Figure 1. 1987 Oldsmobile concept car, the Aerotech.
“Not your father’s Oldsmobile” was a 1980s ad campaign to shake the geriatric stigma attached to such cars by featuring an “Aerotech” futuristic model (Fig 1).
Likewise, “Not your grandfather’s hearing aid” is a recurring theme in our industry as technology moves to reduce stigma and introduce integrated, futuristic audio processing systems (feature image above) which use hearing aids and wireless processors to sense, localize, classify, store and modify sound environments.
Futuristic hearing aid designs come with new names that make it into patent titles. Conducting a patent database search on the term “hearing aid” misses many new entries called “instruments” and “devices.” And a new designation is gaining popularity: “hearing assistance” systems or devices are the name of choice for five patents awarded in February:
- Binaural hearing assistance system comprising a database of head related transfer functions (Oticon #9565502)
- Low profile offset spout for hearing assistance device (Starkey #9571948)
- Sound environment classification by coordinated sensing using hearing assistance devices (Starkey #9584930)
- Method and apparatus for localization of streaming sources in hearing assistance system (Starkey #9584933)
- Wireless environment interference diagnostic hearing assistance device system (#9584927)
The February Patent List
|
Description |
Patent Number |
Assignee |
Issued |
|
Binaural hearing assistance system comprising a database of head related transfer functions |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
2/07/2017 |
|
|
Binaural hearing aid system for compensation of microphone deviations based on the wearer’s own voice |
Sivantos Pte.Ltd.(Singapore, SG) |
2/07/2017 |
|
|
Hearing device and method of identifying hearing situations having different signal sources |
Sivantos Pte.Ltd.(Singapore, SG) |
2/07/2017 |
|
|
Atraumatic electrode lead |
Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) |
2/07/2017 |
|
|
Bracket for a sound processor and a coil |
Cochlear Ltd. (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
2/07/2017 |
|
|
Apparatus and method for canceling feedback in hearing aid |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Suwon-si, KR) |
2/07/2017 |
|
|
Low profile offset spout for hearing assistance device |
Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) |
2/14/2017 |
|
|
Apparatus for determining cochlear dead region |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
2/14/2017 |
|
|
System and method for sharing network resources between hearing devices |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
2/14/2017 |
|
|
Hearing aid interconnection system |
Oticon Medical A/S (Smorum, DK) |
2/14/2017 |
|
|
Hearing aid and method for producing a hearing aid |
Sivantos Pte.Ltd.(Singapore, SG) |
2/14/2017 |
|
|
Hearing system and transmission method |
Sivantos Pte.Ltd.(Singapore, SG) |
2/14/2017 |
|
|
Hearing device with a transducer module and method for manufacturing a transducer module |
Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) |
2/14/2017 |
|
|
Tinnitus fitting method in CI and ABI patients |
Med-El Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH (Innsbruck, AT) |
2/14/2017 |
|
|
Electrical nerve stimulation based on channel specific sampling sequences |
Med-El Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH (Innsbruck, AT) |
2/14/2017 |
|
|
Testing tuned circuits |
Cochlear Ltd. (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
2/14/2017 |
|
|
Focused stimulation in a medical stimulation device |
Cochlear Ltd. (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
2/14/2017 |
|
|
Hearing device with closure mechanism |
GN ReSound A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
2/14/2017 |
|
|
Hearing device and a method of compensating a frequency difference between a transmitter and receiver |
GN ReSound A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
2/14/2017 |
|
|
Hearing aid having receiver |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Suwon-si, KR) |
2/14/2017 |
|
|
Dynamic driver in hearing instrument |
Knowles Electronics, LLC (Itasca, IL) |
2/14/2017 |
|
|
Hearing aid positioning system and structure |
IntriCon Corporation (Arden Hills, MN) |
2/14/2017 |
|
|
Hearing Aid |
GN ReSound A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
2/21/2017 |
|
|
Hearing aid system and a microphone device |
GN ReSound A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
2/21/2017 |
|
|
Method for feedback cancelling in hearing devices and hearing device with a feedback canceller |
Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) |
2/21/2017 |
|
|
Support mount for electronic components |
Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) |
2/21/2017 |
|
|
Atraumatic modiolar hugging electrode |
Med-El Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH (Innsbruck, AT) |
2/21/2017 |
|
|
Hearing device and method for fitting hearing device |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Suwon-si, KR) |
2/28/2017 |
|
|
Method for operating a hearing device and a hearing device |
Sonova AG (Staefa, CH) |
2/28/2017 |
|
|
Method and processing unit for adaptive wind noise suppression in a hearing aid system and a hearing aid system |
Widex A/S (Lynge, DK) |
2/28/2017 |
|
|
Sound environment classification by coordinated sensing using hearing assistance devices |
Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) |
2/28/2017 |
|
|
Method and apparatus for localization of streaming sources in hearing assistance system |
Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) |
2/28/2017 |
|
|
Wireless environment interference diagnostic hearing assistance device system |
Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) |
2/28/2017 |
|
|
Sound processing using a masking model |
Cochlear Ltd. (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
2/28/2017 |
|
|
Implantable remote control |
Cochlear Ltd. (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
2/28/2017 |
|
|
Electromechanical transducer with mechanical advantage |
Cochlear Ltd. (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
2/28/2017 |
|
|
Middle ear implantable microphone |
Med-El Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH (Innsbruck, AT) |
2/28/2017 |
|
|
Transmission of a wind-reduced signal with reduced latency time |
Sivantos Pte. Ltd. (Singapore, SG) |
2/28/2017 |
|
|
Method for automatic activation and deactivation of a binaural hearing system and binaural hearing system |
Sivantos Pte. Ltd. (Singapore, SG) |
2/28/2017 |
images from USPTO and jalopnik
