FLC | Sports Engineering licenses VA’s Clear Talker Mask for COVID-19 and more

Sports Engineering licenses VA’s Clear Talker Mask for COVID-19 and more

January 7, 2021

Sports Engineering, Inc. has secured an exclusive license for a partly transparent facemask designed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to facilitate better communication than standard surgical-style masks.

The Portsmouth, NH-based company can now commercialize the Clear Talker Mask invented by Seth Hills, Brian Burkhardt, Melissa Oliver, and John Miller at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System in Richmond.

The Clear Talker Mask facilitates better communication, including lip-reading and conveyance of facial expressions, relative to the surgical style masks commonly used by the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mask features four replaceable filtered air vents located on the sides and can have an anti-fogging coating which together allows for improved visualization of the face. The mask is also reusable (e.g., cleanable with FDA approved cleaning agents), and is designed to fit most common face sizes.

The VA submitted a provisional U.S. patent application for the mask on September 16 while the VA Technology Transfer Program began searching for a private partner.

After Sports Engineering discovered the licensing opportunity, they began discussions with the government. The VA announced its intent to grant the company an exclusive license on November 25.

“The VA-designed mask is molded, form-fitting and elegantly allows for improved communication, especially for the hearing impaired, while providing protection in the COVID-19 pandemic era and beyond,” said Dan Richard, president of Sports Engineering. “We intend to develop a portfolio of products under this intellectual property, including those that would carry an N95 certification.”

“In our read of the situation and the market, we’ve concluded there is going to be a strong, continued demand for masks, especially masks differentiated from standard surgical type face masks,” Richard said. “We’re excited about the opportunity to leverage innovative VA research into a good product.”

The Centers for Disease Control has called on all Americans to wear a face mask to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Many states and private companies have mandated their use in public and private spaces including hospitals and long-term health care facilities.

Medical experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert and a member of the White House task force on the coronavirus, say that even in a best-case scenario masks will be necessary into the third or fourth quarters of 2021.

The license agreement, finalized in December, included an upfront fee and a small royalty on sales that will benefit VA research. Jonathan Baker of TechLink facilitated the licensing deal. Stefan Susta from the VA’s Technology Transfer Program negotiated for the VA.

“Given its potential to help with the pandemic this was a high priority for us and we’re really happy to have closed a deal in such a short period of time,” said Dr. John Kaplan, director of the VA Technology Transfer Program. “There was motivation from both sides to bring to market something that can help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Sports Engineering was founded in 2017 by Ed Cowle. It specializes in identifying, developing, and commercializing innovative and disruptive inventions, and associated intellectual property.

The company plans to immediately execute on its commercialization strategy to bring the Clear Talker mask to market, including launching a website for sales to VA and other health care facilities, as well as a direct-to-consumer site.