D-0128226-A – 2020/12
Air Fx Caloric Irrigator – Instructions for Use - US
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Figure 3
Place Speculum on Otoscope Head
Figure 4
Turn Speculum Clockwise to Lock, Pull Gently on
Speculum to Verify It’s Secure
Specula are latex free and silicone free. Do not put too much torque on the speculum or the plastic nub
on the inside of the speculum will break, preventing the speculum from securing to the handle. Once this
tip is broken, the speculum cannot be secured again on the handle. The speculum can be removed from
the handle by first turning the speculum counterclockwise to unlock.
The speculum must be tight to
prevent air leaks that will reduce the caloric stimulation response.
3.5 Select the irrigation temperature
If the Air Fx is used as a standalone device, press the Cool or Warm button on the front panel to select
the irrigation temperature. If the Air Fx is connected to a VNG/ENG system with compatible software, then
the software will select the irrigation temperature based on the test or system settings.
NOTICE: If the irrigator system is used along with VNG/ENG software, refer to the respective software
user manual for computer specification and supported operating system related information.
The irrigator front panel LCD display will show the irrigation method (Cool or Warm) followed by the
desired irrigation temperature (24°C) and the current temperature (e. g. 23. 4°C).
Cool:
24°C
23. 4°C
Irrigation will be available after the desired temperature has been reached and stabilized. Once this
occurs, the Air Fx will emit an indicator tone and will display “
Ready
” below the irrigation information.
Cool:
24°C
24. 2°C
Ready
3.6 Perform the irrigation
An audiologist or physician should inspect the patient’s ear with an otoscope
prior to testing, looking for infection, open wounds, wax impaction, or a
perforated eardrum. If any of these are observed, DO NOT proceed with
irrigation using the Air Fx irrigator.
Prior to irrigation, the patient should be supine with the head elevated 30 degrees to place the lateral
semi-circular canals in the vertical plane. The operator should sit next to the patient alongside the ear
being irrigated. Hold the irrigator handle in one hand and instruct the patient what will occur and what the
patient will feel. Insert the otoscope with the 2. 75mm diameter speculum into the patient’s ear while
peering through the otoscope magnifying lens. Adjust the direction of the speculum looking for the
tympanic membrane (TM). Direct the air stream continuously at the TM during the whole irrigation. Press
the white push button on the irrigator handle to start the countdown timer. If connected to the computer
with compatible VNG/ENG software, the test will begin recording as well. During irrigation the LCD
display will display “Irrigating” and the amount of time that has elapsed. To restart the test hold down on
the white button for 3 seconds and the timer will reset and abort the VNG/ENG tracing.
