Device and method for determining the presence of middle ear fluid
AssigneeThe Cleveland Clinic Foundation
InventorsRahul Seth, Matthew R. Ford, Andrew M. Rollins, Paul K. Krakovitz
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Abstract
A device for determining the presence of abnormal fluid in a middle ear of a subject includes an elongated probe, a first light source housed within the elongated probe, and a second light source housed within the elongated probe. The elongated probe includes a distal end for inspection of an ear. The First light source is configured to convey an optical beam through a tympanic membrane associated with the middle ear of the subject, without puncturing the tympanic membrane. The second light source is configured to convey light through the distal end of the elongated probe and illuminate the tympanic membrane.
Claims8
A method for determining the presence of abnormal fluid in a middle ear of a subject, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a device comprising an elongated probe having a distal end configured for inspection of an ear of the subject, a first light source housed within the elongated probe and configured to operate at a low power;
- activating the first light source to convey an optical beam through the tympanic membrane without puncturing the tympanic membrane;
- and
- creating a reflectance pattern associated with the tympanic membrane based on the optical beam;
- and
- observing the reflectance pattern through the device;
- wherein a substantially diffuse reflectance pattern indicates the presence of abnormal fluid in the middle ear of the subject.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.