Disposable speculum for digital otoscope

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10925478-B2
Application number	US-201916281665-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2019
Priority date	Feb 21, 2019
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

A disposable speculum for an otoscope provides a sheath adapted to cover an elongate otoscope probe and providing inwardly extending tabs that are adapted to flex outward when the speculum is inserted over the otoscope to engage corresponding grooves of the otoscope. The inwardly extending tabs provide precise alignment of the speculum with the elongate otoscope probe along an insertion axis to protect a length of the probe.

First claim

What we claim is:

1. A disposable speculum for an otoscope comprising:
a funnel-shaped sheath having a central bore sized to receive an elongate cylindrical probe element of the otoscope therein along an axis and having
a distal end sized to fit within an ear canal and
a proximal end providing radially inwardly extending teeth flexible outwardly to allow the inwardly extending teeth to releasably engage corresponding grooves of the elongate probe element of the otoscope by an outward movement of the teeth,
wherein the teeth are flanked by axial slots allowing portions of the proximal end holding the teeth to flex outwardly.

2. The speculum of claim 1 wherein the teeth have front faces facing toward the distal end and extending inwardly perpendicular to the axis or canted toward the distal end as one moves inwardly along the front faces.

3. The speculum of claim 1 wherein three teeth are equally spaced at 120° about the axis.

4. The speculum of claim 1 wherein circumferentially opposed ends of the teeth provide at least one inwardly sloping wall as one moves radially inwardly along the tooth.

5. The speculum of claim 2 wherein the proximal end provides a circular rim and the axial slots extend through the rim.

6. The speculum of claim 1 wherein the proximal end comprises a cylindrical portion abutting and supporting the cylindrical probe element.

7. The speculum of claim 6 further comprising a tapered portion beyond the cylindrical portion.

8. The speculum of claim 1 further including radially outwardly extending fins rotationally aligned with the teeth.

9. The speculum of claim 1 wherein the sheath is a thermoplastic material.

10. The speculum of claim 1 wherein the sheath is light absorbing.

11. The speculum of claim 1 further comprising
an otoscope housing adapted for support by a hand of a healthcare professional with the housing in an inspection position adjacent to an outer ear of a patient
wherein the elongate cylindrical probe element has a proximal end supported by the housing so that a distal end of the elongate probe element may extend along the axis into the ear canal; and
an otoscope electronic camera supported by a distal end of the elongate cylindrical probe element for viewing into the ear canal when the distal end of the probe element is positioned in the ear canal of the outer ear.

12. The speculum of claim 11 wherein the corresponding grooves are radially spaced at 120° about the axis.

13. The speculum of claim 11 wherein the corresponding grooves include a ramp surface.

14. The speculum of claim 11 wherein the corresponding grooves include a front perpendicular face.

15. The speculum of claim 11 wherein a distance between a distal end of the sheath and a distal end of the elongate probe element is approximately 1 mm to 2 mm.

16. A method of using a disposable speculum for an otoscope comprising the following steps:
providing a funnel-shaped sheath having a central bore sized to receive an elongate cylindrical probe element of the otoscope therein along an axis and having
a distal end sized to fit within an ear canal and
a proximal end providing radially inwardly extending teeth allowing the teeth to flex outwardly to allow the inwardly extending teeth to releasably engage corresponding grooves of the elongate probe element of the otoscope by an outward movement of the teeth; and

inserting the sheath into the ear canal,
wherein the teeth are flanked by axial slots allowing portions of the proximal end holding the teeth to flex outwardly.

Assignees

• Wisconsin Alumni Res Found

Inventors

• Berbee James
• Rebella Greg
• Hamedani Azita
• Ayerle Patrick
• Hutcheson Iv Thomas
• Paul Ralph

Classifications

• A61B1/00128

  mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes · CPC title

• A61B1/227 Primary

  for ears, i.e. otoscopes · CPC title

• A61B2017/0023

  disposable · CPC title

• A61B1/00142

  with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath · CPC title