… my invention reflects my Neanderthal roots!
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I had a bilateral cataract removal operation recently. There is far too much liquid around for wearing hearing aids to be possible in that situation, so I took them out and put them into my pocket as I sat on the operating table.
I had already agreed with the surgeon that I would do this and said that I would need him to speak up if he wanted to ask or tell me something, in particular about whether to proceed with the second eye once the first was done. He said “That’s ok. I will shout. I need the exercise!”
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I carry my aids in a leather pouch, usually marketed for keeping e.g. air gun pellets in. A nice sturdy rigid thing, with a clip for a lanyard, where I also keep a couple of spare cells and tube cleaning wire. They come in 2.5 and 3.5" diameters. The 2.5" one is just right for my aids, and fits well in a pocket or slung around my neck, inside my shirt.
Since I am quite active and outdoorsy, reluctantly I take them out and pop them in the case when the weather becomes wet and windy. Rather common in the UK. Otherwise wear a wide brimmed hat to keep water away from them.
Current aids are Siemens Octiv M+, not waterproof. New aids, due soon, just waiting on the earmoulds to be completed, will be Phonak Nathos Novas, which are IP68 rated and “nano coated”. But I will still baby them.
At night they are put into a desiccator of my own devising, using self indicating silica gel pouches. PS: don’t put the partially used zinc-air cells in the desiccator, that may dry out the electrolyte inside them, reducing their life. I alternate the cells each day, between ears, to even out the usage, as my RH aid operates at higher power than my LH one, so gets through the cells more quickly.
These are NHS aids. The new Phonaks are the NHS version of the Phonak Marvel, at I think technology level 7 out of 9. The NHS hereabouts are set up to tweak them remotely using the MyPhonak app. and/or recall me for face-face fine tuning using e.g in ear measurements, as was done for my Siemens. Anticipating them eagerly, and looking forward experimenting with all the bluetoothery benefits, for phone calls, music streaming, making own custom settings etc.
@Surdi: Being an air rifle fanatic myself, I am familiar with that getup, however, here in Canada, they’re very pricey. When I’m out and about, I’m usually wearing cargo pants (the closest thing to fatigues I can find) so my Oticon case gets pocketed. It has the advantage of having form-fitted rubber inside the case that provides excellent water and pocket crud protection, in addition to shock protection, the Oticon case seals quite well. I’ve actually run the stream from the bathroom faucet directly around the edge of it,@; and only a drop or two of water has gotten inside.
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£25 for two, or £15 for one from ebay in the UK, delivered. That’s the larger size, which I think would have enough room inside for a silica gel pouch as well. In the small one I have, the aids fit neatly, don’t rattle around, and it fits smoothly inside a trouser pocket alongside my wallet. I’ll PM you some links if interested, the seller might post to Canada, if you enquired. Otherwise perhaps I could do that for you.
Certainly better than just putting the aids into a pocket etc.
@Surdi: Thanks for your kind offer. I always put my aids in their Oticon case (I have 2, strategically stowed away) before pocketing them, which occurs but rarely (I suspect the Oticon case is about the same size as the smaller leather pouch- about 3" across?j. If I were still able to spend a lot of time outdoors, I might be able to get good use out of those lovely, English-made leather pouches, but it would be such a rare occurrence …
Let me cipher on it a bit, please.
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Here’s a CT scan of my P90R.
We runned it with 125kV, 0.195mA, for 47min. Distance to tube was 110mm. Continuous exposure with industrial CT (no shutter-technique as it is used for medical devices).
Btw: the HA still works without any issue. 
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@Surdi: I appreciate the kindness of your offer very much - I’m not going to take you up on it, however, because I rarely have occasion to remove my HAs before bedtime.
My hospital excursions are events that I earnestly try to avoid. When I do have to head in to the ER, my wonderful wife and best friend of 32 years is with me, to hold on to my *Genuine Oticon More Carrying Case" and poke me in the ribs if I get cranky with the patient registration personnel!
That fine leather pouch would be wasted, but thank you anyway, for your kind consideration.
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Wow, that’s impressive. The packaging of all that is really interesting.
I think I see three boards there, flexible interconnects. Maybe a mic. board doing analogue stuff, the digital brains, and and possibly the bluetooth board. I think there might be glob-topping of bare chips in places. And using ceramic substrates for the two digital ones (thick or thin film hybrids).
The side x-ray also.
Just my speculation.
I see how the rechargeable cells are spot welded to the connection wires, and how the charging contacts are attached. Maybe not something that a a local repairer could replace easily, unless they solder the ends of the wires onto the boards, as is shown.
I see no telecoil, nor internal “receiver”, just the connection for the external ones. but maybe that fat thing that looks like a big chip capacitor is actually an inductor for the telecoil.
My, soon to be delivered, Phonak Nathos Nova Ms, have to pack those in as well. They must be crammed.
Much respect to what is inside these things, that might not be fully appreciated by some.
Good to hear that your inspection process didn’t wipe the memory, though I dare say that that is not used on 100% of devices. That’s reassuring.
Yes, it is very impressive how cramped it is.
My full respect to the developers.
And yes, I don’t have a telecoil, I think the fat thing is a cap.
If you like, I can upload the data to a cloud server for you. And a link to a free viewer. Then you can play around and explore deeper.
Do you have any more technical information on the CT scanner you used as f.i. slice thickness and collimation. Nice pictures by the way 
It seems there are different terminologies for medical and technical X-ray equipment.
I asked the specialist who operates the CT. He could not answer your questions.
The slice size could be what is called voxel size (resolution) in his world. That is about 20 um.
Thank you anyhow, great resolution… it’s a bit off- topic here 
I must say, as an electronics hobbyist, seeing this makes me feel much better about how much I paid for my P90s! Maybe the big hearing aid companies should encourage more of this (or leak some occasional rough CAD stuff now and then) to get us off their backs a little bit 
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When I remove my hearing aids before a dental procedure, should I be storing them away from the office?
Should I leave them safely stored in my car?
Or is it sufficient to put them in the storage case in my pant pocket as I’ve done in the past?
This has been a fascinating thread. Thank you everyone for your contributions.
@DaveL: Dave, as long as it’s out of the direct focal point of the beam, I think you’re okay (but remember - I’m no tech guru!)
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I always wear my aids, but remove them for x-rays, any dental treatments. My dentist is well aware of my hearing loss and works great with me.
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dbldpr you’re taking this way too personally. Stop with the attacks on ‘the radiologist’s’ character. He isn’t “implying” anything about you. No reason to feel aggrieved.
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Thanks Spud.
I take them out because I don’t want to hear what’s going on.
Dave
Thanks cvkemp.
I always wear mine too. And I make a point of taking them off/out when I sit down.
Dave
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