# US 12,758,773 B2 · Intraoperative guidance for implantable transducers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,758,773 B2 - Document ID: US12758773B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/707,023 - Filed: 2022-10-31 - Published: 2026-06-11 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-11-09 - Assignees: Cochlear Limited - Applicants: Cochlear Limited - Inventors: Koen Erik Van Den Heuvel; Antonin Rambault - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12758773B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/36039: {fitting procedures} - A61B 5/6817: {Ear canal} - A61B 5/6832: {using adhesives (conductive adhesive for bioelectric electrodes A61B5/259)} - A61B 2562/0204: Acoustic sensors - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Presented herein are techniques for monitoring the bonding of an implantable transducer, such as an implantable sound sensor or implantable actuator, to tissue of a recipient. More specifically, the sensitivity of the implantable transducer is monitored during the bonding process using signals captured/received by the implantable transducer. The signals captured by the implantable transducer are analyzed to determine whether and/or when the implantable sound sensor is bonded to the tissue. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: delivering sound signals to an ear of a recipient, wherein an implantable sound sensor arrangement is mechanically attached to an internal structure of the ear via a bonding agent; at least while the bonding agent is curing, capturing the sound signals with the implantable sound sensor arrangement; generating, at the implantable sound sensor arrangement, output signals representing the sound signals captured by the implantable sound sensor arrangement; and monitoring a sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement based on the output signals generated by the implantable sound sensor arrangement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: at least while the bonding agent is curing, displaying, at a computing device, a visual representation of the sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein displaying the visual representation of the sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement comprises: displaying a measured level of the output signals generated by the implantable sound sensor arrangement, over time, in response to the sound signals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the sound signals to the ear of the recipient comprises: periodically delivering sound signals having a substantially constant frequency and a substantially constant amplitude. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein displaying the visual representation of the sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement comprises: determining a frequency response of the implantable sound sensor arrangement based on the output signals generated by the implantable sound sensor arrangement; and displaying the frequency response of the implantable sound sensor arrangement. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein delivering the sound signals to the ear of the recipient comprises: delivering sound signals having a substantially constant amplitude at a plurality of different frequencies between a first frequency and a second frequency. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein monitoring the sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement based on the output signals generated by the implantable sound sensor arrangement comprises: determining whether a level of the output signals generated by the implantable sound sensor arrangement exceeds a predetermined threshold level. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, further comprising: when the level of the output signals generated by the implantable sound sensor arrangement exceeds the predetermined threshold level, outputting an indication of a successful bond between the implantable sound sensor arrangement and the internal structure of the ear, or when the level of the output signals generated by the implantable sound sensor arrangement does not exceed the predetermined threshold level, outputting a clinical recommendation to perform a corrective action. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein outputting a clinical recommendation to perform a corrective action comprises at least one of: outputting a clinical recommendation to re-bond the implantable sound sensor arrangement to the internal structure of the ear, or outputting a clinical recommendation to dislocate an incudostapedial joint of the ear. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein monitoring the sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement based on the output signals generated by the implantable sound sensor arrangement comprises: determining whether a frequency response of the implantable sound sensor arrangement exceeds a predetermined frequency response. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating a clinical recommendation based on the sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement. ### Claim 12 One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: receive output signals captured by an implantable sound sensor arrangement that is mechanically attached to an internal structure of an ear of a recipient via a bonding agent, wherein the output signals represent sound signals captured by the implantable sound sensor arrangement at least while the bonding agent is curing; and monitoring a sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement based on the output signals generated by the implantable sound sensor arrangement. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 12, wherein the instructions operable to monitor the sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement based on the output signals comprise instructions operable to: determine whether a level of the sound signals captured by the implantable sound sensor arrangement exceeds a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 12, wherein the instructions operable to determine the sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement based on the output signals comprise instructions operable to: determine whether a level of the sound signals stabilizes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 12, further comprising instructions operable to: deliver the sound signals to an ear of the recipient via a speaker; and record an output of the implantable sound sensor arrangement, wherein the sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement is determined from the output of the implantable sound sensor arrangement. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 12, further comprising instructions operable to: output, to a display, an indication of the sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable storage media according to claim 16, wherein the instructions operable to output an indication of the sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement comprise instructions operable to: output an indication of an effectivity of a bond between the implantable sound sensor arrangement and the internal structure of the ear. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable storage media according to claim 16, wherein the instructions operable to output the indication of the sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement comprise instructions operable to: determine whether a decibel level of the sound signals exceeds a predetermined threshold; and when the decibel level of the sound signals exceeds the predetermined threshold, output an indication of a successful bond between the implantable sound sensor arrangement and the internal structure of the ear. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable storage media according to claim 16, wherein the instructions operable to output the indication of the sensitivity of the implantable sound sensor arrangement comprise instructions operable to: determine whether a decibel level of the sound signals exceeds a predetermined threshold; and when the decibel level of the sound signals does not exceed the predetermined threshold, output an indication of a failed bond between the implantable sound sensor arrangement and the internal structure of the ear. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The non-transitory computer readable storage media according to claim 12, wherein instructions operable to receive the sound signals captured by the implantable sound sensor arrangement bonded to human tissue comprise instructions operable to: receive sound signals having a predetermined frequency tone. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The non-transitory computer readable storage media according to claim 12, wherein the instructions operable to receive output signals captured by the implantable sound sensor arrangement comprise instructions operable to: receive output signals associated with sound signals at least a first frequency and a second frequency. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The non-transitory computer readable storage media according to claim 12, wherein the instructions operable to receive output signals captured by the implantable sound sensor arrangement comprise instructions operable to: receive output signals associated with sound signals having a sequence of frequency tones.