Patents by Inventor Hugh Joseph McDermott

Hugh Joseph McDermott 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).

  • Publication number: 20210346688
    Abstract: A prosthetic system, comprising a first sub-system configured to evoke a hearing percept based on a first principle of operation, and a second sub-system configured to evoke a hearing percept based on at least one of the first principle of operation or a second principle of operation different from the first principle of operation, wherein the first and second sub-systems are configured to independently process respective inputs indicative of an ambient sound to harmonize an estimated recipient perception of magnitude of a property of the respective evoked hearing percepts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Tom Francart, Hugh Joseph McDermott, Colette McKay
  • Patent number: 10994126
    Abstract: A prosthetic system, comprising a first sub-system configured to evoke a hearing percept based on a first principle of operation, and a second sub-system configured to evoke a hearing percept based on at least one of the first principle of operation or a second principle of operation different from the first principle of operation, wherein the first and second sub-systems are configured to independently process respective inputs indicative of an ambient sound to harmonize an estimated recipient perception of magnitude of a property of the respective evoked hearing percepts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Tom Francart, Hugh Joseph McDermott, Colette McKay
  • Publication number: 20180332411
    Abstract: A prosthetic system, comprising a first sub-system configured to evoke a hearing percept based on a first principle of operation, and a second sub-system configured to evoke a hearing percept based on at least one of the first principle of operation or a second principle of operation different from the first principle of operation, wherein the first and second sub-systems are configured to independently process respective inputs indicative of an ambient sound to harmonize an estimated recipient perception of magnitude of a property of the respective evoked hearing percepts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Tom FRANCART, Hugh Joseph MCDERMOTT, Colette McKay
  • Patent number: 9973865
    Abstract: A prosthetic system, comprising a first sub-system configured to evoke a hearing percept based on a first principle of operation, and a second sub-system configured to evoke a hearing percept based on at least one of the first principle of operation or a second principle of operation different from the first principle of operation, wherein the first and second sub-systems are configured to independently process respective inputs indicative of an ambient sound to harmonize an estimated recipient perception of magnitude of a property of the respective evoked hearing percepts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Tom Francart, Hugh Joseph McDermott, Colette McKay
  • Patent number: 9795795
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a device for generating stimulation signals, comprising: a stimulation delivery circuit; a first component to monitor charge delivered in at least one charge pulse via the stimulation delivery circuit; and a second component to ensure delivered charge substantially corresponds to charge of a charge pulse intended to be delivered by the stimulation delivery circuit. In some embodiments, the device may further comprise a charge setting circuit responsive to a charge pulse setting signal, such as a constant current of fixed pulse width, to set the charge of the charge pulse intended to be delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Bionics Institute of Australia
    Inventors: Peter Misha Seligman, Hugh Joseph McDermott
  • Patent number: 9314626
    Abstract: Visual prosthesis apparatus includes an image receiver, a processor coupled to the image receiver, a stimulation device coupled to the processor, and an eye monitoring device coupled to the processor. The image receiver receives a sequence of images and the processor produces a stimulation signal at least partially in accordance with the received images. The stimulation device receives the stimulation signal and stimulates visual neurons of a user accordingly to provide the user with a visual percept. The eye monitoring device monitors one or more ocular parameters at an eye region of the user, wherein one or more control functions are associated with the monitored ocular parameters. The processor controls the visual prosthesis apparatus in accordance with the monitored ocular parameters and the associated control functions. The one or more ocular parameters can include pupil size, state of closure of the user's eyelid and direction of eye gaze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: The Bionics Institute of Australia
    Inventors: Hugh Joseph McDermott, Peter John Blamey, Nicholas Campbell Sinclair, Kyle Damon Slater
  • Patent number: 9289608
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a device for controlling delivery of stimulation signals, comprising: a stimulation delivery circuit; a monitoring component to monitor voltage supplied in at least one current-driven charge pulse via the stimulation delivery circuit; and a stimulation control component to control voltage supplied in at least one subsequent charge pulse based on the charge of the at least one charge pulse delivered by the stimulation delivery circuit. The device may further comprise a model generation component to generate an impedance model of stimulation electrodes in the stimulation delivery circuit, wherein the stimulation control component is configured to control the stimulation delivery circuit to deliver charge according to the impedance model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: The Bionics Institute of Australia
    Inventor: Hugh Joseph McDermott
  • Publication number: 20150215710
    Abstract: A prosthetic system, comprising a first sub-system configured to evoke a hearing percept based on a first principle of operation, and a second sub-system configured to evoke a hearing percept based on at least one of the first principle of operation or a second principle of operation different from the first principle of operation, wherein the first and second sub-systems are configured to independently process respective inputs indicative of an ambient sound to harmonize an estimated recipient perception of magnitude of a property of the respective evoked hearing percepts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Tom Francart, Hugh Joseph McDermott
  • Publication number: 20140303691
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a device for controlling delivery of stimulation signals, comprising: a stimulation delivery circuit; a monitoring component to monitor voltage supplied in at least one current-driven charge pulse via the stimulation delivery circuit; and a stimulation control component to control voltage supplied in at least one subsequent charge pulse based on the charge of the at least one charge pulse delivered by the stimulation delivery circuit. The device may further comprise a model generation component to generate an impedance model of stimulation electrodes in the stimulation delivery circuit, wherein the stimulation control component is configured to control the stimulation delivery circuit to deliver charge according to the impedance model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: The Bionics Institute of Australia
    Inventor: Hugh Joseph McDermott
  • Publication number: 20140277274
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a device for generating stimulation signals, comprising: a stimulation delivery circuit; a first component to monitor charge delivered in at least one charge pulse via the stimulation delivery circuit; and a second component to ensure delivered charge substantially corresponds to charge of a charge pulse intended to be delivered by the stimulation delivery circuit. In some embodiments, the device may further comprise a charge setting circuit responsive to a charge pulse setting signal, such as a constant current of fixed pulse width, to set the charge of the charge pulse intended to be delivered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: The Bionics Institute of Australia
    Inventors: Peter Misha Seligman, Hugh Joseph McDermott
  • Publication number: 20140236260
    Abstract: Visual prosthesis apparatus includes an image receiver, a processor coupled to the image receiver, a stimulation device coupled to the processor, and an eye monitoring device coupled to the processor. The image receiver receives a sequence of images and the processor produces a stimulation signal at least partially in accordance with the received images. The stimulation device receives the stimulation signal and stimulates visual neurons of a user accordingly to provide the user with a visual percept. The eye monitoring device monitors one or more ocular parameters at an eye region of the user, wherein one or more control functions are associated with the monitored ocular parameters. The processor controls the visual prosthesis apparatus in accordance with the monitored ocular parameters and the associated control functions. The one or more ocular parameters can include pupil size, state of closure of the user's eyelid and direction of eye gaze.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: The Bionics Institute of Australia
    Inventors: Hugh Joseph McDermott, Peter John Blamey, Nicholas Campbell Sinclair, Kyle Damon Slater
  • Patent number: 8532317
    Abstract: An auditory prosthesis (30) comprising a microphone (27) for receiving the sound and producing a microphone signal responding to the received sound, an output device for providing audio signals in a form receivable by a user of the prosthesis (30), a sound processing unit (33) operable to receive the microphone signal and carry out a processing operation on the microphone signal to produce an output signal in a form suitable to operate the output device, wherein the sound processing unit (33) is operable in a first mode in which the processing operation comprises at least one variable processing factor which is adjustable by a user to a setting which causes the output signal of the sound processing unit (33) to be adjusted according to the preference of the user for the characteristics of the current acoustic environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Hearworks Pty Limited
    Inventors: Harvey Dilon, Justin Andrew Zakis, Hugh Joseph McDermott, Gitte Keidser
  • Publication number: 20110202111
    Abstract: An auditory prosthesis (30) comprising a microphone (27) for receiving the sound and producing a microphone signal responding to the received sound, an output device for providing audio signals in a form receivable by a user of the prosthesis (30), a sound processing unit (33) operable to receive the microphone signal and carry out a processing operation on the microphone signal to produce an output signal in a form suitable to operate the output device, wherein the sound processing unit (33) is operable in a first mode in which the processing operation comprises at least one variable processing factor which is adjustable by a user to a setting which causes the output signal of the sound processing unit (33) to be adjusted according to the preference of the user for the characteristics of the current acoustic environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Harvey Dillon, Justin Andrew Zakis, Hugh Joseph McDermott, Gitte Keidser
  • Patent number: 7889879
    Abstract: An auditory prosthesis (30) comprising a microphone (27) for receiving the sound and producing a microphone signal responding to the received sound, an output device for providing audio signals in a form receivable by a user of the prosthesis (30), a sound processing unit (33) operable to receive the microphone signal and carry out a processing operation on the microphone signal to produce an output signal in a form suitable to operate the output device, wherein the sound processing unit (33) is operable in a first mode in which the processing operation comprises at least one variable processing factor which is adjustable by a user to a setting which causes the output signal of the sound processing unit (33) to be adjusted according to the preference of the user for the characteristics of the current acoustic environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Harvey Dillon, Justin Andrew Zakis, Hugh Joseph McDermott, Gitte Keidser
  • Publication number: 20080123883
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for processing sound includes a means (401) for analysing a sound signal into a number of frequency bands and a means (403) for applying variable gain to each frequency band independently. Gain in applied under control of a number of gain comparator means (409) each of which generates a number of statistical distribution estimates in respect of each signal and compares those estimates to predetermined hearing response parameters stored in memory (411). The numerous gain compensated frequency bands are then combined (415) in order to generate a single sound signal. The apparatus may be implemented in dedicated hardware embodiment or by software running on a microprocessor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: COCHLEAR LIMITED
    Inventors: Peter John Blamey, Christopher John James, Hugh Joseph McDermott, Lois Martin, Konrad Wildi
  • Patent number: 7366315
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for processing sound includes a means (401) for analysing a sound signal into a number of frequency bands and a means (403) for applying variable gain to each frequency band independently. Gain in applied under control of a number of gain comparator means (409) each of which generates a number ot statistical distribution estimates in respect of each signal and compares those estimates to predetermined hearing presponse parameters stored in memory (411). The numerous gain compensated frequency bands are then combined (415) in order to generate a single sound signal. The apparatus may be implemented in dedicated hardware embodiment or by software running on a microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hearworks PTY, Limited
    Inventors: Peter John Blamey, Christopher John James, Hugh Joseph McDermott, Lois Martin, Konrad Wildi
  • Patent number: 6731767
    Abstract: In one embodiment an apparatus for processing sound includes a means (401) for analyzing a sound signal into a number frequency bands and a means (403) for applying variable gain to each frequency band independently. Gain is applied under control of a number of gain comparator means (409) each of which generates a number of statistical estimates in respect of each signal and compares those estimates to predetermined hearing response parameters stored in memory (411). The numerous gain compensated frequency bands are then combined (415) in order to generate a single sound signal. The apparatus may be implemented in dedicated hardware embodiment or by software running on a microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: The University of Melbourne
    Inventors: Peter John Blamey, Christopher John James, Konrad Wildi, Hugh Joseph McDermott, Lois Martin