Articulating curette

Abstract

An articulating ear curette comprises a curette tip connected to a first actuator arm through a first molded-in living hinge and to a second actuator arm through a second molded-in living hinge. The actuator arms are slidably connected to one another such that relative movement of the first and second actuator arms in opposite directions causes movement of the tip about the first and second living hinges. The articulating ear curette may be utilized to remove cerumen or a foreign body from an ear canal.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is claiming the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), of the provisional application filed Nov. 12, 2008 under 35 U.S.C. §111(b), which was granted Ser. No. 61 / 199,010. This provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Ear curettes designed for the removal of cerumen from the ear canals of children and adults have been known for some time. Bionix Development Corp. developed the first plastic ear curette, introducing it into the marketplace in 1984. Since then, Bionix has expanded its line of Safe Ear™ Curettes to include seven different tip styles, each designed to meet a particular problem with impacted cerumen encountered in clinical practice.[0003]In 2004, Bionix introduced its Lighted Ear Curette, and has since expanded the line to include six different tip styles. The Lighted Ear Curette (LEC) is constructed of light-conducting polycarbonate plastic that all...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This can present a problem when it is desirable to get behind a piece of wax or, in some cases, a foreign body to pull it from the ear canal.

This can cause significant pain to the patient, and is often not successful.

This requires the user to grasp the device at the spring handle end, distal from the ear canal and in an awkward and unwieldy fashion for the delicate procedure of removing a foreign object from the ear.

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