Patents by Inventor Sean Lineaweaver

Sean Lineaweaver 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: 20230414933
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for the determination/selection of a set of electrodes for use in an electrically-stimulating auditory/hearing prosthesis. More specifically, an electrically-stimulating hearing prosthesis includes a plurality of electrodes implanted in a recipient. Based, at least in part on a recipient's subjective preferences, one or more of these electrodes may be deactivated. The remaining (i.e., non-deactivated) electrodes form a final electrode set that is subsequently used by the hearing prosthesis for subsequent hearing rehabilitation operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventor: Sean Lineaweaver
  • Patent number: 11786724
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for the determination/selection of a set of electrodes for use in an electrically-stimulating auditory/hearing prosthesis. More specifically, an electrically-stimulating hearing prosthesis includes a plurality of electrodes implanted in a recipient. Based, at least in part on a recipient's subjective preferences, one or more of these electrodes may be deactivated. The remaining (i.e., non-deactivated) electrodes form a final electrode set that is subsequently used by the hearing prosthesis for subsequent hearing rehabilitation operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Sean Lineaweaver
  • Patent number: 11596793
    Abstract: A method, including the action of operating a sense prosthesis, such as a retinal implant, according to a first operating regime while the recipient has a first fatigue level, and operating the sense prosthesis according to a second operating regime while the recipient has a second fatigue level that is greater than the first fatigue level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Sean Lineaweaver, John Michael Heasman
  • Publication number: 20200406026
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for the determination/selection of a set of electrodes for use in an electrically-stimulating auditory/hearing prosthesis. More specifically, an electrically-stimulating hearing prosthesis includes a plurality of electrodes implanted in a recipient. Based, at least in part on a recipient's subjective preferences, one or more of these electrodes may be deactivated. The remaining (i.e., non-deactivated) electrodes form a final electrode set that is subsequently used by the hearing prosthesis for subsequent hearing rehabilitation operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventor: Sean Lineaweaver
  • Patent number: 10863930
    Abstract: A method of forecasting subjective efficacy of a hearing prosthesis implanted in a recipient, including subjecting a recipient to a plurality of temporally spaced aural training tasks, the aural training tasks evoking hearing percepts with the hearing prosthesis, obtaining first data indicative of the recipient's ability to hear with the hearing prosthesis based on performance by the recipient of the temporally spaced aural training tasks, and forecasting second data based on the first data, wherein the second data are indicative of the recipient's ability to hear with the hearing prosthesis at one or more temporal locations in the future.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Sean Lineaweaver
  • Patent number: 10716934
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for the determination/selection of a set of electrodes for use in an electrically-stimulating auditory/hearing prosthesis. More specifically, an electrically-stimulating hearing prosthesis includes a plurality of electrodes implanted in a recipient. Based, at least in part on a recipient's subjective preferences, one or more of these electrodes may be deactivated. The remaining (i.e., non-deactivated) electrodes form a final electrode set that is subsequently used by the hearing prosthesis for subsequent hearing rehabilitation operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: COCHLEAR LIMITED
    Inventor: Sean Lineaweaver
  • Patent number: 10610687
    Abstract: A method, including the action of operating a sense prosthesis, such as a retinal implant, according to a first operating regime while the recipient has a first fatigue level, and operating the sense prosthesis according to a second operating regime while the recipient has a second fatigue level that is greater than the first fatigue level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Sean Lineaweaver, John Michael Heasman
  • Patent number: 10244332
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing prosthesis including operating the hearing prosthesis in a first mode, and monitoring an operating characteristic of the hearing prosthesis. The operating characteristic may relate to one or more of a power supply configured to provide power to the hearing prosthesis, or a temperature characteristic of the hearing prosthesis. The method also includes determining that the operating characteristic is at a threshold level, and responsive to determining that the operating characteristic is at the threshold level, operating the hearing prosthesis in a second mode. In this example, operating the hearing prosthesis in the second mode at least one of uses less power or generates less heat than operating the hearing prosthesis in the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Sean Lineaweaver, John Michael Heasman
  • Patent number: 10183164
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for optimizing stimulation parameters for use in a stimulating auditory prosthesis based on a recipient's cognitive auditory ability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Sean Lineaweaver
  • Patent number: 10123725
    Abstract: A method of forecasting subjective efficacy of a hearing prosthesis implanted in a recipient, including subjecting a recipient to a plurality of temporally spaced aural training tasks, the aural training tasks evoking hearing percepts with the hearing prosthesis, obtaining first data indicative of the recipient's ability to hear with the hearing prosthesis based on performance by the recipient of the temporally spaced aural training tasks, and forecasting second data based on the first data, wherein the second data are indicative of the recipient's ability to hear with the hearing prosthesis at one or more temporal locations in the future.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Sean Lineaweaver
  • Publication number: 20180140828
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for the determination/selection of a set of electrodes for use in an electrically-stimulating auditory/hearing prosthesis. More specifically, an electrically-stimulating hearing prosthesis includes a plurality of electrodes implanted in a recipient. Based, at least in part on a recipient's subjective preferences, one or more of these electrodes may be deactivated. The remaining (i.e., non-deactivated) electrodes form a final electrode set that is subsequently used by the hearing prosthesis for subsequent hearing rehabilitation operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventor: Sean Lineaweaver
  • Patent number: 9937346
    Abstract: A method, including the action of operating a sense prosthesis, such as a retinal implant, according to a first operating regime while the recipient has a first fatigue level, and operating the sense prosthesis according to a second operating regime while the recipient has a second fatigue level that is greater than the first fatigue level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: COCHLEAR LIMITED
    Inventors: Sean Lineaweaver, John Michael Heasman
  • Publication number: 20170215010
    Abstract: A method for operating a hearing prosthesis including operating the hearing prosthesis in a first mode, and monitoring an operating characteristic of the hearing prosthesis. The operating characteristic may relate to one or more of a power supply configured to provide power to the hearing prosthesis, or a temperature characteristic of the hearing prosthesis. The method also includes determining that the operating characteristic is at a threshold level, and responsive to determining that the operating characteristic is at the threshold level, operating the hearing prosthesis in a second mode. In this example, operating the hearing prosthesis in the second mode at least one of uses less power or generates less heat than operating the hearing prosthesis in the first mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Sean Lineaweaver, John Michael Heasman
  • Publication number: 20170056655
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for optimizing stimulation parameters for use in a stimulating auditory prosthesis based on a recipient's auditory cognitive ability
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Sean Lineaweaver
  • Patent number: 9345881
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to the use of a genetic algorithm for the purpose of providing progressive and adaptive auditory training (rehabilitation) to a recipient of a hearing prosthesis. In general, the genetic algorithm is used to adapt the training process to automatically increase the difficulty of the training based on recipient feedback and performance. That is, the genetic algorithm progressively removes perceivable sounds from the training process so as to generate groups of sounds that are difficult for a recipient to perceive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Sean Lineaweaver
  • Publication number: 20150209585
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to the use of a genetic algorithm for the purpose of providing progressive and adaptive auditory training (rehabilitation) to a recipient of a hearing prosthesis. In general, the genetic algorithm is used to adapt the training process to automatically increase the difficulty of the training based on recipient feedback and performance. That is, the genetic algorithm progressively removes perceivable sounds from the training process so as to generate groups of sounds that are difficult for a recipient to perceive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventor: Sean Lineaweaver
  • Patent number: 9031663
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to the use of a genetic algorithm for the purpose of providing progressive and adaptive auditory training (rehabilitation) to a recipient of a hearing prosthesis. In general, the genetic algorithm is used to adapt the training process to automatically increase the difficulty of the training based on recipient feedback and performance. That is, the genetic algorithm progressively removes perceivable sounds from the training process so as to generate groups of sounds that are difficult for a recipient to perceive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventor: Sean Lineaweaver
  • Patent number: 8825168
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for at least partially fitting a medical implant system to a patient is described. These apparatuses and methods comprise using a dynamic mutation rate. This genetic algorithm may comprise generating successive generations of child populations. In executing the genetic algorithm, children may undergo mutations based on a mutation rate. This mutation rate may be dynamic and be based on the characteristics of the children in the generation. Additionally, values may be frozen during execution of the genetic algorithm if the likelihood that the value has converged on a particular value exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Sean Lineaweaver, Gregory H. Wakefield
  • Publication number: 20140243913
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to the use of a genetic algorithm for the purpose of providing progressive and adaptive auditory training (rehabilitation) to a recipient of a hearing prosthesis. In general, the genetic algorithm is used to adapt the training process to automatically increase the difficulty of the training based on recipient feedback and performance. That is, the genetic algorithm progressively removes perceivable sounds from the training process so as to generate groups of sounds that are difficult for a recipient to perceive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Sean Lineaweaver
  • Patent number: 8812122
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for at least partially fitting a medical implant system to a patient is described. These apparatuses and methods comprise executing a genetic algorithm to select a set of parameter values for the medical implant system. This genetic algorithm may comprise executing a tabu search wherein value sets that are determined to be bad are added to a tabu list that may be consulted to exclude tabu value sets from successive generations of the genetic algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Sean Lineaweaver, Gregory H. Wakefield