US 11,998,177 B2
Scope
Ivan Keogh, Galway (IE); Rory O′Callaghan, Cavan (IE); Elizabeth McGloughlin, Limerick (IE); Martin Gallagher, Galway (IE); and Christina Walsh, Galway (IE)
Assigned to National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway (IE)
Appl. No. 17/436,960
Filed by National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway (IE)
PCT Filed Mar. 5, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/055944
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 7, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/178407, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 10, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 19161096 (EP), filed on Mar. 6, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0167841 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 1/227 (2006.01); A61B 1/04 (2006.01); A61B 1/06 (2006.01); A61G 13/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 1/227 (2013.01) [A61B 1/04 (2013.01); A61B 1/06 (2013.01); A61G 13/121 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A scope for examining or surgically treating ears comprising:
at least one camera;
a stabilizer for supporting the camera in or on the stabilizer, the stabilizer being configured to stabilize the scope in an ear canal wherein the scope is configured to maintain its center of gravity within a volume contained within the stabilizer, the stabilizer comprising a distal end and a proximal end having a greater weight towards its distal end thereby lowering the center of gravity of the scope towards the ear canal;
a scope holder; and
a headrest device for supporting a patient's head; wherein the headrest device is self-adjusting in response to patient head movement and comprises a headrest and a scope stand co-operable with the headrest to move in response to headrest movement to automatically re-position a scope held in the scope stand, and wherein the headrest comprises a convex lower face which allows the headrest to follow a patient's head movements.