Ben M Clopton

US Patent:

6480820, Nov 12, 2002

Filed:

Sep 20, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/399428

Inventors:

Ben M. Clopton - Bainbridge Island WA
Sean Kenneth Ridgway Lineaweaver - Seattle WA
Francis A. Spelman - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Advanced Cochlear Systems, Inc. - Snoqualmie WA

International Classification:

G10L 2106

US Classification:

704203, 607 56

Abstract:

A method for the real-time transformation of an electrical signal representative of a sound wave that includes the steps of providing an electrical signal representative of a sound wave, transforming that signal to an analytic representation, and passing said electrical signal, in parallel, through a number of bandpass filters to create a set of time domain real and imaginary band limited signals. Next, a stream of instantaneous phase angle and magnitude values for each of said set of time domain real and imaginary band limited signals is computed. Thirdly, a stream of electrical pulses or other digital representation of the phase, instantaneous frequency, and magnitude information is computed for delivery to a cochlear implant or transmission for decoding and synthesis of the original sound.

US Patent:

6694190, Feb 17, 2004

Filed:

Nov 5, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/287989

Inventors:

Francis A. Spelman - Seattle WA
Timothy J. Johnson - Kent WA
Ben M. Clopton - Bainbridge Island WA

Assignee:

Advanced Lochlear Systems, Inc. - Snowqualmie WA

International Classification:

A61N 118

US Classification:

607 57

Abstract:

A bodily implanted charge injection assembly for effecting a voltage difference between a specific body location and surrounding tissue. This assembly comprises a charge injection device that includes a first electrode assembly and a housing defining an interior space substantially enclosing the first electrode assembly and further defining a first opening placed near the specific location. The housing is filled with electrolytic solution. Also, a second electrode assembly is placed in contact with both the electrolytic fluid and the surrounding tissue. In addition, a physical gate assembly is adapted to selectively and controllably occlude the interior space so that either the first opening or the second electrode assembly may be occluded from the first electrode assembly. The physical gate assembly is controlled to drive current through the opening and alternately to refresh the first electrode assembly with current from the second electrode assembly.

US Patent:

6782619, Aug 31, 2004

Filed:

Aug 17, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/932266

Inventors:

Timothy J. Johnson - Kent WA
Ben M. Clopton - Bainbridge Island WA
Francis A. Spelman - Seattle WA
Jeffery A. Strole - Ellensburg WA
Joseph R. Ketterl - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Advanced Cochlear Systems, Inc. - Snoqualmie WA

International Classification:

H01R 4300

US Classification:

29858, 264295, 264372, 264263, 607137

Abstract:

A laminated multi-electrode biocompatible implant, comprising a first layer of flexible, biocompatible dielectric material having a first, exposed surface. A second layer of flexible biocompatible dielectric material, is adhered to the first layer. Further, a third layer of flexible biocompatible dielectric material is adhered to the second layer. Additionally, a first conductive trace is interposed between the first layer and the second layer and a second conductive trace interposed between said second layer and said third layer. Finally, a first conductor, which breaches said first layer, conductively connects the first conductive trace to the exposed surface of the first layer, thereby forming a first electrode and a second conductor, which breaches the first layer and the second layer, conductively connects the second conductive trace to the exposed surface of the first layer, thereby forming a second electrode.

US Patent:

7340308, Mar 4, 2008

Filed:

Jun 8, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/148576

Inventors:

Ben M. Clopton - Bainbridge Island WA, US
Matthew D. Carson - Snoqualmie WA, US
Timothy J. Johnson - Kent WA, US

Assignee:

Advanced Cochlear Systems, Inc. - Snoqualmie WA

International Classification:

A61N 1/36

US Classification:

607 57

Abstract:

A method of stimulating neurons in a patient's cochlea. The method uses a plurality of cochlear electrodes, substantially arranged in a linear array within the cochlea and a relatively distant electrode. Charge is injected through a first one of the cochlear electrodes and an opposite charge is injected on either the relatively distant electrode; or a set of adjacent cochlear electrodes, being adjacent to the first one of the cochlear electrodes; or on a combination of the relatively distant electrode and the set of adjacent electrodes; and choosing the electrode or electrodes on which to inject charge in dependency on sound volume to be represented.

US Patent:

20060136017, Jun 22, 2006

Filed:

Feb 17, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/780544

Inventors:

Francis Spelman - Seattle WA, US
Timothy Johnson - Kent WA, US
Scott Corbett - Portland OR, US
Ben Clopton - Bainbridge Island WA, US

International Classification:

A61N 1/08

US Classification:

607074000, 607057000

Abstract:

An electrolytic current injection device comprising an electrode and an electrolytic current port. In addition a control and rectification assembly is adapted to apply a biphasic pulse to said electrode, yet produce a pulsatile, unidirectional DC electrolytic current at said electrolytic current port. In one preferred embodiment a set of micro machined switches and a refresh electrode are used to maintain the unidirectional DC electrolytic current over time.

US Patent:

20080071323, Mar 20, 2008

Filed:

Nov 21, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/944259

Inventors:

David Lowry - Grand Rapids MI, US
Bradford Gliner - Sammamish WA, US
Kent Leyde - Redmond WA, US
Ben Clopton - Bainbridge Island WA, US
Jay Miazga - Seattle WA, US
Chris Genau - Seattle WA, US

International Classification:

A61N 1/04

US Classification:

607045000

Abstract:

Aspects of the invention relate to intracranial electrodes and methods for implanting and using intracranial electrodes. In one particular example, an intracranial electrode includes a shaft having a distal contact surface adapted to electrically contact a surface of a patient's brain, a head associated with the shaft, and threads adapted to fix the electrode with respect to the patient's skull. This electrode may have an adjustable length adapted to change a contact force of the distal contact surface against the surface of the brain by adjusting the length of the electrode.

US Patent:

56308396, May 20, 1997

Filed:

Aug 18, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/516861

Inventors:

Scott S. Corbett - Portland OR
John W. Swanson - Portland OR
Jerry Martyniuk - Portland OR
Thomas R. Clary - Issaquah WA
Francis A. Spelman - Seattle WA
Ben Clopton - Bainbridge Island WA
Arne H. Voie - Seattle WA
Claude N. Jolly - Seattle WA

Assignee:

PI Medical Corporation - Portland OR
University of Washington - Seattle WA

International Classification:

A61N 105

US Classification:

607137

Abstract:

A multi-electrode cochlear implant is taught in which approximately twenty or more insulated metal wires are wound around a flexible tube. These wires are held in place with a further layer of dielectric insulating material. The insulation is selectively removed with a laser beam to form electrodes. Two or more layers or valences of wires can be used, with the inner layer of wires terminating distal to the outer layers to provide a stepwise approximation of the tapering of the scala tympani. A core of shape memory material may be introduced into the tube, so that the implant will retain an effective shape after implantation.

US Patent:

58005005, Sep 1, 1998

Filed:

May 20, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/858473

Inventors:

Francis A. Spelman - Seattle WA
Ben M. Clopton - Bainbridge Island WA
Arne Voie - Seattle WA
Claude N. Jolly - Axams, AT
Ky Huynh - Tigard OR
Jerome Boogaard - Forest Grove OR
John W. Swanson - Portland OR

Assignee:

PI Medical Corporation - Portland OR
University of Washington - Seattle WA

International Classification:

A61N 105

US Classification:

607137

Abstract:

A multi-electrode cochlear implant is taught in which approximately twenty or more insulated metal wires are wound around a flexible tube. These wires are held in place with a further layer of dielectric insulating material. The insulation is selectively removed with a laser beam to form electrodes. Two or more layers or valences of wires can be used, with the inner layer of wires terminating distal to the outer layers to provide a stepwise approximation of the tapering of the scala tympani. A shape memory material core may be introduced into the tube, so that the implant will retain an effective shape after implantation. In a preferred embodiment, electrical conductors are connected to the shape memory material to permit the select warming of the shape memory material by the passing of an electric current through it. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the shape memory material is warmed by adjacent heating elements.