Patents by Inventor Hubert H. Lim
Hubert H. Lim 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: 11765523Abstract: A hearing system to activate an auditory system using cerebrospinal fluids includes at least one processor configured to receive an audio signal captured using a sound sensor (e.g., a microphone), extract temporal and spectral features from the audio signal, and create modulated ultrasound signals in a range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz with ultrasound carrier frequencies in the range of 50 kHz to 4 MHz, which are ultrasound frequencies that are well-suited to reach the cerebrospinal fluids (e.g., can pass across the skull/bones to reach the cerebrospinal fluids). The system further includes at least one ultrasonic transducer which receives the modulated signal and delivers the modulated signal to the body and activates the auditory system via vibration of cerebrospinal fluids that vibrate cochlear fluids, bypassing the normal conductive pathway that uses middle ear bones and minimizing bone conduction and distortion through the skull.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAInventors: Hubert H. Lim, Mark Hamilton, Hongsun Guo, Cory Gloeckner
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Publication number: 20230047703Abstract: A hearing system to activate an auditory system using cerebrospinal fluids includes at least one processor configured to receive an audio signal captured using a sound sensor (e.g., a microphone), extract temporal and spectral features from the audio signal, and create modulated ultrasound signals in a range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz with ultrasound carrier frequencies in the range of 50 kHz to 4 MHz, which are ultrasound frequencies that are well-suited to reach the cerebrospinal fluids (e.g., can pass across the skull/bones to reach the cerebrospinal fluids). The system further includes at least one ultrasonic transducer which receives the modulated signal and delivers the modulated signal to the body and activates the auditory system via vibration of cerebrospinal fluids that vibrate cochlear fluids, bypassing the normal conductive pathway that uses middle ear bones and minimizing bone conduction and distortion through the skull.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2022Publication date: February 16, 2023Applicant: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAInventors: Hubert H. Lim, Mark Hamilton, Hongsun Guo, Cory Gloeckner
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Patent number: 11399240Abstract: A hearing system to activate an auditory system using cerebrospinal fluids includes at least one processor configured to receive an audio signal captured using a sound sensor (e.g., a microphone), extract temporal and spectral features from the audio signal, and create modulated ultrasound signals in a range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz with ultrasound carrier frequencies in the range of 50 kHz to 4 MHz, which are ultrasound frequencies that are well-suited to reach the cerebrospinal fluids (e.g., can pass across the skull/bones to reach the cerebrospinal fluids). The system further includes at least one ultrasonic transducer which receives the modulated signal and delivers the modulated signal to the body and activates the auditory system via vibration of cerebrospinal fluids that vibrate cochlear fluids, bypassing the normal conductive pathway that uses middle ear bones and minimizing bone conduction and distortion through the skull.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2021Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAInventors: Hubert H. Lim, Mark Hamilton, Hongsun Guo, Cory Gloeckner
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Publication number: 20210353940Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating a neurological disorder or deficit, such as tinnitus and phantom limb pain.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Hubert H. Lim, Craig D. Markovitz, Sarah J. Offutt
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Patent number: 11115758Abstract: A hearing system for stimulating an auditory system for sound perception by activating a particular region of a cochlea of a user using ultrasound signals, the particular region corresponding to a target frequency range, the system including: an ultrasonic transducer configured to deliver an ultrasound signal via an interface medium; and a processor communicatively coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, the processor to: obtain an audio signal, extract at least one of a temporal feature or a spectral feature from the audio signal, transpose the audio signal to the target frequency range based on extracting the at least one of the temporal feature or the spectral feature from the audio signal, generate a modulated ultrasound signal based on modifying a carrier signal having at least one frequency between 100 kHz and 4 MHz by the transposed audio signal, and provide the modulated ultrasound signal to the ultrasonic transducer for delivery via an interface medium.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2020Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAInventors: Hubert H. Lim, Hongsun Guo
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Publication number: 20210250706Abstract: A hearing system to activate an auditory system using cerebrospinal fluids includes at least one processor configured to receive an audio signal captured using a sound sensor (e.g., a microphone), extract temporal and spectral features from the audio signal, and create modulated ultrasound signals in a range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz with ultrasound carrier frequencies in the range of 50 kHz to 4 MHz, which are ultrasound frequencies that are well-suited to reach the cerebrospinal fluids (e.g., can pass across the skull/bones to reach the cerebrospinal fluids). The system further includes at least one ultrasonic transducer which receives the modulated signal and delivers the modulated signal to the body and activates the auditory system via vibration of cerebrospinal fluids that vibrate cochlear fluids, bypassing the normal conductive pathway that uses middle ear bones and minimizing bone conduction and distortion through the skull.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2021Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Hubert H. Lim, Mark Hamilton, Hongsun Guo, Cory Gloeckner
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Patent number: 10940315Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating a neurological disorder or deficit, such as tinnitus and phantom limb pain.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2019Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Hubert H. Lim, Craig D. Markovitz, Sarah J. Offutt
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Patent number: 10904676Abstract: A hearing system to activate an auditory system using cerebrospinal fluids includes at least one processor configured to receive an audio signal captured using a sound sensor (e.g., a microphone), extract temporal and spectral features from the audio signal, and create modulated ultrasound signals in a range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz with ultrasound carrier frequencies in the range of 50 kHz to 4 MHz, which are ultrasound frequencies that are well-suited to reach the cerebrospinal fluids (e.g., can pass across the skull/bones to reach the cerebrospinal fluids). The system further includes at least one ultrasonic transducer which receives the modulated signal and delivers the modulated signal to the body and activates the auditory system via vibration of cerebrospinal fluids that vibrate cochlear fluids, bypassing the normal conductive pathway that uses middle ear bones and minimizing bone conduction and distortion through the skull.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Hubert H. Lim, Mark Hamilton, Hongsun Guo, Cory Gloeckner
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Publication number: 20200351597Abstract: A hearing system for stimulating an auditory system for sound perception by activating a particular region of a cochlea of a user using ultrasound signals, the particular region corresponding to a target frequency range, the system including: an ultrasonic transducer configured to deliver an ultrasound signal via an interface medium; and a processor communicatively coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, the processor to: obtain an audio signal, extract at least one of a temporal feature or a spectral feature from the audio signal, transpose the audio signal to the target frequency range based on extracting the at least one of the temporal feature or the spectral feature from the audio signal, generate a modulated ultrasound signal based on modifying a carrier signal having at least one frequency between 100 kHz and 4 MHz by the transposed audio signal, and provide the modulated ultrasound signal to the ultrasonic transducer for delivery via an interface medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventors: Hubert H. Lim, Hongsun Guo
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Patent number: 10701498Abstract: Systems and methods for treating hearing loss and/or tinnitus or enhancing hearing to sounds or sound features such as in a noisy environment are disclosed. An apparatus includes a hearing aid and associated electrodes for electrically stimulating a portion near, on or in the ear, where the electrical stimulation is synchronized with a sound input and/or sound output of the hearing aid.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2017Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Hubert H. Lim, Cory D. Gloeckner, Yezihalem Mesfin
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Patent number: 10631103Abstract: A hearing system for stimulating an auditory system for sound perception by activating a particular region of a cochlea of a user using ultrasound signals, the particular region corresponding to a target frequency range, the system including: an ultrasonic transducer configured to deliver an ultrasound signal via an interface medium; and a processor communicatively coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, the processor to: obtain an audio signal, extract at least one of a temporal feature or a spectral feature from the audio signal, transpose the audio signal to the target frequency range based on extracting the at least one of the temporal feature or the spectral feature from the audio signal, generate a modulated ultrasound signal based on modifying a carrier signal having at least one frequency between 100 kHz and 4 MHz by the transposed audio signal, and provide the modulated ultrasound signal to the ultrasonic transducer for delivery via an interface medium.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Hubert H. Lim, Hongsun Guo
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Publication number: 20190342675Abstract: A hearing system to activate an auditory system using cerebrospinal fluids includes at least one processor configured to receive an audio signal captured using a sound sensor (e.g., a microphone), extract temporal and spectral features from the audio signal, and create modulated ultrasound signals in a range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz with ultrasound carrier frequencies in the range of 50 kHz to 4 MHz, which are ultrasound frequencies that are well-suited to reach the cerebrospinal fluids (e.g., can pass across the skull/bones to reach the cerebrospinal fluids). The system further includes at least one ultrasonic transducer which receives the modulated signal and delivers the modulated signal to the body and activates the auditory system via vibration of cerebrospinal fluids that vibrate cochlear fluids, bypassing the normal conductive pathway that uses middle ear bones and minimizing bone conduction and distortion through the skull.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2019Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Hubert H. Lim, Mark Hamilton, Hongsun Guo, Cory Gloeckner
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Publication number: 20190282808Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating a neurological disorder or deficit, such as tinnitus and phantom limb pain.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Applicant: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Hubert H. Lim, Craig D. Markovitz, Sarah J. Offutt
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Patent number: 10362415Abstract: A hearing system to activate an auditory system using cerebrospinal fluids includes at least one processor configured to receive an audio signal captured using a sound sensor (e.g., a microphone), extract temporal and spectral features from the audio signal, and create modulated ultrasound signals in a range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz with ultrasound carrier frequencies in the range of 50 kHz to 4 MHz, which are ultrasound frequencies that are well-suited to reach the cerebrospinal fluids (e.g., can pass across the skull/bones to reach the cerebrospinal fluids). The system further includes at least one ultrasonic transducer which receives the modulated signal and delivers the modulated signal to the body and activates the auditory system via vibration of cerebrospinal fluids that vibrate cochlear fluids, bypassing the normal conductive pathway that uses middle ear bones and minimizing bone conduction and distortion through the skull.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2017Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Hubert H. Lim, Mark Hamilton, Hongsun Guo, Cory Gloeckner
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Patent number: 10265527Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating a neurological disorder or deficit, such as tinnitus and phantom limb pain.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2013Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Hubert H. Lim, Craig D. Markovitz, Sarah J. Offutt
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Publication number: 20180352344Abstract: A hearing system for stimulating an auditory system for sound perception by activating a particular region of a cochlea of a user using ultrasound signals, the particular region corresponding to a target frequency range, the system including: an ultrasonic transducer configured to deliver an ultrasound signal via an interface medium; and a processor communicatively coupled to the ultrasonic transducer, the processor to: obtain an audio signal, extract at least one of a temporal feature or a spectral feature from the audio signal, transpose the audio signal to the target frequency range based on extracting the at least one of the temporal feature or the spectral feature from the audio signal, generate a modulated ultrasound signal based on modifying a carrier signal having at least one frequency between 100 kHz and 4 MHz by the transposed audio signal, and provide the modulated ultrasound signal to the ultrasonic transducer for delivery via an interface medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2018Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Hubert H. Lim, Hongsun Guo
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Publication number: 20170353807Abstract: Systems and methods for treating hearing loss and/or tinnitus or enhancing hearing to sounds or sound features such as in a noisy environment are disclosed. An apparatus includes a hearing aid and associated electrodes for electrically stimulating a portion near, on or in the ear, where the electrical stimulation is synchronized with a sound input and/or sound output of the hearing aid.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2017Publication date: December 7, 2017Inventors: Hubert H. Lim, Cory D. Gloeckner, Yezihalem Mesfin
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Publication number: 20170318397Abstract: A hearing system to activate an auditory system using cerebrospinal fluids includes at least one processor configured to receive an audio signal captured using a sound sensor (e.g., a microphone), extract temporal and spectral features from the audio signal, and create modulated ultrasound signals in a range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz with ultrasound carrier frequencies in the range of 50 kHz to 4 MHz, which are ultrasound frequencies that are well-suited to reach the cerebrospinal fluids (e.g., can pass across the skull/bones to reach the cerebrospinal fluids). The system further includes at least one ultrasonic transducer which receives the modulated signal and delivers the modulated signal to the body and activates the auditory system via vibration of cerebrospinal fluids that vibrate cochlear fluids, bypassing the normal conductive pathway that uses middle ear bones and minimizing bone conduction and distortion through the skull.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Inventors: Hubert H. Lim, Mark Hamilton, Hongsun Guo, Cory Gloeckner
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Patent number: 9192778Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignees: MEDIZINISCHE HOCHSCHULE HANNOVER, LEIBNIZ UNIVERSITAT HANNOVERInventors: Thomas Lenarz, Holger Lubatschowski, Guenter Reuter, Gentiana I. Wenzel, Hubert H. Lim, Wolfgang Ertmer
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Publication number: 20150126802Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating a neurological disorder or deficit, such as tinnitus and phantom limb pain.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2013Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventors: Hubert H. Lim, Craig D. Markovitz, Sarah J. Offutt