Ergonomic hand-held optical diagnostic instrument

An optical diagnostic system for use within a conventional physician-to-patient examining distance not exceeding the manual reach of a physican, the system comprising:

• (a) an ergonomic hand-held, non-surgical optical diagnostic medical instrument having a light image input-to-output pathway defining an axis of examination of the patient, said instrument further including integral gripping means for gripping by the physician, said instrument also including a light source for said pathway and a power supply therefor;
• (b) an optical coupling for re-directing light received from said light image pathway along said axis of examination to a pathway substantially normal thereto, said coupling in optical communication with said light image pathway;
• and
• (c) in optical communication with said coupling, a micro-video camera generating an electronic signal corresponding to re-directed light from said coupling, said micro-video camera including an exterior housing proximal to said gripping means defining, in combination with said gripping means of said instrument, means for manipulation of said instrument, said manipulation means disposed substantially co-linearly with said pathway of said re-directed light from said optical coupling, said micro-video camera proportioned in radial cross-section to about the radial cross-section of said gripping means of said diagnostic instrument, in which a virtual circumference, about both of the external housing of said micro-video camera and said gripping means of said instrument, is proportioned for engagement by the hand of an adult human.