Articulating curette

Abstract

An articulating ear curette comprises a curette tip connected to a first actuator arm through a first molded-in living hinge and to a second actuator arm through a second molded-in living hinge. The actuator arms are slidably connected to one another such that relative movement of the first and second actuator arms in opposite directions causes movement of the tip about the first and second living hinges. The articulating ear curette may be utilized to remove cerumen or a foreign body from an ear canal.

1 . An articulating ear curette comprising a curette tip connected to first and second actuator arms, the tip being connected to the first actuator arm through a first molded-in living hinge and the tip being connected to the second actuator arm through a second molded-in living hinge, the actuator arms being slidably connected to one another such that relative movement of the first and second actuator arms in opposite directions causes movement of the tip about the first and second living hinges. 
   
   
       2 . The articulating ear curette of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second actuator arms are slidable relative to the long axis of the curette to cause movement of the tip. 
   
   
       3 . The articulating ear curette of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second actuator arms extend in a direction away from the tip to form a handle. 
   
   
       4 . The articulating ear curette of  claim 1 , further comprising a first pair of spaced projections on the first actuator arm that extend away from the second actuator arm, and a second pair of spaced projections on the second actuator arm that extend away from the first actuator arm, thereby defining first and second finger grips. 
   
   
       5 . The articulating ear curette of  claim 1 , wherein the tip and the first and second actuator arms have been molded to form a single, monolithic piece from a polymeric material. 
   
   
       6 . The articulating ear curette of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one mechanical stop that limits the amount of relative movement between the first and second actuator arms in opposite directions. 
   
   
       7 . The articulating ear curette of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one mechanical stop comprises a projection extending from one of the first or the second actuator arms that is positioned within a slot formed in the other of the first or the second actuator arms, so that after relative sliding movement of the first and second actuator arms in opposite directions for a desired distance, the projection will abut an end of the slot to stop further such relative movement. 
   
   
       8 . The articulating ear curette of  claim 7 , wherein the projection on the at least one mechanical stop comprises a radially inwardly extending lip that is snap fit into a groove formed within the slot, the lip and the groove cooperating to prevent relative movement of the first and second actuator arms away from one another in a radial direction while allowing relative movement between the first and second actuator arms in an axial direction. 
   
   
       9 . The articulating ear curette of  claim 6  comprising two or more of the mechanical stops. 
   
   
       10 . An ear curette comprising:
 a tip connected to two actuator arms through molded-in living hinges, the tip being able to be bent at up to a 90 degree angle relative to the long axis of the curette,   wherein the actuator arms form the supporting grip handle of the curette, such that the actuator arms are able to be slid relative to each other by the simple action of pushing forward, relative to the long axis of the curette, on one actuator arm with the fingers while simultaneously pulling backward, relative to the long axis of the curette, on the other actuator arm, such that the change in relative position of the two actuator arms causes force to be applied to the top-most living hinge to cause it to flex downwards relative to the long axis of the curette.   
   
   
       11 . A method of removing cerumen or a foreign body from an ear canal utilizing the ear curette of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       12 . A method of removing cerumen or a foreign body from an ear canal, comprising:
 providing an ear curette comprised of a curette tip connected to first and second actuator arms, the tip being connected to the first actuator arm through a first molded-in living hinge and the tip being connected to the second actuator arm through a second molded-in living hinge;   introducing the curette tip into the ear canal;   actuating the ear curette by forcing the first and second actuator arms in opposite directions, thereby causing movement of the curette tip about the first and second living hinges, the curette tip engaging at least a portion of the cerumen or the foreign body in the ear canal; and   withdrawing the curette tip and the at least a portion of the cerumen or the foreign body from the ear canal.