Ear inspection device and method of determining a condition of a subject's ear
US11058286B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 4, 2014 |
| Grant date | Jul 13, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 8, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2562/0242
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An ear inspection device configured for being at least partially introduced into an external ear canal for determining an ear condition, such as temperature, in particular at the subject's eardrum, wherein the device comprises an infrared sensor unit configured for detecting infrared radiation from the ear, and an electronic imaging unit configured for capturing images based on radiation in the visible range from the ear, wherein the electronic imaging unit exhibits at least one optical axis arranged such that it can be radially offset within the ear canal, and wherein the infrared sensor unit exhibits a visual axis arranged such that it can be positioned centrically within the ear canal or radially offset within the same semicircle, especially the same quadrant, of the cross section of the ear canal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.