Description FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to an attachment for a device for generating an air- flow, preferably a warm airflow, or for delivering a fluid, which attachment is adapted to be inserted at least in sections into an external ear canal of a human or animal ear in order to dry moisture accumulations in the external ear canal.
Furthermore, the invention relates to an ear drying apparatus comprising a device for generating an airflow and the attachment according to the invention.
In addition, the invention relates to a device for the care or therapeutic treatment of the external ear canal of a human or animal ear.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Patients suffering from chronic wet ear canals - whether due to a radical cavity,
eardrum perforation or other external ear canal disease - or wearers of hearing aids are often confronted with the problem of efficiently removing moisture from the external ear canal.
In addition, water can enter the ear canal in the bathtub, in the shower or while swimming, which can lead to reduced hearing.
It also makes it eas-
ier for bacteria, germs and dirt to enter the external ear canal and cause inflamma-
tion, requiring rapid removal of these fluid accumulations.
However, no devices are known from the prior art, which allow such removal in a safe and efficient manner.
For example, it is known to introduce an airflow into the ear canal through which the external ear canal is to be dried.
An attachment in-
sertable into the external ear canal for an airflow generating device is known from
EP 0937422 Bi.
On the one hand, however, the proposed attachment directs the air introduced into the external ear canal directly onto the eardrum of the treated ear, which can result in injuries and permanent damage; on the other hand, due to its design, the attachment cannot be pushed into the ear canal of the patient or can only be pushed a few millimeters deep, so that in particular accumulations of moisture, which are located in the eardrum-side end region of the usually 2 to 2.5 cm long ear canal, cannot be removed or can only be removed after a longer peri-
od of application and/or higher intensity of the airflow.
In an analogous manner, when freeing the external ear canal from cerumen by means of a fluid, injury to the eardrum may occur if the fluid is directed directly onto the eardrum.
At the same time, cerumen residues may remain in the external ear canal and thus the cleaning of the external ear canal can only be carried out unsatisfactorily if the fluid cannot reach the entire external ear canal.
A device for cleaning the external ear canal is known, for example, from EP 0 243 261 Al.
Also, in the context of dispensing a fluid into the external ear canal for the purpose of care or therapeutic treatment of the external ear canal, injury to the eardrum may occur if the fluid is delivered directly to the eardrum.
Moreover, the caring or therapeutic effect of such a treatment of the external ear canal by means of a fluid cannot reach its maximum if the fluid cannot reach the entire external ear canal.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an attachment for a device for generating an airflow, preferably a warm airflow, which attachment enables rapid and efficient removal of moisture from the external ear canal of a human or animal by means of an airflow without exposing the eardrum to the risk of injury.
In addition, the attachment provided should be easily adaptable to different ear canals, have a simple design and be inexpensive to manufacture.
In addition, the efficiency of ear drying apparatuses, which include the attachment according to the invention, is to be significantly increased.
The ear drying apparatus according to the invention should provide a noticeable drying result after only 15 seconds of use.
Complete drying should be achieved by an application time of about seconds or less.
In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment for a fluid delivery device, which attachment allows rapid and efficient removal of ceru-
men from the external ear canal of a human or animal by means of a fluid without exposing the eardrum to the risk of injury.
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment for a fluid delivery device, which attachment enables rapid and efficient care or therapeutic treatment of the external ear canal of a human or animal by means of a fluid with- out exposing the eardrum to the risk of injury.
DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION A problem underlying the invention is solved in accordance with the invention by an attachment for a device for generating an airflow, preferably a warm airflow, or for dispensing a fluid, which attachment is adapted to be introduced at least in sections into an external ear canal of a human or animal ear, wherein the attachment com- prises a connecting piece for connection to the device, and a guide vane of tongue- like design, projecting from the connecting piece, for guiding air flowing out of the device or fluid emitted by the device, having a guide vane base, wherein the guide vane is arranged downstream of the connecting piece in the streaming direction of the air flow or fluid, and wherein the tongue-like guide vane has two guide vane cheeks projecting from the base of the guide vane, namely a first guide vane cheek and a second guide vane cheek, wherein the guide vane base and the guide vane cheeks form a guide channel or part of a guide channel for the air flowing out of the device, wherein the first guide vane cheek and the second guide vane cheek, par- ticularly opposing sections of the guide vane cheeks, each have a different height.
The connecting piece can thereby be designed in various ways.
For example, it can form an essential element of the attachment and give it stability.
However, it may also be only a section of the attachment which allows the attachment to be con- nected to the device without significantly contributing to the stability of the attach- ment.
In accordance with the invention, the airflow or fluid flow provided by the device (hereinafter referred to only as the airflow for simplicity) is introduced into the exter- nal ear canal via the attachment in accordance with the invention and is guided by the guide vane in such a way that a particularly advantageous flow for the desired drying is created within the external ear canal.
The airflow flows into the attachment via the connecting piece, flowing first through the connecting piece and then being guided via the guide vane base of the guide vane in the direction of the external ear canal. The guide vane cheeks according to the invention ensure targeted and con- trolled guidance of the airflow along the guide vane and controlled delivery of the airflow to the external ear canal. Moreover, the airflow is directed by the attachment according to the invention in such a way that essentially a vortex field forms inside the external ear canal which particularly facilitates the drying process. Depending on the extent to which the attachment is inserted into the user's external ear canal, this vortex field may be caused either by a swirl experienced by the airflow due to the guide vane and/or by reflection of the airflow from the eardrum-facing side walls of the external ear canal. This means that the airflow cannot hit the eardrum directly, but can only be reflected onto the side walls of the external ear canal and, preferably several times, on these side walls before said airflow is directed along the eardrum so that it strokes along its surface. For example, the airflow can strike an upper side — wall of the ear canal, be reflected there, and be directed along the eardrum toward a lower side wall of the external ear canal, where the airflow is reflected once again and is finally conveyed toward the auricle. It is also possible for the airflow to be reflected several times by the side walls of the external ear canal before it reaches the eardrum. In particular, moisture accumulations can also be removed from the — recessus meatus acustici externi by means of the attachment according to the in- vention - i.e. the trough which occurs directly in front of the eardrum between the downward sloping floor of the external ear canal and the sloping eardrum covering this floor. The turbulence of the airflow, whether caused by the swirling and/or re- flection from the side walls of the external ear canal leading to the eardrum, causes — the airflow to sweep over the eardrum and the recessus meatus acustici externi, but does not strike the eardrum frontally. Due to the flow of air inside the external ear canal, which is caused by the attachment according to the invention, there are par- ticularly short application times, which are necessary for satisfactory drying. For example, a noticeable drying effect can already be observed after 15 seconds, if an ear drying apparatus according to the invention - as described below - is used with the attachment according to the invention. To completely dry the external ear canal
- i.e. to reduce the moisture content in the ear canal back to the usual level - an application time of about 30 seconds or less is sufficient.
In addition, it has been shown that the attachment according to the invention also allows a particularly gentle and at the same time effective removal of cerumen from the external ear canal when the attachment is used in conjunction with a device for dispensing a fluid.
Due to the guide vane according to the invention, the fluid, e.g. 5 water, forms a particularly favorable flow path inside the external ear canal for cleaning.
Analogous to the airflow described above, the fluid is also forced into an approximate vortex field when it flows into the external ear canal, so that on the one hand a direct impact of the fluid on the eardrum is prevented and on the other hand a particularly effective removal of cerumen from the external ear canal, in par- ticular of cerumen adhering to the side walls, is achieved simultaneously by the vor- texing and/or reflection of the fluid on the side walls of the external ear canal.
It has also been shown that the attachment according to the invention also enables particularly gentle and at the same time effective nurturing or therapeutic treatment of the external ear canal if the attachment is used in conjunction with a device for dispensing a fluid.
Due to the guide vane according to the invention, the fluid inside the external ear canal forms a flow pattern which is particularly favorable for the nurturing or therapeutic treatment of the external ear canal.
Injuries to the eardrum can be avoided and the nurturing or therapeutic effect maximized, as the fluid used for the nurturing or therapeutic treatment is not directed directly onto the eardrum and can reach the side walls of the external ear canal particularly well due to the turbulence and/or reflection of the fluid according to the invention.
According to the invention it is provided that the first guide vane cheek projects from a first longitudinal edge of the guide vane base and the second guide vane cheek projects from a second longitudinal edge of the guide vane base opposite the first longitudinal edge.
Alternatively, it may also be provided that the first guide vane cheek is formed by the first longitudinal edge of the guide vane base and the second guide vane cheek is formed by the second longitudinal edge of the guide vane base.
The guide vane cheeks delimit the guide vane base on its mutually opposite longi- tudinal sides and largely prevent the airflow used for drying from the guide channel from reaching other areas of the attachment, before it reaches the external ear ca- nal for proper drying.
In this way, the guide vane can be used to fluidically isolate or separate the guide channel and an exhaust air channel of the attachment (see below) from each other.
In addition, the vane cheeks can support the formation of the vortex field in the external auditory canal.
Particularly advantageous drying ef- fects can be achieved if the guide vane cheeks run along the entire length of the guide vane.
The guide vane cheeks may also be produced integrally with the guide vane base.
The guide vane cheeks may have a cross-sectional profile with different curvature compared to the guide vane base located between the guide vane cheeks.
The transition between the guide vane base and the guide vane cheeks can be smooth and can only be expressed by a change in the slope or curvature of the cross-sectional profile of the guide vane base.
This can make it difficult to make a clear distinction between the guide vane base and the guide vane cheeks.
For ex- ample, the guide vane base and guide vane cheeks can be arranged in such a way that an overall cross-section of the guide vane formed by the guide vane base and guide vane cheeks is essentially U-shaped.
While it is in principle sufficient to introduce the tongue-like guide vane into the external ear canal and exploit either the turbulence of the airflow caused by the guide vane or the reflection and/or turbulence on the walls of the external ear ca- nal also caused by the guide vane in order to achieve the effect described above, which is in accordance with the invention and permits gentle drying of the ear-
drum, it may be advantageous to additionally provide an ear funnel for the attach- ment.
According to a preferred embodiment of the attachment according to the invention, it is therefore provided that the attachment comprises an ear funnel, which ear fun- nel encloses the tongue-like guide vane at least in sections, preferably completely,
along its length and has a proximal opening, with which proximal opening the at- tachment, when appropriately used, may be introduced into or applied to the exter- nal auditory canal, so that the proximal opening constitutes the closest opening of the ear funnel to the eardrum, wherein the ear funnel is connected to the connect- ing piece and stands apart from it, or the connecting piece configures an end por-
tion of the ear funnel.
When the attachment is used as intended to dry the external ear canal, it is inserted into or attached to the user's external ear canal with the proximal opening of the ear funnel.
The term proximal refers in this case and below to the position of a certain element relative to the eardrum of the user.
Specifically,
the proximal opening means the opening of the ear funnel closest to the eardrum of the user.
The ear funnel serves as that part of the attachment which is brought into direct contact with the external ear canal or side walls thereof when the attachment is used as intended and inserted into the user's external ear canal.
The ear funnel can connect to the connecting piece of the attachment and project from it, or the con- necting piece can form an end section of the ear funnel.
The guide vane is arranged at least in sections within the ear funnel, preferably in the form of a sleeve.
Prefera- bly the guide vane does not protrude from the ear funnel.
The ear funnel allows, on the one hand, a slight widening and an advantageous positioning for drying - name- ly a slight straightening - of the usually obliquely extending external ear canal when the attachment with the ear funnel is inserted into the external ear canal of a hu- man or animal; on the other hand, the ear funnel also allows a simple adaptation of the attachment to different conditions, such as the application in adults or children - for example by appropriate choice of shape and size of the ear funnel.
The length of the ear funnel can be adjusted to the length of the guide vane in order to support the formation of the turbulences and reflections described above in the external ear canal.
In the case of embodiments of the attachment with ear funnel, any unwanted reflections of the airflow on an inner wall of the ear funnel can be avoided.
The guide vane cheeks can contact the ear funnel over the entire length of the guide vane base, for example, or only in one or more longitudinal sections of the guide vane base.
Alternatively, the guide vane cheeks can also be spaced from the ear funnel.
If the guide vane cheeks contact the ear funnel over their entire length, this overflow of air from the guide vane channels into other areas, such as the exhaust air channel of the attachment (see below), can be completely prevented.
In a preferred embodiment of the attachment according to the invention the guide vane base of a first section of the guide vane has a longitudinal cross-sectional pro- file, which is curved in a first direction, and the guide vane base of a second section of the guide vane has a longitudinal cross-sectional profile, which is curved in a sec- ond direction, and the two curved sections extend in an adversely curved manner to one another.
Due to the course of the guide vane according to the invention and as a result of the curvature of the guide vane base, a particularly favorable flow distribution of the airflow within the external ear canal is achieved.
Particularly in comparison with attachments whose guide vane base shows a straight progression of the longitudinal cross-section, particularly good drying results could be achieved.
It is particularly advantageous if — as viewed from the connecting piece - the gradient of a tangent applied to the guide vane base decreases in the first section of the guide vane base with the distance from the connecting piece and increases in the second section of the guide vane base with the distance from the connecting piece.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the first section and the second section are to converge immediately into each other.
In particular, it is favorable from a fluidic point of view if the first section and the sec- ond section of the guide vane base are not separated from each other by a discontinu- ity but merge smoothly into each other.
— This leads to a flow of air within the external ear canal which is particularly favora- ble for the desired drying effects.
In another preferred embodiment of the attachment according to the invention, it is provided that, when considering a longitudinal cross-section of the attachment, the guide vane base intersects a longitudinal axis of the attachment, which longitudinal axis
— passes through the center point of a cross-section of the connecting piece normal to the longitudinal cross-section.
Accordingly, the tongue-like guide vane of the attachment intersects the longitudinal axis extending through the center of the cross-section of the connecting piece.
Ac- cording to the invention, this presupposes that the guide vane, in a side view of the attachment, extends at least in sections diagonally to this longitudinal axis.
Prefera- bly, the guide vane can have a non-vanishing gradient over its length in the direc- tion of flow.
The fact that the guide vane, in particular the longitudinal cross-section of the guide vane base, intersects the longitudinal axis of the attachment means that the airflow is directed in such a way that it does not strike the user's eardrum directly.
According to another preferred embodiment, of the attachment according to the invention, it is intended that, when viewing a longitudinal cross-section of the at- tachment, the guide vane base intersects also a longitudinal axis of the ear funnel, which longitudinal axis runs through the center point of a proximal opening of the ear funnel. If the ear funnel is rotationally symmetrical - which is preferably the case apart from an outlet opening in the jacket of the ear funnel - the longitudinal axis of the ear funnel coincides with its axis of rotation. The guide vane can be arranged inside the ear funnel in such a way that, when viewed in a longitudinal section, the guide vane — base intersects the longitudinal axis of the ear funnel, wherein it has proven to be particularly effective for the turbulences or reflections to be achieved and thus for the drying to be achieved if the guide vane base intersects the longitudinal axis of the ear funnel in its proximal end region. Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the ear funnel coincides with the longitudinal axis of the attachment. This makes it possible to keep the structure of the attachment according to the invention particularly simple. According to another preferred embodiment of the attachment according to the invention, it is provided that the tongue-like guide vane has a section running in the connecting piece. — This is particularly advantageous if the attachment has no or a removable ear fun-
nel. The connecting piece in this case serves on the one hand to connect to the de- vice for generating the airflow but on the other hand also gives the attachment the necessary stability to support the guide vane. In order to prevent injuries to the eardrum and/or the sidewall of the external ear — canal, another preferred design of the attachment according to the invention is that the tongue-like guide vane is arranged completely within the ear funnel and/or the connecting piece. Attachments according to this embodiment of the invention minimize the risk of injury to the eardrum and/or side walls of the user's external ear canal because the entire guide vane is concealed inside the attachment. In particular, the first and second sections of the guide vane may be located within the ear funnel and the section of the guide vane within the connecting piece may be located within the connecting piece.
According to another preferred embodiment of the attachment according to this invention, it is provided that the ear funnel tapers from the connecting piece to a proximal opening of the ear funnel.
The proximal opening preferably has a circular circumference and a diameter not exceeding 7 mm.
As the shape of the ear funnel is adapted to the shape of the ex- ternal ear canal at least in a proximal section of the ear funnel, which is inserted into the ear canal, this allows a particularly simple and painless insertion of the at- tachment into the external ear canal.
The attachment according to the invention can thus be brought to a distance of up to about 15 mm, preferably 10 mm, from the eardrum of the user, which supports the formation of the approximate vortex field in the external ear canal described above and can promote the drying of fluid accu- — mulations in the recessus meatus acustici externi.
The achievable minimum distance from the eardrum may vary depending on the specific suitability of the attachment for use on men, women or children.
Preferentially, a proximal end of the guide vane, which, when used as intended, is the end of the guide vane nearest to the ear drum, preferably a proximal end of the guide vane base, is arranged inside the proximal opening of the ear funnel.
In such embodiments of the invention, the guide vane is essentially flush with the ear funnel.
This allows the airflow to be particularly well directed through the prox- imal opening of the ear funnel into the external ear canal as it exits the attachment.
Both an outlet angle, at which the airflow - relating to the longitudinal axis of the ear funnel or the attachment - flows out of the attachment, and a swirl, which is to be added to the airflow when it exits the attachment, can be adjusted particularly well with this embodiment.
In particular, an angle of incidence at which the airflow hits the side walls of the external ear canal can be predetermined even better.
According to another preferred embodiment of the attachment according to the invention, it is provided that the proximal end of the guide vane, preferably a prox-
imal end of the guide vane base, subdivides the proximal opening of the ear funnel into an outflow opening for air flowing from the attachment into the ear canal and an inflow opening for air flowing from the ear canal into the attachment.
The proximal opening of the ear funnel is thus used on the one hand for the dry airflow, preferably warm airflow, which is used for drying, from the attachment to flow into the external ear canal - namely in the area of the outflow opening; on the other hand, moist air from the external ear canal can also flow back into the at-
tachment via the proximal opening - namely in the area of the inflow opening.
The ear funnel thus also allows the air used for drying to flow out of the ear canal and prevents the formation of a backflow within the ear canal.
Humid air can, there- fore, leave the external ear canal immediately after absorbing moisture and isolat- ed from the side walls of the external ear canal, resulting in an improved drying effect.
This ensures that the airflow used for drying in the area of the proximal opening is not mixed with moist air before being introduced into the external ear canal.
In this case, the proximal end of the guide vane or the proximal end of the guide vane base and/or the guide vane cheeks contacts an inside of the ear funnel to fluidly separate the inlet and outlet openings.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the tongue-like guide vane divides an inner volume of the ear funnel into a supply air channel for air flowing from the attachment into the ear canal and an exhaust air channel for air flowing from the ear canal into the attachment, wherein preferably the supply air channel connects the connecting piece to the outlet opening and wherein preferably the exhaust air channel connects the inflow opening to an outlet of the attachment.
This means that the dry airflow and the moist air exiting from the external ear canal can mostly be guided separately from each other in the attachment.
The dry airflow, preferably warm airflow, is first generated by the device, is guided through the con- necting piece and via the guide vane via the supply air channel of the ear funnel and into the external ear canal.
After drying of the external ear canal, in particular the recessus meatus acustici externi, the moist air can leave the external ear canal via the inflow opening and is led via the exhaust air canal to the outlet of the ear funnel, via which outlet the moist air is expelled from the attachment.
This means that there is no or very little mixing of the air masses in the supply air channel and the exhaust air channel within the attachment, which further increases the efficien- cy of the drying process.
In general, the guide vane base or guide vane cheeks can contact the ear funnel, especially the inside of the ear funnel, either at no point or over the entire length of the ear funnel or only in the area of the proximal opening of the ear funnel.
There are also possible embodiment variants in which the guide vane base or the guide vane cheeks contact the ear funnel in sections and are spaced in sections from the ear funnel, namely its inner side.
According to another preferred embodiment, it is provided that a cross-section of the supply air channel decreases in the direction of flow.
The flow direction is the direction in which the airflow flows through the supply air channel to enter the external ear canal.
This cross-sectional narrowing of the sup- ply air channel, which is preferably formed continuously, allows the outlet speed at which the airflow leaves the attachment to be set and an outlet speed that is par- ticularly advantageous for the desired drying effect to be selected.
The attachment is dimensioned so that the outlet of the attachment lies outside the external ear canal.
In this case, the outlet is preferably formed by an opening in a housing wall of the ear funnel, preferably in a section of the ear funnel directly up- stream of the connecting piece.
The moist air, which has already been used for drying, is no longer introduced into the connecting piece or even into the device but leaves the attachment already in the area of the ear funnel.
This results in a further simplification of the structure of the attachment and also of the device.
Overall, this measure can keep the produc- — tion costs of the attachment low.
The outlet can also be manufactured in a particu- larly simple manner by arranging the outlet in the section of the ear funnel up- stream of the connecting piece.
In this case, the outlet is located in a section of the ear funnel which, when used as intended, protrudes at least partially, preferably completely, from the user's external ear canal.
In accordance with the invention, the attachment can also be designed in such a way that - the connecting piece and the guide vane are integrally formed with each oth- er and can preferably be connected as a unit to the ear funnel, or that - the ear funnel and the guide vane are integrally formed with each oth- er and can preferably be connected as a unit to the connecting piece, or that - the connecting piece, the guide vane and the ear funnel are formed in one piece with each other.
In the case of the integral design of connecting piece and guide vane, differently formed ear funnels can be used in conjunction with one and the same unit compris- ing the connecting piece and the guide vane, which unit can then be offered as a separate spare part.
This means that the attachment can be adapted to different ear canals without having to replace the connecting piece or the guide vane.
This is particularly advantageous for the reason that the design of the connecting piece depends primarily on the size and shape of an outlet opening for the airflow of the device and is thus adapted to the device used in each case.
This means that the ear funnel can be specially adapted to the respective user group independently of the other components of the attachment.
For example, material, size and/or shape of the ear funnel can be selected depending on whether the attachment is to be used by female or male adults or children, while the remaining components of the attachment are adapted to the respective device in conjunction with which the attachment is to be — used.
Thus the ear funnel is easily exchangeable and can be retrofitted independently of the other components of the attachment.
The possibility of replacing the ear funnel after each treatment of the ear is also very beneficial from a hygienic point of view.
In the case of the integral design of the ear funnel and guide vane, all parts of the attachment which, when used as intended, (can) come into contact with the exter- nal ear canal of the user, namely the ear funnel and guide vane, may be offered as separate spare parts and connected to the connecting piece.
This enables a particu-
larly hygienic use of the attachment according to the invention, as the unit compris-
ing the ear funnel and the guide vane can be replaced after each application.
In the case of the integral design of the ear funnel, guide vane and connecting piece, the entire attachment can be offered as a separate spare part and replaced after each application.
This embodiment is also very cost-effective.
According to a further embodiment, it is intended that the connecting piece is formed by an end section of the ear funnel.
Particularly in the case of an integral design of ear funnel, guide vane and connect- ing piece, the attachment according to the invention can be made more compact and less expensive by eliminating the need for an additional separate component.
The object underlying the invention is also solved by an ear drying apparatus com-
prising a device for generating an airflow, preferably a warm airflow, and an at-
tachment according to the invention and according to the previously described em- —bodiments.
In an analogous manner, a further object underlying the invention is solved by an apparatus for the care or therapeutic treatment of the external ear canal of a hu-
man or animal ear, comprising a device for delivering a fluid and an attachment according to the invention, according to one of the embodiments described above.
Ina preferred embodiment of the attachment according to the invention, it is pro-
vided that the connecting piece is arranged to connect the attachment to the device in a rotatable manner.
The orientation of the attachment and thus also the direction from which the
(warm) air or fluid enters the ear canal can thus be selected or adapted to the per- sonal needs of the user depending on the specific application (drying, cerumen re-
moval, delivery of a caring or therapeutic fluid into the ear canal).
In this context, it is particularly advantageous if the connecting piece has at least one recess on an outer lateral surface, which recess can be brought into engagement with at least one latching lug of the device in order to lock the attachment in a specific rota-
tional position on the device.
This allows a specific rotational position of the attachment, which is optimal for dry-
ing the ear canal, for example, to be predefined; the attachment can still be easily moved to other rotational positions, but latches into the predefined rotational posi-
tion with the latching lug of the device.
The latching lug may be located, for exam-
ple, on an inner side of the device in the area of the outlet opening of the device for the fluid flow.
Particularly preferably, a plurality of recesses are arranged spaced apart from one an-
other on the outer lateral surface of the connecting piece in order to be able to lock the attachment in various rotational positions on the device.
In this way, various rotational positions can be specified, one of which, for example, is optimal for a particular application (drying, cerumen removal, delivery of a caring or therapeutic fluid into the ear canal).
Preferably, the individual recesses have an angular spacing of 180°, preferably of 90°, particularly preferably of 45°, from one another.
This means that at an angular spacing of 180° two, at an angular spacing of 90° four, and at an angular spacing of 45° eight equidistant recesses can be arranged on the outer lateral surface of the connecting piece.
— This allows the attachment to be locked to the device in a variety of excellent rota- tional positions.
In order to be able to introduce the (warm) air or fluid flow even more advanta- geously into the user's external ear canal, it is provided in another preferred embod- iment of the attachment according to the invention that at least one inflow element is provided, which inflow element projects from the guide vane base in order to swirl the fluid flowing out of the device and through the attachment.
Such an inflow element thus serves as a flow disruptor through which the essen- tially adjacent flow of the fluid through the attachment is swirled; after passing the inflow element, the flow executes a rotating motion (vortex). A flow modified in this way by one or more inflow elements results in the beneficial drying, cleaning and treatment effects described above being further enhanced.
Preferably, at least two inflow elements, preferably of flat design, are provided,
which are arranged opposite each other on the guide vane base.
The flow elements can be aligned approximately in the direction of flow of the fluid or in the longitudi-
nal direction of the attachment.
The fluid flow entering the attachment through the connecting piece is swirled by the inflow elements, wherein the arrangement in pairs opposite each other in the area of the attachment located between the inflow elements results in a compres-
sion of the fluid flow, which is advantageous for the desired effects in connection with drying, cerumen removal or the delivery of a caring or therapeutic fluid into the ear canal.
In another preferred embodiment, the inflow elements have the shape of a triangle, preferably a right-angled triangle.
In this case, the inflow elements can be attached to the guide vane base with one cathetus of the triangle in such a way that the other cathetus faces the proximal end of the guide vane base and the fluid flow entering the attachment through the connecting piece is forced into a turbulent flow or swirl via the hypotenuse of the triangle.
Particularly preferably, the inflow surfaces of the inflow elements, which face the connecting piece, extend at an angle to one another.
Thus, the inflow surfaces face the fluid flow entering the attachment from the de-
vice.
The impact of the fluid flow on the inflow surfaces results in a particularly ad- —vantageous deflection of the fluid flow (previously approximately in contact with the guide vane base) in the attachment.
In a further preferred embodiment of the attachment according to the invention, it is provided that, as viewed from the connecting piece, a distance between opposing inflow elements decreases in the longitudinal direction of the attachment.
The fluid flow caused by inflow elements arranged in this way has approximately two vortex flows, wherein each of these vortices is caused by one of the inflow ele-
ments.
The approach of the inflow elements arranged in pairs opposite each other in the longitudinal direction of the attachment - and thus in the direction of flow of the fluid - results in a particularly favorable flow distribution in the ear canal for the desired applications.
In another preferred embodiment of the attachment according to the invention, the guide vane base is twisted relative to the first section at least in the region of its second section.
For example, the guide vane base may be formed similar to a geometric ruled (hy- per)surface such that the second longitudinal section, preferably an apex of the
— second longitudinal section, is displaced relative to the first longitudinal section, preferably an apex of the first longitudinal section, along a curve extending trans- versely to the longitudinal axis of the attachment and/or the orientation of the sec- ond longitudinal section differs from that of the first longitudinal section.
This makes it possible to give the fluid flow introduced into the ear canal a specific swirl.
The resulting flow distribution of the fluid flow causes particularly effective drying or cleaning of the ear canal.
Care or therapeutic fluids introduced into the ear canal via the attachment can also be better distributed in the ear canal and thus reach areas that cannot be treated using known treatment methods.
It is advantageous if the first guide vane cheek and the second guide vane cheek, in particular opposite sections of the guide vane cheeks, each have a different height.
Although the advantageous effects associated with the embodiments described above as preferred interact synergistically with the guide vane designed according to the invention, the corresponding advantages can also be achieved independently of the special shape of the guide vane or the guide vane base.
In particular, the following embodiments are encompassed by the idea of the invention: Attachment for a device for generating an airflow, preferably a warm airflow, or for delivering a fluid, which attachment is adapted to be inserted at least in sections into an external ear canal of a human or animal ear, wherein the attachment has a connecting piece for connecting to the device, as well as a tongue-like guide vane with a guide vane base for guiding a fluid flow flowing out of the device, and where- in the connecting piece is adapted to connect the attachment rotatably to the de- vice, wherein preferably the connecting piece has at least one recess on an outer lateral surface, which recess can be brought into engagement with at least one latching lug of the device in order to lock the attachment in a specific rotational po- sition on the device, wherein preferably a plurality of recesses are arranged spaced apart from one another on the outer lateral surface of the connecting piece in order to be able to lock the attachment in different rotational positions on the device, wherein preferably the recesses have an angular spacing of 180°, preferably of 90°, particularly preferably of 45°, from one another.
Attachment for a device for generating an airflow, preferably a warm airflow, or for delivering a fluid, which attachment is designed to be inserted at least in sections into an external ear canal of a human or animal ear, wherein the attachment has a connecting piece for connecting to the device and a tongue-like guide vane with a guide vane base for guiding a fluid flow flowing out of the device, and at least one inflow element is provided, which inflow element projects from the guide vane base, in order to swirl the fluid flowing out of the device, wherein preferably at least two, preferably flat, inflow elements are provided, which are arranged opposite one an- other on the guide vane base, wherein preferably the inflow elements have the shape of a, preferably right-angled, triangle, wherein preferably inflow surfaces of the inflow elements, which inflow surfaces face the connecting piece, extend obliquely to one another, wherein preferably a distance between opposite inflow elements, as viewed from the connecting piece, decreases in the longitudinal direc- tion of the attachment.
Attachment for a device for generating an airflow, preferably a warm airflow, or for delivering a fluid, which attachment is designed to be inserted at least in sections into an external ear canal of a human or animal ear, wherein the attachment has a connecting piece for connecting to the device, and a tongue-like guide vane with a guide vane base for guiding a fluid flow flowing out of the device, and wherein the guide vane base is twisted relative to a first longitudinal section at least in the re- gion of a second longitudinal section, wherein preferably the first guide vane cheek and the second guide vane cheek each have a different height. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The invention is now explained in more detail using embodiment examples. The figures are exemplary and are supposed to present the idea of invention, but in no way restrict it or even finally reproduce it, wherein:
Fig. 1a shows an attachment according to the invention in a first embodiment;
Fig. 1b shows an ear funnel of the first embodiment of the attach- ment according to the invention;
Fig. 2a shows the first embodiment of the attachment with the ear funnel in a first perspective view;
Fig. 2b shows the first embodiment of the attachment with the ear funnel in a second perspective view;
Fig. 3a shows a longitudinal sectional view through the attachment of Figs. 2a and 2b, which is fastened to a device for generat- ing an airflow or for delivering a fluid;
Fig. 3b shows a longitudinal sectional view through the attachment of Figs. 2a and 2b;
Fig. 4a shows a cross-sectional view of the attachment from Fig. 3b according to A-A;
Fig. 4b shows a cross-sectional view of the attachment from Fig. 3b according to B-B;
Fig. 4c shows a cross-sectional view of the attachment from Fig. 3b according to C-C;
Fig. 5a shows an ear drying apparatus according to the invention, comprising the attachment according to the first embodi- ment without ear funnel;
Fig. 5b shows the ear drying apparatus according to the invention, comprising the attachment according to the first embodi- ment with ear funnel;
Fig. 5¢ shows the ear drying apparatus according to the invention with a protective cap;
Fig. 6a shows a first flow course in an external ear canal, which was produced by the attachment according to the invention;
Fig. 6b shows a second flow course in an external ear canal, which was produced by the attachment according to the invention;
Fig. 6c shows a third flow course in an external ear canal, which was produced by the attachment according to the invention;
Fig. 7a shows a line representation from Fig. 1a;
Fig. 7b shows a line representation from Fig. 1b;
Fig. 7c shows a line representation from Fig. 2a;
Fig. 7d shows a line representation from Fig. 2b;
Fig. 8a shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the attach- ment according to the invention with recesses;
Fig. 8b shows the attachment from Fig. 8a in a side view;
Fig. 8c shows the attachment from Fig. 8a as viewed in the longitu- dinal direction of the attachment;
Fig. 8d shows the detail F from Fig. 8c;
Fig. 9a shows a device for delivering a fluid in the region of an out- let opening in a sectional view;
Fig. 9b shows the detail G from Fig. 9a;
Fig. 10a shows an embodiment of the attachment according to the invention before connection to a device for delivering a fluid;
Fig. 10b shows an embodiment of the attachment according to the invention connected to a device for delivering a fluid;
Fig. 11a shows an embodiment of the attachment according to the invention with inflow elements as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the attachment;
Fig. 11b shows a perspective view of the attachment from Fig. 11a;
Fig. 12a shows an embodiment of the attachment according to the invention with asymmetrical guide vane as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the attachment;
Fig. 12b shows the attachment from Fig. 12a as viewed in the oppo- site direction;
Fig. 13a shows a first perspective view of the attachment from Fig. 12a;
Fig. 13b shows a second perspective view of the attachment from
Fig. 12a;
Fig. 13c a third perspective view of the attachment from Fig. 12a. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following description, the term "longitudinal section"means a section through an attachment 1 according to the invention in which the section plane is parallel to the drawing plane of the figures and a longitudinal axis 12 of the attachment 1 lies in the section plane. In addition, the term "cross-section"means a section through attachment 1 in which the plane of the section is orthogonal to the longitudinal sec- tion. In principle, there is a large number of conceivable embodiments of the attachment according to the invention, wherein all these embodiments have in common that an airflow is swirled by a guide vane and/or is reflected due to the guide vane geome- try on side walls of an external ear canal 3 of a user in order to effect an optimum drying effect inside the external ear canal 3. In a first embodiment, the attachment 1 according to the invention comprises a connecting piece 4 and a tongue-like guide vane 5, and can in addition optionally comprise an ear funnel 18, wherein the connecting piece 4 and the guide vane 5 are formed integrally with one another and can be detachably connected to the ear funnel 18. This embodiment is characterized in that, inter alia, the ear funnel 18 can be removed and the attachment 1 can be used with or without the ear funnel 18. The ear funnel 18, which is not mandatory for this embodiment, can be easily re- placed, if present, and can be retrofitted independently of the connecting piece 4 and the guide vane 5. The possibility of changing the ear funnel 18 after each dry- ing process is also very favorable from a hygienic point of view.
In a second embodiment, the attachment according to the invention also comprises the connecting piece, the guide vane and the ear funnel, wherein the ear funnel and the guide vane are integrally formed with each other in this embodiment and the unit of ear funnel and guide vane are connectable to the connecting piece.
All parts of the attachment which (can) come into contact with the external ear canal 3 of the user when the attachment is used as intended, namely the ear funnel and guide vane, can be offered as separate spare parts and connected to the connect- ing piece.
This enables a particularly hygienic use of the attachment according to the invention, as the unit comprising the ear funnel and the guide vane can be re- placed after each application.
In a third embodiment, the attachment according to the invention also includes the connecting piece, the guide vane and the ear funnel, wherein the connecting piece, the guide vane and the ear funnel are formed integrally with each other in this em- bodiment.
This means that the entire attachment can be offered as a separate
— spare part and replaced after each application.
This results in a particularly simple and hygienic handling of the attachment according to the third embodiment.
In ad- dition, the attachment can be manufactured particularly easily and thus inexpen- sively due to its integral design.
Also included in the inventive idea are the embodiments of the attachment in which the connecting piece, the guide vane and the ear funnel are each designed as sepa- rate components.
The first embodiment of the attachment according to the invention will be described below in detail with reference to Figs. 1 to 6; the second and third embodiments, however, are not depicted in Figs. 1 to 6.
— Fig. la is a perspective representation of this embodiment of the attachment 1 ac- cording to the invention without ear funnel, which is optional for this embodiment.
Attachment 1 comprises the connecting piece 4 for connecting attachment 1 to a device 2 for generating an airflow, preferably a warm airflow, or for delivering a fluid.
The connecting piece 4 forms the section of the attachment 1, which ensures that the attachment 1 holds on to the device 2.
Furthermore, attachment 1 comprises the tongue-like guide vane 5, which can be inserted into an external ear canal 3 of an animal or human (hereinafter referred to as the user) for the purpose of drying the ear canal 3 (see Fig. 6). The guide vane 5 allows controlled guidance of the airflow and its controlled release to the external ear canal 3. The guide vane 5 has a guide vane base 25 to guide the airflow and can also include guide vane cheeks 26 to form a guide channel or part of a guide channel for the airflow.
Fig. 3a shows a longitudinal section of the attachment 1 according to the invention and according to the first embodiment without ear funnel, which longitudinal section — runs through the connecting piece 4 and the guide vane 5. Fig. 3b shows the at- tachment 1 from Fig. 3a with ear funnel 18, wherein the attachments 1 shown in Fig. 3a and 3b are identical except for the ear funnel 18. The essentially sleeve-shaped connecting piece 4 serves to connect the attachment 1 to the device 2 and enables the airflow from the device 2 to flow into the attach- ment 1. The geometry of the connecting piece 4 is determined by the geometry of an outlet opening 15 of the device 2, through which outlet opening 15 the airflow flows out of the device 2. In the embodiment example shown, the tongue-like guide vane 5 protrudes away from the connecting piece 4 and deflects the airflow into the external ear canal 3 of the user (see Fig. 6). In order to be able to use the attachment 1 illustrated in Fig. 3a for drying the ex- ternal ear canal 3 as intended, it can be inserted with the guide vane 5 - either in sections or completely - into the external ear canal 3 of the user. Figs. 3a and 3b clearly show that the guide vane 5 is arranged in such a way that the guide vane base 25 intersects the longitudinal axis 12 of the attachment 1. The longitudinal axis 12 of attachment 1 extends through a center point of a cross- section of the connecting piece 4 which is normal to the longitudinal section shown in Figs. 3a and 3b. The cross-section of the connecting piece 4 refers exclusively to the connecting piece 4 itself - in particular therefore not to any sections of the guide vane 5 arranged within the connecting piece 4. The cross-section of the connecting piece 4, through the center point of which the longitudinal axis 12 extends, is shown in Fig. 4c.
As a result of this arrangement of the guide vane 5, the airflow is introduced into the external ear canal 3 of the user in such a way that in the external ear canal 3 a flow field is created which is particularly advantageous for the desired drying effect. This also ensures that the airflow exiting attachment 1 is not directed directly to the — user's eardrum 31. The airflow is swirled and/or introduced into the external ear canal 3 when it passes over a proximal end 7a of the vane bottom 25 and leaves the attachment 1 in such a way that the airflow is reflected at the side walls of the external ear canal 3 to provide an optimal drying effect inside the external ear canal
3. Preferably, the guide vane base 25 intersects the longitudinal axis 12 in a proxi- mal end area of the attachment 1, which is closest to the user's eardrum 31. It can also be seen from Figs. 3a and 3b that the guide vane base 25 has a curved longitudinal section which stands in a normal manner on the cross-section of the guide vane base 25 as illustrated in Figs. 4a and 4b. The guide vane base 25 of a first section 5a of the guide vane 5 projecting from the connecting piece 4 has a longitudinal cross-sectional shape curved in a first direction, and the guide vane base 25 of a second section 5b of the guide vane 5 projecting from the connecting piece 4 has a longitudinal cross-sectional shape curved in a second direction, where- in the two curved sections 5a, 5b extend in a curved manner opposite to each oth-
er. In the embodiment example shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, the second section 5b has a proximal end 7 of the guide vane 5. Thus the guide vane 5 comprises at least a first apex 13 and a second apex 14. This special course of the guide vane 5 results in a particularly favorable flow distribution of the airflow within the external ear canal 3. With this embodiment of the inven- tion, particularly good drying results could be achieved, especially in comparison with attachments comprising a guide vane 5 with a straight longitudinal cross- section. It is particularly advantageous if - viewed from the connecting piece 4 - the gradient of a tangent applied to the guide vane base 25 decreases in the first sec- tion 5a of the guide vane base 25 with the distance from the connecting piece 4 and increases in the second section 5b of the guide vane base 25 with the dis- tance from the connecting piece 4. The guide vane 5 has a section 5c extending in the connecting piece 4, wherein section 5c has a distal end 6 of the guide vane 5. Section 5c adjoins section 5a of guide vane 5. A flow cross-section for air flowing from the device 2 for generating an airflow into the attachment 1 is limited by the section 5c of the guide vane 5 extending in the connecting piece 4 and the connecting piece 4. This makes it pos- sible to adjust the proportion of the total airflow which should pass unhindered from the connecting piece 4 to the guide vane 5. In particular, the airflow can also be subjected to a flow cross-section constriction, which can be less drastic with at- tachments for children, for example, than with attachments for adults. The section 5c of the guide vane 5 running in the connecting piece 4 also makes it possible to take up the airflow flowing from the device 2 for generating an airflow into the at- tachment 1 already in the area of the connecting piece 4, so that the airflow can be directed accordingly as soon as it enters the attachment 1. From the longitudinal edges 16 of the guide vane base 25, two guide vane cheeks, namely a first guide vane cheek 26 and a second guide vane cheek 27, project from the guide vane base 25 to form, together with the guide vane base 25, a guide channel 10 or part of a guide channel 10 for the airflow. Guide vane base 25 and guide vane cheeks 26, 27 form part of guide channel 10 if the guide vane cheeks 26, 27 only project from the guide vane base 25 in one longitudinal section of guide vane 5 but not over its entire length. The guide channel 10 for the airflow, formed by the guide vane base 25 and the guide vane cheeks 26, 27, is formed by that — volume which is limited by the guide vane base 25, the first guide vane cheek 26 on the one hand, and the second guide vane cheek 27 on the other hand. The guide channel 10 further improves the targeted and controlled guidance of the airflow within the attachment 1 and the controlled delivery of the airflow to the external ear canal 3. In the case of embodiments with an ear funnel, such as the first embodi- ment of attachment 1 with an ear funnel 18 as shown in Fig. 3b, the use of guide vane cheeks 26, 27 can also prevent any unwanted reflections of the airflow on an inner wall of the ear funnel 18.
Fig. 4a shows the cross-section of the attachment 1 according to the invention ac- cording to intersecting line A-A from Fig. 3b. Fig. 4b shows the cross-section accord- ing to intersecting line B-B from Fig. 3b. In both cases the section runs through the ear funnel 18 and through the guide vane base 25 of the guide vane 5. Fig. 4c shows the cross-section of the connecting piece 4 according to the intersecting line C-C from Fig. 3b.
As can be seen in Figs. 4a, 4b, the guide vane base 25 in the embodiment example shown has a curved cross-sectional profile, preferably U-shaped. The cross-section of the guide vane base 25 is curved, in a slightly U-shaped manner, over the entire length of the guide vane 5. The curvature can increase or decrease from one end of guide vane 5 to the other end of guide vane 5. It may also be provided that the cross-section of the guide vane base 25 is not curved over the entire length of the guide vane 5, but only in one longitudinal section of the guide vane 5. Other than U-shaped curvatures of the cross-section profile of the guide vane base 25 are also conceivable. Figs. 4a and 4b show cross-sections of attachment 1 with ear funnel 18 as shown in Fig. 3b. Since the attachment 1 shown in Fig. 3b, apart from the ear funnel 18, is identical to the attachment 1 shown in Fig. 3a, the statements made with regard to the curved cross-sectional profile of the guide vane base 25 also ap- ply to the first embodiment of attachment 1 without ear funnel 18 as shown in Fig.
3a. The attachment 1 according to the first embodiment may be inserted into the exter- nal ear canal 3 with or without ear funnel 18 in order to be used as intended for drying the external ear canal 3. The attachment 1 shown in Figs. 2a, 2b and 3b is obtained by detachably connect- ing attachment 1 shown in Figs. 1a and 3a with the ear funnel 18 shown in perspec- tive in Fig. 1b, namely attachment 1 according to the first embodiment with ear funnel 18. For this purpose, the ear funnel 18 can be pushed onto the connecting piece 4 - or otherwise connected to said connecting piece or the guide vane. In oth- er embodiments of attachment 1, such as the third embodiment described above, the connecting piece 4 can be passed through an end section, preferably a distal - remote from the user's eardrum 31 - end section of the ear funnel 18. In the case of the first embodiment of attachment 1 with ear funnel 18, the ear funnel 18 is detachably connectable to and protrudes from the connecting piece 4 in such a way that the guide vane 5 is encased along its entire length by the ear fun- nel 18 and the connecting piece 4 connected to it. Ear funnel 18 and connecting piece 4 may also be provided to encase only a longitudinal section of guide vane 5 so that guide vane 5 protrudes beyond ear funnel 18. The ear funnel 18 shown in
Fig. 1b is rotationally symmetrical in the present embodiment example except for one outlet 24, wherein the longitudinal axis 12 of the attachment 1 forms the corre- sponding axis of rotation of the ear funnel 18. Figs. 2a, 2b, 3b, 4a, 4b and 4c clearly show that the cross-section of the ear funnel 18 decreases from the connecting piece 4 to a proximal opening 19 of the ear fun- nel 18, by means of which the ear funnel 18 is inserted into the ear canal 3 when the attachment 1 is used as intended.
This reduction in cross-section makes it pos- sible to determine the insertion depth of attachment 1 into the external ear canal 3. This makes it possible, for example, to move attachment 1 up to about 15 mm, preferably up to about 10 mm, to the eardrum 31 of the user.
The proximal end 7 of guide vane 5, or the proximal end 7a of guide vane base 25, is substantially flush with the proximal opening 19 of the ear funnel 18. Accordingly, the proximal end 7a of the vane base 25 is located within the proximal opening 19 of the ear funnel 18 and divides it into an outflow opening 22 for air flowing from the attachment into the external ear canal 3, and an inflow opening 23 through — which inflow opening 23 air can flow from the external ear canal 3 back into the attachment 1. In the case of embodiments of the attachment with ear funnel, for example in the case of the first embodiment of the attachment 1 with ear funnel 18, in which the guide vane 5 protrudes from or is connected to the connecting piece 4 of the at- tachment 1, the guide vane 5 extends substantially over the entire length of the ear funnel 18. This allows the airflow used for drying to be guided along the entire length of the ear funnel 18 and released into the external ear canal in a very con- trolled manner without risking injury to the external ear canal 3 and/or the eardrum.
To further increase the drying efficiency, the outflow opening 22 can be smaller than the inflow opening 23. For example, the outflow opening 22 can occupy one third of the proximal opening 19 and the inflow opening 23 two thirds of the proxi- mal opening 19. Since the proximal opening 19 of the ear funnel 18 is usually smaller than a distal opening 29 of the connecting piece 4, drying is further supported by the airflow by increasing the exit velocity of the airflow from attachment 1 and ensuring a particu-
larly rapid and complete escape of the moist air from the ear canal 3. The airflow from device 2 flows into attachment 1 via the distal opening of connecting piece 4. In embodiments of the attachment with ear funnel, for example in the case of the first embodiment of the attachment 1 with ear funnel 18, an inner volume of the ear funnel 18 is subdivided into a supply air channel 20 and an exhaust air channel 21 by the guide vane base 25 and, optionally, the first guide vane cheek 26 and the second guide vane cheek 27. For this purpose, the longitudinal edges 16 of the guide vane base 25 or - if present - the adjoining guide vane cheeks 26, 27 may contact the ear funnel 18 directly either along their entire length or only in sections or may be slightly distanced from the ear funnel 18. In the case of contacting over the entire length of the guide vane 5, fluidic isolation between supply air channel 20 and exhaust air channel 21 can be achieved.
In the case of only partial contacting or a spacing between guide vane 5 and ear funnel 18, complete insulation cannot be guaranteed, but it can be ensured that mixing of the air guided in the supply air channel 20 with the air guided in the exhaust air channel 21 is prevented as far as possible.
The supply air channel 20 connects the distal opening 29 of the connecting piece 4 to the outflow opening 22. The exhaust air channel 21 connects the inflow opening 23 of the ear funnel 18 with the outlet 24 of the attachment 1, which is formed as a recess in the housing of the ear funnel 18 on an underside of the latter.
Accordingly, the supply air channel 20 allows the airflow produced by the device 2 to flow into the external ear canal 3 of the user and the exhaust air channel 21 allows the air used to dry the external ear canal 3 to flow back from the external ear canal 3 into the atmosphere.
In order to prevent the guide vane 5 from deforming during the intended use of the invention attachment 1 when the attachment 1 is inserted into the external ear canal 3, it may be provided that the ear funnel 18 is formed rigidly in comparison with the connecting piece 4 and/or the guide vane 5, preferably less flexible than the connecting piece 4 and/or the tongue 5. As a result of this measure, the ear funnel 18 protects in particular the guide vane 5 from possible deformation.
For example, the ear funnel 18 may be made of polyethylene or polypropylene, while the connecting piece 4 and vane 5 may be made of thermoplastic elastomer or silicone.
Fig. 3a shows attachment 1 in a connection position in which attachment 1 is con- nected to device 2 (see also Figs. 5a, 5b and 5c). For the purpose of connection, the attachment 1 with the connecting piece 4 is in- serted in sections into the outlet opening 15 for the airflow of the device 2. A snap- in projection 17 at a device end section of the connecting piece 4 engages with a retaining section 34 of the device 2, thus preventing an unintentional release of the connection between the device 2 and the attachment 1 (see, for example, Figs. 6a or 9b). Basically, however, many different types of connection of the attachment 1 to the device 2 are conceivable. The air or fluid flow emerging from device 2 there- fore first flows through the connecting piece 4 of attachment 1 when it flows into attachment 1. This is also the case if the connecting piece 4 is not inserted into the outlet opening 15 but is connected to the device 2 in some other way, for example — by sliding it onto it. A spacer 28 arranged, at least in sections, circumferentially around the circumfer- ence of the connecting piece 4 is positioned against a housing of the device 2 and thus ensures that the connecting piece 4 cannot be pushed deeper than provided into the outlet opening 15. In the case of the embodiments of the attachment with ear funnel, e.g. in the case of the first embodiment with ear funnel 18 according to Fig. 3b, for example, the ear funnel 18 can be pushed onto the connecting piece 4 for the purpose of connection and be positioned against the spacer 28. Here, connecting piece 4 and ear funnel 18 are connected to each other by fric- tion, wherein other connection options also exist - for example by means of inter- locking latching grooves and latching projections.
Fig. 5a shows an ear drying apparatus in accordance with the invention, comprising the device 2 for generating an airflow and the attachment 1 in accordance with the invention and in accordance with the first embodiment of the attachment in accord- ance with the invention, wherein the ear funnel 18 has been removed from the in- — tegrally formed unit consisting of connecting piece 4 and guide vane 5 and is there- fore not visible.
Device 2 is preferably specially designed for the purpose of drying ears and may preferably be formed so as to be portable.
Fig. 5b shows the ear drying apparatus according to the invention, comprising the device 2 for generating an airflow and the attachment 1 according to the invention with ear funnel 18.
Fig. 5c shows the ear drying apparatus according to the invention from Fig. 5a or
5b. The attachment 1 is covered by a protective cap 30, which serves in particular to protect the attachment 1 during the transport of the device 2.
Fig. 6a is a schematic representation of the flow characteristic of a device accord- ing to the invention in its operating state, which is conditioned by attachment 1. The flow pattern depicted inside the external ear canal 3 is created in the same way, regardless of the concrete embodiment of the attachment 1 according to the invention. Due to the comparatively high insertion depth of attachment 1 into the external ear canal 3, there is no reflection of the airflow leaving attachment 1 at the side walls 8, 9; the airflow is swirled due to the guide vane 5 when leaving attachment 1, so that a vortex field favorable for drying is created inside the ex- ternal ear canal 3.
Fig. 6b also shows attachment 1 inserted into the ear canal 3, but with a smaller insertion depth than in Fig. 6a. — This results in a different flow pattern inside the external ear canal 3, which in turn is independent of the selected embodiment of attachment 1. In this case, the air- flow exiting from attachment 1 is reflected on the side walls 8, 9 of the external ear canal 3, so that a vortex field favorable for drying is created inside the external ear canal 3. — Fig. 6c shows attachment 1 inserted into the ear canal 3, wherein the ear drying apparatus is operated however with different operating parameters, resulting in a different outlet angle of the airflow from attachment 1. This results in a different flow pattern inside the external ear canal 3, which in turn is independent of the se- lected embodiment of attachment 1. In this case too, the airflow leaving attachment
1 is reflected on the side walls 8, 9 of the external ear canal 3, so that a vortex field favorable for drying is created inside the external ear canal 3. The Figs. 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d are line representations of Figs. 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b. Figs. 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d show a fourth embodiment of the attachment 1 according to the invention. All of the statements made above in connection with the first, second and third embodiments also apply to the fourth embodiment shown here. In addi- tion, the connecting piece 4 of the attachment of the fourth embodiment has a plu- rality of recesses 32. In this case, the recesses are arranged in the device-side end section of the connecting piece 4, which end section also forms the latching projec- — tion 17. As can be seen from Figs. 8c and 8d, the recesses 32 have an angular spac- ing of 45°; accordingly, a total of eight recesses 32 are arranged in the end section of the connecting piece 4. When the attachment 1 is inserted with the end section of the connecting piece 4 into the outlet opening 15 of the device 2 in order to connect the attachment 1 to the device 2, the latching projection 17 of the connecting piece 4, which engages with the retaining section 34 of the device 2, prevents the unintentional detachment of the attachment 1 from the device 2; however, the attachment 1 can be rotated against the device 2 as desired, so that - depending on the rotational position - dif- ferent orientations of the guide vane 5 can be realized. In order to lock the attach- ment 1 in a certain rotational position on the device 2, at least one latching lug 33 is provided on the device 2, preferably in the region of the outlet opening 15 (see Figs. 9a and 9b), which latching lug 33 can be brought into engagement with one of the recesses 32. The recesses 32 thus indicate preferred rotational positions of the attachment 1 on the device 2. — Fig. 10a shows the attachment 1 prior to connection to the device 2 for delivering a fluid, such as air, water, or other therapeutic or care fluid. To connect the attach- ment 1 to the device 2, as shown in Fig. 10b, the attachment 1 can be inserted with its device-side end section into the outlet opening 15. The retaining section 34 of the device 2 prevents the attachment 1 from accidentally detaching from the device
2. The latching lug 33 can engage the respective recess 32 at certain rotational po- sitions of the attachment 1 corresponding to the recesses 32, in order to fix the attachment 1 in the corresponding rotational position.
By rotating the attachment 1 out of this rotational position, the attachment 1 can be brought into another rota-
tional position, in which the latching lug 33 can engage in another recess 32.
Figs. 11a and 11b show a fifth embodiment of the attachment 1 according to the invention.
All of the statements made above in connection with the first, second,
third and fourth embodiments also apply to the fifth embodiment shown here.
In addition, two inflow elements 35 are arranged on the guide vane base 25 of the guide vane 5 of the attachment 1.
The inflow elements 35 each have the shape of a right-angled triangle, as can be
— seen clearly from Figs. 11a and 11b, and are arranged approximately in a central longitudinal section of the guide vane 5. The inflow elements 35 oppose the fluid flow entering the attachment 1 through the connecting piece 4 with inflow surfaces which preferably extend transversely to direction of flow of the incident fluid flow, so that the incident flow of the fluid is disturbed and forced into a vortex motion;
one or more vortices 36 (vortex) of the fluid introduced into the ear canal are formed.
As can be clearly seen from Fig. 11b, the inflow elements 35 can be ar- ranged on the guide vane base 25 in such a way that the inflow elements 35 face each other and the distance between the inflow elements 35 decreases towards the proximal end 7 of the guide vane 5.
Figs. 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b and 13c show a sixth embodiment of the attachment 1 according to the invention.
All of the statements made above in connection with the first, second, third, fourth and fifth embodiments also apply to the sixth embodi- ment shown here.
In addition, the guide vane base 25 of this embodiment is not symmetrical, as is the case with the other embodiments described above, but is asymmetrical.
This can be achieved in that the guide vane base 25 is displaced in the region of a second longitudinal section of the guide vane base 25 relative to a first longitudinal section and/or is twisted in accordance with the invention, or in that, in addition thereto, mutually opposite sections of the guide vane cheeks 26, 27 each have a different height.
In particular, the second section 5b of the guide vane 25 curved in the second direction may be twisted relative to the first section 5a of the guide vane 25 curved in the first direction, as shown.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 Attachment 2 Device 3 External ear canal 4 Connecting piece Tongue-like guide vane 5a First section of the guide vane 5b Second section of the guide vane 5c Section of the guide vane extending in the connecting piece 6 Distal end of guide vane 7 Proximal end of guide vane 7a Proximal end of the guide vane base 8 Upper side wall of the ear canal 9 Lower side wall of the ear canal Guide channel 11 Recessus meatus acustici externi 12 Longitudinal axis 13 First apex 14 Second apex Outlet opening 16 Longitudinal edge 17 Latching projection 18 Ear funnel 19 Proximal opening Supply air channel 21 Exhaust air channel 22 Outflow opening 23 Inflow opening 24 Outlet Guide vane base 26 First guide vane cheek 27 Second guide vane cheek 28 Spacer
29 Distal opening of the connecting piece Protective cap 31 Eardrum 32 Recess 33 Latching lug 34 Retaining section Inflow element 36 Vortex