OTOSCOPE AND OTOSCOPIC METHOD BASED ON SPECTRAL ANALYSIS

摘要

The invention relates to an otoscope device (10), especially configured to be manipulated by a layperson during its application, comprising a radiation sensing unit (40.1) configured for detecting radiation reflected by the patient's outer ear, especially by the eardrum; wherein the otoscope device further comprises electronic and/or optic means (44) configured for determining spectral information of reflected radiation, especially with respect to wavelengths shorter than 500 nm to 480 nm, and configured for determining a ratio of radiation in the spectrum below 480 nm to 500 nm to radiation in the spectrum above 480 nm to 500 nm, especially based on a specific intensity of reflected radiation within the spectrum of blue light and/or UV radiation. Further, the invention relates to a method of identifying and/or locating objects in a subject's ear or to a method of identifying or characterizing an eardrum. Further, the invention relates to a method of determining the risk of a pathologic state of the eardrum and its vicinity and to provide the user with a risk index for inflammation.

主权项

1. Otoscope device, especially configured to be manipulated by a layperson during its application, comprising:
a portion configured to be introduced in an ear canal of a patient's outer ear; an electronic imaging unit (40) configured for capturing at least one image of the patient's outer ear, especially of the eardrum, preferably the electronic imaging unit is an optoelectronic analysis unit,characterized in that the otoscope device further comprises electronic and/or optic means configured for determining spatially resolved spectral information, especially with respect to wavelengths shorter than 500 nm or 480 nm, as compared to wavelengths longer than 480 nm or 500 nm and configured for identifying and/or locating objects shown in the at least one image, especially the eardrum, depending on blue spectral components and/or UV spectral components, especially a specific intensity or ratio of blue spectral components and/or UV spectral components, preferably with respect to an amount of spectral components having wavelengths longer than 480 nm or 500 nm.