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).
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Publication number: 20170180887Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2016Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Werner Meskens, Tony Nygard, Koen Van den Heuvel
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Patent number: 9623254Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 15, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Christopher J. James, Ibrahim Bouchataoui, Mattheus J. P. Killian, Koen Van den Heuvel
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Patent number: 9533143Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 15, 2009Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventor: Koen Van den Heuvel
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Patent number: 9403004Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 25, 2015Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Werner Meskens, Erika Baelen, Koen van den Heuvel, Peter van Gerwen
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Publication number: 20160184587Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2016Publication date: June 30, 2016Inventors: Koen Van den Heuvel, Koen Van Herck
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Patent number: 9326075Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 7, 2011Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Koen Van den heuvel, Koen Van Herck
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Patent number: 9295836Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 16, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: COCHLEAR LIMITEDInventors: Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt, Koen Van den Heuvel
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Publication number: 20160045749Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventors: Christopher J. James, Ibrahim Bouchataoui, Mattheus J.P. Killian, Koen Van den Heuvel
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Publication number: 20150283378Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2015Publication date: October 8, 2015Inventor: Koen Van den Heuvel
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Patent number: 9114259Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 17, 2013Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: John Chambers, Michael Goorevich, Konstadinos Hatzianestis, Koen Van den Heuvel, Paul M. Carter
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Publication number: 20150196759Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2015Publication date: July 16, 2015Inventors: Werner Meskens, Erika Baelen, Koen van den Heuvel, Peter van Gerwen
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Patent number: 9056204Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventor: Koen Van den Heuvel
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Patent number: 9042996Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2011Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Erika J. Van Baelen, Koen Van Den Heuvel, Werner Meskens, Adam Schindhelm, Christopher J. Long
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Patent number: 9020601Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 23, 2012Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Werner Meskens, Erika Van Baelen, Koen Van den Heuvel, Peter Van Gerwen
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Publication number: 20150051439Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2013Publication date: February 19, 2015Inventors: Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt, Koen Van den Heuvel
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Publication number: 20140233765Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2013Publication date: August 21, 2014Inventors: Marcus Andersson, Goran Bjorn, Stefan Magnander, Henrik Fyrlund, Koen van den Heuvel, Tobias Good
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Patent number: 8798757Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 8, 2007Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventor: Koen Van den Heuvel
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Publication number: 20140214123Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2013Publication date: July 31, 2014Inventors: Jan Janssen, Erika Van Baelen, Koen Van den Heuvel, Werner Meskens
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Patent number: 8790409Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Cochlear LimitedInventors: Koen Van den Heuvel, Joris Walraevens, Wim Bervoets
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Publication number: 20140180362Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2013Publication date: June 26, 2014Inventors: John Chambers, Michael Goorevich, Konstadinos Hatzianestis, Koen Van den Heuvel, Paul M. Carter