Methods and apparatus for cleaning a hearing aid device

• US 7,182,820 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2003
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magnatone Hearing Aid Corporation
• Original Assignee: Magnatone Hearing Aid Corporation
• Inventors: Chari, Srinivas, Campbell, Don E. K.
• Primary Examiner(s): EL ARINI, ZEINAB
• Application Number:
  US10/249,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20030196687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 134/1, 134/6, 134/19, 134/35, 134/33, 134/42, 134/61, 134/201, 342/09, 342/10, 342/18
• US Class Current: 134/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/14 Plasma, i.e. ionised gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/20 Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/202 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/17 Combination with washing or cleaning means
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/083 by using sorbent or hygroscopic materials, e.g. chemical substances, molecular sieves
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/003 Small self-contained devices, e.g. portable
• 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

Methods and apparatus for cleaning hearing aid devices are disclosed. Drying is facilitated in hearing instruments through a novel combination of heater and desiccant in an essentially closed system. Greater efficiency is obtained by minimizing the volume of gas, e.g., air, requiring moisture extraction.

Claims

1. A hearing aid cleaning apparatus comprising:

a heater compartment containing a heating unit;

a desiccant compartment containing desiccant material; and

a hearing aid device (HAD) compartment;

wherein;

the heater compartment is connected to the HAD compartment;

the desiccant compartment is connected to the HAD compartment;

heat can transfer from the heater compartment to the HAD compartment;

water vapor can transfer from the HAD compartment to the desiccant compartment; and

the heater compartment is separate from the desiccant compartment and from the HAD compartment such that air or gas cannot circulate between the HAD compartment and the heater compartment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heater compartment and the HAD compartment are adjacent to each other.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the desiccant compartment and the HAD compartment are adjacent to each other.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the desiccant compartment and the HAD compartment are connected by apertures or perforations.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the desiccant compartment and the HAD compartment are connected by tubing or piping.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the HAD compartment is positioned above the heater compartment.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the desiccant compartment is positioned above the HAD compartment.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the HAD compartment is positioned above the heater compartment; and

the desiccant compartment is positioned above the HAD compartment.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the desiccant compartment is closed to outside air when the HAD compartment is open to outside air.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a closing mechanism wherein placing the closing mechanism in a closed position closes the connection between the desiccant compartment and the HAD compartment.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heating unit comprises a heating unit selected from the group consisting of a single dose generating heating unit, a pulsed dose generating heating unit, and a continuous dose generating heating unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ionizer connected to the HAD compartment.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the ionizer is selected from the group consisting of a single dose of ionization generating ionizer, a pulsed dose of ionization generating ionizer, or a continuous dose of ionization generating ionizer.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the ionizer releases ozone or an anti-bacterial gas to the HAD compartment.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power unit.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the power unit comprises a battery, a solar cell, or electrical wiring.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vibration unit.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the vibration unit comprises a vibration unit selected from the group consisting of a single dose of vibration generating vibrator, a pulsed dose of vibration generating vibrator, or a continuous dose of vibration generating vibrator.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cooling unit connected to the HAD compartment.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a thermostat connected to the heating unit.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a centrifuge unit.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the desiccant material is a solid.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the desiccant material changes color upon absorbing water.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the desiccant compartment comprises a transparent material.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the desiccant material compartment comprises a transparent plastic material.

26. A method for cleaning a hearing aid, the method comprising:

providing a hearing aid;

providing a hearing aid cleaning apparatus comprising a heater compartment containing a heating unit, a desiccant compartment containing a desiccant material, and a hearing aid device (HAD) compartment wherein the desiccant compartment is connected to the HAD compartment such that water vapor can transfer from the HAD compartment to the desiccant compartment, and the heater compartment is separate from the desiccant compartment and from the HAD compartment, such that air or gas or debris cannot circulate between the HAD compartment and the heater compartment;

placing a hearing aid in the HAD compartment;

closing the HAD compartment to outside air; and

activating the heating unit to remove moisture from the hearing aid.

27. An apparatus for cleaning a hearing aid device, comprising:

a hearing aid compartment for receiving a hearing aid device;

a desiccant compartment containing a desiccant, the desiccant compartment connected to the hearing aid compartment to permit air or gas to flow between the desiccant compartment and the hearing aid compartment;

a heater compartment containing a heating unit for heating the hearing aid compartment, the heater compartment separate from the hearing aid compartment and the desiccant compartment such that air or gas or debris cannot circulate between the heater compartment and the hearing aid compartment; and

a wall between the heater compartment and the hearing aid compartment;

wherein heat is transferred from the heating compartment to the hearing aid compartment by conduction through the wall.

28. An apparatus for cleaning a hearing aid device, comprising:

a heater compartment containing a heating unit;

a hearing aid compartment for receiving a hearing aid device, the hearing aid compartment positioned above the heater compartment; and

a desiccant compartment containing a desiccant, the desiccant compartment positioned above the hearing aid compartment;

wherein the desiccant compartment is connected to the hearing aid compartment to permit air or gas to flow between the desiccant compartment and the hearing aid compartment by convection, and the heater compartment is separate from the hearing aid compartment and the desiccant compartment such that air or gas or debris cannot circulate between the heater compartment and the hearing aid compartment.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a wall between said heater compartment and said hearing aid compartment, wherein heat is transferred from said heating compartment to said hearing aid compartment by conduction through said wall.