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.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . An otoscope device comprising:
 a portion configured to be introduced in an ear canal of a patient's outer ear;   an electronic imaging unit configured to capture at least one image of the patient's eardrum;   a logic unit configured to determine spectral information and configured to identify and/or locate the patient's eardrum shown in the at least one image in dependence on a specific amount of blue components and/or UV components of the image or of radiation reflected from the patient's eardrum.   
     
     
         25 . The otoscope device according to  claim 24 , wherein the logic unit is configured to determine spatially resolved spectral information with respect to wavelengths shorter than 480 nm as compared to wavelengths longer than 480 nm, and is configured to identify and/or locate the patient's eardrum shown in the at least one image depending on blue spectral components and/or UV spectral components including a specific intensity or ratio of blue spectral components and/or UV spectral components with respect to an amount of spectral components having wavelengths longer than 480 nm. 
     
     
         26 . The otoscope device according to  claim 24 , wherein the logic unit is configured to determine spectral information of reflected radiation and is configured to determine a ratio of radiation below 500 nm to radiation above 500 nm based on a specific intensity of reflected blue light and/or UV radiation. 
     
     
         27 . The otoscope device according to  claim 24 , further comprising at least one source of radiation configured to radiate the ear canal. 
     
     
         28 . The otoscope device according to  claim 27 , wherein the at least one source of radiation is configured to emit blue light and/or UV radiation. 
     
     
         29 . The otoscope device according to  claim 27 , wherein the logic unit is configured to adjust a spectral composition of radiation emitted by the at least one source of radiation with respect to a specific wavelength below 550 nm. 
     
     
         30 . The otoscope device according to  claim 29 , wherein the logic unit is configured to adjust the spectral composition of radiation emitted by the at least one source of radiation with respect to the specific wavelength below 480 nm. 
     
     
         31 . The otoscope device according to  claim 30 , wherein the logic unit is configured to adjust the spectral composition of radiation emitted by the at least one source of radiation with respect to a spectral maximum within a range of 420 nm to 480 nm. 
     
     
         32 . The otoscope device according to  claim 27 , wherein the logic unit is configured to calibrate a spectral composition of radiation emitted by the at least one source of radiation to provide a calibrated spectral composition of emitted radiation, and to compare a determined spectral composition of reflected radiation with the calibrated spectral composition of emitted radiation. 
     
     
         33 . The otoscope device according to  claim 27 , wherein the logic unit is configured to adjust an intensity of radiation of the at least one source of radiation. 
     
     
         34 . The otoscope device according to  claim 33 , wherein the logic unit is configured to reduce the intensity of radiation when the at least one image exhibits a spectral composition which exceeds a specific maximum amount of spectral components having wavelengths longer than 550 nm. 
     
     
         35 . The otoscope device according to  claim 33 , wherein the logic unit is configured to reduce the intensity of radiation when the at least one image exhibits a spectral composition which exceeds a specific maximum amount of spectral components having red spectral components. 
     
     
         36 . An otoscope device comprising a logic unit configured to determine spectral information of radiation reflected within an ear canal and configured to identify an eardrum in dependence on a specific amount of blue components and/or UV components detected within the reflected radiation.