WO2020239650A1 - Imaging apparatus for use with a portable electronic device as an otoscope - Google Patents
Imaging apparatus for use with a portable electronic device as an otoscope Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2020239650A1 WO2020239650A1 PCT/EP2020/064350 EP2020064350W WO2020239650A1 WO 2020239650 A1 WO2020239650 A1 WO 2020239650A1 EP 2020064350 W EP2020064350 W EP 2020064350W WO 2020239650 A1 WO2020239650 A1 WO 2020239650A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- electronic device
- portable electronic
- imaging
- holder
- imaging portion
- Prior art date
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
- A61B1/227—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor for ears, i.e. otoscopes
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
- A61B1/00002—Operational features of endoscopes
- A61B1/00011—Operational features of endoscopes characterised by signal transmission
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
- A61B1/00002—Operational features of endoscopes
- A61B1/00043—Operational features of endoscopes provided with output arrangements
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
- A61B1/00002—Operational features of endoscopes
- A61B1/00043—Operational features of endoscopes provided with output arrangements
- A61B1/00045—Display arrangement
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
- A61B1/00064—Constructional details of the endoscope body
- A61B1/00066—Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
- A61B1/00112—Connection or coupling means
- A61B1/00121—Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Surgery (AREA)
- Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
- Biophysics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Medical Informatics (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Studio Devices (AREA)
Abstract
Imaging apparatus (1) for use in conjunction with a portable electronic device as an otoscope, the apparatus comprising: •a housing comprising a handle portion (5) and an imaging portion (3); •an optical detector provided within said imaging portion; •an illumination source provided within said imaging portion; •a connector (7) for a medical tool connected to said imaging portion so that an aperture defined by said connector is aligned with said optical detector and so that light from said illumination source can pass through said aperture; • a controller provided within said housing for the receipt of signals from said optical detector and an interface coupled to said controller for transmitting signals to a portable electronic device; • wherein said handle portion includes a proximal region and a distal region, said proximal region being coupled to said imaging portion so that said handle portion extends at an angle (A) from said imaging portion and is inclined away from said imaging portion in a distal direction.
Description
IMAGING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AS AN
OTOSCOPE
Field
This invention relates to imaging apparatus, particularly but not exclusively to imaging apparatus that can be used as an otoscope.
Whilst preferred embodiments implementing the teachings of the invention will be described below with particular reference to otoscopes for human and veterinary applications, it should be remembered that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the teachings of the invention and that the apparatus described herein may have a number of other applications.
Background
International PCT Patent Application No. WO2012/058641 (owned by The Regents of the University of California and entitled "Cellscope Apparatus and methods for imaging") discloses a sleeve that is configured to be slipped over the top of a mobile telephone. The sleeve carries an optical imaging device that is offset towards one corner of the sleeve so as to be aligned with the camera lens and flash of the mobile phone to which it is fitted. The optical imaging device includes an optic fibre bundle that is configured to direct light from the flash of the mobile phone into the ear of a subject. Reflected light from the inner ear of the subject is directed towards the camera lens of the mobile phone so that an image can be captured of the interior of the subject's ear.
Whilst this apparatus allows a medical practitioner to capture still and video images of the inside of the subject's ear, it can be cumbersome and inconvenient to use. For example, as the optical imaging device is offset towards one corner of the phone (so that it aligns with the camera of the phone) and is hidden by the phone in use, it can be difficult for the practitioner to cleanly insert the speculum into the subject's inner ear. The offset nature of the imaging device can also cause the device as a whole to be cumbersome to use, particularly in circumstances where the practitioner rotates the phone to look into the left and right ear or because the user is left or right handed. In addition, as the optical imaging device extends perpendicularly from the rear of the phone it can be difficult for the practitioner to hold the phone without interfering with the subject's face, and for the practitioner to view images on the phone.
Aspects of the present invention have been conceived with the foregoing in mind.
Summary
In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided imaging apparatus for use in conjunction with a portable electronic device as an otoscope, the apparatus comprising: a housing comprising a handle portion and an imaging portion; an optical detector provided within said imaging portion; an illumination source provided within said imaging portion; a connector for a medical tool connected to said imaging portion so that an aperture defined by said connector is aligned with said optical detector and so that light from said illumination source can pass through said aperture; and a controller provided within said housing for the receipt of signals from said optical detector and an interface coupled to said controller for transmitting signals to a portable electronic device; wherein said handle portion includes a proximal region and a distal region, said proximal region being coupled to said imaging portion so that said handle portion extends at an angle from said imaging portion and is inclined away from said imaging portion in a distal direction.
An advantage of this arrangement is that the housing tends not to touch the face of the subject when the apparatus is being used.
Preferably the apparatus further comprises a holder for a portable electronic device, said holder being configured and attached to said handle portion in such a way that a portable electronic device mounted in said holder does not obscure the imaging portion of the housing. This is advantageous as it provides the practitioner with a clear view of the imaging portion whilst the device is being used.
Preferably the holder is arranged so that a portable electronic device mounted in said holder is aligned with said imaging portion so that said imaging portion is substantially midway between a pair of opposing sides of said device.
The holder may be adjustable to accommodate differently sized mobile devices. The holder may be detachable from said handle portion. The holder may be configured so that a screen of a portable electronic device secured in said holder is generally parallel to said handle portion. The interface may comprise a short range wireless interface, such as BluetoothTM or ZigbeeTM, operable to transmit signals to and receive signals from a portable electronic device. The interface may comprise a socket provided in said housing, the socket being configured to receive a plug of a cable for connecting the apparatus to a portable electronic device.
In a preferred arrangement the angle between said imaging and handle portions is greater than 90 degrees. The angle may be between 100 and 120 degrees, preferably substantially 105 degrees.
The connector may comprise a mount for a speculum.
The illumination source comprises a ring of light emitting diodes. A lens assembly of at least one lens may be located between said aperture and said detector,
the lens assembly being configured to focus light reflected from a subject onto said detector. The apparatus may comprise means operable to shield said detector from directly incident light from said illumination source.
Other features, advantages and embodiments of the invention are described below and will be apparent from the following detailed description of aspects of the invention.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Various aspects of the teachings of the present invention, and arrangements embodying those teachings, will hereafter be described by way of illustrative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevation of apparatus embodying the teachings of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus depicted in Fig. 1 with a component of the apparatus in a first state;
Fig. 3 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus depicted in Figs. 1 and 2 with a component of the apparatus in a second state; and
Fig. 4 is a schematic front perspective view of part of the apparatus depicted in Figs. 1 to 3.
Detailed Description
As mentioned above, preferred embodiments implementing the teachings of the invention will be described below with particular reference to otoscopes for human and veterinary applications. However, it should be remembered that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the teachings of the invention and that the apparatus described herein or adaptations thereof may have a number of other applications.
With that proviso in mind, Fig. 1 is an illustrative side elevation of apparatus 1 embodying the teachings of the present invention.
The apparatus 1 comprises a main housing consisting of an imaging portion 3 and a handle portion 5. As shown in Fig. 1 , the handle portion 5 is set at an angle A to the imaging portion 3, which angle is greater than 90 degrees. The advantage of this arrangement is that when the imaging portion is held generally horizontal (as it would tend to be in use) the handle portion is angled away from the imaging portion so that it does not interfere with a subject's face. This arrangement contrasts sharply with previously proposed devices, such as the aforementioned device disclosed in WO2012/058641 , where the phone inevitably tends to touch the subject's face when the
device is in use.
In an envisaged implementation, angle A is between 100 and 120 degrees, most preferably substantially 105 degrees. This is advantageous as it tends to mimic the configuration of typical previously proposed otoscopes, and is as a consequence familiar to practitioners.
A connector 7 for a medical tool is coupled to the imaging portion 3. In the particular example shown in the figures, the connector 7 is configured for attachment to a speculum, but it will be appreciated that other types of connector (suitable for other applications) may be provided. In this example, the connector is configured for twist- on/twist-off coupling to a speculum, as is conventional in the otoscope art.
The imaging portion 3, as is known in the art, houses an optical detector (such as a CCD array, for example) for receiving light reflected from the inside of - in this particular case - the subject's ear to enable the formation of an image. A controller is also provided to receive signals from the optical detector and convert those signals into a form that is suitable to transmission to a portable electronic device, such as a mobile telephone or tablet, and to pass those signals to an interface with the aforementioned device. The portable electronic device is configured to display those signals as an image of, in this case, the inner ear of the subject; and may also be configured to enable a user to control the apparatus to capture images of the inner ear.
The connector 7 includes an aperture (not visible) at its' outermost end, and the optical detector is aligned with that aperture for the receipt of light from the subject via the aperture. A lens assembly, consisting of one or more lenses, may be provided to focus light onto the optical detector. A source of illumination, such as a ring of light emitting diodes (LEDs) is provided within the imaging portion so that - in this case - the inside of the subject's ear can be illuminated. In a preferred arrangement, means are provided to obstruct the direct passage of light from the illumination source to the light detector. For example, a tubular shroud may be provided within the imaging portion, the source of illumination being provided outside of the shroud.
In one envisaged implementation of the teachings of the invention, the interface is a short range wireless interface configured for wireless transmission of signals from the interface to the portable electronic device. For example, the interface may comprise a Bluetooth™ or Zigbee™ wireless interface. In another envisaged implementation, the interface may comprise a socket 9 (in this instance a socket in a distal region of the handle portion) into which a plug at one end of a data cable may be inserted, the other end of the cable being coupled (permanently or temporarily) to the portable electronic device. The socket 9 may comprise, for example, a socket that is compatible with USB
plugs.
Referring now to Fig. 2, a holder 11 for a portable electronic device is coupled to the handle portion 5, preferably to a side of the handle portion 5 furthest from the connector 7. The holder 11 comprises a pair of wings 13 that are moveable between the position illustrated in Fig. 2 and the position illustrated in Fig. 3 (where the apparatus is depicted with a speculum 15 attached to the connector) to accommodate portable electronic devices of varying widths. Each wing 13 is mounted on a pair of rods 17 (Fig. 4) that are resiliently biased, for example by means of springs, to draw the wings from the second position towards the first position, thereby ensuring that a portable electronic device located therebetween is securely grasped by the wings 13. The holder 11 also includes a rest 19 for supporting a part of the device that is not grasped between the wings 13.
In use, a portable electronic device will be supported by the holder in a position where a screen of that device is generally parallel with the handle portion. Advantageously, a device so located will not obscure the imaging portion, thereby facilitating the insertion of the speculum 15 into a subject's ear canal.
In addition, as the wings are substantially parallel with one another, so a device secured therebetween will be arranged so that opposite parallel sides of the device closest and furthest from the imaging region 3 respectively, will be aligned with the imaging region 3 so that the imaging region is centred, at least roughly, with the electronic device. This is particularly advantageous as it makes it much easier for a practitioner to use the device regardless of the hand in which they are holding the device.
In a preferred implementation of the teachings of the invention, the holder is designed to be detachable from the handle portion, leaving a main housing as illustrated in Fig. 4. This is particularly advantageous in circumstances where the apparatus is to be used with an electronic device, such as a PC for example, that is not portable. In such circumstances the practitioner can remove the holder and connect the apparatus to the electronic device - either by means of a wireless connection or by means of a cable plugged into the electronic device at one end and the handle portion at the other.
It will be appreciated that whilst various aspects and embodiments of the present invention have heretofore been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular arrangements set out herein and instead extends to encompass all arrangements, and modifications and alterations thereto, which fall within the scope of the appended claims.
It should also be noted that whilst the accompanying claims set out particular
combinations of features described herein, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular combinations hereafter claimed, but instead extends to encompass any combination of features herein disclosed.
Finally, it should be noted that any element in a claim that does not explicitly state "means for" performing a specified function, or "steps for" performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a "means" or "step" clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, par. 6. In particular, the use of "step of" in the claims appended hereto is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, par. 6.
Claims
1. Imaging apparatus for use in conjunction with a portable electronic device as an otoscope, the apparatus comprising:
a housing comprising a handle portion and an imaging portion;
an optical detector provided within said imaging portion;
an illumination source provided within said imaging portion;
a connector for a medical tool connected to said imaging portion so that an aperture defined by said connector is aligned with said optical detector and so that light from said illumination source can pass through said aperture;
a controller provided within said housing for the receipt of signals from said optical detector and an interface coupled to said controller for transmitting signals to a portable electronic device;
wherein said handle portion includes a proximal region and a distal region, said proximal region being coupled to said imaging portion so that said handle portion extends at an angle from said imaging portion and is inclined away from said imaging portion in a distal direction.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 , further comprising a holder for a portable electronic device, said holder being configured and attached to said handle portion in such a way that a portable electronic device mounted in said holder does not obscure the imaging portion of the housing.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said holder is arranged so that a portable electronic device mounted in said holder is aligned with said imaging portion so that said imaging portion is substantially midway between a pair of opposing sides of said device.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein said holder is adjustable to accommodate differently sized mobile devices.
5. Apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein holder is detachable from said handle portion.
6. Apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 5, wherein said holder is configured so that a screen of a portable electronic device secured in said holder is generally parallel
to said handle portion.
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said interface comprises a short range wireless interface, such as Bluetooth™ or Zigbee™, operable to transmit signals to and receive signals from a portable electronic device.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said interface comprises a socket provided in said housing, the socket being configured to receive a plug of a cable for connecting the apparatus to a portable electronic device.
9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the angle between said imaging and handle portions is greater than 90 degrees.
10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein said angle is between 100 and 120 degrees, preferably substantially 105 degrees.
11. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said connector comprises a mount for a speculum.
12. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said illumination source comprises a ring of light emitting diodes.
13. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a lens assembly of at least one lens located between said aperture and said detector, the lens assembly being configured to focus light reflected from a subject onto said detector.
14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising means operable to shield said detector from directly incident light from said illumination source.
15. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, or with reference to Fig. 4.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1907372.5 | 2019-05-24 | ||
GB1907372.5A GB2586570A (en) | 2019-05-24 | 2019-05-24 | Imaging apparatus |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2020239650A1 true WO2020239650A1 (en) | 2020-12-03 |
Family
ID=67385550
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2020/064350 WO2020239650A1 (en) | 2019-05-24 | 2020-05-24 | Imaging apparatus for use with a portable electronic device as an otoscope |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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GB (1) | GB2586570A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2020239650A1 (en) |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6106457A (en) * | 1997-04-04 | 2000-08-22 | Welch Allyn, Inc. | Compact imaging instrument system |
WO2012058641A2 (en) | 2010-10-29 | 2012-05-03 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Cellscope apparatus and methods for imaging |
US20170239012A1 (en) * | 2011-11-09 | 2017-08-24 | Welch Allyn, Inc. | Digital-based medical devices |
US20170303857A1 (en) * | 2016-04-25 | 2017-10-26 | Welch Allyn, Inc. | Medical examination system enabling interchangeable instrument operating modes |
US20180125345A1 (en) * | 2015-06-25 | 2018-05-10 | Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation | Otoscope Providing Low Obstruction Electronic Display |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH11113841A (en) * | 1997-10-09 | 1999-04-27 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Otorhinological videoscope and otorhinological videoscope system using it |
CN202010141U (en) * | 2010-12-23 | 2011-10-19 | 江苏鱼跃医疗设备股份有限公司 | Otoscope possessing video function |
KR101728844B1 (en) * | 2015-09-10 | 2017-04-20 | 연세대학교 원주산학협력단 | Otoscope using smart phone and the otoscope system |
US20170119237A1 (en) * | 2015-10-28 | 2017-05-04 | Ricoh Company, Ltd. | Optical Design of a Light Field Otoscope |
CN205597881U (en) * | 2016-04-06 | 2016-09-28 | 重庆金创谷医疗科技有限公司 | Joinable intelligent mobile device's gun type endoscope system |
WO2019029299A1 (en) * | 2017-08-08 | 2019-02-14 | Anise Technology Limited | A viewing device |
CN210112806U (en) * | 2019-01-26 | 2020-02-25 | 深圳市昌斯特科技有限公司 | Detection head module with camera and detection instrument |
-
2019
- 2019-05-24 GB GB1907372.5A patent/GB2586570A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2020
- 2020-05-24 WO PCT/EP2020/064350 patent/WO2020239650A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6106457A (en) * | 1997-04-04 | 2000-08-22 | Welch Allyn, Inc. | Compact imaging instrument system |
WO2012058641A2 (en) | 2010-10-29 | 2012-05-03 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Cellscope apparatus and methods for imaging |
US20170239012A1 (en) * | 2011-11-09 | 2017-08-24 | Welch Allyn, Inc. | Digital-based medical devices |
US20180125345A1 (en) * | 2015-06-25 | 2018-05-10 | Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation | Otoscope Providing Low Obstruction Electronic Display |
US20170303857A1 (en) * | 2016-04-25 | 2017-10-26 | Welch Allyn, Inc. | Medical examination system enabling interchangeable instrument operating modes |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB201907372D0 (en) | 2019-07-10 |
GB2586570A (en) | 2021-03-03 |
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