Abstract: An otoscope device is disclosed comprising a radiation sensing unit configured for detecting radiation reflected by the patient's outer ear, especially by the eardrum. The otoscope device further comprises electronic and/or optic means configured for determining spectral information of reflected radiation, especially with respect to wavelengths shorter than 500 nm to 480 nm, and configured for determining a ratio of radiation in the spectrum below 480 nm to 500 nm to radiation in the spectrum above 480 nm to 500 nm, especially based on a specific intensity of reflected radiation within the spectrum of blue light and/or UV radiation. Further, a method is disclosed for identifying and/or locating objects in a subject's ear or to a method of identifying or characterizing an eardrum. Still further, a method is disclosed for determining the risk of a pathologic state of the eardrum and its vicinity and to provide the user with a risk index for inflammation.

Abstract: An ear inspection device configured for being at least partially introduced into an external ear canal for determining an ear condition, such as temperature, in particular at the subject's eardrum, wherein the device comprises an infrared sensor unit configured for detecting infrared radiation from the ear, and an electronic imaging unit configured for capturing images based on radiation in the visible range from the ear, wherein the electronic imaging unit exhibits at least one optical axis arranged such that it can be radially offset within the ear canal, and wherein the infrared sensor unit exhibits a visual axis arranged such that it can be positioned centrically within the ear canal or radially offset within the same semicircle, especially the same quadrant, of the cross section of the ear canal.

Abstract: A device for providing a non-contact, time-resolved three-dimensional scan of at least one structural element of a living object which uses microwaves, that comprises besides at least one antenna element, at least one transmitter and at least one receiver, at least one comparator for comparing emitted microwaves and microwaves which are reflected off and at least one analyzer for analyzing at least one property of the emitted microwaves and the received microwaves out of the group of time, frequency, phase, polarization and amplitude. Further the device comprises at least one control and/or processing unit designed for repetitively sampling two-dimensional images in which each pixel contains information about the precise distance and/or velocity of said structural elements towards the antenna elements. The invention allows a repeated spatial reconstruction of the structural element in a living object.

Abstract: The invention refers to a device for attachment to a portable liquid injection device, wherein said device is designed to enclose the drug reservoir of the injection device completely. Further, said device has at least one wave guide enabling a radio frequency wave to be applied along the drug reservoir of the injection device. In particular, the portable liquid injection device is a so-called insulin pen, i.e. a portable liquid injection device which is used to inject insulin for the treatment of diabetes. The inventive device preferably is in the form of a cap, in particular in the form of a cap of an insulin pen.

Abstract: The invention refers to a device for attachment to a portable liquid injection device, wherein said device is designed to enclose the drug reservoir of the injection device completely. Further, said device has at least two flat conductive electrodes enabling an electrical field to be applied across the entire volume of the drug reservoir of the injection device. In particular, the portable liquid injection device is a so-called insulin pen, i.e. a portable liquid injection device which is used to inject insulin for the treatment of diabetes. The inventive device preferably is in the form of a cap, in particular in the form of a cap of an insulin pen.

Abstract: The invention relates to an otoscope device (10), especially configured to be manipulated by a user during its application, comprising: a portion (14) configured to be introduced in an ear canal of a patient's outer ear; and an electronic imaging unit (40) configured for capturing at least one image of the patient's outer ear, especially of the eardrum; wherein the otoscope device further comprises electronic and/or optic means (44) configured for determining spectral information, especially with respect to wavelengths shorter than 550 nm, and configured for identifying and/or locating objects shown in the at least one image, especially the eardrum, in dependence on a specific amount of blue components and/or UV components of the image or of radiation reflected from the object. Further, the invention relates to a method of identifying and/or locating objects in a subject's ear or to a method of identifying an eardrum.

Abstract: An otoscope device is disclosed comprising a portion configured to be introduced in an ear canal of a patient's outer ear; and an electronic imaging unit configured for capturing at least one image of the patient's outer ear, especially of the eardrum. The otoscope device further comprises electronic and/or optic means configured for determining spectral information, especially with respect to wavelengths shorter than 550 nm; and is configured for identifying and/or locating objects shown in the at least one image, especially the eardrum, in dependence on a specific amount of blue components and/or UV components of the image or of radiation reflected from the object. Further, a method is disclosed for identifying and/or locating objects in a subject's ear or to a method of identifying an eardrum.

Abstract: An otoscope device is disclosed comprising a portion configured to be introduced in an ear canal of a patient's outer ear; and an electronic imaging unit configured for capturing at least one image of the patient's outer ear, especially of the eardrum. The otoscope device further comprises electronic and/or optic means configured for determining spectral information, especially with respect to wavelengths shorter than 550 nm; and is configured for identifying and/or locating objects shown in the at least one image, especially the eardrum, in dependence on a specific amount of blue components and/or UV components of the image or of radiation reflected from the object. Further, a method is disclosed for identifying and/or locating objects in a subject's ear or to a method of identifying an eardrum.

Abstract: An otoscope comprises a handle portion and a head portion tapering along its longitudinal axis. The head portion has a proximal end adjacent the handle portion and a smaller distal end adapted to be introduced in an ear canal of a patient's outer ear. The otoscope further comprises an electronic imaging unit positioned at the distal end of the head portion, and a probe cover moving mechanism configured to move at least a portion of an at least partially transparent probe cover adapted to be put over the head portion, especially configured to move the probe cover with respect to at least one optical axis of the electronic imaging unit. The present invention further refers to a probe cover for such an otoscope and to a method of identifying objects in a subject's ear.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an otoscope (10) comprising a handle portion (12) allowing a user to manipulate the otoscope (10) during its application; and a head portion (14) exhibiting a substantially tapering form extending along a longitudinal axis (A) of the head portion (14), wherein the head portion (14) has a proximal end (16) adjacent to the handle portion (12) and a smaller distal end (18) configured to be introduced in an ear canal of a patient's outer ear.

Abstract: An otoscope comprising a handle portion and a head portion substantially tapering along its longitudinal axis, wherein the head portion has a proximal end adjacent to the handle portion and a smaller distal end configured to be introduced in an outer ear canal. The otoscope comprises an optical electronic imaging unit at the distal end of the head portion, especially at a distal tip of the head portion, wherein the electronic imaging unit exhibits at least one optical axis which is radially offset from the longitudinal axis, and wherein the distal end is configured for accommodating the electronic imaging unit in such a way that the radial offset can be maximum with respect to the diameter of the distal end.

Abstract: A method of identifying objects in a subject's ear, comprising the following steps: introducing an optical electronic imaging unit and a light source into an ear canal of a subject's outer ear, wherein the electronic imaging unit exhibits an optical axis directed in a distal direction, especially directed at the eardrum of the subject's ear; using the electronic imaging unit to capture an image from an eccentric observation point positioned on the optical axis and positioned eccentrically within the ear canal; and determining brightness or color information to identify objects shown in the image by electronic means, in order to automatically identify the objects, especially the eardrum.

Abstract: A plastic tube sealing device includes a clamp which has a pair of jaws that can move relative to each other for inserting and crimping a plastic tube, the jaws containing high-frequency (HF) jaw electrodes, and includes an electrical HF power supply circuit including an HF generator and the HF jaw electrodes. The plastic tube sealing device further includes an impedance control device (9) for acting towards maintaining an impedance of the HF power supply circuit constant during a respective welding operation by correspondingly controlling the variable impedance HF resonant circuit.

Abstract: The invention refers to a device for attachment to a portable liquid injection device, wherein said device is designed to enclose the drug reservoir of the injection device completely. Further, said device has at least two flat conductive electrodes enabling an electrical field to be applied across the entire volume of the drug reservoir of the injection device. In particular, the portable liquid injection device is a so-called insulin pen, i.e. a portable liquid injection device which is used to inject insulin for the treatment of diabetes. The inventive device preferably is in the form of a cap, in particular in the form of a cap of an insulin pen.

Abstract: The invention relates to an otoscope device (10), especially configured to be manipulated by a user during its application, comprising: a portion (14) configured to be introduced in an ear canal of a patient's outer ear; and an electronic imaging unit (40) configured for capturing at least one image of the patient's outer ear, especially of the eardrum; wherein the otoscope device further comprises electronic and/or optic means (44) configured for determining spectral information, especially with respect to wavelengths shorter than 550 nm, and configured for identifying and/or locating objects shown in the at least one image, especially the eardrum, in dependence on a specific amount of blue components and/or UV components of the image or of radiation reflected from the object. Further, the invention relates to a method of identifying and/or locating objects in a subject's ear or to a method of identifying an eardrum.

Abstract: The invention relates to an otoscope device (10), especially configured to be manipulated by a layperson during its application, comprising a radiation sensing unit (40.1) configured for detecting radiation reflected by the patient's outer ear, especially by the eardrum; wherein the otoscope device further comprises electronic and/or optic means (44) configured for determining spectral information of reflected radiation, especially with respect to wavelengths shorter than 500 nm to 480 nm, and configured for determining a ratio of radiation in the spectrum below 480 nm to 500 nm to radiation in the spectrum above 480 nm to 500 nm, especially based on a specific intensity of reflected radiation within the spectrum of blue light and/or UV radiation. Further, the invention relates to a method of identifying and/or locating objects in a subject's ear or to a method of identifying or characterizing an eardrum.

Abstract: An otoscope comprising a handle portion and a head portion being substantially tapered along its longitudinal axis, the head portion having a proximal end adjacent to the handle portion and a smaller distal end adapted to be introduced in an ear canal of a patient's outer ear. The otoscope further comprises an electronic imaging unit at the distal end of the head portion, and fixing means configured to fix an at least partially transparent probe cover adapted to be put over the head portion in a gas-tight manner to the head portion and/or to the handle portion, and wherein the otoscope further comprises a probe cover moving mechanism configured to move at least a portion of the probe cover. A probe cover for such an otoscope and a method of identifying objects in a subject's ear are also disclosed.

Abstract: An otoscope comprising a handle portion and a head portion substantially tapering along its longitudinal axis, wherein the head portion has a proximal end adjacent to the handle portion and a smaller distal end configured to be introduced in an outer ear canal. The otoscope comprises an optical electronic imaging unit at the distal end of the head portion, especially at a distal tip of the head portion, wherein the electronic imaging unit exhibits at least one optical axis which is radially offset from the longitudinal axis, and wherein the distal end is configured for accommodating the electronic imaging unit in such a way that the radial offset can be maximum with respect to the diameter of the distal end.

Abstract: An otoscope comprises a handle portion and a head portion tapering along its longitudinal axis. The head portion has a proximal end adjacent the handle portion and a smaller distal end adapted to be introduced in an ear canal of a patient's outer ear. The otoscope further comprises an electronic imaging unit positioned at the distal end of the head portion and a probe cover moving mechanism configured to move at least a portion of an at least partially transparent probe cover adapted to be put over the head portion, especially configured to move the probe cover with respect to at least one optical axis of the electronic imaging unit. The present invention further refers to a probe cover for such an otoscope and to a method of identifying objects in a subject's ear.

Abstract: A method of identifying objects in a subject's ear, comprising: introducing an optical electronic imaging unit and light source into an ear canal of a subject's outer ear, wherein the electronic imaging unit exhibits an optical axis directed in a distal direction, especially directed at the eardrum; using the electronic imaging unit to capture an image; and determining color information or brightness and color information to identify objects shown in the image by electronic means, in order to automatically identify the objects, especially the eardrum, wherein the electronic imaging unit comprises a color video camera, and wherein the method further comprises a step of determining the spectral composition of reflections of the eardrum, once the eardrum has been identified.