US 12,076,186 B2
Methods and devices for membrane characterization with ultrasound and optical illumination
Mark A. Moehring, Seattle, WA (US); Daniel Kreindler, Foster City, WA (US); Charlie Corredor, Seattle, WA (US); Chad Jason Macdonald, Bothell, WA (US); and Dar Bahatt, Foster City, CA (US)
Assigned to OtoNexus Medical Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by OtoNexus Medical Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Oct. 3, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/591,910.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/740,862, filed on Oct. 3, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0107813 A1, Apr. 9, 2020
Int. Cl. A61B 8/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/227 (2006.01); A61B 1/32 (2006.01); A61B 8/08 (2006.01); A61B 8/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 8/4416 (2013.01) [A61B 1/2275 (2013.01); A61B 1/32 (2013.01); A61B 8/08 (2013.01); A61B 8/12 (2013.01); A61B 8/4494 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A speculum operable to be disposed within an ear of a subject, the speculum comprising:
a housing comprising a light conducting element, wherein a transmitted optical illumination is conducted by total internal reflection via the light conducting element, wherein the housing has a lumen therewithin, and wherein the housing is configured to allow a reflected optical illumination to propagate within the lumen from a distal end of the housing to a proximal portion of the housing and toward a detector proximal of the housing; and
an obstruction disposed within the lumen between the distal end of the housing and the proximal portion of the housing, the obstruction at least partially obstructing the reflected optical illumination, wherein the obstruction comprises a largest dimension less than 75% of a smallest dimension of the lumen, and wherein the lumen is configured to transmit the reflected optical illumination in an annular region around the obstruction to form an image of a target on the detector.