JP3784034B2 - Diagnostic equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a diagnostic instrument, particularly a diagnostic instrument called an otoscope, and further to a disposable otoscope.
[0002]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When performing group screening (early group screening (examination)) in an elementary school or the like, a diagnostic instrument called an otoscope is used. This otoscope has a truncated cone shape. When examining the inside of the ear, an otoscope is inserted into the ear, light is guided to the inside of the ear through the otoscope, and the inside is observed and diagnosed in this state.
[0003]
By the way, conventionally, the otoscope is made of a metal material.
For this reason, when the otoscope was inserted into the ear, the feeling at that time was poor, and children were often disliked. In particular, when it is cold (they are often chilly, such as in April, when mass screening is conducted), inserting a metal otoscope into the ear is particularly bad and often dislikes the diagnosis. It is difficult to do accurately.
[0004]
Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an otoscope having an excellent feel.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present inventor has started to select a material to replace the metal material in order to construct an otoscope having an excellent feel.
And while repeating trial and error, the case where it was made of plastic was found to have the best feel.
[0006]
However, it was not simply a configuration made of plastic. For example, a mere polypropylene otoscope cannot function as an otoscope. In other words, since normal polypropylene is transparent, it could not guide light into the ear.
Therefore, an otoscope was made using a light-shielding plastic made of carbon black and polypropylene. However, even this could not function as an otoscope.
[0007]
As a result of diligent investigation on the cause, it was found that the inner surface of the otoscope was too smooth and the light was reflected too much.
The present invention has been achieved based on such findings,
A diagnostic instrument used for examining the ear,
It consists of a cylinder with a small diameter on the tip side and a large diameter on the base end side,
The cylindrical body is made of carbon black-containing plastic, and is light-shielding.
The inner surface of the cylindrical body is solved by a diagnostic instrument having a surface roughness of 0.1 to 100 μm in terms of centerline average roughness (Ra).
[0008]
That is, the diagnostic instrument (otoscope) configured as described above is much better than the metal otoscope because the material is plastic. For this reason, even if it was inserted into the ear, the number of disliked children was greatly reduced, the medical examination could be performed accurately, and the medical examination could be performed smoothly.
Furthermore, because it was made of plastic, the cost could be greatly reduced. For this reason, it can also be made disposable. When disposable, there is no risk of bacterial infection. Furthermore, it is not necessary to clean the otoscope once for each examination, the examination proceeds smoothly, and the examination time can be shortened.
[0009]
The cylindrical inner surface preferably has a surface roughness of 0.4 μm or more in terms of centerline average roughness (Ra). Furthermore, the thing of 0.7 micrometer or more is preferable. In particular, those of 1 μm or more are preferable. Moreover, the thing of 50 micrometers or less is preferable. Furthermore, the thing of 30 micrometers or less is preferable. In particular, those of 20 μm or less are preferable. That is, by setting the surface roughness to the above value, the light reflection state is further improved, and the diagnosis becomes accurate and easy.
[0010]
The cylindrical body is preferably made of a carbon black-containing plastic. In the present invention, the reason why plastic is selected as the material is that plastic is excellent in tactile sensation and is inexpensive. However, when a carbon black-containing plastic is used, light shielding properties can be obtained in addition to the above. Furthermore, static electricity is difficult to be charged. That is, when handling an otoscope charged with static electricity, the doctor at the moment of holding it becomes extremely uncomfortable. Therefore, it is difficult to perform an accurate examination. In addition, if an electrostatically charged otoscope is inserted into the patient's ear, the patient becomes very uncomfortable. However, such a drawback is also solved when it is made of a carbon black-containing plastic. And when it is exposed to light and heat, it absorbs radiant heat efficiently. Therefore, when the otoscope is inserted into the patient's ear, it feels warm because it is warm.
[0011]
Moreover, it is preferable that the convex part is comprised in the outer surface side of the said cylinder. In other words, the otoscope is generally in the shape of a truncated cone. Therefore, when the otoscopes are stacked, the otoscopes are completely fitted to each other and are difficult to remove. Therefore, when a convex portion is formed on the outer surface of the cylindrical body, this plays a role of preventing stacking. Therefore, even if the otoscopes are stacked, the otoscopes are not completely fitted to each other and can be easily removed. In addition, when a convex part is provided in the inner surface side of a cylinder, there exists a possibility of getting in the way of a diagnosis. However, when the convex portion is provided on the outer surface side of the cylindrical body, there is no possibility of disturbing the diagnosis. Furthermore, when the otoscope is configured by molding with plastic, the convex portion can be made to correspond to a gate for injecting plastic material.
[0012]
The cylindrical body has a truncated cone cylinder portion having a small diameter on the distal end side and a large diameter on the proximal end side, and an annular portion provided to be connected to the proximal end side of the truncated cone cylinder portion. Is preferred. Moreover, what has the protruding item | line part comprised on the outer surface of an annular part is preferable.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The diagnostic instrument according to the present invention is a diagnostic instrument used for the diagnosis of the ear part, and is composed of a cylindrical body having a small diameter on the distal end side and a large diameter on the proximal end side, and the cylindrical body is made of plastic. In addition, the inner surface of the cylindrical body has a surface roughness of 0.1 to 100 μm in terms of centerline average roughness (Ra) (preferably lower limit is 0.4 μm, and more preferably is 0.2 μm). 7 μm, especially 1 μm, and a preferable upper limit is 50 μm, further 30 μm, especially 20 μm.) The cylinder is made of carbon black-containing plastic. A convex portion is formed on the outer surface side of the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body includes a truncated cone cylindrical portion having a small diameter on the distal end side and a large diameter on the proximal end side, and an annular portion provided connected to the proximal end side of the truncated cone cylindrical portion. . A ridge is formed on the outer surface of the annular portion.
[0014]
This will be described in more detail below.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a diagnostic instrument (otoscope) according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view.
In each figure, A is an otoscope. The otoscope A includes a truncated cone tube portion 1 having a distal end side diameter (diameter) of about 5 mm, a proximal end side diameter (diameter) of about 15 mm, a height of about 30 mm, and a wall thickness of about 1 mm. An annular portion 2 having a diameter (diameter) of about 20 mm and a wall thickness of about 1 mm, which is connected to the base end side of the base cylinder portion 1, is provided.
[0015]
Further, the convex portion 3 is erected from the annular portion 2. In particular, the convex portion 3 is provided so as to be connected to the outer surface of the truncated cone portion 1 and the outer surface of the annular portion 2. The convex portion 3 corresponds to a plastic material injection gate when the otoscope A is formed by plastic molding. And even if the otoscope A is stacked, the convex portion 3 plays a role of preventing stacking, so that the otoscope A is not completely fitted, and the otoscope A can be easily removed.
[0016]
On the outer peripheral surface of the annular portion 2, the ridge portion 4 is configured along a direction that is not the circumferential direction, in particular, a direction that is orthogonal to the circumferential direction. This considers the case where the otoscope A is inserted into the auxiliary tool. That is, by providing the ridges 4, a high accuracy is not required for the clearance between the auxiliary tools when they are inserted into the auxiliary tools.
[0017]
The otoscope A is constituted by a molding means using a light-shielding plastic material containing 0.4 to 2.8 wt%, for example, 0.8 wt% of carbon black in polypropylene.
The outer surface of the otoscope A (the truncated cone portion 1 and the annular portion 2) has a surface roughness of 0.05 μm as a center line average roughness (Ra), whereas the outer surface is conical. The inner surface of the base cylinder part 1 has a surface roughness of 1.4 μm in terms of centerline average roughness (Ra). That is, the inner surface of the truncated cone portion 1 is relatively roughened with a centerline average roughness (Ra) of 0.1 to 100 μm.
[0018]
Since the otoscope A configured as described above is made of plastic, it is lighter than the metal otoscope and feels much better. For this reason, even if it was inserted into the ear, the number of disliked children was greatly reduced, the medical examination could be performed accurately, and the medical examination could be performed smoothly.
Furthermore, because it was made of plastic, the cost could be greatly reduced. For this reason, it can be made disposable. When disposable, there is no risk of bacterial infection. Further, it is not necessary to clean the otoscope once for each examination, the examination proceeds smoothly and the examination time can be shortened.
[0019]
In particular, since it is made of carbon black-containing plastic, light shielding properties can be obtained. Furthermore, static electricity is difficult to be charged. For this reason, compared with the case where the otoscope charged with static electricity is handled, the operability and the tactile sensation are better, the accurate diagnosis is easy, and the patient is happy. Also, when exposed to light and heat, it efficiently absorbs radiant heat. Therefore, when the otoscope is inserted into the patient's ear, it feels warm because it is warm.
[0020]
Further, since the inner surface of the truncated cone portion 1 is not smooth but rough, the light reflection is improved, and the diagnosis is accurate and easy.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
Since the diagnostic instrument used for the examination of the ear part of the present invention is made of plastic, it feels much better than a metal one. For this reason, even if it is inserted into the ear, the number of disliked children is greatly reduced, the medical examination can be performed accurately, and the medical examination can be performed smoothly.
[0022]
Also, the cost can be greatly reduced. For this reason, it can also be made disposable. When disposable, there is no risk of bacterial infection. Furthermore, it is not necessary to clean the otoscope once for each examination, the examination proceeds smoothly and the examination time can be shortened.
Furthermore, since the cylindrical body is made of carbon black-containing plastic, the present diagnostic instrument is extremely excellent in tactile sensation.
That is, not only is the tactile sensation good because it is made of plastic, but also because it contains carbon black, static electricity is difficult to be charged. Therefore, since it is not subject to a charging shock due to static electricity, it is extremely excellent in tactile sensation.
In addition, when the otoscope is inserted into a sensitive ear hole, it is made of plastic containing carbon black, so it is easy to absorb heat and light energy and warm up easily. Excellent tactile feel from the viewpoint.
In addition, since the surface roughness of the inner surface of the cylindrical body of the otoscope is 0.1 to 100 μm in terms of the center line average roughness (Ra), the light reflection is good, and the diagnosis is accurate and easy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a diagnostic instrument according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a diagnostic instrument according to the present invention.
A Otoscope 1 Frustum cylinder part 2 Annular part 3 Convex part 4 Convex part

Claims (4)

A diagnostic instrument used for examining the ear,
It consists of a cylinder with a small diameter on the tip side and a large diameter on the base end side,
The cylindrical body is made of carbon black-containing plastic, and is light-shielding.
A diagnostic instrument, wherein the inner surface of the cylindrical body has a center line average roughness (Ra) of 0.1 to 100 μm.   2. The diagnostic instrument according to claim 1, wherein a convex portion is formed on the outer surface side of the cylindrical body.   The cylindrical body includes a truncated cone cylindrical portion having a small diameter on the distal end side and a large diameter on the proximal end side, and an annular portion connected to the proximal end side of the truncated cone cylindrical portion. The diagnostic device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein   4. The diagnostic instrument according to claim 3, wherein a convex strip is formed on the outer surface of the annular portion.

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