant, an electronic module (90, 140, 141) being added to the hearing system and generating the audiometry signals for an audiologic study and evaluation of the coupling quality of the electromechanical output transducer (20) and feeding it into the audio signal processing path of the hearing implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Hans Leysieffer
  • Publication number: 20040172102
    Abstract: An at least partially implantable system for rehabilitation of a hearing disorder which has at least one sensor (microphone) for picking up an acoustic signal and converting it into corresponding electrical signals, an electronic signal processing unit for audio signal processing and amplification, an electrical power supply unit which supplies energy to individual components of the system, and an output-side actory stimulation arrangement. The output-side stimulation arrangement includes an electromechanical transducer for mechanical stimulation of the middle ear or inner ear and an intracochlear, electrically acting stimulation electrode array with at least one stimulation electrode for electrical stimulation of the inner ear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Hans Leysieffer