Smart Phone Adaptive Otoscope

Smart Phone Adaptive Otoscope

Project developed by Ejweiden 

NOTE: This is NOT a regulated diagnostic tool, only medical professionals can make a diagnosis. Template:Statusboxtop Template:Status-design Template:Status-prototype You can help Appropedia by contributing to the next step in this OSAT's status. Template:Boxbottom

Abstract

Device Definition

An otoscope is a medical instrument or device used to examine of the eardrum and the passage of the outer ear, which can be dificult to see to the naked eye. From an otoscope a medical professional or health care provider can diagnose or recognize ear infections, fluid in the ears, tearing of the eardrum and more.

The OSAT Need

If ear symptoms go continuously on treated, they can lead to hearing loss. Millions of people in across the globe suffer from hearing loss [1]. The first step to avoiding hearing loss is primary prevention such as diagnosing ear simple ear infections. "Experts say at least half of all hearing loss cases are avoidable through primary prevention" [2], care like this can be costly and hard to come by in developing countries. And because otoscopes, a very basic and necessary medical device, can be expensive, an simple, cheap, adaptive, otoscope could be a useful solution for those who are lacking primary preventative care.

Bill of Materials

Printing Material:

1. Black (or dark, opaque, non translucent) PLA (or plastic printing material)

Printed Parts:

1. Otoscope

Other Materials

1. A rubber band
2. Black paint/nail polish (only needed if a dark printing material is not used)

Files:

1. OpenSCAD File: File:OSAT Otoscope.scad
2. STL File: File:OSAT Otoscope.stl
3. Thingiverse Page
4. Youmagine OpenSCAD and STL Link

Tools needed for fabrication of the OSAT

1. MOST Delta RepRap or similar RepRap 3-D printer
2. Smart phone/cell phone with rear-facing camera AND flash

Skills and Knowledge Necessary to Make the OSAT

• Basic knowledge of 3D printing

Technical Specifications and Assembly Instructions

Printer Settings

• Material: 1.75mm PLA
• Rafts: Doesn't matter
• Support: None
• Layer Height: 0.2mm
• Shell Thickness: 1 mm
• Fill Density: 100%
• Print Speed: 75 mm/s
• Printing Temperature: 220 C

Estimated Print Time: 31 minutes when printed at these settings

Estimated Assembly Time: < 5 minutes to attach printed part with a rubber band to the phone

Assembly

• Line up the large opening of the otoscope with the camera and flash on the phone being used.
• Wrap a rubber band around the top portion of the phone so that the otoscope is being held in place securely
• Turn on the phone's camera
• Adjust positioning of the rubber band to ensure the small opening of the otoscope is centered around the camera

Common Problems and Solutions

If when using the flash, the image on the phone is unclear use paint or a darker printing material to keep the light from escaping the otoscope If when using the camera or another app the image is blurry or unclear the otoscope needs to be at a greater distance

Cost savings

This device cost $0.08 to in material to print

• A high end commercial equivalent cost $299.99 [3]
• A median commercial equivalent cost $49.99 (Amazon.com)
• A low end commercial equivalent cost $9.95 (Amazon.com)

• A non cellphone attached otoscope can cost on average $30 to $70 [4]

Savings: $299.91 to $9.87 (99.9% to 99.2% cost redcution)

Benefited Internet Communities

• Engineering World Health
• Engineers Without Boarders
• Doctors Without Boarders
• World Wide Hearing
• World Health Organization.