Three New Patents Issued to Envoy Medical

Envoy Medical Inc. has been awarded three new patents from respective authorities in the United States, Australia, and Hong Kong. The patents expand the company’s global intellectual property portfolio.

The U.S. patent, “Fully Implantable Modular Cochlear Implant System,” relates to cochlear implant systems with a signal processor and an implantable battery and/or communication module with a signal generator that creates digital signals for communicating to a signal processor. The signal processor and the implantable battery and/or communication module include circuitry, a can that houses and surrounds the circuitry, and an impedance between the circuitry and the can to reduce unintended electrical communication between the circuitry and a cochlear electrode of the cochlear implant system.

The Australian patent, “Cochlear Implant System with Electrode Impedance Diagnostics,” relates to electrode impedance diagnostics in cochlear implant systems. A cochlear implant system determines an impedance associated with a current path from a source element to a return electrode and determines one or more stimulation parameters for the source element based on the impedance. An example stimulation parameter is a compliance voltage for the source element to provide a prescribed current.

The Hong Kong patent, “Cochlear Implant Stimulation Calibration,” relates to calibrating current flow in a cochlear implant system. A switching network is controlled to place a source element of a cochlear implant system in communication with a testing circuit. An amount of electrical current provided to the testing circuit is determined and the source element output is adjusted based on the determined electrical current amount.

“Our patent portfolio has many critical building blocks to redefine what’s possible for hearing restoration solutions. These additional patents strengthen our position. By expanding our global patent portfolio, Envoy Medical is not only protecting groundbreaking innovations, but also supporting our mission to deliver life-changing, fully implantable solutions to more people around the world. This momentum brings us one step closer to eliminating daily limitations faced by millions of people living with hearing loss,” Envoy Medical CEO Brent Lucas stated.

Envoy Medical touts the fully implanted Acclaim Cochlear Implant (Acclaim CI) as a first-of-its-kind hearing device. the firm’s fully implanted technology includes a sensor designed to leverage the natural anatomy of the ear instead of a microphone to capture sound. The Acclaim CI aims to address severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss that is not adequately addressed by hearing aids. Earning U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Breakthrough Device Designation in 2019, the Acclaim CI is expected to be indicated for adults who have been deemed adequate candidates by a qualified physician. The fully implanted Acclaim Cochlear Implant is an investigational device limited by U.S. law to investigational use.

The Esteem fully implanted active middle ear implant (FI-AMEI) is the only FDA-approved, fully implanted* hearing device for adults diagnosed with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss allowing for 24/7 hearing capability using the ear’s natural anatomy, according to the company. The Esteem FI-AMEI hearing implant is invisible and requires no externally worn components and nothing is placed in the ear canal for it to function.

Envoy Medical is a hearing health company providing technologies across the hearing loss spectrum. Envoy Medical has pioneered fully implanted devices for hearing loss, including its fully implanted Esteem active middle ear implant, commercially available in the United States since 2010, and the fully implanted Acclaim cochlear implant, an investigational device.

* Once activated, the external Esteem FI-AMEI Personal Programmer is not required for daily use.