Surgical ear speculums

A method, comprising:

• removing a sterilized ear speculum from a sealed packaging, the sterilized ear speculum comprising a tubular body having an anterior end, a posterior end, a first length from the anterior end to the posterior end, an inner peripheral layer, an outer peripheral layer, a middle peripheral layer between the inner peripheral layer and the outer peripheral layer, and a central cavity extending along the first length;
• contracting the sterilized ear speculum to be in a contracted state wherein the sterilized ear speculum has a contracted diameter less than a diameter of an external ear canal of a patient's ear;
• inserting the posterior end of the sterilized ear speculum in the contracted state into the external ear canal;
• expanding the sterilized ear speculum to exert pressure on a wall of the external ear canal, and to provide clear passage for surgical tools;
• inserting a surgical tool through the central cavity of the sterilized ear speculum;
• removing the surgical tool from the central cavity of the sterilized ear speculum;
• and
• removing the sterilized ear speculum from the external ear canal.

A system, comprising:

• a sealed packaging;
• a sterile surgical ear speculum disposed in the sealed packaging, the sterile surgical ear speculum comprising a tubular body having an anterior end, a posterior end, a first length from the anterior end to the posterior end, an inner peripheral membrane layer, an outer membrane peripheral layer, a middle peripheral mesh layer between the inner peripheral membrane layer and the outer peripheral membrane layer, and a central cavity extending along the first length;
• and
• at least one surgical instrument, wherein the at least one surgical instrument is inserted through the central cavity of the sterile surgical ear speculum during a surgical procedure.