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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8019429 | Carrier and envelope triggered cochlear stimulation Generation of electrode stimulation signals for an implanted electrode array is described. An acoustic audio signal is processed to generate band pass signals which include a fine structure carrier signal and a modulator envelope signal. For each band pass signal, f... | 09/13/2011 |
| 7941223 | Cochlear implant stimulation with variable number of electrodes A system and method for activating electrodes in an implanted electrode array with a stimulation signal is described. A stimulation definition stage, for each of a plurality of defined sound signal characteristics (C), assigns each electrode to one of a plurality of... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7937155 | Envelope-based amplitude mapping for cochlear implant stimulus An envelope based amplitude mapping achieves the signal compression required to provide a natural sound level without the high processor loading or waveform alteration. In one embodiment, the output of a family of parallel bandpass filters is processed by an envelop... | 05/03/2011 |
| 7627378 | Battery monitor and power demand adjuster A system for monitoring and controlling power demands in devices with DC power supplies is disclosed. In response to a detected decline in voltage levels, the device reduces the power demands of the device, in one or more stages, before powering down entirely. This ... | 12/01/2009 |
| 7627377 | Cochlear implant devices An improved hearing prosthetic implant and method of stimulating are disclosed. The method comprises stimulating an electrode array using a set of current stimuli having different geometries, so as to provide a more regular and monotonic set of pitch percepts for a ... | 12/01/2009 |
| 7616999 | System for generating a cochlear implant program using multi-electrode stimulation to elicit the electrically-evoked compound action potential A multichannel cochlear implant system spatially spreads the excitation pattern in the target neural tissue by either: (1) rapid sequential stimulation of a small group of electrodes, or (2) simultaneously stimulating a small group of electrodes. Such multi-electrod... | 11/10/2009 |
| 7542806 | Envelope-based amplitude mapping for cochlear implant stimulus An envelope based amplitude mapping achieves the signal compression required to provide a natural sound level without the high processor loading or waveform alteration. In one embodiment, the output of a family of parallel bandpass filters is processed by an envelop... | 06/02/2009 |
| 7522961 | Inner hair cell stimulation model for the use by an intra-cochlear implant The stimulation provided in the electrically stimulated cochlea is modulated in accordance with the amplitude of a received acoustic signal and the onset of a sound in a received acoustic signal to provide increased sound perception. An onset time that corresponds t... | 04/21/2009 |
| 7496405 | Sound processing and stimulation systems and methods for use with cochlear implant devices Sound processing strategies for use with cochlear implant systems utilizing simultaneous stimulation of electrodes are provided. The strategies include computing a frequency spectrum of a signal representative of sound, arranging the spectrum into channels and assig... | 02/24/2009 |
| 7444185 | High contact count, sub-miniature, fully implantable cochlear prosthesis An active electrode array provides a programmable number of electrode contacts through which stimulation current may be selectively delivered to surrounding tissue, preferably through the use of appropriate stimulation groups. The active electrode array provides a l... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7426414 | Sound processing and stimulation systems and methods for use with cochlear implant devices Sound processing strategies for use with cochlear implant systems utilizing simultaneous stimulation of electrodes are provided. The strategies include computing a frequency spectrum of a signal representative of sound, arranging the spectrum into channels and assig... | 09/16/2008 |
| 7406352 | Laminated electrode for a cochlear implant An implantable cochlear implant electrode array (30) that can adopt a first, preferably straight, configuration selected to allow the array to be inserted into the cochlea and at least a second, preferably, spirally curved, configuration wherein the electrode... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7366656 | Method apparatus and system for processing acoustic signals A method of identifying patterns in a digitized acoustic signal is disclosed. The method comprises: (i) converting the digitized acoustic signal into a spatial representation being defined by a plurality of regions on a vibrating membrane, each the regions having a ... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7349741 | Cochlear implant sound processor with permanently integrated replenishable power source A cochlear implant sound processor is powered by a rechargeable battery that is permanently integrated into the sound processor. The sound processor contains an inductive coil that may be tuned to an external charging coil for battery recharging. The electronic circ... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7343200 | Methods and systems for automatically determining a neural response threshold current level Methods of automatically determining a neural response threshold current level include identifying one or more neural response signals at one or more corresponding stimulation current levels, identifying one or more non-response signals at one or more corresponding ... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7339510 | Accumulator for adaptive sigma-delta modulation A system and method for adaptive sigma-delta modulation. The system includes a input stage that produces a difference signal representing the difference between an analog input signal x(n) and a analog feedback signal z(n), the amplitude of the analog input signal x... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7338028 | Fluid switch controlled trans-cutaneously via magnetic force A fluid switch or valve for an implantable fluid delivery system is provided. The fluid switch or valve includes a fluid chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and an internal magnet disposed within the fluid chamber. The internal magnet is moveable such th... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7333858 | Pulse burst electrical stimulation of nerve or tissue fibers A method for stimulating nerve or tissue fibers and a prosthetic hearing device implanting same. The method comprises: generating a stimulation signal comprising a plurality of pulse bursts each comprising a plurality of pulses; and distributing said plurality of pu... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7321797 | Incremental stimulation sound processor In one aspect of the invention, a cochlear implant constructed and arranged to successively generate stimulation signals each comprising at least one stimulus pulse such that said successive stimulation signals incrementally build a neural excitation pattern that ac... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7317946 | Telemetry antenna for an implantable medical device A telemetry antenna for an implantable medical device includes one or more portions having a non-linear configuration. In some embodiments, the non-linear configuration provides an antenna having a greater antenna length than the linear lengthwise dimension of the a... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7317944 | System and method for using a multi-contact electrode to stimulate the cochlear nerve or other body tissue A system and method for preserving temporal and spatial resolution in complex sounds for poor performing patients having high stimulation thresholds is described. The system and method employs two or more adjacent electrode contacts to deliver concurrent stimulation... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7315761 | Electrical stimulation system and method for treating tinnitus According to one aspect, an electrical stimulation system for treating tinnitus is provided. The system includes an electrical stimulation lead adapted for implantation into the person's skull for electrical stimulation of target brain tissue located in the person's... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7292892 | Methods and systems for fitting a cochlear implant to a patient An exemplary method of fitting a coeblear implant system to a patient includes establishing an implant fitting line having a slope and a position. The implant fitting line represents a relationship between a number of stimulation sites within a cochlea of the patien... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7292891 | BioNet for bilateral cochlear implant systems A system for allowing bilateral cochlear implant systems to be networked together. An adapter module that forms part of the system allows two standalone BTE units to be synchronized both temporally and tonotopically in order to maximize a patients listening experien... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7286675 | Audio signal processors An audio signal processor includes a tone control (23). The tone control comprises two low-pass filters (221, 222) operating in current-mode and a subtractor (223) which subtracts the output currents of the filters to produce a band-pass charact... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7277760 | Encoding fine time structure in presence of substantial interaction across an electrode array A method for reducing the effects of decreased resolution in a cochlear implant worn by an individual includes 1) determining the value of the individual's resolution region, 2) analyzing a plurality of dominant components within a sound signal, 3) removing a compon... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7277759 | Method of rapid neural response measurement without amplitude attenuation A method of recording neural responses reduces the inaccuracy of the recordings caused by nerve adaptation to repeated exposure of stimuli. In one embodiment, a maximum set of X number of successive stimuli are delivered through an electrode and the resulting neural... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7272446 | Power efficient electrical stimulation A method and device are disclosed for neural stimulation with improved power consumption and/or effectiveness. The stimulus generator is arranged, for example via a look up table, to recognize proposed stimuli which will be masked by earlier or simultaneous stimuli.... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7269461 | Double stylet insertion tool for a cochlear implant electrode array A cochlear implant electrode assembly device (10) comprising an elongate electrode carrier member (11), a first stiffening element (15a), and a second stiffening element (15b). The carrier member (11) is made of a res... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7251605 | Speech to touch translator assembly and method A speech to touch translator assembly and method for converting spoken words directed to an operator into tactile sensations caused by combinations of pressure point exertions on the body of the operator, each combination of pressure points exerted signifying a phon... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7248926 | Status indicator for implantable systems A status indicator is provided for use with a medical device that employs a power transmitting coil. In one embodiment, the status indicator comprises a receiving coil and feedback element. The feedback element, such as a light emitting diode (LED) or liquid crystal... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7242985 | Outer hair cell stimulation model for the use by an intra—cochlear implant Contrast between various frequency components of sound is enhanced through a lateral suppression strategy to provide increased speech perception in the electrically stimulated cochlea. A received audio signal is divided into a plurality of input signals, wherein eac... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7225026 | Monitor for auditory prosthesis An auditory prosthesis includes an implanted component and an external component. The external component includes a transmitter for transmitting electromagnetic signals to the implanted component; means for detecting electromagnetic emissions of the transmitter; and... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7225028 | Dual cochlear/vestibular stimulator with control signals derived from motion and speech signals A system for treating patients affected both by hearing loss and by balance disorders related to vestibular hypofunction and/or malfunction, which includes sensors of sound and head movement, processing circuitry, a power source, and an implantable electrical stimul... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7209789 | Electrical nerve stimulation based on channel specific sampling sequences A method of activating at least two electrodes in a multichannel electrode array uses channel specific sampling sequences. More particularly, a channel specific sampling sequence is defined for each electrode, the sequence having a particular duration, pulse amplitu... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7203548 | Cavernous nerve stimulation via unidirectional propagation of action potentials Methods of using unidirectionally propagating action potentials (UPAPs) for cavernous nerve stimulation and for certain disorders are provided. Stimulators capable of creating such UPAPs include, but are not limited to, miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., micro... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7197152 | Frequency response equalization system for hearing aid microphones A system and method to compensate for changes in the frequency response of a microphone caused by factors interfering with the receipt of acoustic sound in the microphone. The system includes at least a microphone and a signal processor. The signal processor is oper... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7194314 | Cochlear implant including a modiolar return electrode A cochlear implant wherein the return path of the electrode array is located to increase current flow through the modiolus. The return electrode is placed at various locations outside the cochlea, and into the modiolus itself. In addition, the electrode array includ... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7190295 | Accumulator for adaptive sigma-delta modulation A system and method for adaptive sigma-delta modulation. The system includes a input stage that produces a difference signal representing the difference between an analog input signal x(n) and a analog feedback signal z(n), the amplitude of the analog input signal x... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7171272 | Sound-processing strategy for cochlear implants A sound processing method for auditory prostheses, such as cochlear implants, which is adapted to improve the perception of loudness by users, and to improve speech perception. The overall contribution of stimuli to simulated loudness is compared with an estimate of... | 01/30/2007 |
