Dri and Store Professional Model

Physical Properties
Weight: Four pounds (1.8 kg)
Unit size: 9" wide x 7" deep x 6" high (22.9 cm x 17.8 cm x 15.2 cm)
Drying Compartment: Divided drawer provides two storage areas, each 2" w x 3.25" d x 1" h (5.1 cm x 8.3 cm x 2.5 cm). Can accommodate four BTEs with ear molds, or several smaller hearing aids. The Professional model can also be used with cochlear implant microphones, headpieces, and behind-the-ear (not body-worn) speech processors. (The Global model will accommodate most body-worn hearing aids and body-worn speech processing units.)
Case Material: Non-burn engineered thermoplastic. Neutral charcoal grey with gold accents.
 
Electrical Characteristics
Input Power: 18 watts, 120 volts AC at 0.15 amps. The conditioning cycle can be stopped at any time by opening the drawer. The unit resets on each drawer opening, so short-term conditioning is possible.

Operating Features
Conditioning Cycle: Dry & Store has an operating cycle of eight hours. It conditions at an average temperature of 90-95° F (32-35°C) and a relative humidity of 19-25%. The germicidal lamp (see below) illuminates for the first eight minutes then turns off automatically.
Air circulating fan:
Ball-bearing fan with expected life of 50,000 hours (~17 years if used daily). Circulates up to 9 cfm. Device noise level at 1 meter: < 30 dBA.

Desiccant:
The custom-formulated Dry-Brik is a compressed, microcrystalline solid, wrapped in perforated clear plastic. Each Dry-Brik is sealed in a gold foil outer wrapper, with a shelf life of at least one year. Once the outer foil is opened and the Dry-Brik is in use, a Dry-Brik typically lasts about two months. Actual life depends on season, area of country, and lifestyle of the user. Replacement desiccants are inexpensive and are available from Dry & Store distributors. The desiccant also absorbs odors as it dries. When depleted, the desiccant can be re-used as a deodorizer wherever you want to eliminate stale or lingering odors, such as in the refrigerator, gym locker or shoes. (Leave the clear plastic wrap intact.)

Germicidal Properties
The Dry & Store germicidal lamp is a short wave low pressure mercury vapor tube that produces ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths that are lethal to micro-organisms. During its eight minute cycle, the lamp will generate enough germicidal energy to yield a 99% kill on common bacteria found in the external ear canal.
  • 4 watts UV-C @ 254nm in the Professional model produces 660-710 joules/m2 of UV energy.
  • For comparison purposes, a 90% kill on pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria requires only 55 j/m2.
Elimination of this flora from hearing aids can significantly reduce itching and the reintroduction of infection-causing bacteria into the ear canal. To the user, this means less itching and irritation, and fewer recurring infections of the external ear canal.

Note: The UV-C lamp is a surface sanitizer only, and it has little to no penetrating power. This means that it is not damaging to plastics or earmolds. (Germicidal lamps are not to be confused with sunlamps or blacklight lamps, for while those are also ultraviolet lamps, the UV produced by a sunlamp or blacklight is of longer wavelength and is not useful for germicidal applications.)

Battery Removal:
Batteries do not have to be removed from hearing aids before Dry & Store use. Independent tests by Eveready Battery Co. on their Energizer/Amplifier® batteries showed a 10-20% gain in battery life under high (85% RH) humidity conditions, and no decrease in life at normal (50% RH) conditions. This was confirmed by a user survey which showed that over 50% of users experienced longer battery life.

Reliability:
Every component was chosen with reliability in mind. The circuit board is manufactured in the U.S.A. by an international electronics manufacturer, one of the highest reliability names in the business. A UV lamp test was terminated after the equivalent of 30 years without a single failure. We offer a generous two year warranty, but we designed for, and expect, long term reliability. The device is ETL & CSA certified and is assembled in the United States by a company whose quality management system is ISO-9001 certified.

Warranty:
Two years in the USA and Canada. Proof of purchase required. Warranty claims should originate with the dispensing professional.

Each Dry & Store Professional unit is shipped with:
Two individually wrapped desiccants, a user instruction booklet, and a warranty registration card.

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© Ear Technology Corporation 2003
"Better Hearing Through Better Hearing Aid Care."


HARC Mercantile Ltd. 
800-445-9968  home@hacofamerica.com
1111 West Centre Ave, Portage MI 49024