Digital-based medical devices

1. An otoscopic instrument comprising:

an instrument head, the instrument head having a housing;

an optical component disposed along an imaging axis; and

an illumination system,

wherein the illumination system includes a plurality of LEDs disposed in a circumferential configuration adjacent a distal end of the housing, and

wherein the illumination system is disposed within the housing.

2. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the housing includes a frusto-conical insertion portion configured to releasably receive a speculum tip element that can be positioned a predetermined distance into the ear of a patient.

3. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 2 , wherein a portion of the speculum tip element is optically translucent.

4. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1 , further comprising means for reducing fogging of the optical component.

5. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1 , further comprising means for dissipating heat produced by the plurality of LEDs.

6. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a focusing assembly.

7. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1 , further comprising means for adjusting the wavelength of light emitted by the illumination system.

8. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 7 , wherein the adjusting means includes at least one optical filter that is selectively movable into the imaging axis.

9. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the instrument is configured for at least one of optically imaging and spectrally imaging a target of interest.

10. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one LED of the plurality of LEDs is a white LED.

11. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein the illumination system further comprises a light polarizing element.

12. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one LED of the plurality of LEDs is a multi-color LED.

13. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1 , wherein each LED in the plurality of LEDs is separately illuminable and each emitting light having a different wavelength than another one of the LEDs.

14. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1 , further comprising means for controlling a property of the light emitted by the illumination system.

15. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 14 , wherein the means for controlling a property of the light comprises a filter positioned forward of the illumination system.

16. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 15 , wherein the filter comprises a color filter or a polarizing filter.

17. A method of performing an otoscopic examination, the method comprising the steps of:

illuminating a target of interest with an otoscopic instrument having a housing,

wherein the housing includes an illumination system with a plurality of LEDs disposed in a circumferential configuration adjacent the distal end of the housing; and

adjusting the wavelength of light emitted by the illumination system; and spectrally imaging the target of interest.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of spectrally imaging the target of interest using the plurality of LEDs includes an additional step of activating an LED of the plurality of LEDs that is a multi-color LED.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of illuminating the target of interest using the white light comprises the additional step of activating a plurality of LEDs emitting light of different colors for generating the white light.

20. A method of manufacturing an otoscopic instrument comprising:

providing an instrument head, the instrument head having a housing;

providing an optical component disposed along an imaging axis; and

providing an illumination system,

wherein the illumination system includes a plurality of LEDs disposed in a circumferential configuration adjacent a distal end of the housing, and

wherein the illumination system is disposed with the housing.