EP2719472A1 - System und Verfahren zur Reinigung von Apparaten zur Einführung in Gehörgänge - Google Patents

System und Verfahren zur Reinigung von Apparaten zur Einführung in Gehörgänge Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2719472A1
EP2719472A1 EP12188496.9A EP12188496A EP2719472A1 EP 2719472 A1 EP2719472 A1 EP 2719472A1 EP 12188496 A EP12188496 A EP 12188496A EP 2719472 A1 EP2719472 A1 EP 2719472A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ear
appliance
cleaning fluid
cleaning
salt
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP12188496.9A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Jan T. L. Larsen
Kenneth Rueskov MØLLER
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Oticon AS
Original Assignee
Oticon AS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Oticon AS filed Critical Oticon AS
Priority to EP12188496.9A priority Critical patent/EP2719472A1/de
Publication of EP2719472A1 publication Critical patent/EP2719472A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
    • B08B3/04—Cleaning involving contact with liquid
    • B08B3/08—Cleaning involving contact with liquid the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
    • B08B3/04—Cleaning involving contact with liquid

Definitions

  • the invention comprises an ear appliance cleaning system and method. It is known to clean hearing aids and other ear appliances such as headsets by using different solvents and detergents with the aim of removing residues such as earwax, however the results are not always convincing, as earwax is a substance, which is not altogether easy to dissolve.
  • sear-water has the capacity to loosen earwax from surfaces such as rubber and harder plastics.
  • the invention aims at providing an improved cleaning system for ear appliances.
  • an ear appliance cleaning system which comprises a container with an opening adapted for receiving an ear appliance and a fluid handling system adapted to apply a cleaning fluid to the ear appliance when placed in the opening, wherein the cleaning fluid comprise water with a salt dissolved therein.
  • the cleaning fluid comprise water with a salt dissolved therein.
  • the salt comprises NaCl which is the most prominent ingredient in sea salt. But other salt materials may also be present as is the case when the solution is based on sea salt.
  • the salt concentration in the cleaning fluid may be no less than 10 g/liter, or preferably no less than 20 g/liter, or no less than 30 g/liter.
  • a timer may be part of a cleaning system, and adapted to limit the time in which the ear appliance is subject to the influence of the cleaning fluid.
  • the time may be adapted to control the action of a pump delivering and/or removing the salt water to respectively from the ear appliance or the timer may be adapted to control the action of a motor adapted to move the ear appliance and the cleaning fluid with respect to each other.
  • An opening of a container which is part of the system, may comprise a holding means adapted to hold the ear appliance in a pre-defined orientation with respect to the opening.
  • the invention also regard a method for cleaning an ear appliance, wherein the a part of the appliance, situated within the ear canal during normal use of the appliance is subject to the influence of a cleaning fluid with salt comprising NaCl dissolved therein.
  • a main component of the cleaning fluid may be water.
  • the salt concentration is no less than 10 g/liter, or preferably no less than 20 g/liter or most preferably is at least 30 g/liter.
  • the method may comprise placing the ear appliance in a holder which is part of the cleaning system, and where holder and the cleaning fluid are moved with respect to each other, to ensures that at least a part of the appliance is subject to the influence of the salt containing fluid.
  • An ear appliance cleaning system is shown in fig. 1 and fig. 2 .
  • the fluid 33 comprise water with salt dissolved therein.
  • a filter 4 is schematically indicated, and possibly the fluid handling system comprises a pump 5, which is adapted to cause the water to flow through the filter 4 in order that ear wax or other debris from the cleaning or rinsing operation may be filtered out of the water.
  • the ear appliance 3 may simply be plunged into the fluid through the opening 2 and left for a certain time in the water. The user may perform some kind of time keeping, and possibly agitate the ear appliance with respect to the water if needed in order to make sure, that all earwax has been rinsed of the ear appliance.
  • sea salt there are a number of salts, which could be used, but preferably sea salt may be employed as this performs satisfactory and is very common all over the world.
  • the main ingredient in seasalt is NaCl.
  • the salt concentrations may be no less than 10 g/liter, or preferably no less than 20 g/liter, or no less than 30 g/liter.
  • the user may mix salt and water, and pour the mixture into container 1.
  • pre-mixed solutions may be sold to the user. Further detergents or solvents may be part of the cleaning fluid.
  • a cleaning system comprises a timer 10, 10a (shown in fig. 5 ) which is adapted to limit the time in which the ear appliance is subject to the influence of the salt water.
  • the timer 10 may directly control the immersion of the hearing aid in the fluid 33, such as by elevating the hearing aid 3 out of the fluid 33 after a predetermined time.
  • the timer 10a may alternatively or also control some aspect of the fluid 33, such as fluid motion and fluid agitation, and in fig. 5 this is indicated by the timer 10a being in control of a motor 6 driving a fluid impeller such as a propeller 7 submerged into the fluid in the container 1.
  • a timer 10, 10a could be used to control the fluid by the control of a pump, adapted to pump fluid into and out of the container 1.
  • the opening 2 of the container 1 may be equipped with holder 9 for holding the ear appliance or hearing aid 3 in a pre-defined orientation with respect to the opening 2.
  • a domed part 34 is shown submerged into the water 33 and thereby cerumen or ear-wax may be rinsed off the surface of such a domed part.
  • the holder 9 is part of a fixture 8, and in the fixture charging points 31a, 30a may be provided corresponding to charging points 30, 31 in the hearing aid. In this way the hearing aid may be charged while being cleaned.
  • Fig. 6 discloses a further way of ensuring relative movement between the hearing aid and the body of water 33.
  • the container 2 is a cup or similar vessel, and the holder 9 and agitator 7 are attached to a yoke 12 placed above the cup 2.
  • the yoke 12 is hingedly attached to a base 13, and may swing or pivot about a hinge axle 14 to lift the hearing aid 3 and agitator 7 out of or into the body of water 33 contained in the cup 2 as indicated by arrow 15.
  • the agitator 7 is driven by a motor 6 when the yoke is moved into position to submerge the hearing aid or parts thereof in the water 33.
  • a hearing aid which comprises a behind the ear part 16 and an in the ear part 17 and only the in the ear part 17 is waterproof and subjected to the water treatment.
  • the holder 9 is adapted to grip the in the ear part 17 and lower it into the water, while the behind the ear part 16 is not subjected to the water treatment.
  • the arrows 28 indicates how the in the ear part is to be moved by the user in order to become engaged by holder 9.
  • a holder 9 is shown in more detail in fig. 8 where also it is shown that the behind the ear part 16 may be removed from the device prior to treatment in case the hearing aid allows for such taking apart of the device.
  • the hearing aid part 23 may be a simple ear plug or may comprise a receiver or speaker.
  • a schematic representation of a hearing aid 3 is shown.
  • the hearing aid comprises a sound exit opening 23 with a membrane 24 which is sound transparent and water impermeable provided to cover the sound exit opening 23.
  • the hearing aid 3 further comprises a microphone 25, and here also a membrane 26 may be placed over the sound entrance opening 27.
  • the microphone 25 captures sounds in the surroundings, transduce the sound signal into an equivalent electrical signal.
  • the electrical signal is enhanced in a signal processor 35 and an enhanced electrical signal is served at the receiver 22, which then in turn transduce the electrical signal back into a sound signal, which is served at the ear of the user.
  • the various parts mentioned here may be provided in one and the same casing as schematically shown in fig.
  • the hearing aid usually comprises a number of further elements such as a battery and an antenna, but for reasons of simplicity these elements have not been shown in the drawing.
  • provisions may be made for a subsequent drying process, such that a dry device may be handed over to the user.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
EP12188496.9A 2012-10-15 2012-10-15 System und Verfahren zur Reinigung von Apparaten zur Einführung in Gehörgänge Withdrawn EP2719472A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP12188496.9A EP2719472A1 (de) 2012-10-15 2012-10-15 System und Verfahren zur Reinigung von Apparaten zur Einführung in Gehörgänge

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP12188496.9A EP2719472A1 (de) 2012-10-15 2012-10-15 System und Verfahren zur Reinigung von Apparaten zur Einführung in Gehörgänge

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2719472A1 true EP2719472A1 (de) 2014-04-16

Family

ID=47018083

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP12188496.9A Withdrawn EP2719472A1 (de) 2012-10-15 2012-10-15 System und Verfahren zur Reinigung von Apparaten zur Einführung in Gehörgänge

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2719472A1 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111494670A (zh) * 2020-04-23 2020-08-07 潘娇娇 一种医疗消毒设备
CN112588709A (zh) * 2020-11-27 2021-04-02 歌尔科技有限公司 一种无线耳机充电盒

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2675814A (en) * 1951-02-07 1954-04-20 Stanley S Butler Cleaning device for ear molds
EP0747044A1 (de) * 1995-06-08 1996-12-11 Renée-Jane Maugendre Verfahren zur Herstellung von Meerwasser für die Aufschliessung Cerumen
WO2005125276A1 (en) * 2004-06-14 2005-12-29 Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. At-home hearing aid testing and cleaning system
US20080128007A1 (en) * 2006-10-05 2008-06-05 Stern Ari K Portable apparatus for charging and cleaning hearing aid device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2675814A (en) * 1951-02-07 1954-04-20 Stanley S Butler Cleaning device for ear molds
EP0747044A1 (de) * 1995-06-08 1996-12-11 Renée-Jane Maugendre Verfahren zur Herstellung von Meerwasser für die Aufschliessung Cerumen
WO2005125276A1 (en) * 2004-06-14 2005-12-29 Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. At-home hearing aid testing and cleaning system
US20080128007A1 (en) * 2006-10-05 2008-06-05 Stern Ari K Portable apparatus for charging and cleaning hearing aid device

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111494670A (zh) * 2020-04-23 2020-08-07 潘娇娇 一种医疗消毒设备
CN111494670B (zh) * 2020-04-23 2021-03-23 曲阜市中医院 一种医疗消毒设备
CN112588709A (zh) * 2020-11-27 2021-04-02 歌尔科技有限公司 一种无线耳机充电盒

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