Hearing aid manufacturers are pursuing market power with a vengeance, if you credit the comment in last week’s post that “Patents and patent protection… extend a firm’s market power.”
Siemens wins for Most Patents Issued, a good place to be if they’re once again putting themselves up for top-dollar sale. Panasonic and Phonak tie for Title Brevity (“Hearing Aid“). Sonic Innovation snags the Retro Award (“Hearing Device with Volume Control“). Best All-Around Patent Title goes, without dispute, to Resound (“Hearing Aid with a Flexible Elongated Member“). That one’s going to be a winner. I’ve asked for an in-office demo.
| Description | Patent Number | Assignee | Filed | Issued |
| Fully Learning Classification System and Method for Hearing Aids {{1}}[[1]] “Patent Issued for Fully Learning Classification System and Method for Hearing Aids.” Journal of Mathematics. NewsRX. 2013.HighBeam Research. 25 Feb. 2013.[[1]]
|
8335332 | Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Erlangen, DE)
|
6/23/08 | 12/18/12 |
| Hearing Device with a Sound Transducer and Method for Producing a Sound Transducer{{2}}[[2]] “US Patent Issued to Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. on Jan. 1 for “Hearing Device with a Sound Transducer and Method for Producing a Sound Transducer” (German Inventors).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013. HighBeam Research. 25 Feb. 2013[[2]] | 8345904 | Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) | 5/19/10 | 1/1/13 |
| Programmable Integrated Microphone Interface Circuit{{3}}[[3]] “Patent Issued for Programmable Integrated Microphone Interface Circuit.” Electronics Newsweekly. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research.25 Feb. 2013 < http://www.highbeam.com>. [1] “Patent Issued for Battery Life Optimizer.” Journal of Engineering. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research.25 Feb. 2013.[[3]] | 8335328 | Winbond Electronics Corporation (Hsin-Chu, TW) | 10/24/07 | 12/18/12 |
| Battery Life Optimizer{{4}}[[4]] “Patent Issued for Battery Life Optimizer.” Journal of Engineering. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research.25 Feb. 2013[[4]] | 8334677 | Single, Peter Scott (Lane Cove, AU) | 10/13/04 | 12/18/12 |
| Hearing Aid with Means for Decorrelating Input and Output Signals{{5}}[[5]] “US Patent Issued to GN ReSound on Jan. 1 for “Hearing Aid with Means for Decorrelating Input and Output Signals” (Danish, Swedish Inventors).”US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013.HighBeam Research. 25 Feb. 2013[[5]] | 8345902 | GN ReSound A/S (Ballerup, Denmark) | 10/16/09 | 1/1/13 |
| Diaphonic Acoustic Transduction Coupler and Ear Bud{{6}}[[6]] “Patent Issued for Diaphonic Acoustic Transduction Coupler and Ear Bud.“Journal of Technology. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research. 25 Feb. 2013[[6]]
|
8340310 | Asius Technologies, LLC (Beaverton, OR) | 7/23/08 | 12/25/12 |
| Hearing Device with Mechanical Adjustment of Sound Properties{{7}}[[7]] [1] “US Patent Issued to Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. on Jan. 1 for “Hearing Device with Mechanical Adjustment of Sound Properties” (German Inventors).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013. HighBeam Research. 25 Feb. 2013.[[7]] | 8345907 | Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) | 12/09/10 | 1/01/13 |
| Hearing Aid with an Identifier{{8}}[[8]] “US Patent Issued to Siemens Medical Instruments on Jan. 8 for “Hearing Aid with an Identifier” (German, Singaporean Inventors).”US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013.HighBeam Research. 25 Feb. 2013.[[8]] | 8351627 | Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) | 8/17/10 | 1/08/13 |
| Hearing Aid{{9}}[[9]] [1] “Patent Issued for Hearing Aid.“Journal of Engineering. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[9]] | 8345905 | Panasonic Corporation (Osaka, JP) | 3/8/10 | 1/1/13 |
| Dynamic Noise Reduction in Auditory Prosthesis Systems{{10}}[[10]] “Patent Issued for Dynamic Noise Reduction in Auditory Prosthesis Systems.” Journal of Engineering. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research.27 Feb. 2013.[[10]] | 8345901 | Advanced Bionics, LLC (Valencia, CA) | 9/10/10 | 1/1/13 |
| Hearing Aid with Means for Decorrelating Input and Output Signals{{11}}[[11]] “Patent Issued for Hearing Aid with Means for Decorrelating Input and Output Signals.” Journal of Engineering. NewsRX. 2013.HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[11]] | 8345902 | GN ReSound A/S (Ballerup, DK) | 10/16/09 | 1/1/13 |
| Housing for a Hearing Device with Securing Element{{12}}[[12]] “Patent Issued for Housing for a Hearing Device with Securing Element.” Health & Medicine Week. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research.27 Feb. 2013.[[12]] | 8345903 | Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. (Singapore, SG) | 2/18/10 | 1/1/13 |
| Hearing Aid Circuit with Feedback Transition Adjustment{{13}}[[13]] “US Patent Issued to IntriCon on Jan. 15 for “Hearing Aid Circuit with Feedback Transition Adjustment” (Minnesota Inventor).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013. HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[13]] | 8355517 | IntriCon Corp. (Arden Hills, Minn. | 9/30/10 | 1/15/13 |
| Hearing Apparatus with a Special Situation Recognition Unit and Method for Operating a Hearing Apparatus.{{14}}[[14]] “US Patent Issued to Siemens Medical Instruments on Jan. 15 for “Hearing Apparatus with a Special Situation Recognition Unit and Method for Operating a Hearing Apparatus” (German Inventor).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013. HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[14]] | 8,355,516 | Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) | 10/28/09 | 1/15/13 |
| Tool for Fitting and Removing a Receiver of a Hearing Aid{{15}}[[15]] US Patent Issued to Siemens Medical Instruments on Jan. 15 for “Tool for Fitting and Removing a Receiver of a Hearing Aid” (German Inventors).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013. HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[15]] | 8355519 | Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) | 2/01/11 | 1/15/13 |
| Hearing Aid{{16}}[[16]] [1] US Patent Issued to Phonak on Jan. 15 for “Hearing Aid” (Swiss Inventor).”US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013.HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[16]] | 8355518 | Phonak AG (Stafa, Switzerland) | 1/09/07 | 1/15/13 |
| Method and Apparatus for Measurement of Gain Margin of a Hearing Assistance Device{{17}}[[17]] “Patent Issued for Method and Apparatus for Measurement of Gain Margin of a Hearing Assistance Device.” Journal of Engineering. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research.27 Feb. 2013.[[17]] | 8351613 | Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) | 12/31/09 | 1/08/13 |
| Method for Side Definition During Adjustment of Hearing Aids{{18}}[[18]] US Patent Issued to Siemens Audiologische Technik on Jan. 22 for “Method for Side Definition During Adjustment of Hearing Aids” (German Inventor).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013. HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[18]] | 8358794 | Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Erlangen, Germany) | 12/11/07 | 1/22/13 |
| Sound Processing Assembly for Use in a Cochlear Implant System{{19}}[[19]] Patent Issued for Hearing Aid Housing Apparatus.” Journal of Engineering. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research. 28 Feb. 2013.[[19]] | 8352046 | Advanced Bionics, LLC (Valencia, CA) |
1/29/10 |
1/8/13 |
| Actuator Systems for Oral-Based Appliances{{20}}[[20]] US Patent Issued to Sonitus Medical on Jan. 22 for “Actuator Systems for Oral-Based Appliances” (New Hampshire, California Inventors).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013.HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[20]] | 8358792 | Sonitus Medical Inc. (San Mateo, Calif.) |
12/23/09 |
1/22/13 |
| Hearing System with Wideband Pulse Transmitter{{21}}[[21]] [1] US Patent Issued to Siemens Audiologische Technik on Jan. 22 for “Hearing System with Wideband Pulse Transmitter” (German Inventors).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013.HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[21]] | 835878 | Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Erlangen, Germany) |
5/29/07 |
1/22/13 |
| Switch for a Hearing Aid{{22}}[[22]] “US Patent Issued to Intricon on Jan. 22 for “Switch for a Hearing Aid” (Minnesota Inventor).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013. HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[22]] | 8358797 | Intricon Corp. (Arden Hills, Minn.) |
8/12/09 |
1/22/13 |
| Hearing Aid Circuit with Feedback Transition Adjustment{{23}}[[23]] Patent Issued for Hearing Aid Circuit with Feedback Transition Adjustment.“Journal of Mathematics. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[23]] | 8355517 | Intricon Corp. (Arden Hills, Minn.) |
9/30/10 |
1/15/13 |
| Tool for Fitting and Removing a Receiver of a Hearing Aid{{24}}[[24]] “Patent Issued for Tool for Fitting and Removing a Receiver of a Hearing Aid.” Electronics Newsweekly. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research.27 Feb. 2013.[[24]] | 8355519 | Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. (Singapore, SG) |
2/01/11 |
1/15/13 |
| Magnetic Earpiece Coupling{{25}}[[25]] “US Patent Issued on Jan. 29 for “Magnetic Earpiece Coupling” (Washington Inventors).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013. HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[25]] | 8363872 | Dan Wiggins (Edmonds, Wash.) and Donald L Bowie (Burien, Wash.) |
4/14/10 |
1/29/13 |
| Genetic Algorithm in Mixed Mode l Device{{26}}[[26]] Patent Issued for Using a Genetic Algorithm in Mixed Mode Device.“Medical Devices & Surgical Technology Week. NewsRX. 2013.HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013 .[[26]] | 8355794 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
7/13/10 |
1/15/13 |
| Optical Neural Stimulating Device Having a Short Stimulating Assembly{{27}}[[27]] “Patent Issued for Optical Neural Stimulating Device Having a Short Stimulating Assembly.” Medical Devices & Surgical Technology Week. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[27]] | 8355793 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
1/02/09 |
1/15/13 |
| Hearing Aid, Hearing-Aid Apparatus, Hearing-Aid Method and Integrated Circuit Thereof{{28}}[[28]] [1] US Patent Issued to Panasonic on Jan. 29 for “Hearing Aid, Hearing-Aid Apparatus, Hearing-Aid Method and Integrated Circuit Thereof” (Japanese Inventors).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013. HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[28]] | 8363868 | Panasonic Corp. (Osaka, Japan) |
4/07/09 |
1/29/13 |
| Genetic Algorithms with Robust Rank Estimation for Hearing Assistance Devices{{29}}[[29]] “Patent Issued for Genetic Algorithms with Robust Rank Estimation for Hearing Assistance Devices.” Journal of Mathematics. NewsRX. 2013.HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[29]] | 8359283 | Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) |
8/31/09 |
1/22/13 |
| Switch for a Hearing Aid{{30}}[[30]] Patent Issued for Switch for a Hearing Aid.” Journal of Mathematics. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research.27 Feb. 2013.[[30]] | 8358797 | Intricon Corporation (Arden Hills, MN) |
8/12/09 |
1/22/13 |
| Adaptive Microphone System for a Hearing Device and Associated Operating Method{{31}}[[31]] Patent Issued for Adaptive Microphone System for a Hearing Device and Associated Operating Method.” Journal of Engineering. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research.27 Feb. 2013.[[31]] | 8358789 | Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. (Singapore, SG) |
11/04/09 |
1/22/13 |
| Receiver System and Method for Transmitting Information for an Otological Device{{32}}[[32]] Patent Issued for Receiver System and Method for Transmitting Information for an Otological Device.“Journal of Engineering. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[32]] | 8358795 | Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Erlangen, DE) |
7/19/07 |
1/22/13 |
| Microphone for a Hearing Aid{{33}}[[33]] “US Patent Issued to Sonion Nederland on Feb. 5 for “Microphone for a Hearing Aid” (Dutch Inventors).”US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013.HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[33]] | 8369552 | Sonion Nederland B |
7/17/07 |
20/5/13 |
| Hearing Aid with Wireless Signal Transmission{{35}}[[35]] “US Patent Issued to Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. on Feb. 5 for “Hearing Aid with Wireless Signal Transmission” (German Inventor).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013.HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[35]] | 8369551 | Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) |
3/05/09 |
2/05/13 |
| Open Tip for Hearing Aid{{36}}[[36]] US Patent Issued to Zounds Hearing on Feb. 5 for “Open Tip for Hearing Aid” (Arizona Inventor).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013. HighBeam Research. 27 Feb. 2013.[[36]] | 8369554 | Zounds Hearing Inc. (Phoenix) |
10/03/08 |
2/05/13 |
| Systems and Methods for Detecting One Or More Central Auditory Potentials{{37}}[[37]] [1] “Patent Issued for Systems and Methods for Detecting One Or More Central Auditory Potentials.” Biotech Week. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research. 28 Feb. 2013.[[37]] | 8364274 | Advanced Bionics, LLC (Valencia, CA) |
12/21/07 |
1/29/13 |
| Low Power Signal Transmission{{38}}[[38]] [1] Patent Issued for Low Power Signal Transmission.” Journal of Engineering. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research.28 Feb. 2013.[[38]] | 8363867 | MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH (Innsbruck, AT) |
1/5/10 |
1/29/13 |
| Hearing Aid Housing Apparatus{{39}}[[39]] Patent Issued for Hearing Aid Housing Apparatus.” Journal of Engineering. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research. 28 Feb. 2013.[[39]] | 8363869 | Sonic Innovations, Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT) |
5/12/08 |
1/29/13 |
| Hearing Aid Device with a Volume Control{{40}}[[40]]US Patent Issued to Sonic Innovations on Feb. 12 for “Hearing Aid Device with a Volume Control” (Utah Inventors).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013. HighBeam Research. 28 Feb. 2013.[[40]] | 8374368 | Sonic Innovations, Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT) |
3/25/10 |
2/12/13 |
| System and Method for Adaptive Microphone Matching in a Hearing Aid{{41}}[[41]] “US Patent Issued to Widex on Feb. 12 for “System and Method for Adaptive Microphone Matching in a Hearing Aid” (Danish Inventor).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013.HighBeam Research. 4 Mar. 2013.[[41]] | 8374366 | Widex A/S (Lynge, Denmark) |
4/17/07 |
2/12/13 |
| Hearing Aid with a Flexible Elongated Member{{42}}[[42]] “US Patent Issued to GN ReSound on Feb. 12 for “Hearing Aid with a Flexible Elongated Member” (American, Canadian, Danish Inventors).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013.HighBeam Research. 4 Mar. 2013.[[42]] | 8374367 | GN ReSound A/S (Ballerup, Denmark) |
8/05/08 |
2/12/13 |
| Hearing Aid Device{{43}}[[43]] US Patent Issued to Siemens Audiologische Technik on Feb. 19 for “Hearing Aid Device” (German Inventors).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013.HighBeam Research. 4 Mar. 2013.[[43]] | 8379895 | Siemens Audiologische Technik GmbH (Erlangen, Germany) |
10/18/07 |
2/19/13 |
| Hearing Assistance Device with Stacked Die
|
8369553 | Starkey Laboratories, Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN) |
12/19/08 |
2/05/13 |
| Microphone for a Hearing Aid | 8369552 | Sonion Nederland B.V. (Hoofddorp, NL) |
7/17/07 |
2/05/13 |
| Open Tip for Hearing Aid{{44}}[[44]] “Patent Issued for Open Tip for Hearing Aid.” Journal of Engineering. NewsRX. 2013. HighBeam Research. 4 Mar. 2013.[[44]] | 8369554 | Zounds Hearing, Inc. (Phoenix, AZ) |
10/03/08 |
2/05/13 |
| Independent and Concurrent Processing Multiple Audio Input Signals in a Prosthetic Hearing Implant | 8369958 | Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
/20/06 |
2/05/13 |
| Simplified Implantable Hearing Aid Transducer Apparatus | 8366601 | Cochlear Limited (NSW, AU) |
9/24/07 |
2/05/13 |
| Hearing Aid with Adaptive Feedback Suppression{{45}}[[45]] “US Patent Issued to Widex on Feb. 19 for “Hearing Aid with Adaptive Feedback Suppression” (Danish Inventor).” US Fed News Service, Including US State News. The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. 2013. HighBeam Research. 4 Mar. 2013.[[45]] | 8379894 | Widex A/S (Lynge, Denmark) |
8/05/08 |
2/19/13 |
| Hearing Assistance Device Having Reduced Mechanical Feedback |
8379897 |
Daniel R. Schumaier (Elizabethton, Tenn.) |
9/17/08 |
2/19/13 |
| Systems and Methods for Customizing a Hearing Aid Casing | 8379893 | Siemens Medical Instruments Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) |
5/23/08 |
2/19/13 |
For previous lists of hearing device patents see posts on January 8 2013 and February 21 2012.
editor’s note: The Patent Series is updated every two months. Click links for patents approved in Jan/Feb 2014, Nov/Dec 2013, September/October 2013, Jul/Aug 2013, May/Jun 2013, Mar/Apr 2013, Jan/Feb 2013, Nov/Dec 2012
photo courtesy of Portland Business Journal
