Patents by Inventor Patrik Westerkull
Patrik Westerkull 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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Patent number: 7670278Abstract: A direct bone conduction hearing aid system for generating direct bone conduction vibration includes a vibrator that is placed in an implanted vibrator unit and an implanted energy-receiving unit that has an energy-receiving inductive coil. A vibrator supply cable connects the implanted energy-receiving unit to the implanted vibrator unit. A mounting arm connects the implanted vibrator unit with an anchoring fixture that is anchored to the skull bone through the skull bone surface. The implanted vibrator unit is positioned in the mastoid cavity. The mounting arm is positioned laterally to the implanted vibrator unit and the bone fixation portion of the anchoring fixture.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2006Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Oticon A/SInventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Publication number: 20090192345Abstract: The hearing aid according to the invention comprise: a skin penetrating abutment, a skin penetrating abutment, a rod with a coupling part, operative to allow releasable connection between the rod and the abutment, a hearing aid housing with an opening, where the rod extends through the opening and into the hearing aid housing, a vibrator connected to the rod in the hearing aid housing, and resiliently mounted between a distal housing wall part which faces away from the opening and a proximal housing wall part which comprises the opening, whereby the proximal wall part further comprise a relief portion which extends into the area between the vibrator and the coupling part of the rod and where, the distance between the relief portion and the coupling part of the rod is smaller than the distance between the vibrator and the inside of the distal wall part.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2008Publication date: July 30, 2009Applicant: OTICON A/SInventors: Patrik Westerkull, Anton Hedstrom, Bengt Bern
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Patent number: 7376237Abstract: The vibrator system is for generating bone conduction vibrations. A magnet (8a) provides a static magnetic flux (?1) that follows a first path. A bobbin (4a) is disposed at a center a vibrator (2). A housing (10) encloses the bobbin and has a coil surrounding a center of the bobbin. The coil is powered by an alternating current for providing an alternating dynamic magnetic flux (?2) following the first path through a magnetic circuit. The housing has an upper end (116). The upper end and the bobbin have a first gap (14a) formed therebetween. The housing has a lower end (118) opposite the upper end. The lower end and the bobbin have a second gap (14b) formed therebetween. The magnet is positioned so that the static magnetic flux (?1) is passing through the first and second gaps in a direction substantially parallel with an axial direction (A) of the vibrator. Suspension means (16a, 16b) are provided for suspending the bobbin in a center of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2004Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: Oticon A/SInventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Publication number: 20070156011Abstract: A direct bone conduction hearing aid system for generating direct bone conduction vibrations is disclosed. The direct bone conduction hearing aid system has a vibrator that is placed in an implanted vibrator unit and an implanted energy-receiving unit that has an energy-receiving inductive coil. A vibrator supply cable is connecting the implanted energy-receiving unit to the implanted vibrator unit. A mounting arm is connecting the implanted vibrator unit with an anchoring fixture that is anchored to the skull bone through the skull bone surface. The implanted vibrator unit is positioned in the mastoid cavity. The mounting arm is positioned laterally to the implanted vibrator unit and the bone fixation portion of the anchoring fixture.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2006Publication date: July 5, 2007Inventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Patent number: 7198596Abstract: A coupling device for attaching the external hearing aid part to the skull bone anchored part in a bone conducting hearing aid apparatus. The retaining force in the coupling device is substantially established with a permanent magnet. The bone anchored part and the external hearing aid part include a magnetic part.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2002Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Assignee: P & B Research ABInventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Publication number: 20070073414Abstract: An assembly for controlling emptying of a urine bladder, adapted to be positioned into a urethra of a female is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2006Publication date: March 29, 2007Inventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Publication number: 20070053536Abstract: A bone conduction hearing aid system for generating bone conduction vibrations is disclosed. The bone conduction hearing aid system has an external hearing aid unit with a vibrator and a skin contact pressure plate. The skin contact pressure plate is placed on an outside of the external hearing aid unit and the skin contact pressure plate is magnetically attached to an implanted unit anchored to the skull under the skin. The vibrator transforms an electrical signal into mechanical vibrations and the skin contact pressure plate allows transmission of the vibrations from the vibrator to the implanted unit when the external hearing aid unit is magnetically fixed to the implanted unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2005Publication date: March 8, 2007Inventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Patent number: 7160244Abstract: The arrangement is for controlling the connection for a hearing aid (15) with a fixture (13) anchored in the skull bone. A control arm (1) extends from a connector (17), disposed between the hearing aid (15) and an abutment (9), to a handle (3) disposed at a side of the hearing aid (15) where the handle (3) is reachable by a patient. Biasing means provides a biasing force for biasing the control arm towards the connector (17). The control arm (1) is in operative engagement with the biasing means and movable in a direction to counter-act the biasing force of the biasing means to release the abutment (9) from the connector (17).Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2004Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Inventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Patent number: 7116794Abstract: A hearing aid anchoring fixture (104) for anchoring a direct bone conduction hearing aid (108) to the skull bone (106), comprising a threaded portion (110) that has at least one cutting edge (118). Each cutting edge (118) has an adjacent cavity (120) having a volume Vc. The threaded portion (110) has a thread depth dt being half of the difference between the maximum outer diameter d1 of the threaded portion (120) and the inner diameter d2 of the thread, where dt is at least 10% of the maximum outer diameter d1 of the threaded portion (110) and where dt is less than 20% of the maximum outer diameter d1 of the threaded portion (110). The fixture (104) may be equipped with a flange portion (114) that has an outer diameter d3 being greater than the maximum diameter d1 of the threaded portion (110).Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2004Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Inventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Publication number: 20060211910Abstract: A bone anchored bone conduction hearing aid system comprising two separate microphones connected to two separate inputs of a hearing aid, and a microphone processing circuit in the electronic unit, processing the signals from the two microphones to increase the sound sensitivity for sound coming from the front compared to sound coming from the rear. One of the sound inlets being the frontal sound inlet which is positioned more in the frontal direction (F) than the other sound inlet. The bone anchored bone conduction hearing aid system of the present invention has a programmable microphone processing circuit where the sensitivity for sound coming from the front compared to sound coming from the rear can be varied by programming the circuit digitally in a programming circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2005Publication date: September 21, 2006Inventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Patent number: 7074222Abstract: A screw-shaped anchoring element for permanent anchorage of hearing aid devices or ear and eye prostheses in the skull bone. A main body including external threads has a length less than 5 mm and is operative to be inserted into a hole in a skull bone. A flange is operative to provide a stop for the anchoring element when the anchoring element is screwed down into the comparatively thin skull bone. The flange has a substantially planar bottom surface for resting against the skull bone when the anchoring element has reached a final screwed-down position. A tool engaging socket is arranged at one end of the anchoring element. An inner bore extends at least partially through the main body at the first end of the anchoring element and is operative to connect one of a hearing aid device, an eye prosthesis or an ear prosthesis to the anchoring element. A self-tapping second end of the anchoring element includes at least one cavity and a cutting edge.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2001Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: Entific Medical Systems ABInventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Patent number: 7065223Abstract: The hearing-aid interconnection system has a skin-penetrating hearing-aid abutment (2) and a fixture (4) anchored in a skull bone (6). A first press fit is formed between a first contact surface (8a) of the abutment and a first fixture contact surface (10a) of the fixture. The first abutment contact surface extends around the first fixture contact surface. A second press fit is formed between a second contact surface (8b) of the abutment and a second fixture contact surface (10b) of the fixture. The second fixture contact surface extends around the second abutment contact surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2004Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Inventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Publication number: 20060126874Abstract: An anchoring system for anchoring a percutaneous attachment for a direct bone-conduction hearing-aid or an outer ear prosthesis to the skull bone, comprising a fixture portion, the fixture portion having a threaded portion. A flange is disposed at one end of the fixture portion. The flange has a surface facing the threaded portion and on this surface there is at least one groove to prevent bone resorption under the flange. The groove extends at least one turn on the side of the flange facing the threaded portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2006Publication date: June 15, 2006Inventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Publication number: 20060093175Abstract: A hearing aid anchoring fixture (104) for anchoring a direct bone conduction hearing aid (108) to the skull bone (106), comprising a threaded portion (110) that has at least one cutting edge (118). Each cutting edge (118) has an adjacent cavity (120) having a volume Vc. The threaded portion (110) has a thread depth dt being half of the difference between the maximum outer diameter d1 of the threaded portion (120) and the inner diameter d2 of the thread, where dt is at least 10% of the maximum outer diameter d1 of the threaded portion (110) and where dt is less than 20% of the maximum outer diameter d1 of the threaded portion (110). The fixture (104) may be equipped with a flange portion (114) that has an outer diameter d3 being greater than the maximum diameter d1 of the threaded portion (110).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2004Publication date: May 4, 2006Inventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Patent number: 7021676Abstract: A connector system for interconnecting a hearing aid (3) with a fixture (5) anchored in a bone segment (7). An abutment (9) has a contact surface (21) with is a substantially circular surface. A connector plate (17) with a substantially circular connector contact surface (20) is in contact with the abutment contact surface (21) when the hearing aid (3) is connected to the abutment (9). The abutment (9) has a wide abutment coupling area and a narrow portion. The abutment coupling area is enclosable by coupling shoes (15). The coupling shoes (15) exert a pressure against the abutment coupling area disposed on a mantle surface (25) of the abutment. The coupling shoes are movable in a radial direction relative to the connector plate (17). The coupling area has an increasing diameter in a lateral direction (L).Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2004Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Inventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Publication number: 20060050913Abstract: The hearing-aid interconnection system has a skin-penetrating hearing-aid abutment (2) and a fixture (4) anchored in a skull bone (6). A first press fit is formed between a first contact surface (8a) of the abutment and a first fixture contact surface (10a) of the fixture. The first abutment contact surface extends around the first fixture contact surface. A second press fit is formed between a second contact surface (8b) of the abutment and a second fixture contact surface (10b) of the fixture. The second fixture contact surface extends around the second abutment contact surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2004Publication date: March 9, 2006Inventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Publication number: 20060045298Abstract: The vibrator system is for generating bone conduction vibrations. A magnet (8a) provides a static magnetic flux (?1) that follows a first path. A bobbin (4a) is disposed at a center a vibrator (2). A housing (10) encloses the bobbin and has a coil surrounding a center of the bobbin. The coil is powered by an alternating current for providing an alternating dynamic magnetic flux (?2) following the first path through a magnetic circuit. The housing has an upper end (116). The upper end and the bobbin have a first gap (14a) formed therebetween. The housing has a lower end (118) opposite the upper end. The lower end and the bobbin have a second gap (14b) formed therebetween. The magnet is positioned so that the static magnetic flux (?1) is passing through the first and second gaps in a direction substantially parallel with an axial direction (A) of the vibrator. Suspension means (16a, 16b) are provided for suspending the bobbin in a center of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2004Publication date: March 2, 2006Inventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Publication number: 20050248158Abstract: A connector system for interconnecting a hearing aid (3) with a fixture (5) anchored in a bone segment (7). An abutment (9) has a contact surface (21) with is a substantially circular surface. A connector plate (17) with a substantially circular connector contact surface (20) is in contact with the abutment contact surface (21) when the hearing aid (3) is connected to the abutment (9). The abutment (9) has a wide abutment coupling area and a narrow portion. The abutment coupling area is enclosable by coupling shoes (15). The coupling shoes (15) exert a pressure against the abutment coupling area disposed on a mantle surface (25) of the abutment. The coupling shoes are movable in a radial direction relative to the connector plate (17). The coupling area has an increasing diameter in a lateral direction (L).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2004Publication date: November 10, 2005Inventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Publication number: 20050249366Abstract: The arrangement is for controlling the connection for a hearing aid (15) with a fixture (13) anchored in the skull bone. A control arm (1) extends from a connector (17), disposed between the hearing aid (15) and an abutment (9), to a handle (3) disposed at a side of the hearing aid (15) where the handle (3) is reachable by a patient. Biasing means provides a biasing force for biasing the control arm towards the connector (17). The control arm (1) is in operative engagement with the biasing means and movable in a direction to counter-act the biasing force of the biasing means to release the abutment (9) from the connector (17).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2004Publication date: November 10, 2005Inventor: Patrik Westerkull
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Publication number: 20040210103Abstract: The present invention relates to a coupling device for attaching the external hearing aid part (5) to the skull bone 810) anchored part in a bone conducting hearing aid apparatus, whereby the retaining force in the coupling device is substantially established by means of a permanent magnet. The bone anchored part as well as the external hearing aid part (5) comprises a magnetic part (4 and 6, respectively) and at least one of these magnetic parts is a permanent magnet. If only one of the two magnetic parts (4, 6) is a permanent magnet, the other magnetic part should be made of a ferro-magnetic material. The magnetic part (4) of the bone anchored art of the hearing aid is preferably made as an annular device located in the skin penetrating spacer (1) of the hearing aid.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Inventor: Patrik Westerkull