Grideye sensor

A device for minimizing positional inaccuracy when detecting ear infections, the device comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a sensor array configured to measure tympanic temperatures across multiple points on a tympanic membrane of a patient;
• a housing configured to contain the one or more processors and the sensor array, the housing having a distal portion configured for at least partial insertion into an ear canal of the patient:
• and
• non-transitory computer-readable media, housed in the housing. storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
• receiving an indication that a portion of the device has been inserted into an ear canal of the patient;
• receiving sensor data from the sensor array, the sensor data indicating temperature information at grid-coordinate locations of the sensor array;
• determining, from the temperature information and the grid-coordinate locations, a coverage metric indicating coverage of the tympanic membrane by the sensor array;
• determining whether the coverage metric satisfies a coverage criterion for reducing positional inaccuracy;
• determining. from the sensor data, whether an occlusion area within the ear canal impacts the coverage metric;
• generating a compensated subset of the sensor data by excluding or compensating sensor data associated with the occlusion area or with portions of the sensor array that fail to satisfy the coverage criterion;
• detecting, based at least in part on the compensated subset of the sensor data and the coverage metric satisfying the coverage criterion, signs of infection in the ear canal of the patient;
• and
• identifying infection areas within the ear canal based at least in part on the compensated subset of the sensor data and the coverage metric.

A method for detecting ear infections, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication that a portion of a device for measuring inner ear temperatures has been inserted into an ear canal of a patient;
• receiving sensor data from a sensor array of the device, the sensor data indicating temperature information at grid-coordinate locations of the sensor array;
• determining, from the temperature information and the grid-coordinate locations, a coverage metric indicating coverage of a tympanic membrane by the sensor array;
• determining whether the coverage metric satisfies a coverage criterion for detecting infection areas;
• determining, from the sensor data, whether an occlusion area within the ear canal impacts the coverage metric;
• generating a compensated subset of the sensor data by excluding or compensating sensor data associated with the occlusion area or with portions of the sensor array that fail to satisfy the coverage criterion;
• detecting, based at least in part on the compensated subset of the sensor data and the coverage metric satisfying the coverage criterion, signs of infection in the ear canal of the patient;
• and
• identifying infection areas within the ear canal based at least in part on the compensated subset of the sensor data and the coverage metric.