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US-12616363-B2 - Systems, methods, and apparatus for tele-otoscopy

US12616363B2US 12616363 B2US12616363 B2US 12616363B2US-12616363-B2

Abstract

An otoscope apparatus having an objective lens configured to focus light from an object, a field lens positioned parallel to the objective lens along an optical axis, a first aperture and a second aperture positioned, respectively, at a distal end and a proximal end of the objective lens, and a third aperture positioned at a distal end of the field lens. The otoscope apparatus is adapted to be releasably attached to a camera of a smart device. The otoscope apparatus may capture a picture or video of the outer ear, the middle ear, and/or the ear canal of a patient utilizing the camera of the smart device. Such a picture or video of the outer ear, the middle ear, and/or the ear canal may be sent to a remote healthcare professional for diagnosis of an ear infection.

Inventors

  • Eleanor F. Small
  • Raymond T. Hebert
  • Sean James Coyle
  • Stephen Anton

Assignees

  • KENVUE BRANDS LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20230123

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . An otoscope apparatus, comprising: an objective lens configured to focus light from an object; a field lens positioned parallel to the objective lens along an optical axis; a first aperture and a second aperture positioned, respectively, at a distal end and a proximal end of the objective lens, wherein a ratio of a diameter of the first aperture to a diameter of the second aperture is about 1:2; a third aperture positioned at a distal end of the field lens; and a speculum for placing in an ear of a patient; wherein the otoscope apparatus is adapted to be releasably attached to a camera of a smart device.
  2. 2 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture, second aperture and third aperture are adapted to reduce veiling glare.
  3. 3 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture, second aperture and third aperture have a diameter between 0.5 mm and 4.5 mm.
  4. 4 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture has a diameter of about 0.7 mm, the second aperture has a diameter of about 1.2 mm, and the third aperture has a diameter of about 4.25 mm.
  5. 5 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a diameter of the second aperture to a diameter of the third aperture is about 1:4.
  6. 6 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first aperture is located about 2.6 mm from the second aperture along the optical axis.
  7. 7 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second aperture is located about 18 mm from the third aperture along the optical axis.
  8. 8 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a f-number of the first aperture is adapted to assist an autofocus feature of the camera of the smart device.
  9. 9 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the f-number is f/45.
  10. 10 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a working distance between the first aperture and the object is about 31.5 mm.
  11. 11 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an eyepiece lens positioned parallel to the field lens along the optical axis.
  12. 12 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a lens tube and a glare cap adjacent to one another along the optical axis.
  13. 13 . The otoscope apparatus of the claim 12 , wherein the objective lens and the first aperture are positioned within the glare cap and the field lens, the second aperture and third aperture are positioned within the lens tube.
  14. 14 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising: a light source; and a light pipe attachable to the light source at a proximal end, wherein the light pipe terminates at a distal ring portion to illuminate the object.
  15. 15 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).
  16. 16 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the light source comprises a flash of the camera of the smart device.
  17. 17 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the light pipe terminates at or prior to a distal end of the glare cap.
  18. 18 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first aperture has a diameter adapted to prevent a reflection of the light back into the glare cap and/or lens tube.
  19. 19 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the object comprises at least the outer ear, the middle ear, or the ear canal of a patient.
  20. 20 . The otoscope apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the object comprises the eardrum of a patient.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/267,233, filed on Jan. 28, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein. BACKGROUND An otoscope may be used for diagnosing and/or identifying problems of the outer ear, the middle ear, and/or the ear canal, such as issues with a tympanic membrane or an ear infection (e.g., acute otitis media). When joined with a camera, the otoscope may be used for remote diagnosis when images or videos may be recorded by the user. For example, the otoscope may be used for tele-otoscopy and may enable a user to record an image of an ear canal of a patient (e.g., an image of the tympanic membrane). The image may be sent to a remote physician for diagnosis. But it is imperative that a clear picture or video be taken. SUMMARY Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and apparatus, for using a removable optical element, such as an otoscope, in combination with a smart device, such as a smartphone in such a way that a picture or video (e.g., a clear picture or a clear video) may be taken. According to an embodiment, an otoscope apparatus may include an objective lens configured to focus light from an object, a field lens positioned parallel to the objective lens along an optical axis, a first aperture and a second aperture positioned, respectively, at a distal end and a proximal end of the objective lens, and a third aperture positioned at a distal end of the field lens. The otoscope apparatus may be adapted to be releasably attached to a camera of a smart device. According to an embodiment, the first aperture, second aperture and third aperture may be adapted to reduce veiling glare. According to an embodiment, the first aperture, second aperture and third aperture may have a diameter between 0.5 mm and 4.5 mm. According to a further embodiment, the first aperture may have a diameter of about 0.7 mm, the second aperture may have a diameter of about 1.2 mm, and the third aperture may have a diameter of about 4.25 mm. According to various embodiments, a ratio of a diameter of the first aperture to a diameter of the second aperture may be about 1:2, and/or a ratio of a diameter of the second aperture to a diameter of the third aperture may be about 1:4. According to various embodiments, the first aperture may be located about 2.6 mm from the second aperture along the optical axis, and/or the second aperture may be located about 18 mm from the third aperture along the optical axis. According to an embodiment, a f-number of the first aperture may be adapted to disable an autofocus feature of the camera of the smart device. According to one example, the f-number may be f/45. According to one embodiment, a working distance between the first aperture and the object may be about 31.5 mm. According to an embodiment, the otoscope apparatus may further include an eyepiece lens positioned parallel to the field lens along the optical axis. According to an embodiment, the otoscope apparatus may further include a lens tube and a glare cap adjacent to one another along the optical axis. According to an embodiment, the objective lens and the first aperture may be positioned within the glare cap and the field lens, the second aperture and third aperture may be positioned within the lens tube. According to an embodiment, the otoscope apparatus may further include a light source and a light pipe attachable to the light source at a proximal end, where the light pipe may terminate at a distal ring portion to illuminate the object. According to an embodiment, the light source may be a light emitting diode (LED). According to an embodiment, the light source may be a flash of the camera of the smart device. According to an embodiment, the light pipe may terminate at or prior to a distal end of the glare cap. According to an embodiment, the first aperture may have a diameter adapted to prevent a reflection of the light back into the glare cap and/or lens tube. According to an embodiment, the object may be the outer ear, the middle ear, and/or the ear canal of a patient. According to one example, the object may be the eardrum of a patient. According to an embodiment, there may be a method for using the otoscope apparatus, where a picture or a video of an outer ear, the middle ear, and/or the ear canal of a patient may be captured by the camera of the smart device. According to a further embodiment, the picture or video of the outer ear, the middle ear, and/or the ear canal may be transmissible to a remote healthcare professional for diagnosis of an ear infection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1A-1B depict perspective views of an otoscope clip device that is detached from a smart device, such as a smartphone. FIGS. 1C-1D depict perspective views of an otoscope clip device that is attached to a smart device, such as a smartphone. FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an otoscope clip device that comp