Sonova Ag

Advanced Bionics Ag

Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg

Konstantin Silberzahn

Markus Leuthold

Christian Frei

Markus Mueller

Julia Lonsky

Hans-Ueli Roeck

Anne Thielen

Natasha Thumm

Christian Frei-Krumme

Erdal Karamuk

Volkmar Hamacher

Christoph Weder

Katja Dietrich

Markus Muller

Markus Müller

Patrizia Richner

Evgeny Murtola

Tim Nauwelaers

Martin Grossoehmichen

Carlo Perotto

Anuja Shirole

Adem Bici

Emily Urry

Stefan Raufer

Markus MÜLLER

Philipp Kohlhauer

A method of processing sensor data generated in a hearing device is disclosed, the hearing device comprising a BTE housing configured to be worn behind an ear of a user and an ITE housing configured to be at least partially inserted into an ear canal of the ear. The method may include receiving, from a movement sensor included in the BTE housing, BTE housing movement data indicative of movements of the BTE housing; receiving, from an ear canal sensor included in the ITE housing, ear canal sensor data affected by movements of an ear canal wall, characterized by determining a correlation between the BTE housing movement data and at least part of the ear canal sensor data; and separating, based on the correlation, information about movements of the ear canal wall relative to the BTE housing from at least part of the ear canal sensor data.

Method of separating ear canal wall movement information from sensor data generated in a hearing device

The disclosure relates to an earpiece configured to be at least partially inserted into an ear and comprising a core comprising a material that during insertion of the earpiece into the ear is deformable above a transition temperature and non-deformable below the transition temperature. The disclosure also relates to a method of manufacturing the earpiece. The disclosure further relates to a method of customizing the earpiece.

Earpiece and manufacturing method and customization method of the earpiece

A customized in-ear hearing device includes a light source, photodetector, light emission window, and light transmission window. The light source and the photodetector together function as a physiological sensor by emitting light from the light source through the light emission to the skin of a user's ear canal, and detecting at the photodetector light reflected by the skin that passes through the light detection window. The light emission window and light detection window are located at a customized portion of the sidewall of the device that contacts the skin in the ear canal.

Custom hearing device equipped with optical sensors for biometrical sensing

An exemplary hearing system that is configured to assist a user in hearing includes an in-the-ear (ITE) component configured to fit at least partially within an ear canal of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user, a first sensor electrode provided on a surface of the ITE component and configured to contact, while the hearing system is worn by the user, outer ear tissue of the user, and a second sensor electrode configured to be located, while the hearing system is worn by the user, at an entrance to or outside of the ear canal of the user. The first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode may be configured to be used to detect a physiological attribute of the user while the hearing system is worn by the user. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Hearing assist systems and methods for detecting a physiological attribute of a user

The disclosure relates to a hearing system including a first hearing device configured to be worn at a first ear of a user and a second hearing device configured to be worn at a second ear of the user. The first hearing device includes a first physiological sensor configured to provide sensor data indicative of a physiological property of the user and the second hearing device includes a second physiological sensor configured to provide sensor data indicative of the same physiological property as the sensor data provided by the first physiological sensor. A processing unit may be configured to control the first and second physiological sensor to alternatingly provide the sensor data in subsequent time intervals.

Binaural hearing system for providing sensor data indicative of a physiological property, and method of its operation

An in-ear hearing device includes a light source configured to emit light, a photodetector configured to detect the emitted light after the emitted light passes through tissue of a subject, a spout; an audio receiver configured to deliver a sound to the subject through the spout, and a dome configured to conform to a shape of a subject's ear canal when the hearing device is in the ear canal. An output of the light source and an input of the photodetector are separated by the dome, and the dome absorbs and/or reflects at least part of the emitted light. The photodetector may be a forward biased photodiode. The sensor device can be realized with power levels, circuitry components, and in package sizes, of hearing devices.

Hearing device with optical sensor at spout

The disclosure relates to a device for preparing an earpiece for its customization, the device including an energy release unit comprising a receiving chamber for receiving the earpiece and configured to release energy into the receiving chamber. The disclosure further relates to a system for customizing an earpiece comprising the earpiece and the preparing device.

Preparation device and system for in-situ customization of an earpiece

Shape memory polymers allow the fabrication of objects that have a permanent (first) shape, and which can be programmed to adopt a temporary (second) shape, and are able to largely recover their original (first) shape by applying an appropriate stimulus. Materials that permit the fabrication of objects and devices that can (i) be provided in their permanent shape, (ii) be heated to a switching temperature above physiological temperature, at which the material becomes shapeable, (iii) be inserted into the body or placed in contact with the body and be deformed or shaped'to assume a desired temporary shape, (iv) be fixed in the desired temporary shape by keeping the material/device/object at body temperature (about 37&#xb0; C.) for a convenient period of time, (v) largely retain this temporary shape if removed from the body, and (vi) return largely to their original shape when heated again above the switching temperature. A process for making such materials and disclosed products based on such materials are disclosed.

Shape memory polymers

A cochlear implant, for use with a micro camera, including a stimulation assembly, a cochlear lead with an electrode array, a lens associated with the distal region of the electrode array, an optical fiber bundle that extends proximally from the lens and outwardly from the proximal region of the cochlear lead, a camera interface in which the proximal end of the optical fiber bundle is located and that is configured to receive the micro camera, and at least one illumination guide that extends from the camera interface to the cochlear lead.

Cochlear implant leads and methods of making the same

Hearing systems, sensor systems, and methods for detecting a physiological attribute of a user

An exemplary hearing system that is configured to assist a user in hearing includes a behind-the-ear (BTE) component that includes a power source and an in-the-ear (ITE) component configured to fit at least partially within an ear canal of the user. The ITE component may include a microphone arranged so as to face outside of the ear canal of the user while the ITE component is worn by the user, a vent opening configured to ventilate the ear canal of the user to an environment outside of the ear canal, a receiver configured to provide an audio signal to the user based on an input audio signal detected by the microphone, and at least one of active noise control circuitry configured to reduce at least one of environmental noise entering the ear canal through the vent opening and occlusion and an active vent configured to control the vent opening.

Hearing systems and methods for operating a hearing system

Growing community of inventors

Meilen, Switzerland

Konstantin Silberzahn