Patents by Inventor Koen Van den Heuvel

Koen Van den Heuvel 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: 20170180887
    Abstract: A device comprises a tank circuit including a parallel tank circuit and a series tank circuit. In this example, the parallel tank circuit and the series tank circuit share a capacitive component and an inductive component. The device also includes electronics, and circuitry configured to selectively couple the electronics to the parallel tank circuit for a first application and to couple the electronics to the series tank circuit for a second application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Werner Meskens, Tony Nygard, Koen Van den Heuvel
  • Patent number: 9623254
    Abstract: A method and system for fitting and adjusting the operation of an acoustic hearing prosthesis or a hybrid electric and acoustic hearing prosthesis. A graphic user interface allows for the acoustic and electric fitting parameters to be viewed and adjusted in a comparable way. The method further allows for the parameters for acoustic stimulation of the acoustic channels to be adjusted in response to behavioral or objective measurement of response to known stimuli, so as to achieve a desired response curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Christopher J. James, Ibrahim Bouchataoui, Mattheus J. P. Killian, Koen Van den Heuvel
  • Patent number: 9533143
    Abstract: A sound sensor implantable in a recipient of a hearing device. The sound sensor comprises a biocompatible housing comprising a cavity having an opening at a first end of the housing, and a membrane attached to the housing so as to hermetically seal the opening. The membrane vibrates in response to vibration of at least on a structure of the recipient's ear and fluid within one of the recipient's body cavities. The sound sensor also comprises a vibrational sensor disposed in the housing configured to detect vibrations of the membrane, and configured to generate signals representative of the detected vibrations; and a transmitter configured to provide the generated signals to one or more other components implanted in the recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Koen Van den Heuvel
  • Patent number: 9403004
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for receiving a data signal and a power signal by a hearing prosthesis are disclosed. An input signal is received at a first unit of a hearing prosthesis. The first unit receives the input signal at a wired interface module that conforms to a standardized interface. The first unit identifies a data signal and a power signal included in the input signal. The first unit transfers at least a portion of the power signal to a second unit of the hearing prosthesis. The second unit is implanted in a body and is configured to stimulate an auditory organ, allowing a user to perceive at least a portion of a sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Werner Meskens, Erika Baelen, Koen van den Heuvel, Peter van Gerwen
  • Publication number: 20160184587
    Abstract: The present application discloses systems and methods for transmitting configuration between a command module and a stimulation module of a hearing prosthesis. In accordance with at least some embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods, a hearing prosthesis determines that a block of configuration data is queued for transmission. In response to this determination, the hearing prosthesis divides the amount of queued configuration data into a plurality of configuration data fragments and transmits the data fragments separately. In some embodiments, the command module appends each configuration data fragment to a different packet of stimulation commands and transmits to the stimulation module appended stimulation packets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Koen Van den Heuvel, Koen Van Herck
  • Patent number: 9326075
    Abstract: The present application discloses systems and methods for transmitting configuration between a command module and a stimulation module of a hearing prosthesis. In accordance with at least some embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods, a hearing prosthesis determines that a block of configuration data is queued for transmission. In response to this determination, the hearing prosthesis divides the amount of queued configuration data into a plurality of configuration data fragments and transmits the data fragments separately. In some embodiments, the command module appends each configuration data fragment to a different packet of stimulation commands and transmits to the stimulation module appended stimulation packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Koen Van den heuvel, Koen Van Herck
  • Patent number: 9295836
    Abstract: Devices are used to receive sound so as to enhance directionality in a single microphone auditory prosthesis. A tube including a plurality of openings directs sound into a microphone located on the auditory prosthesis. Directionality of such a system is based on a constructive and destructive interference between added sound components as sound enters the openings on the tube. The spacing and size of the openings can be configured such that sounds coming towards the recipient from a predetermined direction are received, while sounds from less desirable directions are cancelled out due to sound wave phase differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: COCHLEAR LIMITED
    Inventors: Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt, Koen Van den Heuvel
  • Publication number: 20160045749
    Abstract: A method and system for fitting and adjusting the operation of an acoustic hearing prosthesis or a hybrid electric and acoustic hearing prosthesis. A graphic user interface allows for the acoustic and electric fitting parameters to be viewed and adjusted in a comparable way. The method further allows for the parameters for acoustic stimulation of the acoustic channels to be adjusted in response to behavioral or objective measurement of response to known stimuli, so as to achieve a desired response curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher J. James, Ibrahim Bouchataoui, Mattheus J.P. Killian, Koen Van den Heuvel
  • Publication number: 20150283378
    Abstract: A universal implant for an implantable medical device, the universal implant including a plurality of functional components, having a plurality of hardware components disposed in a housing, and an auxiliary component interface disposed in a surface of the housing and configured to electrically connect any one of a plurality of auxiliary components to said hardware components. The universal implant further includes a determinator configured to identify one or more of the auxiliary components, select one or more of said functional components based on the identified auxiliary components, and adapt said selected functional components for operation with the identified auxiliary components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventor: Koen Van den Heuvel
  • Patent number: 9114259
    Abstract: A hearing prosthesis for delivering stimuli to a hearing-impaired recipient is disclosed, the hearing prosthesis comprising: a sound transducer for converting received sound signals into electric audio signals; a sound processor for converting said electric audio signals into stimuli signals; a stimulator for delivering said stimuli to the recipient; a memory for storing data representative of sound signals; and a controller configured to cause selected sound data to be retrieved from said memory and processed by said sound processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: John Chambers, Michael Goorevich, Konstadinos Hatzianestis, Koen Van den Heuvel, Paul M. Carter
  • Publication number: 20150196759
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for receiving a data signal and a power signal by a hearing prosthesis are disclosed. An input signal is received at a first unit of a hearing prosthesis. The first unit receives the input signal at a wired interface module that conforms to a standardized interface. The first unit identifies a data signal and a power signal included in the input signal. The first unit transfers at least a portion of the power signal to a second unit of the hearing prosthesis. The second unit is implanted in a body and is configured to stimulate an auditory organ, allowing a user to perceive at least a portion of a sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Werner Meskens, Erika Baelen, Koen van den Heuvel, Peter van Gerwen
  • Patent number: 9056204
    Abstract: A universal implant for an implantable medical device, the universal implant including a plurality of functional components, having a plurality of hardware components disposed in a housing, and an auxiliary component interface disposed in a surface of the housing and configured to electrically connect any one of a plurality of auxiliary components to the hardware components. The universal implant further includes a determinator configured to identify one or more of the auxiliary components, select one or more of the functional components based on the identified auxiliary components, and adapt the selected functional components for operation with the identified auxiliary components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Koen Van den Heuvel
  • Patent number: 9042996
    Abstract: A medical device, comprising first and second components coupled via a first wireless link; and a third component coupled to the first device via a second wireless link. The device implements a communication scheme in which transmissions via the second wireless link occur during a time period that is interleaved between periods including transmissions via the first link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Erika J. Van Baelen, Koen Van Den Heuvel, Werner Meskens, Adam Schindhelm, Christopher J. Long
  • Patent number: 9020601
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for receiving a data signal and a power signal by a hearing prosthesis are disclosed. An input signal is received at a first unit of a hearing prosthesis. The first unit receives the input signal at a wired interface module that conforms to a standardized interface. The first unit identifies a data signal and a power signal included in the input signal. The first unit transfers at least a portion of the power signal to a second unit of the hearing prosthesis. The second unit is implanted in a body and is configured to stimulate an auditory organ, allowing a user to perceive at least a portion of a sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Werner Meskens, Erika Van Baelen, Koen Van den Heuvel, Peter Van Gerwen
  • Publication number: 20150051439
    Abstract: Devices are used to receive sound so as to enhance directionality in a single microphone auditory prosthesis. A tube including a plurality of openings directs sound into a microphone located on the auditory prosthesis. Directionality of such a system is based on a constructive and destructive interference between added sound components as sound enters the openings on the tube. The spacing and size of the openings can be configured such that sounds coming towards the recipient from a predetermined direction are received, while sounds from less desirable directions are cancelled out due to sound wave phase differences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt, Koen Van den Heuvel
  • Publication number: 20140233765
    Abstract: Pads for positioning between external hearing prosthesis components and a recipient's skin or scalp that conform to the recipient's anatomy but transmit vibrations from the external components to implanted components. Usable pad materials may include non-Newtonian materials including dilatant materials, rheological materials, memory foams, viscoelastic material, thermoplastics, electro-rheological fluids and or magneto-rheological fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Marcus Andersson, Goran Bjorn, Stefan Magnander, Henrik Fyrlund, Koen van den Heuvel, Tobias Good
  • Patent number: 8798757
    Abstract: Fitting an auditory prosthesis to a recipient by automatically determining operational thresholds of the prosthesis based on changes in the activity of the recipient that occur in response to applied stimulation signals. Such changes in recipient activity are detected by an inertial measurement unit (IMU) permanently or temporarily secured to or implanted in the recipient as an integral part of the prosthesis or a separate device operationally coupled to the prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Koen Van den Heuvel
  • Publication number: 20140214123
    Abstract: A hearing prosthesis system has a hearing prosthesis device for each ear. In the case of a cochlear implant, the prosthesis may have both an external portion and an internal portion. The external portion provides a wireless communication to the internal portion. Additionally, each prosthesis is configured to communicate with the other prosthesis. Thus, a second wireless signal provides a bilateral communication link between the two prostheses. Advantageously, in order to mitigate potential wireless interference due to each prosthesis communicating with both a corresponding internal component and the other external component, the disclosed systems and methods operate in a specific communication mode. Under this mode, for each time period, one external component is in a transmit mode, while the other external component is in a receive mode. As the time period advances, the external components simultaneously switch modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Jan Janssen, Erika Van Baelen, Koen Van den Heuvel, Werner Meskens
  • Patent number: 8790409
    Abstract: Implantable components configured to be secured to a recipient with a bonding agent are presented herein. The implantable components are configured to be implanted adjacent to a recipient's bone and/or tissue and have a surface for attachment to the bonding agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Koen Van den Heuvel, Joris Walraevens, Wim Bervoets
  • Publication number: 20140180362
    Abstract: A hearing prosthesis for delivering stimuli to a hearing-impaired recipient is disclosed, the hearing prosthesis comprising: a sound transducer for converting received sound signals into electric audio signals; a sound processor for converting said electric audio signals into stimuli signals; a stimulator for delivering said stimuli to the recipient; a memory for storing data representative of sound signals; and a controller configured to cause selected sound data to be retrieved from said memory and processed by said sound processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: John Chambers, Michael Goorevich, Konstadinos Hatzianestis, Koen Van den Heuvel, Paul M. Carter