Patents by Inventor Gregory R. Siegle

Gregory R. Siegle 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).

  • Patent number: 7850783
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a hearing aid provides a housing having a motor drive and speed control. A rotary chamber is mounted to the housing and driven by the motor drive. A drive shaft can be provided connecting the motor drive and the rotary chamber. The rotary chamber has a wall with at least one receptacle for holding a hearing aid. The rotary chamber can have two openings, one for a hearing aid and a second opening for another hearing aid or a counterweight. The rotary chamber can be counterweighted to compensate for the weight of a single hearing aid or any other arrangements of multiple hearing aids. Each receptacle is configured to hold a hearing aid. The motor drive is powered sufficiently to rotate the hearing aid at the speed of between about 2800 and 3200 rpm in order to generate a G-force on the hearing aid of about 270 G's.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: General Hearing Instrument, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. Siegle, Roger P. Juneau, Edward J. Desporte, Michael W. Major, Gene Adoue, Sherriel Lynn Johnson, James David Moser, Brian M. Tanner
  • Patent number: 7778434
    Abstract: A hearing aid body is provided that contains electronic hearing aid components and that is attachable to the user's body outside the ear canal. A conduit connects the hearing aid body to the flexible plug. The conduit enables sound emitted by the hearing aid to travel via the conduit to the flexible plug so that the user's able to hear a sound that is amplified by the hearing aid and received by the plug via the conduit. The conduit can be a flexible hollow tube or an electronic conduit that transmit electrical signals between the hearing aid and the plug. A stent embedded in the plug is provided, the stent having a first smaller diameter at a temperature below body temperature and being expandable to a second greater diameter when subjected to the user's body temperature, such as the temperature in the ear canal of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: General Hearing Instrument, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger P. Juneau, Edward J. Desporte, Michael Major, Gregory R. Siegle, Brian Tanner
  • Patent number: 7217335
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hearing aid preferably includes the steps of: placing a moldable material in the ear canal of a patient to cast a form; using the form to form a hollow shell with an outer surface that approximates the shape of the patient's ear canal, the shell being of a soft polymeric material providing a mounting member; mounting electronic hearing aid components to the mounting member; joining the mounting member to the hollow shell to define a mold cavity; and filling the shell with a soft polymeric material that substantially encapsulates at least one of the electronic components and bonds to the mounting member, wherein the combination of shell, electronic components and soft polymeric material define a soft structure that is compliant to ear canal movement during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Softear Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Roger P. Juneau, Lynn P. Creel, Edward J. Desporte, Michael Major, Gregory R. Siegle, Kelly M. Kinler
  • Publication number: 20040252854
    Abstract: A hearing aid instrument of the in-the-ear type (and preferably CIC) provides a plate member with electronic hearing aid components mounted thereto. The plate member is preferably of a harder material such as hard plastic. A soft polymeric body is bonded to the plate member and encapsulates preferably a plurality of the electronic hearing aid components. The body is soft and is shaped to conform to the ear canal of the user. The soft polymeric body and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components define a soft structure compliant to the ear canal during use and that is substantially solid and free of void spaces between at least some of the components and the ear canal. This combination of soft compliant structure and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components addresses problems of peripheral leakage, poor fit, pivotal displacement that occurs with jaw motion and internal cross talk of components housed in prior art hollow type hearing aids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: SOFTEAR TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Roger P. Juneau, Lynn P. Creel, Edward J. Desporte, Michael Major, Gregory R. Siegle, Kelly M. Kinler
  • Patent number: 6761789
    Abstract: A hearing aid instrument of the in-the-ear type (and preferably CIC) provides a receptacle with electronic hearing aid components mounted thereto. The receptacle has a cavity for holding electronic components (eg. battery, microphone, amplifier). A soft polymeric body is preliminarily formed by encapsulating a plurality of the electronic hearing aid component shaped inserts. The body is soft and is shaped to conform to the ear canal of the user. After forming, the insert is removed to provide an insert cavity that can carry electronic components. The soft polymeric body and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components define a soft structure compliant to the ear canal during use and that is substantially solid and free of void spaces between at least some of the components and the ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Softear Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Roger P. Juneau, Lynn P. Creel, Edward J. Desporte, Michael Major, Gregory R. Siegle, Kelly M. Kinler
  • Patent number: 6728383
    Abstract: A hearing aid instrument of the in-the-ear type (and preferably CIC) provides a plate member with electronic hearing aid components mounted thereto. The plate member is preferably of a harder material such as hard plastic. A soft polymeric body is bonded to the plate member and encapsulates preferably a plurality of the electronic hearing aid components. The body is soft and is shaped to conform to the ear canal of the user. The soft polymeric body and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components define a soft structure compliant to the ear canal during use and that is substantially solid and free of void spaces between at least some of the components and the ear canal. This combination of soft compliant structure and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components addresses problems of peripheral leakage, poor fit, pivotal displacement that occurs with jaw motion and internal cross talk of components housed in prior art hollow type hearing aids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Softear Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Roger P. Juneau, Lynn P. Creel, Edward J. Desporte, Michael Major, Gregory R. Siegle, Kelly M. Kinler
  • Patent number: 6695943
    Abstract: A hearing aid instrument of the in-the-ear type (and preferably CIC) provides a plate member with electronic hearing aid components mounted thereto. The plate member is preferably of a harder material such as hard plastic. A soft polymeric body is bonded to the plate member and encapsulates preferably a plurality of the electronic hearing aid components. The body is soft and is shaped to conform to the ear canal of the user. The soft polymeric body and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components define a soft structure compliant to the ear canal during use and that is substantially solid and free of void spaces between at least some of the components and the ear canal. This combination of soft compliant structure and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components addresses problems of peripheral leakage, poor fit, pivotal displacement that occurs with jaw motion and internal cross talk of components housed in prior art hollow type hearing aids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Softear Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Roger P. Juneau, Lynn P. Creel, Edward J. Desporte, Michael Major, Gregory R. Siegle, Kelly M. Kinler
  • Publication number: 20020198437
    Abstract: A hearing aid instrument of the in-the-ear type (and preferably CIC) provides a receptacle with electronic hearing aid components mounted thereto. The receptacle has a cavity for holding electronic components (eg. battery, microphone, amplifier). A soft polymeric body is preliminarily formed by encapsulating a plurality of the electronic hearing aid component shaped inserts. The body is soft and is shaped to conform to the ear canal of the user. After forming, the insert is removed to provide an insert cavity that can carry electronic components. The soft polymeric body and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components define a soft structure compliant to the ear canal during use and that is substantially solid and free of void spaces between at least some of the components and the ear canal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: SOFTEAR TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Roger P. Juneau, Lynn P. Creel, Edward J. Desporte, Michael Major, Gregory R. Siegle, Kelly M. Kinler
  • Patent number: 6473512
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing a soft-solid elastomer custom ear device into which electronics are embedded provides a completely in-the-ear hearing aid with a soft body. This technology replaces hard acrylic ear molding. This hearing aid by virtue of its soft-solid design, meets the needs of the dynamic human ear canal which cannot be met with conventional hard acrylic molding. This hearing aid provides improved comfort and sound quality by better adapting to the dynamic changes in the ear canal which occur during everyday activities. This soft custom body also provides for ear-worn configurations of all subminiature electronic devices requiring discrete coupling to the human ear. These devices include digital telephones, cellular telephones, pagers, two-way communication systems, clocks, recorders, and many other subminiature technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Softear Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Roger P. Juneau, Lynn P. Creel, Edward J. Desporte, Michael Major, Gregory R. Siegle, Kelly M. Kinler
  • Patent number: 6438244
    Abstract: A hearing aid instrument of the in-the-ear type (and preferably CIC) provides a plate member with electronic hearing aid components mounted thereto. The plate member is preferably of a harder material such as hard plastic. A soft polymeric body is bonded to the plate member and encapsulates preferably a plurality of the electronic hearing aid components. The body is soft and is shaped to conform to the ear canal of the user. The soft polymeric body and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components define a soft structure compliant to the ear canal during use and that is substantially solid and free of void spaces between at least some of the components and the ear canal. This combination of soft compliant structure and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components addresses problems of peripheral leakage, poor fit, pivotal displacement that occurs with jaw motion and internal cross talk of components housed in prior art hollow type hearing aids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Softear Technologies
    Inventors: Roger P. Juneau, Lynn P. Creel, Edward J. Desporte, Michael Major, Gregory R. Siegle, Kelly M. Kinler
  • Patent number: 6434248
    Abstract: A hearing aid instrument of the in-the-ear type (and preferably CIC) provides a plate member with electronic hearing aid components mounted thereto. The plate member is preferably of a harder material such as hard plastic. A soft polymeric body is bonded to the plate member and encapsulates preferably a plurality of the electronic hearing aid components. The body is soft and is shaped to conform to the ear canal of the user. The soft polymeric body and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components define a soft structure compliant to the ear canal during use and that is substantially solid and free of void spaces between at least some of the components and the ear canal. This combination of soft compliant structure and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components addresses problems of peripheral leakage, poor fit, pivotal displacement that occurs with jaw motion and internal cross talk of components housed in prior art hollow type hearing aids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Softear Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Roger P. Juneau, Lynn P. Creel, Edward J. Desporte, Michael Major, Gregory R. Siegle, Kelly M. Kinler
  • Patent number: 6432247
    Abstract: A hearing aid instrument of the in-the-ear type (and preferably CIC) provides a plate member with electronic hearing aid components mounted thereto. The plate member is preferably of a harder material such as hard plastic. A soft polymeric body is bonded to the plate member and encapsulates preferably a plurality of the electronic hearing aid components. The body is soft and is shaped to conform to the ear canal of the user. The soft polymeric body and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components define a soft structure compliant to the ear canal during use and that is substantially solid and free of void spaces between at least some of the components and the ear canal. This combination of soft compliant structure and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components addresses problems of peripheral leakage, poor fit, pivotal displacement that occurs with jaw motion and internal cross talk of components housed in prior art hollow type hearing aids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Softear Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Roger P. Juneau, Lynn P. Creel, Edward J. Desporte, Michael Major, Gregory R. Siegle, Kelly M. Kinler
  • Publication number: 20020032362
    Abstract: A hearing aid instrument of the in-the-ear type (and preferably CIC) provides a plate member with electronic hearing aid components mounted thereto. The plate member is preferably of a harder material such as hard plastic. A soft polymeric body is bonded to the plate member and encapsulates preferably a plurality of the electronic hearing aid components. The body is soft and is shaped to conform to the ear canal of the user. The soft polymeric body and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components define a soft structure compliant to the ear canal during use and that is substantially solid and free of void spaces between at least some of the components and the ear canal. This combination of soft compliant structure and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components addresses problems of peripheral leakage, poor fit, pivotal displacement that occurs with jaw motion and internal cross talk of components housed in prior art hollow type hearing aids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Roger P. Juneau, Lynn P. Creel, Edward J. Desporte, Michael Major, Gregory R. Siegle, Kelly M. Kinler
  • Patent number: 6354990
    Abstract: A hearing aid instrument of the in-the-ear type (and preferably CIC) provides a receptacle with electronic hearing aid components mounted thereto. The receptacle has a cavity for holding electronic components (eg. battery, microphone, amplifier). A soft polymeric body is preliminarily formed by encapsulating a plurality of the electronic hearing aid component shaped inserts. The body is soft and is shaped to conform to the ear canal of the user. After forming, the insert is removed to provide an insert cavity that can carry electronic components. The soft polymeric body and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components define a soft structure compliant to the ear canal during use and that is substantially solid and free of void spaces between at least some of the components and the ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Softear Technology, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Roger P. Juneau, Lynn P. Creel, Edward J. Desporte, Michael Major, Gregory R. Siegle, Kelly M. Kinler
  • Patent number: 6254526
    Abstract: A hearing aid instrument of the in-the-ear type (and preferably CIC) provides a plate member with electronic hearing aid components mounted thereto. The plate member is preferably of a harder material such as hard plastic. A soft polymeric body is bonded to the plate member and encapsulates preferably a plurality of the electronic hearing aid components. The body is soft and is shaped to conform to the ear canal of the user. The soft polymeric body and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components define a soft structure compliant to the ear canal during use and that is substantially solid and free of void spaces between at least some of the components and the ear canal. This combination of soft compliant structure and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components addresses problems of peripheral leakage, poor fit, pivotal displacement that occurs with jaw motion and internal cross talk of components housed in prior art hollow type hearing aids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Softear Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Roger P. Juneau, Lynn P. Creel, Edward J. Desporte, Michael Major, Gregory R. Siegle, Kelly M. Kinler
  • Patent number: 6228020
    Abstract: A hearing aid instrument of the in-the-ear type (and preferably CIC) provides a plate member with electronic hearing aid components mounted thereto. The plate member is preferably of a harder material such as hard plastic. A soft polymeric body is bonded to the plate member and encapsulates preferably a plurality of the electronic hearing aid components. The body is soft and is shaped to conform to the ear canal of the user. The soft polymeric body and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components define a soft structure compliant to the ear canal during use and that is substantially solid and free of void spaces between at least some of the components and the ear canal. This combination of soft compliant structure and encapsulated electronic hearing aid components addresses problems of peripheral leakage, poor fit, pivotal displacement that occurs with jaw motion and internal cross talk of components housed in prior art hollow type hearing aids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Softear Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Roger P. Juneau, Lynn P. Creel, Edward J. Desporte, Michael Major, Gregory R. Siegle, Kelly M. Kinler
  • Patent number: 6022311
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing a soft-solid elastomer custom ear device into which electronics can be embedded provides a completely in-the-ear hearing aid with a soft body. This technology can replace hard acrylic ear molding. This hearing aid by virtue of its soft-solid design, meets the needs of the dynamic human ear canal which cannot be met with conventional hard acrylic molding. This hearing aid provides improved comfort and sound quality by better adapting to the dynamic changes in the ear canal which occur during everyday activities. This soft custom body also provides for ear-worn configurations of all subminiature electronic devices requiring discrete coupling to the human ear. These devices include digital telephones, cellular telephones, pagers, two-way communication systems, clocks, recorders, and many other subminiature technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: General Hearing Instrument, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger P. Juneau, Lynn P. Creel, Edward J. Desporte, Michael Major, Gregory R. Siegle
  • Patent number: 5970795
    Abstract: The system is designed for the purpose of providing a means of conducting objective assessment of the actual or "real world" attenuation which is provided by insert-type hearing protection (IHP) devices. A device is constructed to serve as the input device to any commercially available noise dosimetry instrument or sound level measuring device. A miniature microphone is mounted on, or embedded in the proximal surface of the IHP which is to be inserted in the ear or upon the ear of the user. The miniature microphone is hard wired to a miniature jack which is mounted on, or embedded in, the distal surface of the IFP device. A cable connects to the jack on the outside of the IHP device and to the input of the noise dosimetry instrument or sound level measurement device. Thereby, when the IHP device containing the above is used, the dosimetry or sound level measurement instrument conducts assessments of actual sound levels to which the hearing mechanism is exposed when IHP devices are in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Sound Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Seidmann, Roger P. Juneau, Juan H. Sanchez, Gregory R. Siegle