Maintenance station for hearing aid

• US 20090296968A1
• Filed: 05/28/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zounds Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zounds Incorporated
• Inventors: Wu, Fan, Thomasson, Samuel L.
• Application Number:
  US12/154,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20090296968A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/323
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/31 Aspects of the use of accumulators in hearing aids, e.g. rechargeable batteries or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/17 Hearing device specific tools used for storing or handling hearing devices or parts thereof, e.g. placement in the ear, replacement of cerumen barriers, repair, cleaning hearing devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622

Abstract

A maintenance station includes means for disinfecting, drying, recharging, and communicating with one or more hearing aids using light. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a fluorescent lamp is primarily for disinfecting a hearing aid, an incandescent lamp is primarily for recharging a hearing aid, and a light emitting diode is primarily for communicating with a hearing aid. All power dissipated within the station aids in drying the hearing aids within.

Claims

1. A maintenance station for a hearing aid that has a photovoltaic cell as part of the hearing aid, said station characterized in that the station includes means for disinfecting, drying, and recharging the hearing aid using light.

2. The maintenance station as set forth in claim 1 and further characterized by means for communicating with the hearing aid using light.

3. The maintenance station as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for communicating includes a light emitting diode.

4. The maintenance station as set forth in claim 1 wherein said station includes a housing having a base and a cover, wherein the base and the cover contain said means.

5. The maintenance station as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means include a fluorescent lamp and an incandescent lamp.

6. The maintenance station as set forth in claim 1 and further including a microphone for converting sounds emitted by the hearing aid into an electrical signal.

7. A maintenance station for a hearing aid that has a photovoltaic cell as part of the hearing aid, said station characterized in that the station includes means for disinfecting, drying, recharging, and communicating with the hearing aid using light.

8. The maintenance station as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means include a fluorescent lamp and an incandescent lamp.

9. The maintenance station as set forth in claim 7 and further including a microphone for converting sounds emitted by the hearing aid into an electrical signal.