Apparatus and method for analysis of ear pathologies by detecting fluid in the ear, measuring body temperature and/or determining a characteristic of a fluid
First Claim
1. A medical instrument for analyzing an ear of a subject, comprising:
- a temperature sensor for measuring body temperature of the subject and providing a first signal indicative thereof;
a fluid detector for detecting presence of fluid in the ear to provide a second signal indicative thereof; and
a controller connected to the temperature sensor and the fluid detector to control acquisition of the first and second signals.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved indication of a condition of an ear of a subject, such as a human or other mammal, is provided by combining two or more measurements such as body temperature, detection of fluid in the ear (for example by acoustic reflectance), and/or a characteristic of any fluid in the ear. Results of any two of these measurements may be combined to provide improved diagnostic information. The combination of measured body temperature and a determined likelihood that fluid is present in the ear provides improved diagnostic information regarding the risk of an ear infection. In particular, if a subject has an elevated body temperature and the likelihood is high that fluid is present in the ear, an indication of a risk of ear infection may be provided by the device. The presence of fluid may be detected using acoustic reflectometry, tympanometry, pneumatic otoscopy, otoacoustic emissions or other mechanism. If temperature is measured in the ear, for example by using radiation thermometry, the combined instrumentation may be used to improve alignment between the device and the tympanic membrane, thus improving the accuracy of both temperature measurement and fluid detection. Chemical sensing of characteristics of any fluid in the ear may be combined with the detection of fluid or measurement of body temperature, or both, to provide improved diagnosis of ear pathologies. Chemical sensing determines a characteristic of the fluid, such as whether a bacterium or a virus is present. The device may provide diagnostic information from sensed characteristics of the fluid, measured likelihood that fluid is present in the ear and/or measured body temperature to indicate the risk of an ear infection. For example, the device may determine whether any fluid present is infected, and/or may identify bacteria in the fluid.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A medical instrument for analyzing an ear of a subject, comprising:
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a temperature sensor for measuring body temperature of the subject and providing a first signal indicative thereof; a fluid detector for detecting presence of fluid in the ear to provide a second signal indicative thereof; and a controller connected to the temperature sensor and the fluid detector to control acquisition of the first and second signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A process for analyzing an ear of a subject, comprising:
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measuring body temperature of the subject and providing a first signal indicative thereof; detecting presence of fluid in the ear and providing a second signal indicative thereof; and determining, using the measured body temperature and the detected presence of fluid in the ear, an indication of a condition of the ear of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A device for providing an indication of a condition of an ear of a subject, comprising:
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a first input for receiving a first signal indicative of a measured body temperature of the subject; a second input for receiving a second signal indicative of a likelihood of presence of fluid in the ear of the subject; and a processor connected to receive the first and second inputs for determining, using the measured body temperature and the likelihood of presence of fluid in the ear, the indication of the condition of the ear of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A medical instrument for analyzing an ear of a subject, comprising:
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an array of chemical sensors responsive to a characteristic of any fluid in the ear to provide a first signal indicative thereof; and a fluid detector for detecting presence of fluid in the ear to provide a second signal indicative thereof; and a controller connected to the array of chemical sensors and the fluid detector to control acquisition of the first and second signals. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A medical instrument for analyzing an ear of a subject, comprising:
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an array of chemical sensors responsive to a characteristic of the fluid to provide a first signal indicative thereof; a temperature sensor for measuring body temperature of the subject and providing a second signal indicative thereof; and a controller connected to the array of chemical sensors and the temperature sensor to control acquisition of the first and second signals. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification