Speculum for simultaneously viewing and removing obstructions
OwnerJonathon S. Sillmaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ear speculum is provided for use with a standard otoscope for simultaneously viewing and removing an obstruction from a patient's ear canal. Alternative embodiments can perform like functions in other body canals. Affixed to the speculum is a guide tube through which an elongated, flexible probe may be passed into the ear canal without hindering visibility through the speculum. Various embodiments of the flexible probe function to grasp, suction, or cut obstructions within the ear canal. Additionally, the speculum may be used in conjunction with an embodiment of the probe designed to puncture a patient's eardrum and collect a sample of middle ear fluid which is subsequently released into the ear canal.
Claims19
An ear speculum for use with an otoscope for guiding an elongated, flexible probe into a patient's ear canal while simultaneously viewing the ear canal and a distal end of the probe, the ear speculum comprising:
- a generally frusto-conical shape with an enlarged proximal end which is removably attachable to the otoscope, a relatively smaller distal end sized to be inserted into the ear canal, and a tapered tubular section extending therebetween which is aligned along a central viewing axis;
- and
- a guide tube affixed to the tapered tubular section of the speculum, the guide tube having an open proximal end which is freely accessible and spaced from the proximal end of the speculum when the speculum is inserted into the ear canal and a distal end adjacent the distal end of the speculum, the guide tube facilitating insertion of the flexible probe through the guide tube into the ear canal while simultaneously viewing the ear canal and the distal end of the probe extending beyond the distal end of the guide tube.
An ear speculum for use with an otoscope for guiding an elongated, flexible probe into a patient's ear canal while simultaneously viewing the ear canal and a distal end of the probe the ear speculum comprising:
- a generally frusto-conical shape with an enlarged proximal end which is removably attachable to the otoscope, a relatively smaller distal end sized to be inserted into the ear canal, and a tapered tubular section extending therebetween which is aligned along a central viewing axis:
- and
- a guide tube affixed to the tapered tubular section of the speculum, the guide tube having an open proximal end which is freely accessible and spaced from the speculum when the speculum is inserted into the ear canal and a distal end adjacent the distal end of the speculum, the guide tube facilitating insertion of the flexible probe through the guide tube into the ear canal while simultaneously viewing the ear canal and the distal end of the probe extending beyond the distal end of the guide tube,
- the distal end of the guide tube being open and located a distance of between about 4 to 5 mm from the distal end of the speculum allowing for the removal of obstructions which may block the entrance of the ear canal.
An apparatus for use with a scope for guiding an elongated probe into a body orifice while simultaneously viewing both the orifice and a distal end of the probe, the apparatus comprising:
- a speculum having an enlarged proximal end that is removably attachable to the scope, a distal end sized smaller than the proximal end for insertion into the body orifice, and a tubular section extending between the proximal end of the speculum and the distal end of the speculum;
- and
- a guide tube extending from the speculum and having an open proximal end and an open distal end, the proximal end of the guide tube being spaced from the speculum to facilitate insertion of the probe through the guide tube and into the body orifice.
An apparatus for use with a scope for guiding an elongated probe into a body orifice while simultaneously viewing both the orifice and a distal end of the probe, the apparatus comprising:
- a speculum having an enlarged proximal end that is removably attachable to the scope, a distal end sized smaller than the proximal end for insertion into the body orifice, and a tubular section extending between from the proximal end of the speculum and the distal end of the speculum, the speculum defining an interior;
- and
- a closed guide tube coupled to the speculum and having an open proximal end and an open distal end, the distal end of the guide tube being located within the interior of the speculum, the distal end of the guide tube being spaced from the distal end of the speculum within the interior of the speculum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.