DEVICES FOR AT-HOME PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF THE EAR AND EAR CANAL
A diagnostic device is configured to capture diagnostic information about a subject (e.g., the subject's ears). The diagnostic device may include a diagnostic extension housing diagnostic elements (e.g., imaging chip, light sources, or lenses) and an ear canal engagement section coupled to the diagnostic extension. The ear canal engagement section may be shaped to position the diagnostic extension superiorly within the ear canal. For example, one side of the ear canal engagement section may be longer than another, which may enable the ear canal engagement section to contact the inferior wall of the ear canal for a longer distance than it contacts the superior wall. This configuration may allow more movement of the diagnostic extension when the device is inserted into the ear, which further improves the alignment of diagnostic elements with a desired area of the car for diagnoses (e.g., the eardrum).
1 . A diagnostic device for obtaining diagnostic information about a human subject, the device comprising:
an ear canal engagement section coupled to a body, and including:
an insertion portion configured to be inserted into an ear canal of the human subject, the insertion portion having an upper portion and a sled that extends farther into the ear canal than the upper portion, and
a stop extending from a top of the ear canal engagement section; and
a diagnostic extension protruding from the insertion portion, the diagnostic extension configured to extend into the ear canal and having one or more diagnostic elements for obtaining the diagnostic information.
2 . The diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein the sled curves such that a distal end of sled points towards a superior wall of the ear canal when the sled contacts the inferior wall of the ear canal.
3 . The diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein the sled is adapted such that the ear canal engagement section angles upward when the sled contacts an inferior wall of the ear canal.
4 . The diagnostic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first and a second portion of the body, the second portion of the body including a cavity;
a post configured to couple to the second portion of the body at the cavity; and
an over ear piece configured to couple to the post.
5 . The diagnostic device of claim 4 , wherein a second end of the post is adapted to couple to the over ear piece.
6 . The diagnostic device of claim 5 , wherein a first end of the over ear piece comprises a cavity configured to receive the second end of the post, the surface of the cavity composed of a flexible material configured to expand around and compress onto the second end of the post.
7 . The diagnostic device of claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the body and the second portion of the body are coupled to one another at a flexible joint, wherein the flexible joint enables a first orientation of the body wherein the first portion of the body is orthogonal to the second portion of the body and a second orientation of the body wherein the first portion of the body is in line with the second portion of the body.
8 . The diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein the height of the stop is approximately 25%-50% of the height of the ear canal engagement section.
9 . The diagnostic device of claim 8 , wherein the stop is flexible.
10 . The diagnostic device of claim 8 , wherein the width of the stop is no greater than the width of the ear canal engagement section.
11 . The diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein the ear canal engagement section includes a tapered surface such that the height of the body is largest at the proximal end of the body.
12 . The diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein the ear canal engagement section includes a stepped surface such that the height of the body decreases in discrete steps, the height of the body largest at the proximal end of the body.
13 . The diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein the insertion portion further comprises a channel through which the diagnostic extension extends from the insertion portion, a height or width of the channel is greater than a height or width of the diagnostic extension, respectively.
14 . The diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein the height of the ear canal engagement section is 5-13 millimeters.
15 . The diagnostic device of claim 1 , further comprising communications circuitry to wirelessly communicate the obtained diagnostic information to an external computing device.
16 . The diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic extension has a curved shape and composed of at least a rigid material to maintain the curved shape.
17 . The diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises an air injection button and an air outlet port configured to pressurize the ear canal.
18 . The diagnostic device of claim 17 , wherein the stop is configured to conform to the subject's ear outside of the ear canal to seal the ear canal.
19 . The diagnostic device of claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic extension comprises a tip housing a plurality of light sources and an imaging chip.
20 . A method for obtaining diagnostic information about a human subject, the method comprising:
providing the diagnostic device of claim 1 ; and
receiving the diagnostic information from the diagnostic elements of the diagnostic device.