OTOSCOPE

• US 3,728,998 A
• Filed: 01/26/1971
• Issued: 04/24/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Helmut A. Heine
• Original Assignee: Helmut A. Heine
• Inventors: Heine, Helmut A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laudenslager, Lucie H.
• Application Number:
  US05/108,704
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 128/9,6 350/96B
• US Class Current: 600/200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes

Abstract

An improved otoscope construction utilizing fiber optics light transmission in which the fiber optic-carrying portion is fabricated as a separate and unitary member for assembly with additional component parts which, when combined, form an otoscope head.

Claims

1. An otoscope comprising a support body having an upper end and having the general configuration of a truncated cone with a cylindrical passage therethrough and a lower end having the general configuration of a truncated cone with a cylindrical passage therethrough, the lower end being disposed at an angle to the upper end, a substantially rigid optical fiber moldment, one end of said moldment comprising a circular mass of fiber ends, the other end of said moldment comprising an annulus of fiber ends extending at an angle to said circular end, the angle between said moldment ends being substantially equal to the angle between said upper and lower ends of said support body, said circular end of said moldment being removably seated within said cylindrical passage of said lower end, and inner and outer members of substantially conical shape, the narrow end of said inner member being removably disposed within the annular end of said moldment, said outer member being disposed around said moldment and inner member, said outer member being removably seated in said cylindrical passage in said upper end of said support body.

2. An otoscope as claimed in claim 1 wherein the narrow end of said inner member, when disposed within the annular end of said moldment extends beyond the outer end of the annular end of said moldment.

3. An otoscope as claimed in claim 2 wherein the narrow end of said outer member, when disposed around said moldment and said inner member extends beyond the ends of said inner member and said moldment.

4. An otoscope as claimed in claim 1 wherein said circular end of said moldment is positioned within said cylindrical passage at a distance from the lower end of said support body, said distance being sufficient to receive an illuminating bulb within said cylindrical passage of said lower end.