The number of hearing device patents granted annually to the Big 6 manufacturers tripled in the last decade (see feature image above), peaking in 2012 and leveling off since then, by Hearing Economic’s estimation.1 The 2012 peak is mainly due to a flurry of patents awarded to Siemens (now Sivantos) that year.
Fig 1. Patent activity status of Big 6 hearing aid manufacturers as of 12/31/2016
Sivantos holds the most US patents (Figure 1) but has had fewer patents published each year since 2012 (34 in 2016, 116 in 2012). The other five companies have stayed steady (Phonak/Sonova) or grown (GN Resound, Oticon, Starkey, Widex) on this metric since then. Figure 1 summarizes each company’s total patent status at the time of writing.
In short, everybody’s in the game, holding their own, and that’s not even counting the patent portfolio held through K/S HIMPP for the US and other world markets. It’s good news as the US healthcare industry enters uncertain territory along with the US hearing device market in 2017.
The List for December 2016
|
Description |
Patent Number |
Assignee |
Issued |
|
Hearing aid device using dual electromechanical vibrator |
Oticon Medical A/S (Smorum, DK) |
11/29/2016 |
|
|
Combined functional component and implantable actuator positioning mechanism |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
12/06/2016 |
|
|
Medical device coupling arrangement |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
12/06/2016 |
|
|
Hearing Aid Adapter for Easy Conversion of Open Ear to Closed Ear Fitting |
Johnson Hearing Technology and Communication, PLLC (Johnson City, TN) |
12/06/2016 |
|
|
Hearing Aid Fitting System and a Method of Fitting a Hearing Aid System |
Widex A/S (Lynge, Denmark) |
12/06/2016 |
|
|
Transducer Comprising Moisture Transporting Element |
Sonion Nederland BV (Hoofddorp, Netherlands) |
12/06/2016 |
|
|
Modular biomedical implants |
Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, Switzerland) |
12/06/2016 |
|
|
Hearing System Comprising an Auditory Prosthesis Device and a Hearing Aid |
Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, Switzerland) |
12/06/2016 |
|
|
Spatial Enhancement Mode for Hearing Aids |
Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) |
12/06/2016 |
|
|
Hearing Aid Topshell |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) |
12/06/2016 |
|
|
Binaural hearing assistance system comprising binaural noise reduction |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, Denmark) |
12/06/2016 |
|
|
Hearing Aid and Method for Controlling Hearing Aid |
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Suwon-si, South Korea) |
12/06/2016 |
|
|
Binaural hearing instrument and earpiece |
Sivantos PTE. Ltd. (Singapore, SG) |
12/06/2016 |
|
|
Transducer Impedance Measurement for Hearing Aid |
Envoy Medical Corp (St. Paul, Minn) |
12/13/2016 |
|
|
CIC Hearing Aid Seal and Method of Manufacturing the Same |
Sonova AG (Stafa, Switzerland) |
12/13/2016 |
|
|
Antenna device for hearing instruments and a hearing instrument |
Sivantos PTE. Ltd. (Singapore, SG) |
12/13/2016 |
|
|
Speaker-Oriented Hearing Aid Function Provision Method and Apparatus |
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Suwon-si, South Korea) |
12/20/2016 |
|
|
Method of Operating a Hearing Aid and a Hearing Aid |
Widex A/S (Lynge, Denmark) |
12/20/2016 |
|
|
Modified electrode lead for cochlear implants |
Med-El Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH (Innsbruck, AT) |
12/20/2016 |
|
|
Body worn sound processors with directional microphone apparatus |
Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, Switzerland) |
12/27/2016 |
|
|
Method of Operating a Hearing Aid and a Hearing Aid |
Widex A/S (Lynge, Denmark) |
12/27/2016 |
|
|
Method of Signal Processing in a Hearing Aid System and a Hearing Aid System |
Widex A/S (Lynge, Denmark) |
12/27/2016 |
|
|
Method and Apparatus for Testing Binaural Hearing Aid Function |
Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) |
12/27/2016 |
|
|
System for Detection of Special Environments for Hearing Assistance Devices |
Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) |
12/27/2016 |
|
|
Interface Unit for Hearing Aids |
GN ReSound A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
12/27/2016 |
|
|
Self-Fitting of a Hearing Device |
iHear Medical Inc. (San Leandro, CA) |
12/27/2016 |
|
|
Systems, Devices, Components and Methods for Improved Acoustic Coupling between a Bone Conduction Hearing Device and a Patient’s Head or Skull |
Sophono Inc. (Boulder, CO) |
12/27/2016 |
|
|
Electronic Device for Providing Information to User |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Suwon-si, KR) |
12/27/2016 |
|
|
Method and Apparatus for Customizing Audio Signal Processing for a User |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Suwon-si, KR) |
12/27/2016 |
Editor’s note: The Patent Series is updated monthly now, and every two months in the past. Click links for patents approved in November 2016, October 2016, Sept 2016, Jul/Aug 2016, May/Jun 2016, Mar/Apr 2016, Jan/Feb 2016, Nov/Dec 2015, Sept/Oct 2015, Jul/Aug 2015, May/Jun 2015, Mar/Apr 2015, Jan/Feb 2015, Nov/Dec 2014, Sep/Oct 2014, July/Aug 2014, May/Jun 2014, Mar/Apr 2014, Jan/Feb 2014, Nov/Dec 2013, September/October 2013, Jul/Aug 2013, May/Jun 2013, Mar/Apr 2013, Jan/Feb 2013, Nov/Dec 2012
