Hearing prosthesis programming

Presented herein are objective techniques for determining the upper limit of the dynamic range (i.e., the comfort level) of implanted stimulating contacts through the use of electrocochleography (ECoG) measurements to indirectly detect the onset and duration of a recipient's stapedius reflex. In particular, stimulation is delivered to a recipient's cochlea to trigger the onset of the stapedius reflex and the resulting acoustic impedance change is detected by monitoring the acoustically evoked ECoG.

The abstract as published by the patent office, from US2018015287A1. It describes the invention; it is not a statement of what is protected.

• Interface and electrodes

  Electrodes and arrays

• Stimulation

  Stimulation

What the filing appears to be about, read by published rules from its title, abstract and classification codes (A61B5/12, A61B5/125, A61B5/388, A61B5/6817, A61N1/0541). The claims define what a patent protects, and they are not read here.

Interface and electrodes

Everything downstream works with what the contacts pick up. Their number, size and distance from the neurons set the ceiling on the signal. The problem behind it: more contacts, closer to neurons, that still record after years in tissue that reacts to them.

Stimulation

Restoring sensation, sight or movement needs information going in, and a therapy that adapts needs to sense and stimulate at once. The problem behind it: evoking a precise, stable effect without damaging tissue or electrodes, and without blinding the recording.

Why the layer matters to the field, not a judgement of this filing. A patent family shows that protection was sought. It does not show that the technology was built, is used in a product, or works in people. The whole stack

One invention, published 6 times in 3 offices. Each publication opens in Espacenet.

• United StatesUS2018015287A118 Jan 2018US10357656B223 Jul 2019 · grant
• International (PCT)a route to several countries, not a countryWO2018011657A118 Jan 2018
• ChinaCN109475738A15 Mar 2019CN109475738B14 Oct 2022 · grantCN115463346A13 Dec 2022

1. 12 Jul 2016First filingEarliest priority, at United States. The family is counted in this year.
2. 27 Jun 2017ApplicationsFiled at International (PCT), China.
3. 18 Jan 2018First publicationUS2018015287A1, United States.
4. 5 Feb 2018Owner recordedUnited States, on US2018015287A1: assignment; owner named: COCHLEAR LIMITED, AUSTRALIA.
5. 23 Jul 2019Grant publishedUS10357656B2, United States.
6. 7 Aug 2019Office recordInternational (PCT), on WO2018011657A1: ep: pct application non-entry in european phase.
7. 14 Oct 2022Grant publishedCN109475738B, China.

Dates as the offices published them. Office records are in the offices' own words and are a selection: refusals, lapses and withdrawals, and records that name an owner. Each concerns one member of the family, not the family as a whole, and another member in the same office may stand. Whether a patent is in force today is not assessed.

Organisation

Cochlear · 13 families identified

Technology

ECoG / cortical surface

• Bibliographic data, family members and office records: European Patent Office, Open Patent Services (the DOCDB and INPADOC databases), read 7 Oct 2026.
• The record itself, with its claims and description: US2018015287A1 in Espacenet
• Counted as a BCI patent family: title or abstract names the field; classified A61B5/38 (electroencephalography with stimuli); filed by Cochlear Limited, an organisation already in the graph. How families are found and judged