Our lamp: Dry & Store Professional and Dry & Store Global models use a 4-watt germicidal ultraviolet lamp. The UV-C primary radiation generated by these lamps consists almost exclusively of a spectral line at 254 nm, which is close to the wavelength of 255 nm that yields maximum germicidal effect. These lamps have a clear, special glass envelope that does not allow undesirable ozone-forming radiation to pass through. Germicidal action: The resistance of micro-organisms to ultraviolet radiation varies considerably and is greatly influenced by the environment. The drier the conditions, the less UV radiation energy is required for microorganism destruction. Dry & Store’s warm, controlled temperature and its advanced Dry-Brik® desiccant create an ideal dry environment for destruction of micro-organisms.

Additionally, the air that passes around the germicidal lamp is also sanitized, ensuring the cleanest operating environment possible. Note: The UV lamp does not provide the heat for Dry & Store. Heat is provided by the electronic circuitry. The lamp serves only to kill germs, and it is only on for 3 to 8 minutes, depending on which model you have. (Note: The Zephyr model does not include the sanitizing UV lamp.) Click here for UV lamp troubleshooting guide.

The strength of UV germicidal light (scientists call this the dose) is dictated by a number of factors: the power of the bulb, the distance from the bulb to the target (in this case hearing instruments), the time that the lamp is on,and the temperature of the air through which the germicidal light passes. Using the standard formula, Dry & Store’s delivered dose is 660 to 1,100 joules per square meter.* So what does this mean to the user? By comparing data from the chart below with Dry & Store’s delivered dose, it is possible to calculate the level of bacteriological kill in one Dry & Store germicidal cycle (8 minutes for the Professional model, 3 minutes for the Global model). For example, physicians know that a very common microorganism present in most infections of the external ear canal is pseudomonas aeruginosa. The chart below indicates that a dose of 55 joules/m2 will kill 90% of such bacteria on hearing instrument surfaces that are exposed to the UV lamp.* Since the Dry & Store dose is more than ten times higher than that dose, one can predict that few, if any, pseudomonas flora would survive a single germicidal cycle. Bacteria, followed by Dose, expressed in joules per square meter. Corynebact. diptheriae, 34 Micrococcus sphaeroides 100 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 55 Staphylococcus aureus, 26 Streptococcus lactis, 62 Streptococcus viridans, 20 Mycobacterium tuberculi, 100 Mould Spores Aspergillus, 440-667 * Dosage data per Phillips Corporation

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"Better Hearing Through Better Hearing Aid Care."