Kit for enhanced use of an otoscope

[0002] This is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/517,119 filed Mar. 7, 2000 (pending) which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/398,287 filed Sep. 20, 1999, now U.S. Pat No. 6,165,125 which in turn is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/306,210, filed May 6, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,059 which in turn is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/080,894, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,590, entitled “An otoscope retrofit to allow multipurpose use” filed May 18, 1998 by inventor P.C. Elliott.

[0003] An otoscope is an instrument normally designed to allow a physician to peer inside an ear or into a nose through a lighted pathway. At times particularly in infants, there are foreign bodies such as a bead or a bug within an ear or a nose that necessitate removal and at times there is bleeding within a nose that requires cauterizing. This continuation-in-part covers an improved otoscope addition for varying the internal pressure in the otoscope and also covers a basic three part kit with some differing parts to allow a user to simply and rapidly assemble the otoscope retrofit to suit his particular use.

[0004] The invention comprises retrofit pieces to enhance the use of an otoscope comprising an extension piece for the speculum holder, four differing trigger and hinge body pieces that twistably connect with the extension piece, two special trigger body pieces that may connect directly to the speculum and multiple different extension pieces that removably fit into openings in the distal end of the hinge body pieces. A fitting to allow finger pressure variation in the otoscope interior and in a closed extension and a device to allow foot pressure variation in one extension piece is also available. This otoscope kit enhances the utility of the otoscope for both the inspection of a nose and an ear and also enhances the utility for removal of foreign bodies from either a nose or an ear.

[0005] FIG. 1 shows an assembly of one embodiment of the kit

[0006] FIG. 2 shows the unit for finger pressure variation

[0007] FIG. 3 shows one of the kit extensions

[0008] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the trigger piece of the kit

[0009] FIG. 4A shows a front view of the trigger piece

[0010] FIG. 5 shows a group of trigger piece extensions

[0011] FIG. 6 shows a unit for foot pressure variation of pressure in one extension of the trigger piece

[0012] FIG. 7 shows a locking type trigger piece with dual extensions

[0013] FIG. 8 shows the locking type trigger piece with triple extensions

[0014] FIG. 9 shows a special trigger body with a fixed extension for use of a wire loop for removal of foreign material or foreign bodies.

[0015] FIG. 10 shows a second special trigger body with a fixed extension to form a balloon behind a foreign body or foreign material in the ear.

[0016] The best way to describe the invention is from the drawings. FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the kit as it would be assembled on the otoscope 1. There are several different units in the kit as outlined herein. Shown installed in FIG. 1 is a pressure-vacuum bulb 3 that used with finger ring 5 can vary the pressure in the otoscope (this unit is shown in detail in FIG. 2). A connector piece 9 with internal projection 13 twistably connects with speculum holder 7 as internal projection 13 twists into slot 12 on the speculum holder 7. A clear plastic closure 11 removably fits in a distal end of connector 9 and may be used when the otoscope head is not used to transmit pressure variation. When flared extension 30 is used and plastic closure 11 is removed and sidearm 34, FIG. 3 is capped pressure-vacuum bulb 3, FIG. 4 may be used to vary the pressure and to pull a vacuum at the flared end 32 to hold an object against end 32. With plastic enclosure 11 in place foot pressure control unit 51, FIG. 6 may be used to pull a vacuum at flared end 32 of extension 30.

[0017] Trigger and hinge body 17 twistably connects with the distal end of connector 9 when internal projection 18 twists into slot 15 in connector 9. The trigger and hinge body 17 is described in more detail in FIG. 4 and FIG. 4A. Ring 21 is used to open and with hinged opening 19 can open and close the distal end of body 17. Projections 40 of extensions 41 fit closely but removably in openings (shown in FIG. 4A) in the distal end of trigger and hinge body 17. FIG. 6 shows a group of extensions similar to 41 that may be included in the kit.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows pressure-vacuum bulb 3 that is about one and one half inches long and about one inch in diameter. Open tube type projection 4 fits closely into an opening called the insufflation port in the otoscope and when installed may be used to vary the internal pressure in the otoscope using finger ring 5.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a flared extension 30 that with internal projection 31 twistably connects with connector 9 with projection 31 sliding into slot 15 in connector 9. Sidearm 34 is capped 33 for use with finger pressure variation of internal pressure using pressure-vacuum bulb 3, FIG. 1. and for that use the glass or plastic closure 11 would be removed before connecting the flared extension 30 with connector 9, FIG. 1. Foot pressure variation using a tubing connection to sidearm 34 will be discussed under FIG. 6.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the trigger and hinge body 17 with dual trigger arms 36 pushed forward using finger ring 35. The shape of opening 19 changes with opening and closing movement of the integrally formed trigger arms 36. At point 55 the hinge body 17 is relatively thin and easily bendable and with relatively thick front portion 38 shown in FIG. 4A slight movement of trigger arms 36 will open or close tip extensions in FIG. 5 when these extensions are fitted into front portion 38 shown in FIG. 4A.

[0021] FIG. 4A shows a front view of the trigger and hinge body 17 with three openings shown in the upper part of the trigger body and three openings also shown in the lower part of the trigger body. The base projections of the various tip extensions shown in FIG. 5 fit tightly but removably in any of these openings. The front view of the dual trigger arms 36 and the dual finger rings 35 is also shown.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows extensions a, b, c, and d all which have projections 40 to attach to the trigger and hinge body by fitting into openings 38, FIG. 4A. Extensions a, b, and c may be used in pairs or for use in looking in a nose would frequently be used with a pair on one side and a single one on the other side of the trigger and hinge body. Extension d with closure guides 47 is shown to indicate that similar extensions would be within the purview of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 6 shows a foot compressable corrugated plastic unit 51 made to spring open but compressable to eject air through flapper valve 52 and pull vacuum through the plastic tube 53. With the tube 53 connected with sidearm 34, FIG. 2 and with plate 11, FIG. 1 in place the flared attachment 30, FIG. 2 may be twistably connected with connector 9, FIG. 1 and the flared attachment 30 could then be used with the otoscope with foot pressure to hold an object or material against flared tip 32.

[0024] FIG. 7 shows a trigger and hinge body 55 wherein the two extensions 41 after installing using projections 40 may be manipulated and held in place using the threaded finger wheel 58 on hinge 56. The elongated threads as shown allow adjustment of extensions 41 with minimal movement of finger wheel 58. A pair of extensions 41 are shown before installation to indicate extension placement.

[0025] FIG. 8 shows the same trigger and hinge body 55 as in FIG. 7 but with two extensions 45 on a lower side and one extension 45 on the upper side of said hinged body. This three part extension is frequently used to examine a nose. The extensions are installed with projections 40 forced into openings on the front of the hinged body. Finger wheel 58 with elongated threads allows minimum adjustment of finger wheel 58 to move the single extension tip against tips of the dual extensions.

[0026] FIG. 9 shows a first specialized body or connector piece 65 that twistably connects to the otoscope speculum 7 holder with projection 63 twistably fitting into slot 13 on the speculum holder 7. Wire guide 72 is fastened to the lower side of the cone shaped body 65 and has a U shaped opening on anterior end with a beginning end of wire 70 fastened to one side of the U shaped opening with the other end of wire 70 fastened above the pivot point of trigger 74 so that pulling back on trigger 74 forms a loop as shown. Releasing trigger 74 allows retractor spring 76 to pull wire 70 back into the wire guide 72. Thus the user may form a loop in back of foreign material or a foreign object to aid in removal thereof.

[0027] FIG. 10 is a second specialized body 67 that twistably attaches to the otoscope speculum holder 7 with interior ridge 69 twisting into slot 13 in the speculum holder 7. Balloon air pipe 82 is glued or otherwise fastened to body 65 and has an anterior end covered with an expandable plastic material and has the anterior end so shaped as to form a balloon when finger compressible unit 84 is compressed. Thus a user may form a balloon behind a foreign object in an ear or nose and aid in the removal of the foreign object.