Patents by Inventor Richard Gable
Richard Gable has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8666101Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide an enclosure for a metal-air battery assembly for an extended wear hearing aid. The enclosure includes a diffusion control element having a dimensional property configured for controlling oxygen and moisture diffusion into the metal-air battery assembly to maintain a minimum battery voltage when the hearing aid is operating and worn in an ear canal of a user over an extended period. In an embodiment, the enclosure can comprise a shell with a base end having an opening therein forming a cavity within the shell and a base cap for covering the opening of the base end. A diffusion element is disposed on the base cap. In an embodiment, the diffusion element comprises a laser drilled precision micro hole having an aspect ratio of least about four and a diameter in the range of about 10 to 15 microns.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: InSound Medical, Inc.Inventors: Richard Gable, Ross Baker, Tom O'Hara
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Patent number: 8494200Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide microphone assemblies for hearing aids which are resistant to moisture and debris. An embodiment provides a microphone assembly for a CIC hearing aid comprising a microphone housing including a housing surface having a microphone port, a fluidic barrier structure coupled to the housing surface, a protective mesh coupled to the barrier structure and a microphone disposed within the housing. The microphone housing can be sized to be positioned in close proximity to another component surface such as a hearing battery assembly surface. At least a portion of the housing surface and/or the barrier structure are hydrophobic. The barrier structure surrounds the microphone port and is configured to channel liquid and debris away from entry into the microphone port including matter constrained between the housing surface and another surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2010Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: InSound Medical, Inc.Inventors: Sunder Ram, Dean Johnson, Richard Gable, Michael Ipsen, Ian M. Day
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Publication number: 20120230527Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide an enclosure for a metal-air battery assembly for an extended wear hearing aid. The enclosure includes a diffusion control element having a dimensional property configured for controlling oxygen and moisture diffusion into the metal-air battery assembly to maintain a minimum battery voltage when the hearing aid is operating and worn in an ear canal of a user over an extended period. In an embodiment, the enclosure can comprise a shell with a base end having an opening therein forming a cavity within the shell and a base cap for covering the opening of the base end. A diffusion element is disposed on the base cap. In an embodiment, the diffusion element comprises a laser drilled precision micro hole having an aspect ratio of least about four and a diameter in the range of about 10 to 15 microns.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2011Publication date: September 13, 2012Applicant: InSound Medical, Inc.Inventors: Richard Gable, Ross Baker, Tom O'Hara
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Patent number: 8068630Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide an enclosure for a metal-air battery assembly for an extended wear hearing aid. The enclosure includes a diffusion control element having a dimensional property configured for controlling oxygen and moisture diffusion into the metal-air battery assembly to maintain a minimum battery voltage when the hearing aid is operating and worn in an ear canal of a user over an extended period. In an embodiment, the enclosure can comprise a shell with a base end having an opening therein forming a cavity within the shell and a base cap for covering the opening of the base end. A diffusion element is disposed on the base cap. In an embodiment, the diffusion element comprises a laser drilled precision micro hole having an aspect ratio of least about four and a diameter in the range of about 10 to 15 microns.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2007Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: InSound Medical, Inc.Inventors: Richard Gable, Ross Baker, Tom O'Hara
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Patent number: 7991174Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a barrier for protecting hearing aid metal-air battery assemblies from exposure to liquids causing obstruction of a battery air vent. One embodiment provides a barrier configured to be attached to a CIC hearing aid battery having a vent. The barrier has an oxygen permeability configured to allow the diffusion of sufficient oxygen for a battery to meet the power demands of a hearing aid operating in the bony portion of the ear canal over an extended time period. The barrier has a physical property configured to substantially prevent liquid obstruction of at least a portion of the vent on a metal-air battery such as a zinc-air battery. The physical property can be at least one of a hydrophobicity, oleophobocity or surface energy. The barrier can be directly attached to the battery or indirectly via a holder and can encase substantially the entire battery.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2006Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: InSound Medical, Inc.Inventors: Timothy C. Huynh, Sharon Huynh, legal representative, Sunder Ram, Richard Gable
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Publication number: 20110085688Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide microphone assemblies for hearing aids which are resistant to moisture and debris. An embodiment provides a microphone assembly for a CIC hearing aid comprising a microphone housing including a housing surface having a microphone port, a fluidic barrier structure coupled to the housing surface, a protective mesh coupled to the barrier structure and a microphone disposed within the housing. The microphone housing can be sized to be positioned in close proximity to another component surface such as a hearing battery assembly surface. At least a portion of the housing surface and/or the barrier structure are hydrophobic. The barrier structure surrounds the microphone port and is configured to channel liquid and debris away from entry into the microphone port including matter constrained between the housing surface and another surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2010Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: InSound Medical, Inc.Inventors: Sunder Ram, Dean Johnson, Richard Gable, Michael Ipsen, Ian M. Day
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Patent number: 7876919Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide microphone assemblies for hearing aids which are resistant to moisture and debris. An embodiment provides a microphone assembly for a CIC hearing aid comprising a microphone housing including a housing surface having a microphone port, a fluidic barrier structure coupled to the housing surface, a protective mesh coupled to the barrier structure and a microphone disposed within the housing. The microphone housing can be sized to be positioned in close proximity to another component surface such as a hearing battery assembly surface. At least a portion of the housing surface and/or the barrier structure are hydrophobic. The barrier structure surrounds the microphone port and is configured to channel liquid and debris away from entry into the microphone port including matter constrained between the housing surface and another surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2006Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: InSound Medical, Inc.Inventors: Sunder Ram, Dean Johnson, Richard Gable, Michael Ipsen, Ian M. Day
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Patent number: 7551747Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a protective cap assembly for a CIC hearing aid. The assembly comprises a perforated cap configured to be mounted over the lateral end of the hearing aid to protect the hearing aid from contaminants. At a least a portion of the cap includes a protective coating and a plurality of perforations. The placement and size of the perforations can be configured to provide sufficient aeration and drainage to reduce a relative humidity of the cap interior when the hearing aid is positioned in the ear canal. The perforations also operate as sound conduction channels for conducting sound to the cap interior. The perforations have a minimum size wherein a single perforation provides sufficient acoustic transmittance to a hearing aid component such that a hearing aid performance parameter is not substantially adversely affected. They can also be configured to provide splash protection for the cap interior.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2005Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: InSound Medical, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Cuongdung Huynh, Greg Anderson, Sunder Ram, Dean Johnson, Richard Gable, Robert Schindler, Pat Contioso, Gregory Kushner, Richard Carl Urso, Adnan Shennib
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Patent number: 7379555Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide an enclosure for a metal-air battery assembly for an extended wear hearing aid. The enclosure includes a diffusion control element having a dimensional property configured for controlling oxygen and moisture diffusion into the metal-air battery assembly to maintain a minimum battery voltage when the hearing aid is operating and worn in an ear canal of a user over an extended period. In an embodiment, the enclosure can comprise a shell with a base end having an opening therein forming a cavity within the shell and a base cap for covering the opening of the base end. A diffusion element is disposed on the base cap. In an embodiment, the diffusion element comprises a laser drilled precision micro hole having an aspect ratio of least about four and a diameter in the range of about 10 to 15 microns.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Insound Medical, Inc.Inventors: Richard Gable, Ross Baker, Tom O'Hara
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Publication number: 20080069386Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide an enclosure for a metal-air battery assembly for an extended wear hearing aid. The enclosure includes a diffusion control element having a dimensional property configured for controlling oxygen and moisture diffusion into the metal-air battery assembly to maintain a minimum battery voltage when the hearing aid is operating and worn in an ear canal of a user over an extended period. In an embodiment, the enclosure can comprise a shell with a base end having an opening therein forming a cavity within the shell and a base cap for covering the opening of the base end. A diffusion element is disposed on the base cap. In an embodiment, the diffusion element comprises a laser drilled precision micro hole having an aspect ratio of least about four and a diameter in the range of about 10 to 15 microns.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2007Publication date: March 20, 2008Applicant: InSound Medical, Inc.Inventors: Richard Gable, Ross Baker, Tom O'Hara
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Publication number: 20070003087Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide microphone assemblies for hearing aids which are resistant to moisture and debris. An embodiment provides a microphone assembly for a CIC hearing aid comprising a microphone housing including a housing surface having a microphone port, a fluidic barrier structure coupled to the housing surface, a protective mesh coupled to the barrier structure and a microphone disposed within the housing. The microphone housing can be sized to be positioned in close proximity to another component surface such as a hearing battery assembly surface. At least a portion of the housing surface and/or the barrier structure are hydrophobic. The barrier structure surrounds the microphone port and is configured to channel liquid and debris away from entry into the microphone port including matter constrained between the housing surface and another surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2006Publication date: January 4, 2007Applicant: InSound Medical, Inc.Inventors: Sunder Ram, Dean Johnson, Richard Gable, Michael Ipsen, Ian Day
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Publication number: 20070003084Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a barrier for protecting hearing aid metal-air battery assemblies from exposure to liquids causing obstruction of a battery air vent. One embodiment provides a barrier configured to be attached to a CIC hearing aid battery having a vent. The barrier has an oxygen permeability configured to allow the diffusion of sufficient oxygen for a battery to meet the power demands of a hearing aid operating in the bony portion of the ear canal over an extended time period. The barrier has a physical property configured to substantially prevent liquid obstruction of at least a portion of the vent on a metal-air battery such as a zinc-air battery. The physical property can be at least one of a hydrophobicity, oleophobocity or surface energy. The barrier can be directly attached to the battery or indirectly via a holder and can encase substantially the entire battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2006Publication date: January 4, 2007Applicant: InSound Medical, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Huynh, Sharon Huynh, Sunder Ram, Richard Gable
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Publication number: 20070003081Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide microphone assemblies which are resistant to moisture. One embodiment provides a microphone assembly comprising a housing, a diaphragm disposed in the housing and a backplate disposed in the housing. The housing includes a sound inlet port for the entry of sound waves. The backplate includes a surface and an electret portion having an embedded permanent charge. The diaphragm is configured to vibrate in response to sound waves entering the housing. The vibrations of the diaphragm interact with the electret portion to produce an electrical signal associated with the sound waves entering the housing. A hydrophobic coating can be applied to one or both of the backplate and diaphragm surfaces so as to reduce condensation and/or wetting of the backplate. This minimizes neutralization of an electric field of the backplate surface from condensation preserving the field and the function of the microphone in humid environments.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2006Publication date: January 4, 2007Applicant: InSound Medical, Inc.Inventors: Sunder Ram, Richard Gable, Michael Ipsen, Ian Day
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Publication number: 20060215862Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a protective cap assembly for a CIC hearing aid. The assembly comprises a perforated cap configured to be mounted over the lateral end of the hearing aid to protect the hearing aid from contaminants. At a least a portion of the cap includes a protective coating and a plurality of perforations. The placement and size of the perforations can be configured to provide sufficient aeration and drainage to reduce a relative humidity of the cap interior when the hearing aid is positioned in the ear canal. The perforations also operate as sound conduction channels for conducting sound to the cap interior. The perforations have a minimum size wherein a single perforation provides sufficient acoustic transmittance to a hearing aid component such that a hearing aid performance parameter is not substantially adversely affected. They can also be configured to provide splash protection for the cap interior.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2005Publication date: September 28, 2006Applicant: InSound Medical, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Huynh, Greg Anderson, Sunder Ram, Dean Johnson, Richard Gable, Robert Schindler, Pat Contioso, Gregory Kushner, Richard Urso
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Publication number: 20050259840Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide an enclosure for a metal-air battery assembly for an extended wear hearing aid. The enclosure includes a diffusion control element having a dimensional property configured for controlling oxygen and moisture diffusion into the metal-air battery assembly to maintain a minimum battery voltage when the hearing aid is operating and worn in an ear canal of a user over an extended period. In an embodiment, the enclosure can comprise a shell with a base end having an opening therein forming a cavity within the shell and a base cap for covering the opening of the base end. A diffusion element is disposed on the base cap. In an embodiment, the diffusion element comprises a laser drilled precision micro hole having an aspect ratio of least about four and a diameter in the range of about 10 to 15 microns.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2005Publication date: November 24, 2005Applicant: InSound Medical, Inc.Inventors: Richard Gable, Ross Baker, Tom O'Hara