Patents by Inventor Kristian Asnes

Kristian Asnes 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).

  • Patent number: 8565461
    Abstract: A bone conduction device configured to couple to an abutment of an anchor system anchored to a recipient's skull. The bone conduction device includes a vibrating electromagnetic actuator configured to vibrate in response to sound signals received by the bone conduction device, and a coupling apparatus configured to attach the bone conduction device to the abutment so as to impart to the recipient's skull vibrations generated by the vibrating electromagnetic actuator. The vibrating electromagnetic actuator includes a bobbin assembly and a counterweight assembly. Two axial air gaps are located between the bobbin assembly and the counterweight assembly and two radial air gaps are located between the bobbin assembly and the counterweight assembly. No substantial amount of the dynamic magnetic flux passes through the radial air gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Kristian Asnes
  • Publication number: 20130202140
    Abstract: A bone conduction device configured to couple to an abutment of an anchor system anchored to a recipient's skull. The bone conduction device includes a vibrating electromagnetic actuator configured to vibrate in response to sound signals received by the bone conduction device, and a coupling apparatus configured to attach the bone conduction device to the abutment so as to impart to the recipient's skull vibrations generated by the vibrating electromagnetic actuator. The vibrating electromagnetic actuator includes a bobbin assembly and a counterweight assembly. Two axial air gaps are located between the bobbin assembly and the counterweight assembly and two radial air gaps are located between the bobbin assembly and the counterweight assembly. No substantial amount of the dynamic magnetic flux passes through the radial air gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: Kristian Asnes
  • Patent number: 8454668
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are generally directed to an anchoring element comprising a screw shaped central part, a flange which functions as a stop when the anchoring element is installed into the skull bone, and a tubular peripheral part which is connected to the central part via said flange, wherein the peripheral part together with the central part is arranged to cut into the bone tissue when the anchoring element is installed into the bone tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Kristian Asnes
  • Publication number: 20120302822
    Abstract: A bone conduction device, including a bone fixture adapted to be fixed to bone, a vibratory element adapted to be attached to the bone fixture and configured to vibrate in response to sound signals, and a vibration isolator adapted to be disposed between the vibratory element and the bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Carl Van Himbeeck, Marcus Andersson, David N. Morris, Kristian Åsnes
  • Publication number: 20120237067
    Abstract: A bone conduction device configured to couple to an abutment of an anchor system anchored to a recipient's skull. The bone conduction device includes a vibrating electromagnetic actuator configured to vibrate in response to sound signals received by the bone conduction device, and a coupling apparatus configured to attach the bone conduction device to the abutment so as to impart to the recipient's skull vibrations generated by the vibrating electromagnetic actuator. The vibrating electromagnetic actuator includes a bobbin assembly and a counterweight assembly. Two axial air gaps are located between the bobbin assembly and the counterweight assembly and two radial air gaps are located between the bobbin assembly and the counterweight assembly. No substantial amount of the dynamic magnetic flux passes through the radial air gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Kristian Asnes
  • Publication number: 20120215056
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recipient customization of a bone conducting hearing device. Customization of the bone conducting hearing device may include attaching the bone conducting hearing device to a recipient, establishing communication between the hearing device and an external device, generating at least one control setting with the external device, and storing the at least one control setting in a memory device in the hearing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt, Gunnar Kristian Asnes
  • Patent number: 8170252
    Abstract: A bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient, comprising: a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal; an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing the acoustic sound signal; a transducer configured to generate mechanical forces representing the electrical signal for deliver to the recipient's skull; and dual percutaneous anchors coupled to the transducer and configured to receive and transmit the mechanical forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: John Parker, Gunnar Kristian Asnes
  • Publication number: 20120088956
    Abstract: A bone conduction hearing aid device comprising a vibrator configured to vibrate in response to sound signals received by the device. The device further comprises a housing mass forming a housing for one or more operational components of the device, wherein the housing mass is attached to the vibrator so as to move in response to the vibration. The device also comprises a coupling configured to attach the device to a recipient so as to deliver the generated mechanical to the recipient's skull.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Kristian Asnes, Patrick Wilhelm Stromsten
  • Patent number: 8144909
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recipient customization of a bone conducting hearing device. Customization of the bone conducting hearing device may include attaching the bone conducting hearing device to a recipient, establishing communication between the hearing device and an external device, generating at least one control setting with the external device, and storing the at least one control setting in a memory device in the hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt, Gunnar Kristian Asnes
  • Publication number: 20110270014
    Abstract: A hearing prosthesis comprising an external component having an integrated user interface, a sound processor configured to process received sounds based on predefined fitting data, and an on-board fitting system configured to set the fitting data in response to control inputs received via the integrated user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Mark Flynn, Kristian Asnes, Martin E.G. Hillbratt, Fredrik Breitholtz
  • Publication number: 20110158443
    Abstract: A bone conduction device including a coupling configurable to form a coupling with a bone, a transducer module configurable to vibrate in accordance with one or more operational characteristics of the device; and a sensor module configurable to adjust the one or more operational characteristics in response to one or more of a reorientation of a portion of the device and a movement of the portion relative to the coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Kristian Åsnes, Patrik Wilhelm Strömsten, Marcus Andersson, Christian M. Peclat
  • Publication number: 20100298626
    Abstract: A bone conduction device comprising a multilayer piezoelectric element. The multilayer piezoelectric element comprises two stacked piezoelectric layers, and a flexible passive layer disposed between the piezoelectric layers. The device also comprises a mass component attached to the multilayer piezoelectric element; and a coupling attached to the multilayer piezoelectric element configured to transfer mechanical forces generated by the multilayer piezoelectric element and the mass component to a recipient's skull.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: COCHLEAR LIMITED
    Inventors: Marcus Andersson, Kristian Asnes, Erik Holgersson, Patrik W. Strömsten, Wim Bervoets
  • Publication number: 20100209873
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are generally directed to an anchoring element comprising a screw shaped central part, a flange which functions as a stop when the anchoring element is installed into the skull bone, and a tubular peripheral part which is connected to the central part via said flange, wherein the peripheral part together with the central part is arranged to cut into the bone tissue when the anchoring element is installed into the bone tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: COCHLEAR LIMITED
    Inventor: Kristian Asnes
  • Publication number: 20100041940
    Abstract: The present invention relates to recipient customization of a bone conducting hearing device. Customization of the bone conducting hearing device may include attaching the bone conducting hearing device to a recipient, establishing communication between the hearing device and an external device, generating at least one control setting with the external device, and storing the at least one control setting in a memory device in the hearing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Martin Evert Gustaf Hillbratt, Gunnar Kristian Asnes
  • Publication number: 20090247812
    Abstract: A bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient, comprising: a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal; an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing the acoustic sound signal; a transducer configured to generate mechanical forces representing the electrical signal for deliver to the recipient's skull; and dual percutaneous anchors coupled to the transducer and configured to receive and transmit the mechanical forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: COCHLEAR LIMITED
    Inventors: John Parker, Gunnar Kristian Asnes
  • Publication number: 20080319250
    Abstract: An electromagnetic vibrator for generating vibrations in bone conducting hearing aid devices. The vibrator includes a magnetic device, a vibrator plate and an inner spring member providing an air-gap between the magnetic device and the vibrator plate. The vibrator is housed in a casing and an outer spring is arranged between the vibrator and the casing to isolate movements of the magnetic device relative to the casing. The outer spring is part of the surrounding casing and is mechanically attached to the vibratory transmitting element via an elastic sealing element. The sealing function of the hearing aid housing is provided by the outer spring attachment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: ENTIFIC MEDICAL SYSTEMS AB
    Inventor: Kristian Asnes
  • Publication number: 20080292125
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for damping the resonance frequency in a vibrator for bone anchored hearing aids in which sound information is mechanically transmitted via the skull bone directly to the inner ear of a person with impaired hearing. A microphone picks up the sound, a signal processor amplifies and filters the signal from the microphone and a vibrator converts the electrical signal into vibrations. The signal processor of the hearing aid is used for damping the resonance frequency peak of the vibrator. For this purpose the signal processor includes electronic filters that are arranged to reduce the amplification in the signal processing chain of the hearing aid as much as the desired dampening of the resonance frequency peak of the vibrator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Kristian Asnes
  • Publication number: 20040236176
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vibrator of the variable-reluctance type for generating vibrations in a bone anchored hearing aid, i.e. a hearing aid of the typein which the sound information is mechanically transmitted via the skull bone directly to the inner ear of a person with impaired hearing. The vibrator comprises in the known way a vibrator plate (4) and a bobbin base (3) with a vibrator gap (7) therebetween. Said vibrator gap (7) between the vibrator plate (4) and the bobbin base (3), or some other spacing in the vibrator where a relative movement between two surfaces is generated during the vibratory function, is at least partially filled with a fluid or gel (6) for providing the main part of the damping of the resonance frequency of the vibrator. Preferably, the fluid or gel (6) comprises ferro-magnetic particles, a so-called ferro-fluid, in order to keep the fluid in place and increase the magnetic conductivity in the magnetic circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Kristian Asnes
  • Publication number: 20040057588
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vibrator specifically for a hearing aid device of the bone conduction type, i.e. a hearing aid device by which the sound information is mechanically transmitted via the skull bone directly to the inner ear of a person with impaired hearing. The vibrator comprises a coil which is divided into two coil halves (1a, 1b) for generating a dynamic magnetic field and a permanent magnet (3) for generating a static magnetic field. The permanent magnet (3) is radially magnetized and arranged in such a way that the static and dynamic magnetic fields are coinciding in the air gaps (6a, 6b) formed between the coil and magnet arrangement and the casing (4), whereby the vibrator provides an axial force (7). Preferably, the entire coil and magnet arrangement is enclosed in a casing (4) which forms a part of the magnetic circuit and protects the vibrator and reduces magnetic leakage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventor: Kristian Asnes
  • Publication number: 20040028249
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vibrator specifically for a hearing aid device of the bone conduction type, i e a hearing aid device by which the sound information is mechanically transmitted via the skull bone directly to the inner ear f a person with impaired hearing. The vibrator comprises a coil (1) for generating a dynamic magnetic field and two permanent magnets (3a, 3b) for generating a static magnetic field. The two permanent magnets (3a, 3b) are working independently from each other in the magnetic circuit and an arranged in such a way that the static and dynamic magnetic fields are substantially separated from each other, but coinciding in the air gaps (6a, 6b) formed between the coil and magnet arrangement and the casing (4), whereby the vibrator provides an axial force (7). Preferably, the entire coil and magnet arrangement is enclosed in a casing (4) which forms a part of the magnetic circuit and protects the vibrator and reduces magnetic leakage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Kristian Asnes