Otoscope providing multi-directional illumination
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsJames Berbee, Azita Hamedani, Greg Rebella
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An otoscope provides a disposable speculum sleeve that conducts light to a narrow tip holding an electronic camera. By removing the light source from the tip, the diameter of the tip may be further reduced to allow the space of the ear canal to be shared between the otoscope and a tool such as a curette for removing foreign objects or to permit the tip to navigate around ear obstructions. The sleeve may provide for multidirectional illumination of the ear structure for improved visualization. The tip and sleeve may be flexible for increased patient comfort when using a compact tip design.
Claims16
An otoscope comprising:
- a housing adapted for support by a hand of a healthcare professional and having a housing distal end;
- an elongate probe element having a probe proximal end movably attached to the housing so that a probe distal end of the elongate probe may extend between an extension position beyond the housing distal end and a retraction position retracted from the extension position;
- an electronic camera supported by the probe distal end for viewing into the ear canal;
- and
- a sheath having a sheath proximal end removably coupled to the housing and extending beyond the housing distal end to cover at least a portion of the elongate probe beyond the housing distal end when the elongate probe is in the extension position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.