James Roy Easter
Engineers at Wichita Rd, Lyons, CO

6517476, Feb 11, 2003

May 30, 2000

09/583315

Jose H. Bedoya - Boulder CO
James Roy Easter - Lyons CO
Richard Marshal DeMoss - Berthoud CO

Otologics LLC - Boulder CO

H04R 2500

600 25

The present invention is directed to implantable hearing aid systems and provides for selective interconnection between two or more implantable components of a system. The inventive apparatus comprises a first connector interconnected to a first implantable component and a second connector interconnected to a second implantable component which is separate from the first implanted component. The first and second connectors may each comprise outer housings and internal conductors, wherein the outer housings are configured to define male and female connectors for mating interconnection therebetween. In one arrangement, a female connector is defined by a support structure that also supports an interconnected implantable component (e. g. , a processor unit and/or induction coil), and wherein the male connector is interconnected to another, separate component (e. g. , a middle ear actuator).

2010031, Dec 16, 2010

Apr 19, 2010

12/762540

Brian M. Conn - Broomfield CO, US
James R. Easter - Lyons CO, US
Farid Moumane - Lafayette CO, US
Michel Bruhwiler - Newton MA, US
Ira Spool - Brookline MA, US
Melissa Rosen - Salem MA, US

Otologics, LLC - Boulder CO

A61N 1/05

607148

An implantable neurostimulation electrode array may include a flexible, electrically non-conductive carrier, and a plurality of electrodes supportably interconnected to and spaced along a length of a carrier. In various embodiments, different ones of at least some of the plurality of electrodes may comprise corresponding contact surfaces having different areas. The different surface areas may be achieved by defining a different area per unit length of the carrier and/or by defining a different total length (e.g. as measured along a length of the carrier). In some embodiments, insulator portions having different corresponding lengths may be disposed between different adjacent ones of the electrodes. The insulated portions may be integrally defined with the carrier. Electrical connection lines may be embedded within the carrier. In a manufacturing method, a plurality of electrodes may be supportably interconnected to a first side of a sacrificial substrate and a carrier may be interconnected to the electrodes. In turn, at least a portion of the substrate may be removed from the electrodes to yield at least a partially completed electrode array. The substrate may be configured into a predetermined configuration wherein the carrier material may be formed within an internal volume thereof to define at least a portion of the configuration of the carrier of the electrode array.

2010004, Feb 18, 2010

Aug 10, 2009

12/538760

William J. Simms - Lousiville CO, US
Nicholas Pergola - Arvada CO, US
Brian M. Conn - Broomfield CO, US
James R. Easter - Lyons CO, US

Otologics, LLC - Boulder CO

A61B 17/00

606151

A system for reducing subcutaneous migration of an implantable device or housing relative to surrounding soft tissue. For instance, the implantable housing may support a microphone diaphragm. The system includes at least one securement member having at least one aperture extending therethrough that may selectively receive one of a soft tissue securement device (e.g., soft tissue suture) and soft tissue growth therethrough. The securement member is at least one of interconnected to and disposable over at least a portion of the housing and at least one of extends away from and is selectively extendable away from a periphery of the housing. In one arrangement, at least one mesh member may be optionally included with the system that may allow for tissue growth to enhance securement of the implanted device relative to the soft tissue.

7204800, Apr 17, 2007

Apr 17, 2006

11/406056

James Roy Easter - Lyons CO, US
Travis Rian Andrews - Boulder CO, US

Otologics, LLC - Boulder CO

H04R 25/00

600 25

An implantable hearing aid transducer interface disposable between an implantable transducer and a mounting apparatus and having at least a portion that is displaceable in response to a predeterminable range of transducer movement. According to one aspect of the invention, the predeterminable range of transducer movement includes movement in response to a physiological movement of an auditory component that results in pressure on the implantable transducer. In this case, the compliant interface permits adaptive movement of the implantable transducer in response to the pressure to maintain a desired interface between the implantable transducer and an auditory component. According to another aspect, the predeterminable range of transducer movement may be transducer vibration resulting from an acoustic stimulation of an auditory component by the implantable transducer. In this case, the compliant interface reduces the transmission of transducer vibration over a feedback path to a microphone of a hearing aid.

2007005, Mar 8, 2007

Mar 22, 2004

10/549686

James Easter - Lyons CO, US
James Kasic - Boulder CO, US
Jose Bedoya - Boulder CO, US
Robert Schneider - Erie CO, US

H04R 25/00

600025000

The invention is directed to a fixation apparatus and method for interfacing an implantable hearing aid actuator with the ossicular chain of a patient. The fixation apparatus may include one or more surface discontinuities to enhance tissue fixation and thereby yield enhanced mechanical coupling and vibratory response. Surface discontinuities may be in the form of surface pores, surface asperities and complex surface shapes such as grooves, slots, lips or openings formed in the fixation apparatus. The fixation apparatus may also and/or alternatively include a portion or component that is deflectable or that comprises a conditioned shape memory material that is activatable at bodily temperatures to yield a degree of lateral loading when the fixation apparatus is positioned within an opening defined within a bone of the ossicular chain of a patient, thereby yielding enhanced mechanical coupling.

2005010, May 12, 2005

Nov 7, 2003

10/703672

James Easter - Lyons CO, US
Jose Bedoya - Boulder CO, US
Travis Andrews - Boulder CO, US

H04R025/00

600025000

An implantable hearing aid transducer interface disposable between an implantable transducer and a mounting apparatus and having at least a portion that is displaceable in response to a predeterminable range of transducer movement. According to one aspect of the invention, the predeterminable range of transducer movement includes movement in response to a physiological movement of an auditory component that results in pressure on the implantable transducer. In this case, the compliant interface permits adaptive movement of the implantable transducer in response to the pressure to maintain a desired interface between the implantable transducer and an auditory component. According to another aspect, the predeterminable range of transducer movement may be transducer vibration resulting from an acoustic stimulation of an auditory component by the implantable transducer. In this case, the compliant interface reduces the transmission of transducer vibration over a feedback path to a microphone of a hearing aid.

2014001, Jan 9, 2014

Sep 10, 2013

14/023278

James R. Easter - Lyons CO, US

A61N 1/36

607 57

An implantable hearing unit is provided that includes an implantable microphone, a rechargeable power storage device and a speech signal processor. The hearing unit further includes a signal coupling device that is adapted for electrical interconnection to an implantable auditory stimulation device, which is operative to stimulate an auditory component of a patient. Such a stimulation device may include cochlear implants, brain stem stimulation systems, auditory nerve stimulation systems, and middle or inner ear transducer systems. The signal coupling device is operative to provide processed drive signals from the signal processor to the stimulation device as well provide power from the power storage device to operate the stimulation device. In one arrangement, the signal coupling device is a wireless coupling between first and second coils. In such an arrangement, the hearing unit may be utilized with an existing implanted stimulation device to make that device a fully implanted hearing system.

7386143, Jun 10, 2008

Oct 2, 2003

10/678959

James Roy Easter - Lyons CO, US
Travis Rian Andrews - Boulder CO, US
Peter Robert Mellers - Eaton CO, US

Otologics LLC - Boulder CO

H04R 25/00, A61N 1/00

381331, 600 25, 607 36, 607 57, 380312, 380322, 380324

A retention apparatus for a semi-implantable hearing aid. In one embodiment, the retention apparatus includes a first surface and a second surface. One of the first and second surfaces includes a first portion and a second portion having a rounded transition therebetween for interfacing with a patient's skin. The rounded transition of the interfacing surface of the retention apparatus functions to distribute pressure resulting from the mutual magnetic attraction between an externally located magnet and an implanted magnet to permit increased magnetic forces therebetween and maintenance of a desired separation between an external coil and implanted coil.

7241258, Jul 10, 2007

Nov 5, 2004

10/983102

Bernd Waldmann - Boulder CO, US
Travis Rian Andrews - Loveland CO, US
David L. Basinger - Loveland CO, US
James Roy Easter - Lyons CO, US
Douglas Miller - Parker CO, US

Otologics, LLC - Boulder CO

H04R 25/00

600 25, 381 712, 181175

A system for reducing the vibration sensitivity of an implantable microphone without an equal or greater reduction in sound sensitivity. The system reduces non-ambient vibrations by placing at least one compliant member into the path of transmission for tissue-borne vibration, but not into the path for ambient sound-induced vibration. More particularly, a compliant member is interposed along the path between a source of non-ambient vibration and an implanted microphone. In one aspect, a compliant base member is disposed between an implanted microphone and an implant wearer's skull. In another aspect, a microphone is compliantly suspended relative to an implant housing using a support membrane. In either aspect, the compliant member (i. e. , base member and/or membrane) and the supported member (i. e.

2009016, Jun 25, 2009

Nov 20, 2008

12/275018

Travis Rian Andrews - Loveland CO, US
Robert Edwin Schneider - Erie CO, US
David L. Basinger - Loveland CO, US
James R. Easter - Lyons CO, US

Otologics, LLC - Boulder CO

A61F 11/04

607 57

An implantable microphone comprises a hermetically-sealed, enclosed volume and an electret member and back plate disposed with a space therebetween and capacitively coupleable to provide an output signal indicative of acoustic signals incident upon at least one of the electret member and back plate. The back plate may be disposed to define a peripheral portion of the enclosed volume, e.g., the back plate may be defined as part of a flexible diaphragm that receives external acoustic signals. Vents may be provided to fluidly interconnect first and second portions of the enclosed volume that are located on first and second sides of the electret member. In another embodiment, the electret member may be flexible and spaced relative to a flexible outer diaphragm.