# US 10,765,309 B1 · Multifunctional otoscope

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- Number: US 10,765,309 B1
- Document ID: US10765309B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/931,662
- Filed: 2015-11-03
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-11-03
- Applicants: Ziad A. Alsaifi
- Inventors: Ziad A. Alsaifi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765309B1

## CPC

- A61B 1/227: for ears, i.e. otoscopes
- A61B 1/00087: {Tools (A61B17/00234 takes precedence)}
- A61B 1/00089: {Hoods}
- A61B 1/00101: {the distal tip features being detachable}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An otoscope speculum can include forceps, a curette, or other instruments to allow healthcare providers to treat a patient while observing thought the otoscope lens. According to some embodiments, a flexible hinge on an otoscope speculum orients forceps jaws and allows the healthcare provider to close the forceps jaws by applying a squeezing force. In other embodiments, a curette on an otoscope speculum allows the healthcare provider to perform scraping operations on a patient. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be used to examine and/or treat a variety of orifices of a patient, including the ear. The various specula instruments may allow the healthcare provider to view the treatment through the otoscope lens while the instrument is in use.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An otoscope speculum, comprising:
a speculum instrument comprising forceps projecting from a distal end of the speculum;
an otoscope attachment end at a proximal end of the speculum; and
a view-hole passing from the proximal end of the speculum to the distal end of the speculum; wherein:
the forceps comprises a pair of opposed forceps jaws connected by a flexible hinge.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The otoscope speculum of claim 1, wherein each one of the pair of opposed forceps jaws comprises an inward-facing concave surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The otoscope speculum of claim 1, wherein each one of the pair of opposed forceps jaws comprises a finger squeeze grip plate.

### Claim 4

An otoscope comprising:
an otoscope head comprising a light source, a magnifying lens, and a speculum attachment point; and
a flexible power cord adapted to supply electrical power to the otoscope head;
an otoscope speculum attached to the speculum attachment point, the otoscope speculum comprising:
a speculum instrument projecting from a distal end of the speculum;
an otoscope attachment end at a proximal end of the speculum, the attachment end being attached to the speculum attachment point; and
a view-hole passing from the proximal end of the speculum to the distal end of the speculum.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The otoscope speculum of claim 4, wherein the speculum instrument comprises forceps.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The otoscope speculum of claim 4, wherein the speculum instrument comprises a curette.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The otoscope speculum of claim 4, wherein the speculum instrument comprises a scraping loop.

### Claim 8

A method of treating a patient, comprising:
attaching a speculum to an otoscope head, the speculum comprising a speculum instrument;
guiding the speculum instrument into an orifice of a patient while viewing the orifice through an otoscope lens while holding the otoscope head with only a single hand;
with the single hand, actuating the speculum instrument on an obstruction within the orifice while viewing the obstruction through the otoscope lens;
removing at least a part of the obstruction from the orifice; and
removing the speculum instrument from the orifice.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the speculum instrument comprises forceps.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein actuating the speculum instrument further comprises:
guiding a forceps jaw to the obstruction; and
closing the forceps jaw, thereby causing the forceps jaw to clamp on a portion of the obstruction.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the speculum instrument comprises a curette.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein actuating the speculum instrument further comprises moving the otoscope head relative to the orifice, thereby causing the curette to scrape a portion of the obstruction.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the speculum instrument comprises a scraping loop.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein viewing the obstruction through the otoscope lens further comprises viewing the obstruction through a view-hole of the speculum.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the otoscope head is connected to a power source via a flexible power cable, the method further comprising grasping the otoscope head in a single hand.