Otoscope

Abstract

The present invention refers to an otoscope (10) comprising a handle portion (12) allowing a user to manipulate the otoscope (10) during its application; and a head portion (14) exhibiting a substantially tapering form extending along a longitudinal axis (A) of the head portion (14), wherein the head portion (14) has a proximal end (16) adjacent to the handle portion (12) and a smaller distal end (18) configured to be introduced in an ear canal of a patient's outer ear. The otoscope (10) further comprises an optical electronic imaging unit positioned at the distal end (18) of the head portion (14), especially at a distal tip (35) of the head portion (14), wherein the electronic imaging unit (40) exhibits at least one optical axis (X; X1, X2) which is positioned radially off-set from the longitudinal axis (A), and wherein the distal end (18) is configured for accommodating the electronic imaging unit (40) in such a way that the radial offset (r1) can be maximum with respect to the diameter of the distal end (18).

1 . An otoscope comprising:
 a handle portion allowing a user to manipulate the otoscope during its application;   a head portion exhibiting a substantially tapering form extending along a longitudinal axis of the head portion, wherein the head portion has a proximal end adjacent to the handle portion and a smaller distal end configured to be introduced in an ear canal of a patient's outer ear;   an optical electronic imaging unit positioned at the distal end of the head portion, the electronic imaging unit exhibiting at least one optical axis which is positioned radially offset from the longitudinal axis, the electronic imaging unit comprising beam splitter optics having at least two lenses; and   the distal end of the head portion being configured for accommodating the electronic imaging unit.   
     
     
         2 . The otoscope according to claim  32 , wherein the radial offset is at least a factor of 0.25 or at least a factor of 0.3, or at least a factor of 0.35 of the radial dimension of the distal end. 
     
     
         3 . The otoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein adjacent to an inner lateral surface of the distal end, the head portion exhibits a cavity for accommodating an optical component of the electronic imaging unit defining the at least one optical axis. 
     
     
         4 . The otoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic imaging unit comprises a video camera defining an optical axis, or a wide angle color video camera, with an angle of at least 80°, or an angle of at least 110°, or an angle of 120°. 
     
     
         5 . The otoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic imaging unit comprises a miniature camera, or a wafer-level camera of a substantially flat configuration, having dimensions of less than 3mm×3 mm, or less than 2 mm×2 mm, or 1.2 mm×1.2 mm, or about 1 mm×1 mm or less than 1 mm×1 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The otoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic imaging unit comprises at least one camera, or three to six cameras, or four cameras, which respectively exhibits dimensions such that it can be arranged radially offset from the longitudinal axis of the head portion, wherein a radial offset with respect to an optical axis or a middle axis of the camera is in the range of 1 mm to 2.8 mm, or 1.5 mm to 2 mm, or at least 1.8 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The otoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic imaging unit exhibits beam splitter optics defining at least two optical axes, including the at least one optical axis, which are arranged radially offset from the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The otoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic imaging unit comprises a support or housing defining the radial offset of the at least one optical axis or accommodating at least one camera or beam splitter optics, wherein the support preferably is in contact with an inner lateral surface of the distal end. 
     
     
         9 . The otoscope according to  claim 23 , wherein the distal tip of the head portion exhibits a diameter of at least 4.7 mm, or more than 4.8 mm, or about 4.9 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The otoscope according  claim 1 , further comprising a motion mechanism configured to allow displacement of the electronic imaging unit or the at least one optical axis or at least one camera of the electronic imaging unit relative to the handle portion. 
     
     
         11 . The otoscope according to  claim 10 , wherein the motion mechanism is configured to allow for at least partial rotation of the electronic imaging unit or the at least one optical axis about an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the head portion. 
     
     
         12 . The otoscope according to  claim 11 , wherein the electronic imaging unit or the at least one optical axis is tilted against the axis of rotation so as to be continuously directed to a predetermined point on the axis of rotation (R). 
     
     
         13 . The otoscope according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one light source also positioned at the distal end of the head portion, or comprising a plurality of light sources at the distal end of the head portion. 
     
     
         14 . The otoscope according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one light source is positioned radially offset from the longitudinal axis of the head portion, wherein a radial offset is in the range of 1.8 mm to 2.5 mm, or 1.9 mm to 2.3 mm, or 2.0 mm to 2.1 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The otoscope according to  claim 13 , wherein the otoscope exhibits at least two light sources or light guides which are arranged in a maximum distance apart from each other, wherein the maximum distance is at least 3.5 mm, or at least 4 mm, or in a range between 4.2 mm and 4.6 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The otoscope according to  claim 13 , further comprising a motion mechanism configured to allow displacement of the electronic imaging unit or the at least one optical axis or at least one camera of the electronic imaging unit to the handle portion, wherein the at least one light source is arranged so as to maintain a predetermined distance with respect to the electronic imaging unit or the at least one optical axis, even when the electronic imaging unit or the at least one optical axis is displaced by the motion mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The otoscope according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one light source is coupled with the motion mechanism directly or via the electronic imaging unit, such that the motion mechanism allows for at least partial rotation of the at least one light source about an axis of rotation. 
     
     
         18 . The otoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the otoscope further comprises an infrared sensor unit positioned at the distal end of the head portion. 
     
     
         19 . An otoscope comprising:
 a handle portion allowing a user to manipulate the otoscope during its application;   a head portion exhibiting a substantially tapering form extending along a longitudinal axis of the head portion, wherein the head portion has a proximal end adjacent to the handle portion and a smaller distal end configured to be introduced in an ear canal of a patient's outer ear;   an optical electronic imaging unit positioned at the distal end of the head portion the electronic imaging unit exhibiting at least two optical axes which are positioned radially offset from the longitudinal axis, and the electronic imaging unit exhibiting beam splitter optics defining the at least two of the optical axes, the at least two of the optical axes being arranged concentrically or rotationally symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the head portion.   
     
     
         20 . The otoscope comprising:
 a handle portion allowing a user to manipulate the otoscope during its application;   a head portion exhibiting a substantially tapering form extending along a longitudinal axis of the head portion, wherein the head portion has a proximal end adjacent to the handle portion and a smaller distal end configured to be introduced in an ear canal of a patient's outer ear;   an optical electronic imaging unit positioned at the distal end of the head portion, the electronic imaging unit exhibiting one optical axis which is positioned radially offset from the longitudinal axis, the electronic imaging unit comprising a miniature camera and beam splitter optics, the radial offset with respect to the optical axis or a middle axis of the camera being in the range of 1 mm to 2.8 mm.   
     
     
         21 . The otoscope according to  claim 20 , wherein the electronic imaging unit exhibits at least two optical axes which are positioned radially offset from the longitudinal axis wherein the electronic imaging unit comprises at least two, miniature cameras, the radial offset with respect to the at least two optical axes being in the range of 1 mm to 2.8 mm. 
     
     
         22 . The otoscope comprising:
 a handle portion allowing a user to manipulate the otoscope during its application;   a head portion exhibiting a substantially tapering form extending along a longitudinal axis of the head portion, wherein the head portion has a proximal end adjacent to the handle portion and a smaller distal end configured to he introduced in an ear canal of a patient's outer ear;   an optical electronic imaging unit positioned at the distal end of the head portion, the electronic imaging unit exhibiting four optical axes which are positioned radially offset from the longitudinal axis, the electronic imaging unit comprising at least two lenses and further comprising a number of four to eight, light sources positioned radially offset from the longitudinal axis at the distal end, at least one light source being correlated to a respective optical axis, and the radial offset of the light sources being in the range of 1 mm to 2.5 mm.   
     
     
         23 . The otoscope according to  claim 1 , wherein the optical electronic imaging unit is positioned at a distal tip of the head portion.