Ear Device Patents for August 2022

hearing aid patents august 2022
HHTM
November 4, 2022

An Innovative Approach to the Signal to Noise Problem

 

Microsoft’s patent #11410426 aims to raise small talk to middle talk in electronic meeting recordings and transcripts by eliminating user utterances that are difficult and time consuming to review. As the patent wryly observes, the vast majority of recorded content is of low importance to users. 

Imagine a future where entire meetings are judged and eliminated. If that met with success, imagine outcomes were Microsoft to commence judging the importance of utterances in daily living. The world would  quickly quiet down and become far less dependent on hearing or hearing aids.

 

Prepare to Be Amazed

 

Columbia University’s patent #11413191 (Apparatus for perforation and aspiration of inner ear) astounds by describing an

apparatus that can create a precise, circular perforation in a thin membrane, aspirate perilymph from the inner ear without causing traumatic perforation of the membranes, as well as an apparatus useful for efficient and specific diagnoses of inner ear problems to allow for more personalized and targeted inner ear therapy.

If you think that’s spectacular, consider the claims inherent in the title of Mitochon Pharm’s patent #11406642: DNP and DNP prodrug treatment of neuromuscular, neurodegenerative, autoimmune, developmental, traumatic brain injury, concussion, dry eye disease, hearing loss and/or metabolic disease.

IECs for caninesFinally, CrittEar’s patent #11419766 for ITC hearing protection in dogs (see Fig) describes an encapsulated spring element configured to apply a spring bias radially outward from an axis extending a length of the earplug body. The spring element is of a shape memory alloy having a transition temperature that is below a normal body temperature of a dog. (paraphrased)

What will dogs think of this device? If they tolerate it, could we use it on all those humans who can’t keep their earbuds in place?

 

Editor’s Note: Trying to find out more detail about a specific patent? Due to recent changes on the US patent website, the links will no longer take you directly to the patent in question, you need to enter the patent number in the search bar to get to where you need to go.

 

The August 2022 Patent List

 

Description

Patent Number

Assignee

Issued

Implantable battery device for standard cochlear implant

11400291

Oticon Medical A/S (Smorum, DK)

8/02/2022

Hearing aid microphone structure and hearing aid

11405709

Xiamen Retone Hearing Technology Co Ltd (Xiamen, CN)

8/02/2022

Hearing device housings that store energy and methods of making the same

11405711

Sonova AG (Staefa, CH)

8/02/2022

Hearing assistance device

11405732

Cear Inc (Tokyo, JP) & freecle Inc (Tokyo, JP)

8/02/2022

Advanced assistance for prosthesis assisted communication

11405733

Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU)

8/02/2022

Hearing aid devices

11405734

Shenzhen Shokz Co Ltd (Shenzhen, CN)

8/02/2022

Methods and systems for evaluating hearing using cross frequency simultaneous masking

11406292

Mimi Hearing Technologies GmbH (Berlin, DE) Hearing Technologies GmbH (Berlin, DE)

8/09/2022

DNP and DNP prodrug treatment of neuromuscular, neurodegenerative, autoimmune, developmental, traumatic brain injury, concussion, dry eye disease, hearing loss and/or metabolic diseases

11406642

Mitochon Pharmaceuticals Inc (Radnor, PA) & Bioventures LLC (Little Rock, AR)

8/09/2022

Classification of auditory and visual meeting data to infer importance of user utterances

11410426

Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Redmond, WA)

8/09/2022

Wireless charging of multiple rechargeable devices

11411419

Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK)

8/09/2022

Earbud and method for implementing wearing detection and touch operation

11412319

Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co Ltd (Shenzhen, CN)

8/09/2022

Systems and methods for data exchange between binaural hearing devices

11412332

Sonova AG (Staefa, CH)

8/09/2022

Interactive system for hearing devices

11412333

Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN)

8/09/2022

Contralateral sound capture with respect to stimulation energy source

11412334

Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU)

8/09/2022

Systems and methods for user-dependent conditioning of stimuli in tests using a method of continuous adjustment

11412958

Mimi Hearing Technologies GmbH (Berlin, DE)

8/16/2022

Apparatus for perforation and aspiration of inner ear

11413191

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York (New York, NY)

8/16/2022

Attachment for a device for generating an air flow or dispensing a fluid into the external auditory canal

11413390

Earbreeze GmbH (Vienna, AT)

8/16/2022

Power and data hub, communication system, and related method

11416027

GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK)

8/16/2022

Selective audio isolation from body generated sound system and method

11417307

Bragi GmbH (Munich, DE)

8/16/2022

Binaural room impulse response for spatial audio reproduction

11417347

Apple Inc (Cupertino, CA) Inc (Cupertino, CA)

8/16/2022

Configurable hearing devices

11418865

GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK)

8/16/2022

Method of operating a hearing device, and hearing device

11418892

Sivantos Pte Ltd (Singapore, SG)

8/16/2022

Media system and method of amplifying audio signal using audio filter corresponding to hearing loss profile

11418894

Apple Inc (Cupertino, CA)

8/16/2022

Self-adaptive adjustment method and hearing aid using same

11418896

Compal Electronics Inc (Taipei, TW)

8/16/2022

Ear canal microphone utilizing communications with hearing implant

11418897

Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU)

8/16/2022

Method for operating a hearing system and hearing system

11418898

Sivantos Pte Ltd (Singapore, SG)

8/16/2022

Earpiece for a hearing device

11418899

GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK)

8/16/2022

Diversity Bluetooth system and method

11419026

Bragi GmbH (Munich, DE)

8/16/2022

Hearing aids

D961088

GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK)

8/16/2022

Method and apparatus for characterizing tinnitus using Bayesian minimum-entropy psychometric procedure

11419526

Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN)

8/23/2022

Animal hearing protection and communication device and method of operation

11419766

CrittEar LLC (Sedro Woolley, WA)

8/23/2022

Systems and methods for determining a stapedius reflex threshold based on electro-acoustic stimulation

11420055

Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) bionics

8/23/2022

Ultraminiature dynamic speaker for a fully in-ear monitor

11422392

Meta Platforms Technologies LLC (Menlo Park, CA)

8/23/2022

Ear-worn electronic device incorporating annoyance model driven selective active noise control

11423922

Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN)

8/23/2022

In-ear audio device with interchangeable faceplate

11425479

Logitech Europe SA (Lausanne, CH)

8/23/2022

Ear wearable device

11425484

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (Suwon-wi, KR)

8/23/2022

Enhancing a listening experience by adjusting physical attributes of an audio playback system based on detected environmental attributes of the system’s environment

11425490

Apple Inc (Cupertino, CA)

8/23/2022

Method of coupling hearing devices to one another, and hearing device

11425510

Sivantos Pte Ltd (Singapore, SG)

8/23/2022

Hearing aid device having an antenna

11425511

Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK)

8/23/2022

Ear-worn electronic hearing device incorporating an antenna with cutouts

11425512

Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN)

8/23/2022

Suspension assembly for hearing aid receiver

11425513

Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN)

8/23/2022

Universal bone conduction and middle ear implant

11425514

MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH (Innsbruck, AT)

8/23/2022

Ear-mount able listening device with baffled seal

11425515

Iyo Inc (Redwood City, CA)

8/23/2022

System and method for personalized fitting of hearing aids

11425516

Audiocare Technologies Ltd (Gan Yoshiya, IL)

8/23/2022

Hearing aid

D961779

Bose Corporation (Framingham, MA)

8/23/2022

Securing an implanted medical device in a patient

11426576

Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU)

8/30/2022

Bilateral synchronized channel selection for cochlear implants

11426581

MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH (Innsbruck, AT)

8/30/2022

Progressive insertion middle ear protector

11426582

Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU)

8/30/2022

Functionality migration

11426592

Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU)

8/30/2022

Cochlear implant with clippable magnet

11426593

MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH (Innsbruck, AT)

8/30/2022

Modular in-ear device

11432063

Iyo Inc (Redwood City, CA)

8/30/2022

Cancelling noise in an open ear system

11432067

OrCam Technologies Ltd (Jerusalem, IL)

8/30/2022

Method of testing microphone performance of a hearing aid system and a hearing aid system

11432074

Widex A/S (Lynge, DK)

8/30/2022

Processing audio and video in a hearing aid system

11432076

OrCam Technologies Ltd (Jerusalem, IL)

8/30/2022

Method for transmitting a hearing aid setting data set from a first hearing aid to a second hearing aid, hearing aid system, and hearing aid

11432077

Sivantos Pte Ltd (Singapore, SG)

8/30/2022

Method and system for customized amplification of auditory signals providing enhanced karaoke experience for hearing-deficient users

11432078

Listen and Be Heard LLC (Portland, OR)

8/30/2022

Hearing aid with automatic antenna tuning

11432079

Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK)

8/30/2022

Hearing device with integrated magnetic induction coil and RF antenna

11432080

GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK)

8/30/2022

Hearing aid bowtie antenna optimized for ear to ear communications

11432082

Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN)

8/30/2022

Hearing aid battery connected to ear shell

11432083

Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK)

8/30/2022

Passive integrity management of an implantable device

11432084

Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, AU)

8/30/2022

Occlusion control system for a hearing instrument and a hearing instrument

11432085

GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK)

8/30/2022

 

 

Holly Hosford-Dunn, Hearing Health MattersHolly Hosford-Dunn, PhD, owned and operated a dispensing audiology practice in Tucson and was active in management of HearingHealthMatters.org through 2017.  She holds BA degrees in Communication Sciences, Psychology and Economics; MA in Communication Disorders; PhD in Hearing Sciences. Following post-doctoral work at Max Planck Institute (Munich, DE) and Eaton-Peabody Auditory Physiology Lab (Boston), she joined the Stanford medical school faculty as director of audiology. She has authored/edited numerous text books, chapters, journals, and articles and taught Marketing and Practice Management in a variety of academic settings. She continues to consult and write on topics related to hearing health care vis-à-vis consumer demands, professional training, technological advancement, capital investment, industry consolidation, regulatory control, product and service distribution, and strategic pricing.

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