We’re likely to see more and more cross-overs between hearing aids and wearables/hearables. … What will the next generation of hearing aids look like?” (Director of Media Relations at Sonova AG quoted in Hip hearing aids as a fashion statement? Audiology Worldnews, April 20 2018)
By Holly Hosford-Dunn, PhD
Marketing meets up with patents when it comes to figuring out what consumers want hearing aids to look like. Some new hearing aid patent designs look more like Hearables than hearing aids of old (Fig 1).
Fig 1. Hearing aid designs that look like hearables from Etal #D806879 (left) and Eargo #9866978 (right)
Other Device Market Preferences
Hearable influence and convergence continues to manifest in ways predicated on presumed consumer preferences:
Fig 2. Honeywell Hearing ear protection and hearing test device
- In-ear testing, fitting and programming for increased wearer autonomy, lower price, less time spent, and reduced fitting “inconsistencies” (iHear Medical patent 9918171) and #9894450 shown in feature image)
- In-ear in situ noise monitoring, hearing testing and protection (Etymotic #9867572 ; Honeywell Hearing ##9895088 – see Fig 2) for workers in industry and soldiers in the field.
Back to the Future
Some devices look like hearing aids of yesterday but act like Hearables of the future (Fig 3).
Fig 3. Dartmouth (left) and Google (right) patents.
- Electrode monitoring of P300 to let the brain take over directionality and noise reduction decisions in a hearing device (Dartmouth College #9906872).
- Google glasses with bone conduction (Google #9900676).
In a World Where Devices Are No Longer Needed….
Nipping hearing loss in the bud and fortifying cochlear structures are in our future, perhaps obviating the need for ear instruments except for Hearable-like preferences of normal-hearing wearers (e.g., music streaming, personal assistants, etc). Pharmaceutical efforts to create a nation of normal hearing adults are ramping up with ideas that would have been unthinkable to most of us until now:
- Cochlear infusion to treat noise-induced hearing loss in military personnel (US Government #9889107);
- Transdermal treatment for middle ear disorders (#9913908);
- Support cell self-renewal in the cochlea (Frequency Therapeutics #9913848);
- Generate new hair cells (#9896658).
It was a bit surprising to look back over the innovations above and realize that none are by the Big 6. Which is not to say those manufacturers aren’t innovating, just not in the same manner as newcomers.
The Q1 2018 List
|
Description |
Patent Number |
Assignee |
Issued |
|
Information processing and storage in a cochlear stimulation system |
Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) |
1/02/2018 |
|
|
Dynamic back-biasing in FD-SOI process for optimizing PSU ratio |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
1/02/2018 |
|
|
Hearing assistance device comprising a location identification unit |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
1/02/2018 |
|
|
Behind the ear hearing aid |
Widex A/S (Lynge, DK) |
1/02/2018 |
|
|
Hearing aid device with positioning guide and hearing aid device system |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
1/02/2018 |
|
|
Method for synchronizing the reproduction of a digital signal sent by a transmitter to a plurality of mobile audio terminals |
Sivantos Inc. (Singapore, SG) |
1/02/2018 |
|
|
Wireless binaural hearing system |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
1/02/2018 |
|
|
Hearing system comprising a separate microphone unit for picking up a users own voice |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
1/02/2018 |
|
|
Hearing aid charging unit |
Sonova AG (Stafa, CH) |
1/02/2018 |
|
|
Hearing device |
Etal Designs, Inc. (San Francisco, CA) |
1/02/2018 |
|
|
Connectorized cochlear implant systems |
Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) |
1/09/2018 |
|
|
Audio control using auditory event detection |
Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corp (San Francisco, CA) |
1/09/2018 |
|
|
Method and apparatus for battery balancing of hearing aid in electronic device |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Suwon-si, KR) |
1/09/2018 |
|
|
Method for operating a hearing device system, hearing device system, hearing device and database system |
Sivantos Inc. (Singapore, SG) |
1/09/2018 |
|
|
Hearing assistance system and method |
Sonova AG (Stafa, CH) |
1/09/2018 |
|
|
Hearing aid system with an aligned auditory perception |
Oticon Medical A/S (Smorum, DK) |
1/09/2018 |
|
|
Miniature hearing instrument configured for positioning at least partially in bony region of ear canal |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
1/09/2018 |
|
|
Open ear canal hearing aid |
Eargo, Inc. (Mountain View CA) |
1/09/2018 |
|
|
Ear plug |
Ear Labs AB (Malmo, SE) |
1/09/2018 |
|
|
Method and system for rapidly determining and displaying the depth of ear tip placement to improve the reliability of hearing tests |
Etymotic Research, Inc. (Elk Grove Village, IL) |
1/16/2018 |
|
|
Ear scanner |
Sensogram Technologies, Inc. (Plano, TX) |
1/16/2018 |
|
|
Ear wax remover and cleaner |
Applicant: John J. Lenig (Annandale, NJ) |
1/16/2018 |
|
|
Method and apparatus for feedback suppression |
Sivantos Inc. (Singapore, SG) |
1/16/2018 |
|
|
Retention magnet system for medical device |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
1/16/2018 |
|
|
MRI-safe implant magnet with angular magnetization |
MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH (Innsbruck, AT) |
1/23/2018 |
|
|
Collision avoidance using auditory data |
Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Dearborn, MI) |
1/23/2018 |
|
|
Hearing aid and a method for improving speech intelligibility of an audio signal |
Widex A/S (Lynge, DK) |
1/23/2018 |
|
|
Hearing device with position data, audio system and related methods |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
1/23/2018 |
|
|
Hearing assistance device control |
Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) |
1/23/2018 |
|
|
Method for frequency-dependent noise suppression of an input signal |
Sivantos Inc. (Singapore, SG) |
1/23/2018 |
|
|
Hearing aid with antenna on printed circuit board |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
1/23/2018 |
|
|
Method and system for wireless communication between a telephone and a hearing aid |
Widex A/S (Lynge, DK) |
1/23/2018 |
|
|
Control button configurations for auditory prostheses |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
1/23/2018 |
|
|
Hearing device |
Sivantos Inc. (Singapore, SG) |
1/23/2018 |
|
|
Method of manufacturing a hearing device and hearing device with certificate |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
1/23/2018 |
|
|
Ear model unit, artificial head, and measurement device and method using said ear model unit and artificial head |
Kyocera Corp. (Kyoto, JP) |
1/23/2018 |
|
|
Dynamic relative transfer function estimation using structured sparse Bayesian learning |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
1/23/2018 |
|
|
Method and apparatus for pre-processing speech to maintain speech intelligibility |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
1/23/2018 |
|
|
Systems, methods, and devices for characterizing ear canal acoustic impedance, admittance, and reflectance by pole-zero fitting |
Mimosa Acoustics, Inc. (Champaign, IL) |
1/23/2018 |
|
|
Methods and systems for fitting an electro-acoustic stimulation system to a patient |
Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) |
1/30/2018 |
|
|
Patient specific frequency modulation adaption |
MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH (Innsbruck, AT) |
1/30/2018 |
|
|
Hearing device, particularly hearing aid |
Sivantos Inc. (Singapore, SG) |
1/30/2018 |
|
|
Configurable hearing system |
Bernafon A/G (Bern, CH) |
1/30/2018 |
|
|
Hearing aid with an antenna |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
1/30/2018 |
|
|
Filter to suppress harmonics for an antenna |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
1/30/2018 |
|
|
Hearing aid having an adaptive classifier |
Widex A/S (Lynge, DK) |
1/30/2018 |
|
|
Method and apparatus for communication between hearing assistance devices in a bluetooth network |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
1/30/2018 |
|
|
System for using multiple hearing assistance device programmers |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
1/30/2018 |
|
|
Method and apparatus for controlling a hearing instrument to relieve tinitus, hyperacusis, and hearing loss |
9883300 |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
1/30/2018 |
|
Disinfection dryer for hearing aid |
Kapak Company Ltd. (Hong Kong, HK) applicant |
1/30/2018 |
|
|
System and method for detecting ear location of earphone and rechanneling connections accordingly and earphone using same |
Nanning Fugui Precision Industrial Co., Ltd. (Nanning, CN) |
1/30/2018 |
|
|
Fiber Bragg Grating hearing device |
Moslehi, Behzad (Los Altos, CA), applicant |
2/06/2018 |
|
|
Implantable device having osseointegrating protuberances |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
2/06/2018 |
|
|
Coil assembly in an implantable medical device |
Oticon Medical A/S (Smorum, DK) |
2/06/2018 |
|
|
Client device with certificate and related method |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
2/06/2018 |
|
|
Transducer, a hearing aid comprising the transducer and a method of operating the transducer |
Onion Nederland BV (Hoofddorp, NL) |
2/06/2018 |
|
|
Hearing aid device having a folded dipole |
Sivantos Inc. (Singapore, SG) |
2/06/2018 |
|
|
Hearing assistive device |
Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ) |
2/06/2018 |
|
|
Implant abutment
|
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
2/06/2018 |
|
|
Ear jewelry with wireless audio device |
Applicants: Barrett & Patsy Prelogar (Lake Ozark, MO) |
2/06/2018 |
|
|
Template for bilateral symmetric stimulator fixation/implantation |
MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH (Innsbruck, AT) |
2/13/2018 |
|
|
Cochlear implant system including an implantable battery |
Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) |
2/13/2018 |
|
|
Interleaving power and data in a transcutaneous communications link |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
2/13/2018 |
|
|
Methods and compositions for preventing and treating auditory dysfunctions |
The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs (Washington, DC) |
2/13/2018 |
|
|
Customization of adaptive directionality for hearing aids using a portable device |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
2/13/2018 |
|
|
Hearing device and a method of selecting an optimal transceiver channel in a wireless network |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
2/13/2018 |
|
|
Hearing aid comprising a flexible connection member |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
2/13/2018 |
|
|
Ear mold for auditory device |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Suwon-si, KR) |
2/13/2018 |
|
|
Self-fitting of a hearing device |
iHear Medical, Inc. (San Leandro, CA) |
2/13/2018 |
|
|
Wireless in-ear headphone |
Applicant: Yuan, Haiyan (Shenzhen, CN) |
2/13/2018 |
|
|
Off-head detection of in-ear headset |
Bose Corp (Framingham, MA) |
2/13/2018 |
|
|
Hearing protection device with integrated audiometric testing |
Honeywell Hearing Technologies AS (Trondheim, NO) |
2/20/2018 |
|
|
Hearing assistance system with improved signal processing comprising an implanted part |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
2/20/2018 |
|
|
Thin profile cochlear implants |
Advanced Bionics AG (Staefa, CH) |
2/20/2018 |
|
|
SNR adjusted envelope sampling for hearing implants |
MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH (Innsbruck, AT) |
2/20/2018 |
|
|
Spatial auditory alerts for a vehicle |
Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Dearborn, MI) |
2/20/2018 |
|
|
Generation of inner ear auditory hair cell |
Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary (Boston, MA) |
2/20/2018 |
|
|
Translating procedural documentation into contextual visual and auditory guidance |
International Business Machines Corp. (Armonk, NY) |
2/20/2018 |
|
|
Method and device for using token count for managing power consumption in a wireless network |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
2/20/2018 |
|
|
Hearing instrument with switchable power supply voltage |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
2/20/2018 |
|
|
Determining impedance-related phenomena in vibrating actuator and identifying device system characteristics based thereon |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
2/20/2018 |
|
|
Method and apparatus for own-voice sensing in a hearing assistance device |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
2/20/2018 |
|
|
User adjustments to a tinnitus therapy generator within a hearing assistance device |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
2/20/2018 |
|
|
Microphone inlet for hearing aid |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
2/20/2018 |
|
|
Beamforming audio with wearable device microphones |
Intel Corporation (Santa Clara, CA) |
2/20/2018 |
|
|
Wearable computing device with indirect bone-conduction speaker |
Google, LLC (Mountain View, CA) |
2/20/2018 |
|
|
Systems and methods for delivering bone conduction stimuli to and for measuring gravitation receptor functions of the inner ear |
Ear and Skull Base Center, PC (Portland, OR) |
2/20/2018 |
|
|
Cochlea hearing aid fixed on eardrum |
Chen, K-C (New Taipei, TW) and Silicon Motion, Inc. (Hsinchu County, TW) |
2/27/2018 |
|
|
Bracket for a sound processor and a coil |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
2/27/2018 |
|
|
Transformable speech processor module for a hearing prosthesis |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
2/27/2018 |
|
|
Bone conduction device support |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
2/27/2018 |
|
|
Method for providing distant support to a personal hearing system user and system for implementing such a method |
Phonak AG (Staefa, CH) |
2/27/2018 |
|
|
Hearing-aid noise reduction circuitry with neural feedback to improve speech comprehension |
The Trustees of Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH) |
2/27/2018 |
|
|
Methods and apparatus for improving speech understanding in a large crowd |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
2/27/2018 |
|
|
Binaural hearing system and method |
Cirrus Logic, Inc. (Austin, TX) |
2/27/2018 |
|
|
Method for operating a hearing device and hearing device |
Sivantos Inc. (Singapore, SG) |
2/27/2018 |
|
|
Method for transmitting an audio signal, hearing device and hearing device system |
Sivantos Inc. (Singapore, SG) |
2/27/2018 |
|
|
Mobile wireless controller for a hearing aid |
AN Direct B.V. (Rotterdam, NL) |
2/27/2018 |
|
|
Solderless module connector for a hearing assistance device assembly |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
2/27/2018 |
|
|
Listening support device, in particular a hearing aid, and a compressible case for application therewith |
Exsilent Research B.V. (Amsterdam, NL) |
2/27/2018 |
|
|
Wearable audio component |
Harman International Industries, Inc. (Northridge, CA) |
2/27/2018 |
|
|
Wearable device and earphone component thereof |
Hongfujin Precision Electronics (Zhenghzou) Co., Ltd. (Zhengzhou, CN) |
2/27/2018 |
|
|
Ear insert for relief of TMJ discomfort and method for use thereof |
Renew Group Private Ltd (Singapore, SG) |
2/27/2018 |
|
|
System and method for locating a hearing aid |
III Holdings 4, LLC (Wilmington, DC) |
3/6/2018 |
|
|
Wearable device with receptacle to receive an audio device and method of operating same |
Sandisk Technologies,LLC (Plano, TX) |
3/06/2018 |
|
|
Connector for in-ear systems |
Banzai Defense Group, LLC (Shalimar, FL) |
3/06/2018 |
|
|
Power management features |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
3/06/2018 |
|
|
Solderless hearing assistance device assembly and method |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
3/06/2018 |
|
|
Sound enrichment for the relief of tinnitus |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
3/06/2018 |
|
|
Methods for controlled proliferation of stem cells / generating inner ear hair cells using 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-[1,4]diazepino[6,7, 1-hi]indolyl based compounds |
Frequency Therapeutics, Inc. (Woburn, MA) |
3/13/2018 |
|
|
Methods for controlled proliferation of stem cells / generating inner ear hair cells using N-(alkylcarbamoyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-nicotinamide based compounds |
Frequency Therapeutics, Inc. (Woburn, MA) |
3/13/2018 |
|
|
Alternate stimulation strategies for perception of speech |
Cochlear Limited (Macquarie University, NSW, AU) |
3/13/2018 |
|
|
Transdermal pharmaceutical bases for treating ear disorders |
Professional Compounding Centers of America (Houston, TX) |
3/13/2018 |
|
|
Online hearing aid fitting |
iHear Medical, Inc. (San Leandro, CA) |
3/13/2018 |
|
|
Headphones that determine head size and ear shape for customized HRTFs for a listener |
Applicants: Norris, Glen A (Tokyo, JP) & Lyren, Philip Scot (Hong Kong, CN) |
3/13/2018 |
|
|
Device and method for determining the presence of middle ear fluid |
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation & Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH) |
3/20/2018 |
|
|
Sonification systems and methods for auditory display of physiological parameters |
The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA); New technology Sounds, LLC (Hanover, NH); Trustees of Dartmouth College (Hanover, NJH |
3/20/2018 |
|
|
Method for charging a NIMH battery, a battery charger and a system comprising a battery charger and a hearing device |
Sonova AG (Stafa, CH) |
3/20/2018 |
|
|
Ear defender with concha simulator |
Red Tail Hawk Corp (Philadelphia, PA) |
3/20/2018 |
|
|
Hearing assistance device with dynamic computational resource allocation |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
3/20/2018 |
|
|
Hearing device with model control and associated methods |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
3/20/2018 |
|
|
Hearing system comprising a binaural speech intelligibility predictor |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
3/20/2018 |
|
|
Binaural hearing assistance system comprising two wireless interfaces |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
3/20/2018 |
|
|
Binaural hearing assistance system comprising two wireless interfaces |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
3/20/2018 |
|
|
System, hearing aid, and method for improving synchronization of an acoustic signal to a video display |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
3/20/2018 |
|
|
Enhanced dynamics processing of streaming audio by source separation and remixing |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
3/20/2018 |
|
|
Method of adapting a hearing device to a user’s ear, and a hearing device |
Oticon A/S (Smorum, DK) |
3/20/2018 |
|
|
Ear piece |
Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corp (San Francisco, CA) |
3/20/2018 |
|
|
Ear piece |
Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corp (San Francisco, CA) |
3/27/2018 |
|
|
Method and system for testing a mould shape quality of a user-customized ear mould |
Dynamic Ear Co B.V. (Delft, NL) |
3/27/2018 |
|
|
Hearing device with suppression of sound impulses |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
3/27/2018 |
|
|
Method and apparatus for localization of streaming sources in hearing assistance system |
Starkey Laboratories Inc (Eden Prairie, MN) |
3/27/2018 |
|
|
Hearing device with dynamic mirror service and related method |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
3/27/2018 |
|
|
Hearing aid with detachable battery compartment |
GN Hearing A/S (Ballerup, DK) |
3/27/2018 |
Editor’s note: Interested readers can click the following links for patents approved in Nov/Dec 2017, October 2017, September 2017, August 2017, June/July 2017, May 2017, April 2017, March 2017, February 2017, January 2017, December 2016, 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
Holly 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 (Germany) 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.
