Otoscope - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Otoscope
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An otoscope or auriscope is a medical device which is used to look

into the ears. Health care providers use otoscopes to screen for
illness during regular check-ups and also to investigate ear
symptoms. An otoscope potentially gives a view of the ear canal
and tympanic membrane, or eardrum. Since the eardrum is the
border separating the external ear canal from the middle ear, its
characteristics can be indicative of various diseases of the middle
ear space. The presence of cerumen (ear wax), shed skin, pus, canal
skin edema, foreign body, and various ear diseases can obscure any
view of the eardrum and thus severely compromise the value of
otoscopy done with a common otoscope.
The most commonly used otoscopes consist of a handle and a head.
The head contains a light source and a simple low-power
magnifying lens, typically around 8 diopters. The distal (front) end
of the otoscope has an attachment for disposable plastic ear specula.
The examiner first straightens the ear canal by pulling on the pinna
and then inserts the ear speculum side of the otoscope into the
external ear. It is important to brace the hand holding the otoscope
against the patient's head to avoid injury to the ear canal by placing
the index finger or little finger against the head. The examiner can
then look through a lens on the rear of the instrument and see inside
the ear canal. In many models, the lens can be removed, which
allows the examiner to insert instruments through the otoscope into
the ear canal, such as for removing earwax (cerumen). Most models
also have an insertion point for a bulb capable of pushing air
through the speculum which is called pneumatic otoscope. This puff
of air allows an examiner to test the mobility of the tympanic
membrane.

Otoscope - Image of an otoscope

(center)

Anatomy of the human ear.

Many otoscopes used in doctors offices are wall-mounted, while

others are portable. Wall-mounted otoscopes are attached by a
flexible power cord to a base, which serves to hold the otoscope
Right tympanic membrane as seen
when it's not in use and also serves as a source of electric power,
through a speculum.
being plugged into an electric outlet. Portable models are powered
by batteries in the handle; these batteries are usually rechargeable
and can be recharged from a base unit. Otoscopes are often sold with ophthalmoscopes as a diagnostic
set.
Diseases which may be diagnosed by an otoscope include otitis media and otitis externa, infection of the
middle and outer parts of the ear, respectively.
Otoscopes are also frequently used for examining patients' noses (avoiding the need for a separate nasal
speculum) and (with the speculum removed) upper throats.

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The most commonly used otoscopes--those used in emergency rooms, pediatric offices, general practice,
and by internists- are monocular devices. They provide only a two dimensional view of the ear canal, its
contents, and usually at least a portion of the eardrum, depending on what is within the ear canal and its
status. Another method of performing otoscopy (visualization of the ear) is use of a binocular
microscope, in conjunction with a larger metal ear speculum, with the patient supine and the head tilted,
which provides a much larger field of view and the added advantages of a stable head, far superior
lighting, and most importantly, depth perception. A binocular (two-eyed) view is required in order to
judge depth. If wax or other material obstructs the canal and/or a view of the entire eardrum, it can
easily and confidently be removed with specialized suction tips and other microscopic ear instruments,
whereas the absence of depth perception with the one-eyed view of a common otoscope makes removal
of anything more laborious and hazardous. Another major advantage of the binocular microscope is that
both of the examiner's hands are free, since the microscope is suspended from a stand. The microscope
has up to 40x power magnification, which allows much more detailed viewing of the entire ear canal,
and of the entire eardrum, unless edema of the canal skin prevents it. Subtle changes in the anatomy are
much more easily detected and interpreted than with a monocular view otoscope. Traditionally only
ENT specialists (otolaryngologists) and otologists (subspecialty ear doctors) acquire binocular
microscopes and the necessary skills and training to use them, and incorporate their routine use in
evaluating patient's ear complaints. Studies have shown that reliance on a monocular otoscope to
diagnose ear disease results in a more than 50% chance of misdiagnosis, as compared to binocular
microscopic otoscopy. The expense of acquiring a binocular microscope is only one obstacle to its being
more widely adapted to general medicine. The low level of familiarity with binocular otoscopy among
pediatric and general medicine professors in physician training programs is probably a more difficult
obstacle to overcome. Thus the standard of general otologic diagnosis and ear care remains for the most
part the largely antiquated monocular otoscope.

External links
An article detailing the use of otoscopes

Wikimedia Commons has

media related to Otoscope.

(http://web.archive.org/web/20110708075047/http://archive.student.bmj.com/back_issues/0795/7otos.htm) from one of the first issues of the Student BMJ available online published in July 1995.
This archived version
(http://web.archive.org/web/20070321073959/http://www.comdis.wisc.edu/staff/mrchial/howotoscope.ht
of a similar page from wisc.edu contains images.
This archived page from indstate.edu
(http://web.archive.org/web/20070204052853/http://web.indstate.edu/thcme/PSP/eLabs/otoscope.htm)
gives another overview with images.
Phisick (http://www.phisick.com/zent.htm#diag) Pictures and information about antique otoscopes
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Otoscope&oldid=648222559"
Categories: Ear procedures Medical equipment

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