Abstract: A speculum body is configured to attach to the otoscope. An array of radially situated microchannels is within the speculum body and extends to apertures in a distal end of the speculum body. A power electrode array is within the speculum body positioned with respect to the microchannels to excite plasma generation within the microchannels. An optically transparent central portion is in the body to permit viewing of an eardrum by a practitioner. A method of treatment of the middle ear and/or middle ear cavity incudes actuating plasma jets to extend into the ear canal from a speculum attached to the otoscope and continuing the plasma jet treatment for a period of time sufficient to inactivate or kill a bacterial biofilm in the middle ear and/or the middle ear cavity.

Abstract: A detector for characterizing at least one of a middle ear fluid and a middle ear biofilm includes a handheld probe outputting near-infrared and visible light, an OCT system to obtain A-scans at a plurality of positions on a tympanic membrane, and a camera to obtain surface sub-images at the plurality of positions. A-scans and surface sub-images are synchronized and the surface sub-images are mosaicked to generate a surface image of the tympanic membrane. Cross-sectional scan images or a thickness map are generated from the synchronized A-scans and segmented to extract a plurality of specified features. The specified features are then classified to characterize at least one of the middle ear fluid and the middle ear biofilm. The detector, including handheld probe with camera, OCT system, and a laptop computer, is sized to fit into a handheld, portable, compact, foam-padded briefcase weighing less than 10 kg.

Abstract: A detector for characterizing at least one of a middle ear fluid and a middle ear biofilm includes a handheld probe outputting near-infrared and visible light, an OCT system to obtain A-scans at a plurality of positions on a tympanic membrane, and a camera to obtain surface sub-images at the plurality of positions. A-scans and surface sub-images are synchronized and the surface sub-images are mosaicked to generate a surface image of the tympanic membrane. Cross-sectional scan images or a thickness map are generated from the synchronized A-scans and segmented to extract a plurality of specified features. The specified features are then classified to characterize at least one of the middle ear fluid and the middle ear biofilm. The detector, including handheld probe with camera, OCT system, and a laptop computer, is sized to fit into a handheld, portable, compact, foam-padded briefcase weighing less than 10 kg.