The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 22, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 21, 1998
Craig S Koch, Granite Bay, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
The improved otoscope and rhinoscope device includes a resilient, flexible deformable ring with elastic memory. The ring is circular or oval and of metal, an elastomer such as plastic or rubber or of a plurality of interconnected springs of metal, plastic or the like. The ring has a groove on both the top and bottom thereof to receive on the top the forefinger of a medical practitioner and on the bottom the thumb of that practitioner. In the central cavity in the ring is secured a spaced pair of spreaders. Each spreader has a horizontal support bar extending transversely into the cavity, the two support bars being connected to opposite sides of the ring in the same plane and bearing on their free ends a spaced pair of spreader blades extending forwardly of the ring at about the midline thereof. The spreader blades have smoothly curved outer surfaces to engage the sidewalls of an ear canal or sidewalls of a nare when the ring is compressed vertically, thus increasing the spacing between the spreader blades. The spreaders can be of metal, plastic or the like. Since the ring is resilient, when compression is terminated the ring returns to its original shape. Three fingers and the entire palm of the hand holding the ring are available to stabilize a patient's head against movement. The spreader blades straighten the ear canal for proper viewing of it and the tympanic membrane without having to retract the pinna with the other hand.