Epic Biosonics Inc.

Ocean Rodeo Sports Inc.

Epic Ventures Inc.

Med-el Elektromedizinische Geraete Gmbh

Med-el Elektro-medizinische Gerate Gesellschaft M.b.h.

Peter G Berrang

Alan Lupin

Ross Davis Harrington

Henry Bluger

Stacey D Jarvin

Richard Kerr Myerscough

Ian Booth

Terence Miranda

Sean A McNiven

Henryk Klosowski

A friction-sealed water immersion suit is described having a suit body with a neck opening, arm openings, leg openings and an entry opening. The entry opening defines an upper section and a lower section. A friction-sealed coupling is provided at the entry opening for coupling the upper section and the lower section of the suit body. The friction-sealed coupling includes a flap on one of the upper section or the lower section made of an elastomeric material and an inner flap and an outer flap on the other of the upper section or the lower section made of an elastomeric material. The friction-sealed coupling being engaged by interleaving the flap with the inner flap and the outer flap.

Friction-sealed water immersion suit

A breathable waterproof stretchable multi-layer foam construct includes a stretchable closed-cell foam layer having a first face and a second face. A plurality of vents are dispersed across the foam layer, with each vent extending through the foam layer from a first end at the first face to a second end at the second face. A first breathable waterproof stretchable fabric laminate is bonded by adhesive to the foam layer and covering the first end of each vent at the first face. A second breathable waterproof stretchable fabric laminate is bonded by adhesive to the foam layer and covering the second end of each vent at the second face. The breathable waterproof stretchable multi-layer foam construct can be used to fabricate such articles as floatation-assist devices, sports apparel and water immersion suits.

Breathable waterproof stretchable multi-layer foam construct

A method for monitoring air pressure in a kite when kite boarding is described. The method involves a first step of connecting an air pressure sensor to one or more bladders of the kite. The method involves a second step of positioning a visual display for the air pressure sensor where it will be visible to a user conducting a visual inspection of the kite to display a pressure reading as sensed by the pressure sensor.

Method for monitoring kite air pressure when kite boarding

An electrode for a lead-acid voltaic cell comprises a high surface area, high porosity 3-dimensional lattice structure wherein the core elements forming the lattice are substantially contiguous. The core elements are coated with one or more corrosion resistant and conductive materials, and solid active materials are coated on the core elements and retained within the matrix. The lattice structure acts as the current collector.

Lead acid cell with active materials held in a lattice

A massive de-powering system for a kite wing used in kite boarding comprises a deflation control line that connects to a valve on the kite wing's leading edge bladder. In the preferred embodiment, disengaging the tether line from the harness causes the deflation control line to tension and to open the valve, thereby deflating the bladder. Tension along the deflation control line may also act to draw in spaced portions of the wing thereby collapsing it and further reducing the power generated by the wing.

In-flight kite deflation and control systems

Poly(hydridocarbyne) (PHC) is synthesized by a hybrid, active-metal/electrochemical method by applying a voltage to the electrodes at least one of which is an active-metal, the electrodes being immersed in a trisubstituted halomethane solution. The active-metal electrode and halomethane solution both partake in the electrochemical reaction.

Method for making poly(hydridocarbyne)

The invention comprises a totally implantable hearing prosthesis for hearing impaired persons. An inertial vibrational element is hermetically sealed and implanted in bone between the lateral and superior semicircular canals without breaching the integrity of the canals. The vibrational element is adapted to vibrate the walls of the canals and the fluids contained therein, thereby vibrating contiguous fluids within the cochlea thus stimulating hair cells and creating a hearing percept. The invention can also be adapted to be a tinnitus masking system, and/or used in combination with a cochlear implant hearing system.

Totally implantable hearing prosthesis

A totally implantable cochlear prosthesis is presented. An externally-activated subcutaneous switch controls functions of the prosthesis. A pliable bridge connecting two hermetically sealed housing sections, and corrugated conductor lines, provide for future dimensional changes due to head growth. An encapsulated microphone is positioned underneath the skin in the posterior wall of the external auditory canal. A modiolus-hugging electrode array is inserted into one of the cochlea scala. Periodic charging of the implanted battery is accomplished via an external mechanically held head-mounted device containing an external coil, said external coil inductively coupling electrical power to an implanted receiving coil. The external and implanted coils can also be used as a communication link to program the implanted electronics.

Totally implantable cochlear prosthesis

A totally implantable microphone for use with an implanted hearing aid comprises a cylindrical bio-inert housing having a bio-inert metallic membrane at the acoustic sensing end and a bio-inert plate containing electrical lead-throughs at the other end. The cylindrical housing is implanted in the posterior wall of the external auditory canal, with the thin auditory canal skin overlaying the microphone membrane surface. Surface features on the housing ossiointegrate it to the auditory canal bone, and a flange on the housing posterior end prevents post-operative migration into the auditory canal. A support plate beneath the membrane limits inward flexing and increases the signal-to-noise ratio. A protruding rim around the membrane perimeter acts to protect the membrane from rupturing during outward flexure. Lithographically formed wires laminated in a thin inert polymer and connected to the lead-throughs enable the overall length of the encapsulated microphone to be very short.

Implantable microphone for use with a hearing aid or cochlear prosthesis

A surgical method and tools are described for the implantation of electrode arrays into the canalis cochlearis of profoundly deaf persons. Access to the canalis cochlearis is via the bony exterior ear canal and the middle ear, rather than the conventional route of drilling a cleft through the mastoid region posterior to the ear. Preferably entry to the canalis cochlearis is at a tangential angle to the curve of the basal turn. A template is used for landmarking the site for tangentially drilling into the canalis cochlearis comprising a plate shaped to be positioned by reference to the round window of the middle ear and the oval window. A device for holding open the field of view for the surgeon during implantation comprises elongated funnels.

Means for implanting a device in the canalis cochlearis

A multi-bipolar configured electrode array and means to uniquely position said array within the scalae of the human cochlea is described. Said array is inserted into the scala tympani, scala vestibuli or both, by a surgeon. The electrode array may be pre-formed to lightly hug the modiolar wall of a scala so as to position the electrodes in close proximity to the cochlear spiral lamina and spiral ganglia in the modiolus. Mechanical features within said array allow the surgeon to further position said array against the modiolar wall of the scala, post insertion, and to mechanically retain such positioning of said array. Such positioning is in close proximity to surviving neural sites in the spiral lamina and/or spiral ganglion cells in the modiolus to efficiently stimulate functioning auditory neural elements. The multi-bipolar electrode configuration achieves a high degree of spatial selectivity, thus improving the implantee's speech percepts.

Modiolar hugging electrode array

A totally implantable cochlear prosthesis is presented. Said prosthesis is designed to function for hours or days without any external components. An externally-activated subcutaneous pressure switch enables the user to adjust the perceived volume by pressing against the skin with a finger. A similar second pressure switch provides a safety &ldquo;off/on&rdquo; feature. A pliable bridge connecting two hermetically sealed housing sections, and corrugated conductor lines, provide for future dimensional changes due to head growth. A titanium encapsulated microphone is positioned underneath the skin in the posterior wall of the external auditory canal. A modiolus-hugging electrode array is inserted into one of the cochlea scala. Periodic charging of the implanted battery (contained within one of the housing sections) is required, such charging accomplished via an external mechanically held head-mounted device containing an external coil, said external coil inductively coupling electrical power to an implanted receiving coil. The external and implanted coils can also be used as a communication link to program the implanted electronics.

A dual prong hearing prosthesis for surgical implantation into both the scala tympani and the scala vestibuli of the inner ear of deaf persons is presented. The prosthesis consists of two prongs each with a plurality of closely spaced electrodes at the proximal end, said electrodes configured to stimulate the auditory nerves of the inner ear at a plurality of sites. One prong carries circumferentially-configured electrodes while the electrodes of the other prong are longitudinally-configured in relation to the length of the prong. Conductor lines from each electrode on both prongs terminate at the distal end in a contact pad arrangement thereby enabling convenient electrical connection between the implant and speech processing electronics. Means are disclosed to minimize kinking of the prongs during implantation, and to enable the electrodes to be in close proximity to the modiolus and basilar membrane thereby allowing for a high degree of versatility in selecting discrete stimulation sites.

Growing community of inventors

Saanichton, Canada

Peter G Berrang