SCANNING TECHNIQUES FOR PROBING AND MEASURING ANATOMICAL CAVITIES

1 . A method for scanning an anatomical cavity comprising:

selecting, using a scanning system, a scan path for obtaining data from sample areas in a predetermined pattern, each sample area situated in a location in the anatomical cavity;

exciting, using the scanning system, a fluorescent material in an inflatable membrane of the scanning system, the inflatable membrane conforming to the anatomical cavity;

measuring, using the scanning system, emitted light from the fluorescent material for each sample area; and

characterizing the anatomical cavity.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the scan path comprises at least one of a hub and spoke pattern or a spiral pattern.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the hub and spoke pattern comprises:

a hub location; and

two or more spokes,

the hub location being the first sample area in the scan path and the two or more spokes each comprising at least two sample areas located along a line, wherein the hub location is one of the at least two sample areas for each spoke.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein spiral pattern comprises:

a home location that is the first sample area in the scan path; and

at least one consecutive data point,

wherein the at least one consecutive data point is a sample area that includes an area of the anatomical cavity that is included by the home location or one or more of the at least one consecutive data points.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising supporting features external to the anatomical cavity.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

scanning from an outside portion of the anatomical cavity to an inside portion of the anatomical cavity.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the anatomical cavity comprises an ear canal.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein characterizing the anatomical cavity is based on at least one of:

a location of each sample area;

an intensity measurement for each sample area, and

a ratio of intensities measured for each sample area.

9 . An apparatus for scanning an anatomical cavity comprising:

a three-dimensional scanner comprising:

a light source that generates light for scanning and identifying locations within the anatomical cavity;

a detecting component that receives emitted light from within the anatomical cavity and generates data from the received light;

a probe element which guides the light generated by the light source; and

an inflatable membrane that surrounds the probe element, the inflatable membrane configured to inflate with a medium to a volume conforming to that of the anatomical cavity;

a processor that receives data from the detecting component and generates at least distance information;

wherein the three-dimensional scanner follows a scan path while scanning the anatomical cavity.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the scan path is generated by at least one of the three-dimensional scanner, at least one processor, and/or a scanner system.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the scan path is based upon input from a user.

12 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the scan path comprises at least one of a hub and spoke pattern or a spiral pattern.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the scan path comprises a hub and spoke pattern, further wherein a user specifies a hub location for the hub and spoke pattern.

14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the user further specifies the number of spokes in the hub and spoke pattern.

15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the processor selects the hub and spoke scan path based upon the user specified hub location.

16 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the scan path comprises a spiral pattern, and wherein a user specifies a home location for the spiral pattern.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the processor selects the spiral scan path based upon the user specified home location.