# US 8,771,193 B2 · Canal type mini-apparatuses insertable in ears for diagnosing and curing diseases

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- Number: US 8,771,193 B2
- Document ID: US8771193B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/356,529
- Filed: 2012-01-23
- Published: 2012-10-04
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2011-04-01
- Assignees: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
- Applicants: Chang-Geun Ahn; Sooyeul Lee
- Inventors: Chang-Geun Ahn; Sooyeul Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771193B2

## CPC

- A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters
- A61B 1/00011: {characterised by signal transmission}
- A61B 1/227: for ears, i.e. otoscopes
- A61B 5/0002: {Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network (endoradiosondes A61B5/07)}
- A61B 5/0036: {including treatment, e.g., using an implantable medical device, ablating, ventilating}
- A61B 5/015: {By temperature mapping of body part}
- A61B 5/6817: {Ear canal}
- A61B 1/00009: {of image signals during a use of endoscope}
- A61B 5/02055: {Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature}
- A61B 5/02438: {with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient}
- A61B 2018/00327: {Ear, nose or throat}
- A61B 2090/378: {using ultrasound}
- A61F 7/12: Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities
- A61F 2007/0005: {Ears}
- A61M 31/002: {Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time (artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50)}
- A61N 2005/0605: {Ear}
- A61N 2007/0043: {intra-cavitary}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)

## Abstract

Provided is a canal type mini-apparatus insertable in an ear for diagnosing a disease. The canal type mini-apparatus includes a canal body and a protrusion body. The canal body is insertable in an ear and includes a bio-data detection unit at an end thereof. The bio-data detection unit is configured to detect biological data from an inside of the ear for diagnosing a disease. The protrusion body is disposed at the other end of the canal body and including a data transceiving unit. The data transceiving unit is configured to control the bio-data detection unit and transmit/receive a signal to/from an analyzing device. When the canal type mini-apparatus is inserted in the ear, at least a portion of the protrusion body protrudes outward from the ear.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A canal type mini-apparatus insertable in an ear, the canal type mini-apparatus comprising:
a canal body insertable in an ear and comprising at least one of a bio-data detection unit and a medium injection unit at an end thereof, the bio-data detection unit being configured to detect biological data from an inside of the ear for diagnosing a disease, the medium injection unit being configured to generate a medium to the inside of the ear for curing the diagnosed disease; and
a protrusion body disposed at the other end of the canal body and comprising a data transceiving unit, the data transceiving unit being configured to control the bio-data detection unit and the medium injection unit and transmit/receive a signal to/from an analyzing device,
wherein when the canal type mini-apparatus is inserted in the ear, at least a portion of the protrusion body protrudes outward from the ear,
wherein the protrusion body has a socket or adaptor shape for coupling with the canal body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The canal type mini-apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bio-data detection unit is configured to capture an image from an inner skin of the ear for diagnosing at least one of tympanitis, tympanum trouble, and jaundice.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The canal type mini-apparatus of claim 2, wherein the bio-data detection unit comprises:
an image capture unit configured to capture the image of the inner skin of the ear;
a data processing unit configured to convert the image into a transmission signal; and
a data transmitting unit configured to transmit the transmission signal to the analyzing device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The canal type mini-apparatus of claim 3, wherein the image capture unit comprises at least one set of a set of an optical source and an image sensor and a set of an ultrasonic generator and an ultrasonic detector.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The canal type mini-apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bio-data detection unit is configured to detect a basic biological signal including at least one of temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The canal type mini-apparatus of claim 1, wherein if the analyzing device diagnoses a disease based on biological data detected from the inside of the ear by the bio-data detection unit and transmits a medium-request signal, the medium injection unit generates the medium for curing the disease.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The canal type mini-apparatus of claim 1, wherein the medium injection unit comprises:
a data receiving unit configured to receive a transmission signal providing information about a diagnosed disease from the analyzing device;
a medium control unit configured to select a medium suitable for curing the diagnosed disease based on the transmission signal; and
a medium generating unit configured to generate the medium selected by the medium control unit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The canal type mini-apparatus of claim 7, wherein the medium generating unit comprises at least one of a far-infrared generator, a heat generator, an ultrasonic generator, and a plasma generator.