Attachment For a Device for Delivering Fluid into an Ear Canal

Abstract

An attachment for a device for generating an airflow or for dispensing a fluid, which attachment is adapted to be inserted at least in sections into an external ear canal of a human or animal ear. The attachment has a connecting piece for connecting the attachment to the device for generating an airflow, and has a guide vane of tongue-like design with a guide vane base for guiding air flowing out of the device for generating an airflow via the connecting piece.

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20. An attachment for a device for delivering fluid into an ear canal, comprising: a connecting piece adapted to be connected to the device; a guide vane projecting from the connecting piece adapted to guide a fluid flowing out of the device; a first section of the guide vane adjacent the connecting piece has a longitudinal cross-sectional profile curved in a first direction, a second section of the guide vane extending longitudinally from the first section has a longitudinal cross-sectional profile curved in a second direction, and the two curved sections extend in a curved manner opposite to one another.

21. The attachment of claim 20, further comprising an ear funnel projecting from the connecting piece and at least partially enveloping the guide vane.

22. The attachment of claim 20, wherein a cross-section of the guide vane is U-shaped.

23. The attachment of claim 20, wherein: the guide vane has a first guide vane cheek and a second guide vane cheek that form a guide channel for the fluid flowing out of the device; the first guide vane cheek projects from a first longitudinal edge of a base of the guide vane and the second guide vane cheek projects from a second longitudinal edge of the base of the guide vane opposite the first longitudinal edge.

24. The attachment of claim 20, wherein the guide vane has an end section extending inside the connecting piece.

25. The attachment of claim 20, wherein the guide vane has a curved cross-sectional profile.

26. The attachment of claim 20, wherein the guide vane has a curved cross-sectional profile over the entire length of the guide vane.

27. The attachment of claim 20, wherein the first section and the second section merge into each other.

28. The attachment of claim 20, wherein the guide vane intersects a longitudinal axis of the attachment, which longitudinal axis passes through a center point of a cross-section of the connecting piece normal to the longitudinal cross-sectional profiles.

29. An ear drying apparatus, comprising: a device for delivering fluid into an ear canal; the attachment of claim 20; wherein the fluid comprises air for drying the ear canal.

30. An ear cleaning apparatus, comprising: a device for delivering fluid into an ear canal; the attachment of claim 20; wherein the fluid comprises liquid for cleaning the ear canal.

31. The attachment of claim 20, wherein the attachment is adapted to be connected to different ear funnels having different sizes or shapes, such that the attachment can be used with ear canals having different sizes or shapes.

32. An attachment for a device for delivering fluid into an ear canal, comprising: a connecting piece adapted to be connected to the device; a guide vane having a guide vane base projecting from the connecting piece to guide a fluid flowing out of the device, the guide vane base being formed by a concave surface of the guide vane; a first section of the guide vane base adjacent the connecting piece has a longitudinal cross-sectional profile curved in a first direction, a second section of the guide vane base extending longitudinally from the first section has a longitudinal cross-sectional profile curved in a second direction, and the two curved sections extend in a curved manner opposite to one another.

33. The attachment of claim 32, wherein the guide vane base has an end section extending inside the connecting piece.

34. The attachment of claim 32, wherein the guide vane has a curved cross-sectional profile.

35. The attachment of claim 32, wherein the first section and the second section merge into each other.

36. The attachment of claim 32, wherein the guide vane base intersects a longitudinal axis of the attachment, which longitudinal axis passes through a center point of a cross-section of the connecting piece normal to the longitudinal cross-sectional profiles.

37. An attachment for a device for dispensing a fluid, which attachment is adapted to be introduced into an ear canal, wherein the attachment comprises: a connecting piece adapted to be connected to the device, and a guide vane having a guide vane base projecting from the connecting piece to guide fluid flowing out of the device, wherein, viewed from the connecting piece, the gradient of a tangent to the guide vane base: decreases with the distance from the connecting piece in a first longitudinal section of the guide vane base, and increases with the distance from the connecting piece in a second longitudinal section of the guide vane base, wherein the second section of the guide vane extends longitudinally from the first section.

38. The attachment of claim 37, wherein the guide vane base has an end section extending inside the connecting piece.

39. The attachment of claim 37, wherein the first section and the second section of the guide vane merge into each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] The present teaching is now explained in more detail using embodiment examples. The figures are exemplary and are supposed to present the idea of present teaching, but in no way restrict it or even finally reproduce it, wherein:

[0057] FIG. 1a shows an attachment according to the present teaching in a first embodiment;

[0058] FIG. 1b shows an ear funnel of the first embodiment of the attachment according to the present teaching;

[0059] FIG. 2a shows the first embodiment of the attachment with the ear funnel in a first perspective view;

[0060] FIG. 2b shows the first embodiment of the attachment with the ear funnel in a second perspective view;

[0061] FIG. 3a shows a longitudinal sectional view through the attachment of FIGS. 2a and 2b, which is fastened to a device for generating an airflow;

[0062] FIG. 3b shows a longitudinal sectional view through the attachment of FIGS. 2a and 2b;

[0063] FIG. 4a shows a cross-sectional view of the attachment of FIG. 3b according to A-A;

[0064] FIG. 4b shows a cross-sectional view of the attachment of FIG. 3b according to B-B;

[0065] FIG. 4c shows a cross-sectional view of the attachment of FIG. 3b according to C-C;

[0066] FIG. 5a shows an ear drying apparatus according to the present teaching, comprising the attachment according to the first embodiment without ear funnel;

[0067] FIG. 5b shows an ear drying apparatus according to the present teaching, comprising the attachment according to the first embodiment with ear funnel;

[0068] FIG. 5c shows the ear drying apparatus according to the present teaching with a protective cap;

[0069] FIG. 6a shows a first flow course in an external ear canal, which was produced by the attachment according to the present teaching;

[0070] FIG. 6b shows a second flow course in an external ear canal, which was produced by the attachment according to the present teaching;

[0071] FIG. 6c shows a third flow course in an external ear canal, which was produced by the attachment according to the present teaching;

[0072] FIG. 7a shows a line representation of FIG. 1a;

[0073] FIG. 7b shows a line representation of FIG. 1b;

[0074] FIG. 7c shows a line representation of FIG. 2a;

[0075] FIG. 7d shows a line representation of FIG. 2b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0076] In the following description, the term “longitudinal section” means a section through an attachment 1 according to the present teaching 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 section.

[0077] In principle, there is a large number of conceivable embodiments of the attachment according to the present teaching, 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 geometry 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.

[0078] In a first embodiment, the attachment 1 according to the present teaching 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 replaced, 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 drying process is also very favorable from a hygienic point of view.

[0079] In a second embodiment, the attachment according to the present teaching 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 connecting piece. This enables a particularly hygienic use of the attachment according to the present teaching, as the unit comprising the ear funnel and the guide vane can be replaced after each application.

[0080] In a third embodiment, the attachment according to the present teaching 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 embodiment. 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 addition, the attachment can be manufactured particularly easily and thus inexpensively due to its integral design.

[0081] 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 separate components.

[0082] In the following, the present teaching is described in more detail using the first embodiment of the attachment 1 according to the present teaching as depicted in FIGS. 1 to 6; the second and third embodiments, however, are not depicted in FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0083] FIG. 1a is a perspective representation of this embodiment of the attachment 1 according to the present teaching 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.

[0084] The connecting piece 4 forms the section of the attachment 1, which ensures that the attachment 1 holds on to the device 2 for generating an airflow.

[0085] 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.

[0086] FIG. 3a shows a longitudinal section of the attachment 1 according to the present teaching 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 attachment 1 from FIG. 3a with ear funnel 18, wherein the attachments 1 shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b are identical except for the ear funnel 18.

[0087] The essentially sleeve-shaped connecting piece 4 serves to connect the attachment 1 to the device 2 for generating an airflow and enables the airflow from the device 2 to flow into the attachment 1. The geometry of the connecting piece 4 is determined by the geometry of an outlet opening 15 of the device 2 for generating an airflow, 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).

[0088] In order to be able to use the attachment 1 illustrated in FIG. 3a for drying the external 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.

[0089] 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.

[0090] 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 proximal end area of the attachment 1, which is closest to the user's eardrum 31.

[0091] 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, wherein the two curved sections 5a, 5b extend in a curved manner opposite to each other. In the embodiment example shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the second section 5b has a proximal end 7 of the guide vane 5.

[0092] 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 present teaching, 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 section 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 distance from the connecting piece 4.

[0093] 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 because it is remote from the user's eardrum 31. 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 possible 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 attachments 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 attachment 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.

[0094] 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 embodiment 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.

[0095] FIG. 4a shows the cross-section of the attachment 1 according to the present teaching according to intersecting line A-A from FIG. 3b. FIG. 4b shows the cross-section according 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.

[0096] 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 apply to the first embodiment of attachment 1 without ear funnel 18 as shown in FIG. 3a.

[0097] The attachment 1 according to the first embodiment may be inserted into the external ear canal 3 with or without ear funnel 18 in order to be used as intended for drying the external ear canal 3.

[0098] The attachment 1 shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 3b is obtained by detachably connecting attachment 1 shown in FIGS. 1a and 3a with the ear funnel 18 shown in perspective 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 other 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 end section of the ear funnel 18.

[0099] 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 funnel 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 corresponding axis of rotation of the ear funnel 18.

[0100] 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 funnel 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 possible 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.

[0101] 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.

[0102] 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 attachment 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 controlled manner without risking injury to the external ear canal 3 and/or the eardrum.

[0103] 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 inlet opening 23 two thirds of the proximal opening 19.

[0104] 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 particularly 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.

[0105] 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.

[0106] 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.

[0107] In order to prevent the guide vane 5 from deforming during the intended use of the present teaching 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.

[0108] FIG. 3a shows attachment 1 in a connection position in which attachment 1 is connected to device 2 for generating an airflow (see also FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c).

[0109] For the purpose of connection, the attachment 1 with the connecting piece 4 is inserted in sections into the outlet opening 15 for the airflow of the device 2 for generating an airflow. A snap-in projection 17 at a device end section of the connecting piece 4 prevents an unintentional release of the connection between the device 2 for generating an airflow and the attachment 1. Basically, however, many different types of connection of the attachment 1 to the device 2 are conceivable. The airflow emerging from device 2 therefore 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.

[0110] A spacer 28 arranged, at least in sections, circumferentially around the circumference of the connecting piece 4 is positioned against a housing of the device 2 for generating an airflow 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 friction, wherein other connection options also exist—for example by means of interlocking latching grooves and latching projections.

[0111] FIG. 5a shows an ear drying apparatus in accordance with the present teaching, comprising the device 2 for generating an airflow and the attachment 1 in accordance with the present teaching and in accordance with the first embodiment of the attachment in accordance with the present teaching, wherein the ear funnel 18 has been removed from the integrally formed unit consisting of connecting piece 4 and guide vane 5 and is therefore not visible.

[0112] Device 2 is preferably specially designed for the purpose of drying ears and may preferably be formed so as to be portable.

[0113] FIG. 5b shows the ear drying apparatus according to the present teaching, comprising the device 2 for generating an airflow and the attachment 1 according to the present teaching with ear funnel 18.

[0114] FIG. 5c shows the ear drying apparatus according to the present teaching 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.

[0115] FIG. 6a is a schematic representation of the flow characteristic of a device according to the present teaching 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 present teaching. 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 external ear canal 3.

[0116] FIG. 6b also shows attachment 1 inserted into the ear canal 3, but with a smaller insertion depth than in FIG. 6a.

[0117] 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 airflow 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.

[0118] 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 selected 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.

[0119] The FIGS. 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d are line representations of FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b.