Airport Security Metal Detector; X-Ray Machines - Advanced Bionics Platinum Series User Manual

You should take the following basic precautions in order to reduce the chances of an
ESD event:
• Electrostatic potential can be safely reduced by touching any person or object
with your fi ngers prior to contact with a headpiece, cables or sound proces-
sor. Hand contact will safely equalize electric charge and prevent sparks from
jumping to the processor system. When approached by someone (for example
on carpet), touch him or her fi rst with your hand prior to them touching your
external components. Parents are advised to touch their child before they touch
a headpiece or sound processor that their child is wearing. Also, before placing
any part of a processor system on a table or other surface, you should fi rst touch
the surface.
• Avoid contact between your processor/cables/headpiece and metal surfaces be-
fore you touch the metal surface with your hand. Children should remove their
headpiece and processor before engaging in activities that commonly create
static electricity, such as playing on plastic play equipment.
• Carefully exit motor vehicles, particularly in dry, cold weather. Try to avoid contact
between processor system components and any vehicle metal as you exit.
• When possible, remove your external equipment prior to removing sweaters.
• The screens of televisions and computer monitors are highly charged. Contact
is a problem for two reasons: First, the charge on screens can cause sparks.
Second, brushing or touching a screen can transfer a charge that will then dis-
charge when you come in contact with another object or person. Do not touch
TV or computer screens.
• Use fabric softener when washing clothes and bedding, this will reduce the likeli-
hood of charge generation. If you strip a bed while wearing a processor
system, please remember to use your hands to safely reduce any charge buil-
dup you may have acquired.
REMEMBER: "Touch with hands fi rst!"
Airport Security Metal Detectors
Metal detectors and security scanners will not damage your implant. However, the
implant system may activate the detector alarm as you pass through a security metal
detector. Remember to carry your Patient Identifi cation Card with you at all times.
You might also hear a distorted sound caused by the magnetic fi eld around the se-
curity scanner door or hand-held screening wand. Turning down the volume on your
Processor before passing through security screening will ensure that those sounds, if
they occur, are not too loud or uncomfortable.

X-Ray Machines

X-Ray machines will not damage the implant but may damage the headpiece micro-
phone. Avoid placing the headpiece in checked or carry-on baggage that is screened
with x-rays. During airport security screening, the headpiece should either be worn
through the metal detector or be hand-examined.
36 User Guide for the Platinum Series Sound Processor