Combination otoscope
OwnerRichard W. Newman, Dominick Dannainventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An otoscopic instrument permits visual inspection of the ear canal and includes at least one chemical sensing element for detecting a fluid indicative of a disease as well as at least one of an infrared thermometer, and a mechanism for determining pressure variations and the presence of fluid in the ear for providing a comprehensive examination of a patient. The instrument can also be adapted for use with other body cavities such as the throat and nose, among others.
Claims166
A medical diagnostic instrument comprising:
- at least one chemical sensor for determining the presence of a fluid indicative of a disease;
- and
- viewing means for viewing a medical target of interest.
An otological instrument comprising:
- oto-reflectance means for determining at least one of detecting a middle-ear disorder and hearing in the inner ear;
- and
- pathogen sensing means for determining the presence of a disease.
A medical diagnostic instrument comprising:
- viewing means for viewing a medical target;
- and
- temperature measuring means for measuring body temperature of a patient, said temperature measuring means including at least one sensor capable of producing an output signal which is indicative of temperature and processing electronics for processing output signals from said at least one sensor.
An instrument for determining the condition of an ear, said instrument comprising:
- means for viewing the ear interior;
- and
- means for measuring pressure variations within the ear.
A diagnostic instrument comprising:
- means for viewing a medical target;
- and
- sensing means for detecting the presence of pathogen at the medical target.
An instrument for determining conditions of the ear, said instrument comprising:
- temperature measuring means for determining the body temperature of a patient, said temperature measuring means including at least one miniature infrared sensor capable of providing a thermal image of the interior of the ear;
- and
- pressure measuring means for measuring pressure variations within the middle ear.
A medical diagnostic instrument comprising:
- temperature measuring means for determining the body temperature of a patient, said temperature measuring means including an array of infrared sensors capable of providing a thermal image of a medical target;
- and
- sensing means for sensing the presence of pathogens indicative of an anomalous medical condition.
A medical instrument system capable of comprehensively examining the ear, said system comprising:
- a housing having an insertion portion sized for fitting a predetermined distance within the ear canal of a patient;
- means for examining the outer ear;
- means for examining the middle ear;
- and
- means for examining the inner ear of a patient, each of said examining means being at least partially contained within said housing.
An otological instrument comprising:
- pressure determining means for determining pressure variations in the middle ear;
- and
- means for sensing the presence of pathogens in the ear.
A method for examining a medical target using a combination otoscope, said method comprising the steps of:
- disposing at least one chemical sensing element in an otoscope, said at least one chemical sensing element being capable of detecting at least one fluid indicative of a disease;
- performing an otological examination of an ear of patient;
- placing said at least one chemical sensing element into the ear;
- and
- indicating when said at least one fluid is detected.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.