Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a protective cap assembly for a CIC hearing aid. The assembly comprises a perforated cap configured to be mounted over the lateral end of the hearing aid to protect the hearing aid from contaminants. At a least a portion of the cap includes a protective coating and a plurality of perforations. The placement and size of the perforations can be configured to provide sufficient aeration and drainage to reduce a relative humidity of the cap interior when the hearing aid is positioned in the ear canal. The perforations also operate as sound conduction channels for conducting sound to the cap interior. The perforations have a minimum size wherein a single perforation provides sufficient acoustic transmittance to a hearing aid component such that a hearing aid performance parameter is not substantially adversely affected. They can also be configured to provide splash protection for the cap interior.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a removal tool for atraumatically removing a hearing device inserted deeply in the ear canal of a user. The removal tool comprises a shaft adapted to be grasp in the hand and a plurality of hooks or other attachment elements coupled to a first end of the shaft. The hooks have a shape and orientation configured to minimize injurious contact with the walls of the ear canal when the removal tool is inserted into the ear canal. The hooks are also configured to detachably engage a loop structure or other attachment system of the hearing device for removal of the device independent of a radial orientation of the shaft with respect to the hearing device. The hooks can also be configured to engage the loop structure in two or more planes for removal of the hearing device. Also, the hooks can be configured to engage the loop structure so as to exert minimal axial force on the hearing device in a medial direction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a protective cap assembly for a CIC hearing aid. The assembly comprises a perforated cap configured to be mounted over the lateral end of the hearing aid to protect the hearing aid from contaminants. At a least a portion of the cap includes a protective coating and a plurality of perforations. The placement and size of the perforations can be configured to provide sufficient aeration and drainage to reduce a relative humidity of the cap interior when the hearing aid is positioned in the ear canal. The perforations also operate as sound conduction channels for conducting sound to the cap interior. The perforations have a minimum size wherein a single perforation provides sufficient acoustic transmittance to a hearing aid component such that a hearing aid performance parameter is not substantially adversely affected. They can also be configured to provide splash protection for the cap interior.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a removal tool for atraumatically removing a hearing device inserted deeply in the ear canal of a user. The removal tool comprises a shaft adapted to be grasp in the hand and a plurality of hooks or other attachment elements coupled to a first end of the shaft. The hooks have a shape and orientation configured to minimize injurious contact with the walls of the ear canal when the removal tool is inserted into the ear canal. The hooks are also configured to detachably engage a loop structure or other attachment system of the hearing device for removal of the device independent of a radial orientation of the shaft with respect to the hearing device. The hooks can also be configured to engage the loop structure in two or more planes for removal of the hearing device. Also, the hooks can be configured to engage the loop structure so as to exert minimal axial force on the hearing device in a medial direction.

Abstract: Slab gels are cast in a gel enclosure which consists of a flat rectangular plate held against a larger plate by a flexible sealing sheet with a removable edge. The smaller plate is retained within raised edges along three sides of the larger plate and rests on a pair of shoulders along two of the raised edges. The sealing sheet spans all three raised edges and the smaller plate resting between them, thereby sealing three sides of the chamber between the plates, the width of the chamber being established by the shoulders. One edge of the sealing sheet is removable to expose the lower end of the gel slab to a buffer solution to permit the performance of an electrophoretic separation in the enclosure once the gel has been formed. A depression in the raised edge underlying the removable edge of the sealing sheet increases the access of a buffer solution to the lower end of the gel slab during electrophoresis.

Abstract: A valve assembly is disposed between an accumulator and a pressure chamber in a hydraulic brake booster. The valve assembly operates to communicate the pressurized fluid to the pressure chamber when the pressurized fluid within the pressure chamber is insufficient to provide a power assist during braking. The valve assembly comprises a base which is received within a housing separating the accumulator from the pressure chamber. The base defines an opening leading to the housing bore and a body extends into the opening to define a clearance between the base and the body. The clearance leads to a recess on one end of the body which cooperates with a recess on the other end of the body to define a shear line for the body. The body is cut out on the one end of the body adjacent the recess to define a secondary passage and a portion of the body is movable after shearing into engagement with the base to substantially take up the clearance.