Helen of Troy Limited
OTOSCOPE AND OTOSCOPIC METHOD BASED ON SPECTRAL ANALYSIS

Abstract:

The invention relates to an otoscope device (10), especially configured to be manipulated by a user during its application, comprising: a portion (14) configured to be introduced in an ear canal of a patient's outer ear; and an electronic imaging unit (40) configured for capturing at least one image of the patient's outer ear, especially of the eardrum; wherein the otoscope device further comprises electronic and/or optic means (44) configured for determining spectral information, especially with respect to wavelengths shorter than 550 nm, and configured for identifying and/or locating objects shown in the at least one image, especially the eardrum, in dependence on a specific amount of blue components and/or UV components of the image or of radiation reflected from the object. Further, the invention relates to a method of identifying and/or locating objects in a subject's ear or to a method of identifying an eardrum.