Back to results
US 11,998,177 B2Granted
Scope
AssigneeNational University of Ireland, Galway
InventorsIvan Keogh, Rory O′Callaghan, Elizabeth McGloughlin, Martin Gallagher, Christina Walsh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A scope (1) for examining or surgically treating ears comprising at least one camera (6), a light source (7), and a stabilizer (2) for supporting the camera (7) in or on the stabilizer (2), the stabilizer (2) being integral with the camera (7) and being configured to stabilize the scope (1) in an ear canal.
Claims27
A scope for examining or surgically treating ears comprising:
- at least one camera;
- a stabilizer for supporting the camera in or on the stabilizer, the stabilizer being configured to stabilize the scope in an ear canal wherein the scope is configured to maintain its center of gravity within a volume contained within the stabilizer, the stabilizer comprising a distal end and a proximal end having a greater weight towards its distal end thereby lowering the center of gravity of the scope towards the ear canal;
- a scope holder;
- and
- a headrest device for supporting a patient's head;
- wherein the headrest device is self-adjusting in response to patient head movement and comprises a headrest and a scope stand co-operable with the headrest to move in response to headrest movement to automatically re-position a scope held in the scope stand, and wherein the headrest comprises a convex lower face which allows the headrest to follow a patient's head movements.
3 more elements
A method of examining the external and middle ear during surgery, comprising:
- placing a scope into the ear canal, the scope comprising
- at least one camera and a stabilizer for supporting the camera in or on the stabilizer, the stabilizer being configured to stabilize the scope in the ear canal wherein the scope is configured to maintain its center of gravity within a volume contained within the stabilizer during treatment, the stabilizer comprising a distal end and a proximal end having a greater weight towards its distal end thereby lowering the center of gravity of the scope towards the ear canal;
- employing a dynamic two-handed technique;
- and
- viewing a camera feed from the scope while retaining the scope within the ear canal.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.