Patents by Inventor Konstantin Silberzahn
Konstantin Silberzahn 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: 20240015450Abstract: A method of processing sensor data generated in a hearing device is disclosed, the hearing device comprising a BTE housing configured to be worn behind an ear of a user and an ITE housing configured to be at least partially inserted into an ear canal of the ear. The method may include receiving, from a movement sensor included in the BTE housing, BTE housing movement data indicative of movements of the BTE housing; receiving, from an ear canal sensor included in the ITE housing, ear canal sensor data affected by movements of an ear canal wall, characterized by determining a correlation between the BTE housing movement data and at least part of the ear canal sensor data; and separating, based on the correlation, information about movements of the ear canal wall relative to the BTE housing from at least part of the ear canal sensor data.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Inventors: Anne Thielen, Konstantin Silberzahn
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Patent number: 11863937Abstract: The disclosure relates to a hearing system including a first hearing device configured to be worn at a first ear of a user and a second hearing device configured to be worn at a second ear of the user. The first hearing device includes a first physiological sensor configured to provide sensor data indicative of a physiological property of the user and the second hearing device includes a second physiological sensor configured to provide sensor data indicative of the same physiological property as the sensor data provided by the first physiological sensor. A processing unit may be configured to control the first and second physiological sensor to alternatingly provide the sensor data in subsequent time intervals.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Sonova AGInventors: Konstantin Silberzahn, Anne Thielen, Patrizia Richner, Markus Leuthold, Katja Dietrich, Adem Bici, Matthias Riepenhoff, Evgeny Murtola, Emily Urry
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Patent number: 11647950Abstract: An in-ear hearing device includes a light source configured to emit light, a photodetector configured to detect the emitted light after the emitted light passes through tissue of a subject, a spout; an audio receiver configured to deliver a sound to the subject through the spout, and a dome configured to conform to a shape of a subject's ear canal when the hearing device is in the ear canal. An output of the light source and an input of the photodetector are separated by the dome, and the dome absorbs and/or reflects at least part of the emitted light. The photodetector may be a forward biased photodiode. The sensor device can be realized with power levels, circuitry components, and in package sizes, of hearing devices.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: SONOVA AGInventors: Hans-Ueli Roeck, Christian Frei-Krumme, Konstantin Silberzahn, Markus Muller, Markus Leuthold
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Patent number: 11643550Abstract: Shape memory polymers allow the fabrication of objects that have a permanent (first) shape, and which can be programmed to adopt a temporary (second) shape, and are able to largely recover their original (first) shape by applying an appropriate stimulus. Materials that permit the fabrication of objects and devices that can (i) be provided in their permanent shape, (ii) be heated to a switching temperature above physiological temperature, at which the material becomes shapeable, (iii) be inserted into the body or placed in contact with the body and be deformed or shaped”to assume a desired temporary shape, (iv) be fixed in the desired temporary shape by keeping the material/device/object at body temperature (about 37° C.) for a convenient period of time, (v) largely retain this temporary shape if removed from the body, and (vi) return largely to their original shape when heated again above the switching temperature.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2019Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: ADOLPHE MERKLE INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF FRIBOURGInventors: Christoph Weder, Anuja Shirole, Carlo Perotto, Julia Lonsky, Konstantin Silberzahn
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Patent number: 11647348Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for preparing an earpiece for its customization, the device including an energy release unit comprising a receiving chamber for receiving the earpiece and configured to release energy into the receiving chamber. The disclosure further relates to a system for customizing an earpiece comprising the earpiece and the preparing device.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2018Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Sonova AGInventors: Konstantin Silberzahn, Julia Lonsky
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Publication number: 20220377476Abstract: An exemplary hearing system that is configured to assist a user in hearing includes an in-the-ear (ITE) component configured to fit at least partially within an ear canal of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user, a first sensor electrode provided on a surface of the ITE component and configured to contact, while the hearing system is worn by the user, outer ear tissue of the user, and a second sensor electrode configured to be located, while the hearing system is worn by the user, at an entrance to or outside of the ear canal of the user. The first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode may be configured to be used to detect a physiological attribute of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2020Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventors: Konstantin Silberzahn, Markus Mueller, Natasha Thumm, Markus Leuthold, Christian Frei
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Publication number: 20220329952Abstract: The disclosure relates to a hearing system including a first hearing device configured to be worn at a first ear of a user and a second hearing device configured to be worn at a second ear of the user. The first hearing device includes a first physiological sensor configured to provide sensor data indicative of a physiological property of the user and the second hearing device includes a second physiological sensor configured to provide sensor data indicative of the same physiological property as the sensor data provided by the first physiological sensor. A processing unit may be configured to control the first and second physiological sensor to alternatingly provide the sensor data in subsequent time intervals.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Konstantin Silberzahn, Anne Thielen, Patrizia Richner, Markus Leuthold, Katja Dietrich, Adem Bici, Matthias Riepenhoff, Evgeny Murtola, Emily Urry
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Publication number: 20220287639Abstract: A hearing device includes a housing configured to be worn at an ear of a user; an output transducer configured to provide an audio signal to the user; a light source configured to provide light emitted from a light emission area at the housing, the light illuminating an illumination volume extending into tissue at the ear when the housing is worn at the ear; and a first photodetector configured to detect a first light intensity of light arriving from a first acceptance volume extending into tissue at the ear when the housing is worn at the ear such that a part of the emitted light scattered by the tissue into the first acceptance volume is contributing to the first light intensity, the first acceptance volume including a first reception area at the housing having a first distance from the light emission area.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Maryam Mostafaei, Konstantin Silberzahn
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Publication number: 20220174432Abstract: A customized in-ear hearing device includes a light source, photodetector, light emission window, and light transmission window. The light source and the photodetector together function as a physiological sensor by emitting light from the light source through the light emission to the skin of a user's ear canal, and detecting at the photodetector light reflected by the skin that passes through the light detection window. The light emission window and light detection window are located at a customized portion of the sidewall of the device that contacts the skin in the ear canal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2019Publication date: June 2, 2022Inventors: Konstantin Silberzahn, Markus Leuthold, Markus Müller, Christian Frei-Krumme
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Publication number: 20220046371Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for preparing an earpiece for its customization, the device including an energy release unit comprising a receiving chamber for receiving the earpiece and configured to release energy into the receiving chamber. The disclosure further relates to a system for customizing an earpiece comprising the earpiece and the preparing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2018Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventors: Konstantin Silberzahn, Julia Lonsky
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Patent number: 11235150Abstract: A cochlear implant, for use with a micro camera, including a stimulation assembly, a cochlear lead with an electrode array, a lens associated with the distal region of the electrode array, an optical fiber bundle that extends proximally from the lens and outwardly from the proximal region of the cochlear lead, a camera interface in which the proximal end of the optical fiber bundle is located and that is configured to receive the micro camera, and at least one illumination guide that extends from the camera interface to the cochlear lead.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Advanced Bionics AGInventors: Martin Grossoehmichen, Konstantin Silberzahn, Tim Nauwelaers, Volkmar Hamacher
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Publication number: 20210315740Abstract: The disclosure relates to an earpiece configured to be at least partially inserted into an ear and comprising a core comprising a material that during insertion of the earpiece into the ear is deformable above a transition temperature and non-deformable below the transition temperature. The disclosure also relates to a method of manufacturing the earpiece. The disclosure further relates to a method of customizing the earpiece.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2018Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventors: Julia Lonsky, Konstantin Silberzahn, Erdal Karamuk
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Publication number: 20210298670Abstract: An in-ear hearing device includes a light source configured to emit light, a photodetector configured to detect the emitted light after the emitted light passes through tissue of a subject, a spout; an audio receiver configured to deliver a sound to the subject through the spout, and a dome configured to conform to a shape of a subject's ear canal when the hearing device is in the ear canal. An output of the light source and an input of the photodetector are separated by the dome, and the dome absorbs and/or reflects at least part of the emitted light. The photodetector may be a forward biased photodiode. The sensor device can be realized with power levels, circuitry components, and in package sizes, of hearing devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2020Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Hans-Ueli Roeck, Christian Frei-Krumme, Konstantin Silberzahn, Markus Muller, Markus Leuthold
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Patent number: 11115764Abstract: An exemplary hearing system that is configured to assist a user in hearing includes an in-the-ear (ITE) component configured to fit at least partially within an ear canal of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user, a first sensor electrode provided on a surface of the ITE component and configured to contact, while the hearing system is worn by the user, outer ear tissue of the user, and a second sensor electrode configured to be located, while the hearing system is worn by the user, at an entrance to or outside of the ear canal of the user. The first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode may be configured to be used to detect a physiological attribute of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: Sonova AGInventors: Konstantin Silberzahn, Markus Mueller, Natasha Thumm, Markus Leuthold, Christian Frei
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Publication number: 20210195351Abstract: An illustrative earpiece for a hearing device includes a first part comprising a first material wherein the first part is a hollow shapeable part adapted to be inserted into an ear of a user, and a second part comprising a second material, the second part arranged on an end of the first part or at least partially embedded therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2020Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Petra Gunde, Konstantin Silberzahn, Feyza Karasu Kilic, Christoph Weder
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Patent number: 11044564Abstract: An exemplary hearing system that is configured to assist a user in hearing includes a behind-the-ear (BTE) component that includes a power source and an in-the-ear (ITE) component configured to fit at least partially within an ear canal of the user. The ITE component may include a microphone arranged so as to face outside of the ear canal of the user while the ITE component is worn by the user, a vent opening configured to ventilate the ear canal of the user to an environment outside of the ear canal, a receiver configured to provide an audio signal to the user based on an input audio signal detected by the microphone, and at least one of active noise control circuitry configured to reduce at least one of environmental noise entering the ear canal through the vent opening and occlusion and an active vent configured to control the vent opening.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: Sonova AGInventors: Hans-Ueli Roeck, Christian Frei, Konstantin Silberzahn, Markus Mueller, Markus Leuthold
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Publication number: 20210099815Abstract: An exemplary hearing system that is configured to assist a user in hearing includes an in-the-ear (ITE) component configured to fit at least partially within an ear canal of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user, a first sensor electrode provided on a surface of the ITE component and configured to contact, while the hearing system is worn by the user, outer ear tissue of the user, and a second sensor electrode configured to be located, while the hearing system is worn by the user, at an entrance to or outside of the ear canal of the user. The first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode may be configured to be used to detect a physiological attribute of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2019Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Konstantin Silberzahn, Markus Mueller, Natasha Thumm, Markus Leuthold, Christian Frei
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Publication number: 20210093255Abstract: An exemplary hearing system that is configured to assist a user in hearing includes an in-the-ear (“ITE”) component that comprises a shell having a contoured outer shape that is customized for the user to fit at least partially within an ear canal of the user, a faceplate configured to fit within an opening provided in the shell and face out of the ear canal of the user when the shell is inserted into the ear canal of the user, a sensor electrode that is provided on an outer surface of the shell, and a conductive path that extends along the outer surface of the shell from the sensor electrode to the faceplate and that conductively connects the sensor electrode with a conductive portion of the faceplate. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2019Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Markus Mueller, Konstantin Silberzahn, Natasha Thumm
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Publication number: 20210099811Abstract: An exemplary hearing system that is configured to assist a user in hearing includes a behind-the-ear (BTE) component that includes a power source and an in-the-ear (ITE) component configured to fit at least partially within an ear canal of the user. The ITE component may include a microphone arranged so as to face outside of the ear canal of the user while the ITE component is worn by the user, a vent opening configured to ventilate the ear canal of the user to an environment outside of the ear canal, a receiver configured to provide an audio signal to the user based on an input audio signal detected by the microphone, and at least one of active noise control circuitry configured to reduce at least one of environmental noise entering the ear canal through the vent opening and occlusion and an active vent configured to control the vent opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2019Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Hans-Ueli Roeck, Christian Frei, Konstantin Silberzahn, Markus Mueller, Markus Leuthold
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Publication number: 20200407554Abstract: Shape memory polymers allow the fabrication of objects that have a permanent (first) shape, and which can be programmed to adopt a temporary (second) shape, and are able to largely recover their original (first) shape by applying an appropriate stimulus. Materials that permit the fabrication of objects and devices that can (i) be provided in their permanent shape, (ii) be heated to a switching temperature above physiological temperature, at which the material becomes shapeable, (iii) be inserted into the body or placed in contact with the body and be deformed or shaped”to assume a desired temporary shape, (iv) be fixed in the desired temporary shape by keeping the material/device/object at body temperature (about 37° C.) for a convenient period of time, (v) largely retain this temporary shape if removed from the body, and (vi) return largely to their original shape when heated again above the switching temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2019Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: Christoph WEDER, Anuja SHIROLE, Carlo PEROTTO, Julia LONSKY, Konstantin SILBERZAHN