Devices, systems, and methods for oral and non-oral examination and diagnosis
An examination device for use with a mobile device comprises a housing removably coupled to the mobile device. The housing may be coupled to the mobile device by a rear surface, opposing side surfaces, a top surface, and a retention lip that extends over the front of the mobile device. A retention structure may be mechanically coupled to the housing and may also define a rectangular slot. A tongue depressor may be retained by the retention structure and may also extend away from the rectangular slot. A cutaway may be defined by a wall of the housing. The cutaway may be positioned on the housing to expose a camera of the mobile device facing towards the end of the tongue depressor. The examination device is configured to manipulate an oral feature of a mouth while the camera of the mobile device captures an image of the mouth.
1. An examination device for use with a mobile device, comprising:
a housing of the examination device configured to removably engage the mobile device;
a retention structure mechanically coupled to the housing and defining a slot;
a tongue depressor retained by the retention structure and having an end extending away from the slot; and
a cutaway defined by a wall of the housing and configured to expose a camera of the mobile device facing towards the end of the tongue depressor.
2. The examination device of claim 1 , wherein the tongue depressor is removably coupled to the retention structure.
3. The examination device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a back surface, two opposing side surfaces, and a top surface.
4. The examination device of claim 1 , wherein the wall defining the cutaway is disposed on a rear surface of the housing.
5. The examination device of claim 1 , wherein the tongue depressor comprises at least one of wood, plastic, or metal.
6. The examination device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a molded plastic.
7. The examination device of claim 1 , wherein the retention structure is pivotally coupled to the housing.
8. The examination device of claim 7 , wherein the retention structure is substantially parallel to a top surface of the housing.
9. The examination device of claim 1 , wherein the end of the tongue depressor is disposed at an angle of up to 30 degrees from orthogonal to a rear surface of the housing.
10. The examination device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises at least one of a phone case or a partial phone case.
11. A method of examining a mouth, comprising:
manipulating an oral feature in the mouth using a tongue depressor extending from a housing coupled to a mobile device;
capturing an image of the mouth using a camera of the mobile device exposed from the housing;
transmitting the image of the mouth from the mobile device to a remote computing device to request a diagnosis; and
receiving the diagnosis from the remote computing device.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising analyzing the image locally on the mobile device to determine whether the image meets image quality parameters.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the tongue depressor is retained by a retention structure.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the retention structure is pivotally coupled to the housing.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the tongue depressor is disposed at an angle of up to 30 degrees from orthogonal to a rear surface of the housing.
16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising removably coupling the housing to the mobile device.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the housing comprises at least one of a partial phone case or a phone case.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the housing is removably coupled to the mobile device by a rear surface, opposing side surfaces, a top surface, and a retention lip that extends over a front surface of the mobile device.
19. A computer-based system, comprising:
a mobile device having a camera; and
an examination device removably coupled to the mobile device, the examination device comprising:
a housing configured to engage the mobile device;
a retention structure defining a slot and mechanically coupled to the housing; and
a tongue depressor retained in the slot of the retention structure and extending away from the housing,
wherein the examination device is configured to manipulate an oral feature of a mouth while the camera of the mobile device captures an image of the mouth.
20. The computer-based system of claim 19 , further comprising a server in electronic communication with the mobile device and configured to receive the image captured by the camera to diagnose an oral ailment.