Otoscope providing improved ear canal access
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An otoscope comprising:
- a housing providing a head portion and a grip portion, the grip portion adapted to be supported by a hand of a healthcare professional when the head portion is in an inspection position adjacent to an outer ear of an average patient;
an elongate probe element having a proximal end supported by the head portion of the housing so that a distal end of the elongate probe element may extend along an axis into the ear canal of the outer ear in the inspection position; and
an electronic camera supported by the elongate probe element for viewing into the ear canal when the distal end of the probe element is in the inspection position in the ear canal;
wherein the elongate probe element is sized to be inserted into the ear canal for inspection of the ear canal without blocking the ear canal to access by other instruments within the ear canal and passing by the probe element as so inserted; and
wherein the camera is positioned at a distal end of the elongate probe element and including conductors communicating between the distal end of the elongate probe element and a proximal end of the elongate probe element.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An otoscope provides an extremely narrow tip holding an electronic camera sized to allow the space of the ear canal to be shared between the otoscope and a tool such as a curette for removing foreign objects. The tip may be flexible for increased patient comfort when using a compact tip design.
18 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An otoscope comprising:
-
a housing providing a head portion and a grip portion, the grip portion adapted to be supported by a hand of a healthcare professional when the head portion is in an inspection position adjacent to an outer ear of an average patient; an elongate probe element having a proximal end supported by the head portion of the housing so that a distal end of the elongate probe element may extend along an axis into the ear canal of the outer ear in the inspection position; and an electronic camera supported by the elongate probe element for viewing into the ear canal when the distal end of the probe element is in the inspection position in the ear canal; wherein the elongate probe element is sized to be inserted into the ear canal for inspection of the ear canal without blocking the ear canal to access by other instruments within the ear canal and passing by the probe element as so inserted; and wherein the camera is positioned at a distal end of the elongate probe element and including conductors communicating between the distal end of the elongate probe element and a proximal end of the elongate probe element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification