Patents by Inventor Werner Lindenthaler
Werner Lindenthaler 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: 9186503Abstract: A method of using an airway treatment system for treating a dorsal displacement disorder in a horse includes detecting an elevated activity level of the horse using one or more treatment sensors, generating a treatment signal based on the detected elevated activity level, using a pacemaker processor, to strengthen one or more muscles involved in displacing a laryngeal anatomical structure relative to an airway of the horse, and using one or more stimulation electrodes, configured to interface with tissue of the horse, to deliver the treatment signal to the tissue of the horse to maintain an unobstructed airway.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2014Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignees: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH, Cornell UniversityInventors: Werner Lindenthaler, Norm G. Ducharme
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Publication number: 20150306396Abstract: A method for treating a human subject having unilateral vocal cord paralysis includes providing a stimulating electrode configured to directly contact a recurrent laryngeal nerve or vagus nerve of the subjects, sensing electrical activity of a synkinetically reinnervated dysfunctional muscle of the subject, generating at least one stimulation parameter, using a processor, based on the sensed electrical activity, and stimulating the recurrent laryngeal nerve or vagus nerve, using the stimulating electrode, based on the at least one stimulation parameter. A system is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2015Publication date: October 29, 2015Inventor: Werner Lindenthaler
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Patent number: 9162059Abstract: A method for stimulating facial nerves in a subject includes providing an electrode having a plurality of contacts, stimulating a central part of a facial nerve with the plurality of contacts in order to improve at least some muscle volume and/or strength in a facial region, and stimulating one or more of the plurality of contacts in order to maintain the muscle volume and/or strength in a desired facial muscle. Another method for stimulating facial nerves in a subject includes providing an electrode having a plurality of contacts in an ear of the subject, stimulating one or more of the plurality of contacts separately in order to determine which contacts activate which facial muscles, identifying one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts that cause one or more nerve branches to activate a desired facial muscle, and selecting the identified contacts to stimulate the one or more nerve branches.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2014Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventor: Werner Lindenthaler
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Patent number: 9155890Abstract: A system for stimulating facial nerves in a subject includes an electrode having a plurality of contacts configured to be placed in a parotid region of the subject's face and a processor in communication with the electrode. The processor has program code for stimulating one or more facial nerve branches by stimulating each of the plurality of contacts separately in order to determine which nerve branch activates which facial muscle, for identifying one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts that cause the one or more nerve branches to activate a desired facial muscle, and for selecting the identified contacts to stimulate the one or more nerve branches.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventors: Orlando Guntinas-Lichius, Andreas Müller, Werner Lindenthaler
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Publication number: 20150246228Abstract: A stimulation system and method for treating to a human subject having spasmodic dysphonia includes a sensing electrode configured to detect voice activity of a vocalizing muscle of the subject and to generate a first signal, and a processor configured to receive the first signal from the sensing electrode and to generate at least one stimulation parameter based on the first signal. The system further includes a mechanical actuator configured to receive the stimulation parameter from the processor and to activate a glottic closure reflex of the subject in response to the stimulation parameter and a stimulating electrode configured to receive the stimulation parameter from the processor and stimulate the recurrent laryngeal nerve or the vagus nerve of the subject based on the stimulation parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2015Publication date: September 3, 2015Inventor: Werner Lindenthaler
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Patent number: 9108054Abstract: A method of modifying larynx position in a human subject includes cutting one end of digastric muscle, attaching the cut end of the digastric muscle to thyroid cartilage thereby trans-positioning the digastric muscle, providing a stimulation electrode configured to stimulate the trans-positioned digastric muscle, generating at least one stimulation parameter for the stimulation electrode using a processor, and stimulating the trans-positioned digastric muscle with the stimulation electrode using the stimulation parameter in order to modify the larynx position.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2014Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventor: Werner Lindenthaler
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Publication number: 20150182414Abstract: A system and method of treating hyperactivity of an eyelid closing muscle in a subject includes providing a stimulation system in the subject with the hyperactivity of the eyelid closing muscle, sensing an activity of the eyelid closing muscle, and selectively stimulating eyelid opening muscle(s) or innervating nerves, eyelid opening reflexes, or eyelid opening reflexes in non-muscular tissue, using the stimulation system, without substantially activating the eyelid closing muscle. The system and method evokes eyelid movement in the subject.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2015Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventor: Werner Lindenthaler
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Patent number: 9050462Abstract: A stimulation system and method for treating to a human subject having spasmodic dysphonia includes a sensing electrode configured to detect voice activity of a vocalizing muscle of the subject and to generate a first signal, and a processor configured to receive the first signal from the sensing electrode and to generate at least one stimulation parameter based on the first signal. The system further includes a mechanical actuator configured to receive the stimulation parameter from the processor and to activate a glottic closure reflex of the subject in response to the stimulation parameter and a stimulating electrode configured to receive the stimulation parameter from the processor and stimulate the recurrent laryngeal nerve or the vagus nerve of the subject based on the stimulation parameter.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventor: Werner Lindenthaler
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Patent number: 9026204Abstract: A stimulation system and method for treating a human subject having unilateral vocal cord paralysis includes a sensing electrode configured to detect voice activity of a vocalizing muscle of the subject and to generate a first signal, and a processor configured to receive the first signal from the sensing electrode and to generate at least one stimulation parameter based on the first signal. The system further includes a stimulating electrode configured to receive the stimulation parameter from the processor and to activate a glottis closing reflex of the subject in response to the stimulation parameter.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventor: Werner Lindenthaler
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Patent number: 8934982Abstract: A system and method of treating hyperactivity of an eyelid closing muscle in a subject includes providing a stimulation system in the subject with the hyperactivity of the eyelid closing muscle, sensing an activity of the eyelid closing muscle, and selectively stimulating eyelid opening muscle(s) or innervating nerves, eyelid opening reflexes, or eyelid opening reflexes in non-muscular tissue, using the stimulation system, without substantially activating the eyelid closing muscle. The system and method evokes eyelid movement in the subject.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2014Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventor: Werner Lindenthaler
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Publication number: 20140371772Abstract: A method of modifying larynx position in a human subject includes cutting one end of digastric muscle, attaching the cut end of the digastric muscle to thyroid cartilage thereby trans-positioning the digastric muscle, providing a stimulation electrode configured to stimulate the trans-positioned digastric muscle, generating at least one stimulation parameter for the stimulation electrode using a processor, and stimulating the trans-positioned digastric muscle with the stimulation electrode using the stimulation parameter in order to modify the larynx position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2014Publication date: December 18, 2014Applicant: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventor: Werner Lindenthaler
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Publication number: 20140324121Abstract: A system for stimulating facial nerves in a subject includes an electrode having a plurality of contacts configured to be placed in a parotid region of the subject's face and a processor in communication with the electrode. The processor has program code for stimulating one or more facial nerve branches by stimulating each of the plurality of contacts separately in order to determine which nerve branch activates which facial muscle, for identifying one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts that cause the one or more nerve branches to activate a desired facial muscle, and for selecting the identified contacts to stimulate the one or more nerve branches.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Orlando Guntinas-Lichius, Andreas Müller, Werner Lindenthaler
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Publication number: 20140277272Abstract: A stimulation system and method for providing training therapy to a human subject in order to strengthen a weakened voice due to aging includes an activating switch configured to generate a first signal, and a processor configured to receive the first signal from the sensing electrode and configured to generate at least one stimulation parameter based on the first signal. The system further includes a stimulating electrode configured to receive the stimulation parameter from the processor and configured to activate a glottic closure reflex of the subject based on the stimulation parameter by stimulating internal superior laryngeal nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve, or a combination thereof in order to selectively activate vocal cord abductor muscle and vocal cord adductor muscles of the subject.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventor: Werner Lindenthaler
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Publication number: 20140276272Abstract: A system and method of treating hyperactivity of an eyelid closing muscle in a subject includes providing a stimulation system in the subject with the hyperactivity of the eyelid closing muscle, sensing an activity of the eyelid closing muscle, and selectively stimulating eyelid opening muscle(s) or innervating nerves, eyelid opening reflexes, or eyelid opening reflexes in non-muscular tissue, using the stimulation system, without substantially activating the eyelid closing muscle. The system and method evokes eyelid movement in the subject.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventor: Werner Lindenthaler
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Patent number: 8792989Abstract: A method for stimulating facial nerves in a subject with synkinetic reinnervated muscles includes providing an electrode, having a plurality of contacts, in a parotic region of the subject's face, stimulating each of the contacts separately, identifying one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts that cause one or more nerve branches to activate a desired facial muscle, and selecting the identified contacts to stimulate the one or more nerve branches. The system includes an electrode having a plurality of contacts for placement in a parotic region of the subject's face and a processor in communication with the electrode. The processor has program code for stimulating each of the contacts separately, for identifying one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts that cause one or more nerve branches to activate a desired facial muscle, and for selecting the identified contacts to stimulate the one or more nerve branches.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2009Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventors: Orlando Guntinas-Lichius, Andreas Müller, Werner Lindenthaler
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Patent number: 8788036Abstract: A minimally invasive method of introducing an electrode to electrically stimulate one or both vocal cords of a subject includes inserting a hollow needle from outside of the subject's body into a postcricoidal region lateral to a posterior cricoarytenoid muscle and forming an insertion path downwardly towards a cricothyroid joint of the subject. The method also includes introducing the electrode via the hollow needle and positioning the electrode relative to at least one vocal cord muscle of the subject based on the insertion path.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2013Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventor: Werner Lindenthaler
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Publication number: 20140200623Abstract: A method of using an airway treatment system for treating a dorsal displacement disorder in a horse includes detecting an elevated activity level of the horse using one or more treatment sensors, generating a treatment signal based on the detected elevated activity level, using a pacemaker processor, to strengthen one or more muscles involved in displacing a laryngeal anatomical structure relative to an airway of the horse, and using one or more stimulation electrodes, configured to interface with tissue of the horse, to deliver the treatment signal to the tissue of the horse to maintain an unobstructed airway.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2014Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicants: Cornell University, MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventors: Werner Lindenthaler, Norm G. Ducharme
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Patent number: 8781594Abstract: A system and method of treating hyperactivity of an eyelid closing muscle in a subject after facial nerve paralysis includes providing a stimulation system and selectively stimulating eyelid opening muscle(s) or innervating nerves, eyelid opening reflexes, or eyelid opening reflexes in non-muscular tissue, using the stimulation system, without substantially activating the eyelid closing muscle. The system and method evokes eyelid movement in the subject.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventor: Werner Lindenthaler
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Patent number: 8731683Abstract: A stimulation system and method for providing training therapy to a human subject having a weakened voice includes an activating switch configured to generate a first signal, and a processor configured to receive the first signal from the sensing electrode and to generate at least one stimulation parameter based on the first signal. The system further includes a stimulating electrode configured to receive the stimulation parameter from the processor and to activate a recurrent laryngeal nerve or vagus nerve of the subject in response to the stimulation parameter.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2012Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventor: Werner Lindenthaler
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Publication number: 20140094874Abstract: An implant includes a humidity sensor for generating a signal indicative of humidity within the implant. A controller within the implant receives the signal indicative of humidity, and controls the implant based on the signal indicative of humidity.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventors: Martin Zimmerling, Ingeborg Hochmair, Erwin Hochmair, Martin J. Kerber, Werner Lindenthaler, Peter Nopp, Marcus Schmidt, Hansjörg Schösser, Clemens M. Zierhofer