You guys are awesome, can't thank you all enough. It looks like I definitely need to talk to a patent attorney (I've already had a preliminary conversation with one but this was prior to learning of the existing application).

My issue is that I am not independently wealthy and so to make this happen (technical design, schematics, sourcing, manufacturing, etc etc) I'm definitely going to need to secure funding. It is my understanding, and this may be way off, that a patent is a requirement of sorts when seeking funding. Of course a licensing agreement would circumvent the need to an extent but as was mentioned by noonespecial, you can never really be fully protected.

Thanks again guys -- invaluable.