Visualization devices, systems, and methods for otology and other uses
Inventors
de Juan, Eugene • Erickson, Signe • Levering, Vrad
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12443020-B2
Publication Date
2025-10-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods can be employed to facilitate indirect viewing into cavities such as, but not limited to, the middle ear space. Some embodiments have uses such as, but not limited to, facilitating visualization and procedures in the outer, middle, and/or inner ear in order to diagnose and/or treat disorders including, but not limited to, hearing loss and other ear disorders. In particular implementations, a surgical microscope is used in conjunction with an inverter lens and a distal lens. In some cases, the distal lens transverses a membrane or septum such as, but not limited to, the tympanic membrane. The distal lens can be an assembly combining two or more lenses, in some embodiments. For example, in some cases wide angle lenses, zoom lenses, lenses of other various shapes and/or prisms can be used in the distal lens.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to medical visualization systems and methods for indirect viewing into a middle ear region. A tympanic membrane lens assembly having a widefield lens at a distal-most end is mountable to a tympanic membrane so that the widefield lens is positioned interiorly to the tympanic membrane and captures an image of the middle ear region. A proximal-most end of the tympanic membrane lens assembly is positioned externally to the tympanic membrane and transfers the captured image for viewing.
The system and method emphasize an image transfer path where the proximal-most end conveys the image from the interior middle ear region to external viewing. The distal widefield lens is configured to be interiorly positioned when mounted, while the proximal-most end remains externally positioned. This arrangement supports viewing of the image of the middle ear region captured by the widefield lens and transferred from the proximal-most end.
In further embodiments described in the provided content, the external portion can include stereoscopic inverter lens systems positioned outside the tympanic membrane, with optional adjustable mounting to a surgical microscope. The tympanic membrane lens assembly can include additional structural and optical configurations, such as a prism at the proximal-most end, a zoom/objective lens positioned between the prism and the widefield lens, stabilization features including radially extending arm members or rings, and a waist geometry with a smaller outer diameter than adjacent proximal and distal portions.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims. Across these independent claims, the core inventive features center on a tympanic membrane lens assembly with a distal widefield lens positioned interiorly and a proximal-most external end configured to transfer and enable viewing of an image of a middle ear region.
Tympanic membrane lens assembly with distal widefield lens and proximal image transfer end
A medical visualization system for viewing a middle ear region comprising a tympanic membrane lens assembly mountable to a tympanic membrane, wherein the tympanic membrane lens assembly comprises a widefield lens at a distal-most end positioned interiorly to the tympanic membrane when mounted, and wherein a proximal-most end is positioned externally to the tympanic membrane and configured to transfer an image of the middle ear region captured by the widefield lens.
Indirect viewing method using distal widefield capture and proximal external transfer
A method for indirect viewing into a middle ear region of a patient comprising mounting a tympanic membrane lens assembly to a tympanic membrane such that the tympanic membrane lens assembly comprises a widefield lens at a distal-most end positioned interiorly to the tympanic membrane and a proximal-most end of the tympanic membrane lens assembly positioned externally to the tympanic membrane, wherein the proximal-most end is configured to transfer an image of the middle ear region captured by the widefield lens, and viewing the image of the middle ear region captured by the widefield lens and transferred from the proximal-most end of the tympanic membrane lens assembly.
Both independent claims are grounded in the same inventive imaging architecture: an interiorly positioned distal widefield lens within a tympanic membrane lens assembly mounted to the tympanic membrane, paired with an externally positioned proximal-most end configured to transfer the captured middle ear image for viewing.
Stated Advantages
Binocular viewing.
Hands-free operation.
Switchable widefield/in-view imaging.
Depth of focus and high peripheral resolution.
Ability to pass instruments and operate in fluid-filled spaces.
Stated advantages over endoscopy.
Documented Applications
Minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including agent delivery and graft placement.
Use with non-standard illumination for tissue or vessel identification, including infrared and fluorescence.
Therapeutic contexts described in the provided content include antibiotic delivery, gene delivery, cholesteatoma, ossicular chain reconstruction, and viewing of the round window niche and oval window.
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