642results about "Otoscopes" patented technology

A medical diagnostic instrument includes a housing containing at least one battery and a light source, such as a lamp, for illuminating a medical target. A switch includes a movable member that selectively moves at least one of the battery and the lamp into and out of electrical connection with the other. The instrument is preferably fabricated from a diecast or an extrusion process wherein a thin plastic sleeve member having text and / or graphic materials can be shrink fitted onto an extruded handle.

A method for dilating a Eustachian tube of a patient is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method may involve advancing a dilation device through a nasal passage of the patient to position a dilator of the device at least partially in a Eustachian tube of the patient, expanding the dilator to an expanded configuration to dilate a portion of the Eustachian tube, collapsing the dilator, and removing the dilation device from the patient. The dilated portion of the Eustachian tube remains at least partially dilated after removal of the device.

Methods and systems for accessing a Eustachian tube of a patient are disclosed. The system includes a guide configured for passing into a nasal passage of the patient to position a distal tip of the catheter at or near a Eustachian tube, the guide having a distal tip with a bend having an angle between 30 and 90 degrees; and a guidewire configured to pass through the guide into the Eustachian tube. A device for providing therapy to the Eustachian tube is passed through the guide.

Systems and methods for bilateral treatment of a patient having a head with a first ear and a second ear function by aligning a first device with a target tissue of the first ear; aligning a second device with a target tissue of the second ear; and therapeutically remodeling, with synchronization, the target tissues of the first and second ear with the first and second aligned devices, respectively.

Method and systems for accessing a Eustachian tube of a patient are disclosed. The system includes a guide configured for passing into a nasal passage of the patient to position a distal tip of the catheter at or near a Eustachian tube, the guide having distal tip with a bend having an angle between 30 and 90 degrees; and a guidewire configured to pass through the guide into the Eustachian tube.

Systems and methods for treating a patient having a head with a first ear and a second ear, function by mounting a support structure to the head of the patient; aligning the support structure with a target tissue in an ear canal of the first ear; stabilizing the support structure relative to the target tissue by injecting a material into the canal and hardening the material; and actuating a device while the device is supported by the support system so that the device therapeutically remodels the target tissue of the first ear.

A portable medical diagnostic instrument includes an instrument head and a handle portion having an open-ended receiving cavity. A compact illuminator defined by a housing retaining a miniature light source and a power supply is releasably fitted within the open-ended receiving cavity of the handle portion wherein the light source of the illuminator is optically coupled with the instrument on assembly therewith. The handle portion can be integral with the instrument or releasably attached. The handle portion according to at least one version is made from a plastic or other suitable material, permitting disposability and / or single patient use. In one version, the handle portion is flexibly deformable, at least partially, to facilitate release of the portable illuminator.

Medical devices, systems and methods that are useable to facilitate transnasal insertion and positioning of guidewires and various other devices and instruments at desired locations within the ear, nose, throat, paranasal sinuses or cranium. Direct viewing of such placements via an endoscope.

A speculum for use with a body opening, such as a vagina, rectum or surgical wound, may have an insertion portion with an arcuately-shaped wall and a slot that extends along a length of the wall. An end face of the wall at the distal end of the insertion portion may be arranged at a non-perpendicular angle to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion. A flange portion joined at a proximal end of the insertion portion may have a continuous band that extends radially outwardly from the wall and includes a notch that communicates with the slot. A handle portion may have a gripping surface extending proximally at a bottom side of the flange portion with an arcuate shape that is approximately concentric with the wall of the insertion portion. A top side of the flange portion may be free of the handle portion.

A device for making an incision in the tympanic membrane, withdrawing fluid from the tympanic cavity and administering a medicament to the space behind the tympanic membrane is provided. The device has a barrel-shaped casing (1) having a rotatable end turret (38). A first trigger (2) allows a shaft (18) to pierce the tympanic membrane and a tubular vacuum cartridge (32). The cartridge allows aspiration of fluid. A second trigger (4) causes medicament (34) to be released into the space behind the tympanic membrane.

A measurement system and method are presented for use in detecting a predetermined condition of a patient's ear indicative of a certain disease such as SOM and SOM. The system comprises an optical measuring unit and a control unit connectable to the output of the measuring unit. The optical measuring unit is configured and operable for irradiating a region of interest in a patient's ear with incident light including at least two different wavelengths, detecting light responses of the region of interest to said at least two different wavelengths, and producing measured data indicative thereof. The at least two different wavelengths are selected such that the light response of the region of interest to at least one first wavelength is substantially independent of said predetermined condition and the light response to at least one second wavelength is affected by said predetermined condition. The control unit is operable for receiving and processing the measured data to generate output data indicative of the measurement results. The control unit is configured and operable for controlling operation of the optical measuring unit, and for receiving the measured data and processing it to generate output data indicative of whether or not said predetermined condition exists. The control unit comprises a memory utility for storing predetermined reference data indicative of the light response of the region of interest while in a healthy condition of a patient's ear; a data processing and analyzing utility preprogrammed for processing and analyzing the measured data by determining a relation between the measured light responses and the corresponding reference data.

Systems and methods for treating a patient having an ear canal and a target tissue function by positioning a fluid or gel in the ear canal, the fluid or gel comprising a therapeutic agent; retaining the fluid or gel with a support structure, the support structure supporting an electrode and a battery; and applying the agent from the fluid or gel to the target tissue by energizing the electrode with an iontophoresis potential from the battery.

The invention relates generally to various systems, tools and methods for acquiring diagnostic information, including medical information, for a user, transmitting the information to a remote location, assessing the information, and transmitting resulting diagnosis and treatment information to the user and / or a third party for subsequent action. The present invention provides consumer and user-friendly telemedicine systems and procedures which enable health services and / or diagnosis to be provided at a distance remotely.

A device is configured for white balancing a medical videoscopic camera system prior to videoscopic medical procedures, as well as optionally simultaneously or non-simultaneously applying a fog-prohibiting agent to the distal lens of a medical videoscope such as an endoscope or laparoscope. The device combines a white balancing mechanism, protective mechanism, and defogging mechanism in one simple easy to use device.

A dental / medical instrument is provided for use in diagnostic and related patient inspection / examination. The device includes a body having an integral speculum with a video image capture device or camera, a power supply and a video display. These components, in addition to user actuatable controls, are disposed integrally with the body. The body is adapted for convenient engagement and manipulation by a user's hand to provide a unitary, hand-held device capable of illuminating and capturing an image of a patient, and displaying the image. The video display is disposed on a display portion of the speculum, while components of the image capture device, such as a lens and light emitter, are disposed on a nose portion of the speculum. The nose portion is modularly replaceable with alternate nose portions sized and shaped to facilitate various discrete medical / dental examination procedures.

Systems and methods for removal of bacterial biofilm from a target site of a human patient includes a surgical instrument having an introducer for bodily insertion and maintaining an irrigation duct and a nozzle. A distal portion of the introducer is transitionable between a plurality of bend angles relative to a proximal portion thereof. In particular, the instrument is adapted to independently maintain the distal portion at each of the plurality of bend angles relative to the proximal portion. The nozzle is maintained relative to the distal portion of the introducer and is adapted to dispense pressurized irrigant from the irrigation duct toward a layer of bacterial biofilm.

A dental / medical instrument is provided for use in diagnostic and related patient inspection / examination. The device includes a body having an integral speculum with a video image capture device, a power supply and a display. These components, and user actuatable controls, are integral with the body. The body is adapted for convenient engagement and manipulation by a user's hand to provide a unitary, hand-held device capable of illuminating and capturing an image of a patient, and displaying the image. An autofocus device moves an image sensor relative to a fixed lens array. Components of the image capture device, such as a lens and light emitter, are disposed on a nose portion of the speculum, which is modularly replaceable with alternate nose portions sized and shaped to facilitate various discrete medical / dental examination procedures. Embodiments also includes a tube and controller configured to apply material, capture data, and / or effect movement of the speculum.

An improved system and methods for enhancing the imaging of cameras included with wireless mobile devices, such as cellular phone or tablets. The imaging system includes a releasable optical attachment for imaging skin surfaces and cavities of the body. The releasable optical attachment comprises optical enhancement elements such as magnifying lenses, illumination diverting elements, and filters. Images can be viewed and analyzed on the mobile device, or transmitted to another location / device for analysis by a person or software. The results can be used to provide diagnosis, or for a variety of other applications including image comparison over time and product recommendations.

An optical component is connectable to a camera unit and comprises a data structure including data associated with the optical component. When the optical component is connected to the camera unit, data associated with the optical component is transferred to the camera unit. Image production of an organ by the camera unit is controlled based on the data associated with the optical component.

Methods and apparatuses for space-optimized visualization catheters are provided. Some embodiments utilize complimentary metal-oxide-semi-conductor (“CMOS”) technology integrated into a CMOS camera train holder system that may be a stand-alone component for use with a visualization catheter, such as a baby endoscope, or may be fabricated / extruded as a part of the catheter itself. Some embodiments of apparatuses, methods, and equivalents thereto provide better direct visual feedback to the medical personnel performing the procedure while providing a similarly-sized outer diameter visualization catheter device having an increased space therein for additional lumens and equipment or by reducing the overall outer diameter of the visualization catheter.

A hand-held digital camera for obtaining images of a portion of a patient's body and having a hand-held housing, a visible light source located within the housing for providing light along an illumination path from the housing aperture to the patient's body, an image sensor located within the housing that detects light returning from the patient's body along an imaging path that passes into the housing aperture, an optical system located within the housing with separate illumination and imaging paths, an external optical aperture common to the illumination and imaging systems, wherein the illumination and imaging sub-apertures are wholly contained within the common external aperture, are longitudinally coincident, and are laterally separated and non-overlapping, a digital memory device for storing captured images, an output display carried by the housing, and the ability to electronically transmit stored images. The camera can be used for retinal imaging and for otoscopy.

Methods and apparatuses for space-optimized visualization catheters are provided. Some embodiments utilize complimentary metal-oxide-semi-conductor (“CMOS”) technology integrated into a CMOS camera train holder system that may be a stand-alone component for use with a visualization catheter, such as a baby endoscope, or may be fabricated / extruded as a part of the catheter itself. Some embodiments of apparatuses, methods, and equivalents thereto provide better direct visual feedback to the medical personnel performing the procedure while providing a similarly-sized outer diameter visualization catheter device having an increased space therein for additional lumens and equipment or by reducing the overall outer diameter of the visualization catheter.

An otoscope kit includes a light source, an otoscope head for mounting on the light source; an adapter for removably mounting to the otoscope head, the adapter having a helical slit about its periphery; and at least one speculum for mounting on the adapter, the speculum having a projection wherein for engaging the slit for drawing the speculum into close contact with the adapter to removably secure the speculum to the adapter during use.

A portable medical diagnostic instrument includes an instrument head and a handle portion having an open-ended receiving cavity. A compact illuminator defined by a housing retaining a miniature light source and a power supply is releasably fitted within the open-ended receiving cavity of the handle portion wherein the light source of the illuminator is optically coupled with the instrument on assembly therewith. The handle portion can be integral with the instrument or releasably attached. The handle portion according to at least one version is made from a plastic or other suitable material, permitting disposability and / or single patient use. In one version, the handle portion is flexibly deformable, at least partially, to facilitate release of the portable illuminator.

A dental / medical instrument is provided for use in diagnostic and related patient inspection / examination. The device includes a body having an integral speculum with a video image capture device, a power supply and a display. These components, in addition to user actuatable controls, are disposed integrally with the body. The body is adapted for convenient engagement and manipulation by a user's hand to provide a unitary, hand-held device capable of illuminating and capturing an image of a patient, and displaying the image. Components of the image capture device, such as a lens and light emitter, are disposed on a nose portion of the speculum. The nose portion is modularly replaceable with alternate nose portions sized and shaped to facilitate various discrete medical / dental examination procedures. The instrument also includes a tube and controller configured to apply material, capture data, and / or effect movement of the speculum.