Gene Leon Adoue
Engineering in New Orleans, LA

License number

Louisiana EI.0017307

Issued Date

Aug 20, 1996

Expiration Date

Sep 30, 2003

Professional information

Method And Apparatus For Cleaning Hearing Aids

US Patent:

2007002, Feb 1, 2007

Filed:

Jun 29, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/427769

Inventors:

Gregory Siegle - Metairie LA, US
Roger Juneau - Destrehan LA, US
Edward Desporte - Covington LA, US
Michael Major - Mandeville LA, US
Gene Adoue - New Orleans LA, US
Sherriel Johnson - Prairieville LA, US
James Moser - Orlando FL, US
Brian Tanner - Destrehan LA, US

Assignee:

GENERAL HEARING INSTRUMENT, INC. - New Orleans LA

International Classification:

B08B 7/00, A47L 11/00

US Classification:

015003000

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for cleaning a hearing aid provides a housing having a motor drive and speed control. A rotary chamber is mounted to the housing and driven by the motor drive. A drive shaft can be provided connecting the motor drive and the rotary chamber. The rotary chamber has a wall with at least one receptacle for holding a hearing aid. The rotary chamber can have two openings, one for a hearing aid and a second opening for another hearing aid or a counterweight. The rotary chamber can be counterweighted to compensate for the weight of a single hearing aid or any other arrangements of multiple hearing aids. Each receptacle is configured to hold a hearing aid. The motor drive is powered sufficiently to rotate the hearing aid at the speed of between about 2800 and 3200 rpm in order to generate a G-force on the hearing aid of about 270 G's. Preferably, the motor drive rotates at a rotational speed sufficient to remove earwax, rotation lasting for a period of time of between about 5 and 45 (preferably 18-22) seconds.