A device for measuring reflected ultrasound and optical signals may include: an optical source; an optical assembly comprising at least one lens, configured to focus reflected optical illumination from a target onto a detector; and an ultrasound transducer aligned to transmit and receive ultrasound radiation co-axially with the reflected optical illumination and wherein the ultrasound transducer at least partially obstructs a path of the reflected optical illumination. An obstruction may be distant from a focal spot of the optical assembly. The device for measuring reflected ultrasound and optical signals may be particularly useful for characterizing fluid behind an ear drum to diagnose otitis media.

A narrow-orifice foreign body extraction device configured as a unitary article comprises a volumetric enclosure bounded by a frustoconical cone, which has inner and outer surfaces and an intermediate section positioned between an apertured cap section and an apertured base section. The inner surface defines a boundary of an interior chamber of the volumetric enclosure, and the inner and outer surfaces define between them a cone wall. An adhesive material is secured to at least part of the inner or outer surfaces at the cap section and comprises an apertured portion and a tail portion. The apertured portion has one or more adhesive apertures and adhesive-covered opposing inner and outer side surfaces, and the tail portion has an adhesive-covered inner tail surface extending along and bonding to at least part of the outer surface at the cap section to secure the adhesive material to the cap section.

An ear ailment diagnostic device generally comprises a pair of earpieces, which both further comprise a light source, a magnification lens, an air conduction channel and a miniature camera. The earpieces may optionally comprise a thermometer and/or tympanometer. Each earpiece is coupled to an air conduction tube, an insufflator and an electrical wiring/data tube which is coupled to a computer. The insufflator may be manually, electronically, or battery powered. In the preferred embodiment the computer comprises a smart phone with data processing capability and wireless communication capability. Any data sent from the device can then be interpreted and diagnosed in a remote location so that an accurate treatment is prescribed.

An otoscope and method for visualizing compliance of the tympanic membrane in response to a pressure stimulus. The otoscope includes a handle, a housing, a laser assembly configured to selectively project a grid array of dots on a tympanic membrane of a patient, a camera configured to selectively capture activity of the tympanic membrane, a pressure transducer configured to selectively apply a stimulus to the tympanic membrane, a display pivotably coupled to the handle, and a controller. The display is configured to display the tympanic membrane in true color and a two-dimensional interpolated surface plot representing activity of the tympanic membrane in response to the stimulus.

An acoustic otoscope generates volume change excitations of either a trapezoidal or sinusoidal waveforms which are coupled into a sealed ear canal using a speculum tip. The change in volume results in a pressure change, for which a pressure measurement is taken during the volume change excitation interval. In one example, a trapezoidal time-domain volume change is presented, and a pressure measurement waveform is stored, the pressure measurement waveform thereafter examined to find a change of slope point in time, after which the pressure measurement waveform is scaled to be equal to the volume change waveform at that same point in time, a difference between scaled pressure measurement and volume excitation is formed, and examined for peak value prior to the earlier determined change in slope point in time.

An ear ailment diagnostic device and method in accordance with the present disclosure generally comprises a pair of earpieces, which both further comprise a light source, a magnification lens, an air conduction channel and a miniature camera. The earpieces may optionally comprise a thermometer and/or tympanometer. Each earpiece is coupled to an air conduction tube, an insufflator and an electrical wiring/data tube which is coupled to a computer. The insufflator may be manually, electronically, or battery powered. In the preferred embodiment the computer comprises a smart phone with data processing capability and wireless communication capability. Any data sent from the device can then be interpreted and diagnosed in a remote location so that an accurate treatment is prescribed.

An otoscope includes at least one speaker and two microphones. The speaker is configured to generate a stimulus pressure wave and direct a planarized pressure wave toward an ear canal of a patient when the otoscope is at least partially inserted into the ear canal of the patient. The microphones are configured to record the forward stimulus pressure wave as it travels toward the TM and the reverse response pressure wave of the patient as it travels toward the otoscope. The quantitative relationship between the stimulus and the response is the diagnostic measure. The microphones are configured to record the pressure wave, the otoscope is configured to analyze the pressure wave, and the otoscope is configured to display results to a medical professional or user. The speaker and microphones are positioned outside the ear canal of the patient when the otoscope is at least partially inserted into the ear canal.

A speculum of an otoscope may include a housing and a seal. The seal may include a surface sized and shaped to interface with an external auditory meatus. In some examples, the seal comprises one or more compressible members deformable to interface with the external auditory meatus. The seal may be configured to retain a volume of fluid within a lumen of the speculum in response to one or more of a negative pressure change or a positive pressure change.

An acoustic otoscope generates volume change excitations of either a trapezoidal or sinusoidal waveforms which are coupled into a sealed ear canal using a speculum tip. The change in volume results in a pressure change, for which a pressure measurement is taken during the volume change excitation interval. In one example, a trapezoidal time-domain volume change is presented, and a pressure measurement waveform is stored, the pressure measurement waveform thereafter examined to find a change of slope point in time, after which the pressure measurement waveform is scaled to be equal to the volume change waveform at that same point in time, a difference between scaled pressure measurement and volume excitation is formed, and examined for peak value prior to the earlier determined change in slope point in time.

An otoscope includes a handle, a housing coupled to the handle and having an inlet, a laser assembly at least partially enclosed within the handle and configured to selectively project, through the inlet, a grid array of dots on a tympanic membrane of a patient, a camera supported by one of the handle or the housing and configured to selectively capture activity of the tympanic membrane, a pressure transducer supported by one of the handle or the housing and configured to selectively apply a stimulus to the tympanic membrane, a display pivotably coupled to the handle, a controller in communication with laser assembly and the display, and a microprocessor in communication with the controller, the camera, and the display. The display is configured to display the tympanic membrane in true color and a two-dimensional interpolated surface plot representing activity of the tympanic membrane in response to the stimulus.