Medical examination system enabling interchangeable operating modes

Abstract

An examination system having separate enabled interchangeable operating modes includes at least one medical device having a housing retaining an optical system. The examination system further includes an adapter that is configured for aligning a plurality of disparate smart devices with the optical system of the medical device when the adapter is attached to the medical device, thereby enabling multiple operating modes without modification to the device. In at least one version, common engagement features are provided on a plurality of medical devices to permit the adapter and an attached smart device to be used therewith interchangeably.

1 . An adapter for interconnecting a smart device with a medical examination device, said adapter comprising:
 a distal connecting portion for enabling releasable attachment to a proximal end of the medical examination device;   a proximal connecting portion configured to support the smart device, the smart device having an integrated camera and a display; and   one or more interface plates secured to a front facing side of the smart device, wherein the proximal connecting portion is configured to engage the one or more attached interface plates such that the camera is aligned with an optical axis of the medical examination device upon attachment of the distal connecting portion to the proximal end of the medical examination device.   
     
     
         2 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , in which the distal connecting portion includes an opening configured for alignment with the optical axis of the medical examination device when the adapter is attached to the medical examination device. 
     
     
         3 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lever configured for releasing the adapter from the medical examination device. 
     
     
         4 . The adapter according to  claim 3 , in which the distal connecting portion includes a spring-loaded pin that is movable into and out of a defined recess sized to engage the proximal end of the medical examination device, the lever being movable to a position enabling release of the adapter from the medical examination device. 
     
     
         5 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , in which the adapter is rotatably movable to a plurality of mounting orientations about the optical axis when the distal connecting portion is attached to the proximal end of the medical examination device. 
     
     
         6 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , in which the adapter is configured to position a camera aperture of the smart device at a convergence point of an optical system of the medical examination equivalent to that of a viewer's eye using an eyepiece of the medical examination device. 
     
     
         7 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , in which the adapter is configured for releasable attachment to one or more of a group of medical examination devices, the group including an otoscope, an ophthalmoscope, a dermatoscope, a rhinoscope and a colposcope. 
     
     
         8 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more interface plates are made from a metal, wherein the adapter further comprises at least one magnet disposed on the proximal connecting portion for releasably securing the one or more interface plates. 
     
     
         9 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the adapter is configured to support a selected one of a plurality of smart devices and optically align the camera of the selected smart device with the optical axis of the medical examination device upon attachment. 
     
     
         10 . The adapter according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal connecting portion is configured for attachment to at least one of an otoscope and an ophthalmoscope. 
     
     
         11 . An adapter comprising:
 a planar support surface configured to releasably retain a smart device, the smart device having an integrated camera and a display;   a device connecting portion distally extending from the planar support surface and having a formed opening, the device connecting portion being configured for releasable attachment to a proximal end of a medical examination device; and   one or more interface plates positioned on the smart device such that when the device connecting portion is attached to the proximal end of the medical examination device, the camera of the smart device is aligned with an optical axis of the medical examination device.   
     
     
         12 . The adapter of  claim 11 , in which the device connecting portion is configured to enable a supported smart device to assume a plurality of rotatable mounting orientations about the optical axis of the medical examination device to which the adapter is attached. 
     
     
         13 . The adapter according to  claim 11 , including a lever for releasing the adapter from the medical examination device. 
     
     
         14 . The adapter according to  claim 11 , further comprising at least one magnet positioned on the planar support surface for engaging one or more of the interface plates. 
     
     
         15 . A method for configuring a smart device for a medical examination of a patient, the smart device comprising a housing having an integrated camera and display, the method comprising:
 using an alignment device, positioning one or more interface plates on the smart device;   securing the smart device to a proximal connecting portion of an adapter; and   attaching a distal connecting portion of the adapter to a proximal end of the medical examination device, wherein the secured smart device is automatically aligned with an optical axis of the medical examination device.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 positioning the smart device on a mounting surface of the alignment device;   aligning the camera of the smart device with an optical target on the alignment device in which the optical target is centered in the display of the smart device; and   attaching the one or more interface plates through one or more openings provided on the mounting surface of the alignment device.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising rotating the adapter about the optical axis of the medical examination device to enable the secured smart phone to assume one of a plurality of orientations. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the smart device is one of a plurality of disparately sized smart devices. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the medical examination device is one or more of a group of medical examination devices including an otoscope, an ophthalmoscope, a dermatoscope, a colposcope, and a rhinoscope. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising rotating the adapter relative to the medical examination device to enable the attached smart device to assume one of a plurality of rotational configurations.