Patent Publication Number: US-2021169319-A1

Title: Nasopharyngeal Mirror Device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 63/032,876 filed on Jun. 1, 2020, and also claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 62/943,592 filed Dec. 4, 2019. The entire contents of both applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The adenoid is a lymphatic organ located behind a patient&#39;s nasal cavity in the nasopharynx. Especially in children, the adenoid often becomes inflamed and can cause recurrent problems such as breathing issues, infections, and/or earaches. As such, surgical removal of the adenoid, called an adenoidectomy, is a common surgical procedure. A surgeon performing an adenoidectomy will typically insert a nasopharyngeal mirror into the patient&#39;s mouth to view the adenoid that is otherwise obstructed from view. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one example, a nasopharyngeal mirror device comprises: a handle; a convex mirror configured to move with respect to the handle; and an anti-fogging device configured to reduce condensation on the convex mirror. 
     In another example, a method comprises: inserting a convex mirror of a nasopharyngeal mirror device into a mouth of a patient; moving the convex mirror with respect to a handle of the nasopharyngeal mirror device such that a tissue of interest of the patient is viewable within the convex mirror; and capturing an image of the tissue of interest with a camera of the nasopharyngeal mirror device while the tissue of interest is viewable within the convex mirror. 
     When the term “substantially” or “about” is used herein, it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including, for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations, and other factors known to those of skill in the art may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide. In some examples disclosed herein, “substantially” or “about” means within +/−0-5% of the recited value. 
     These, as well as other aspects, advantages, and alternatives will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description, with reference where appropriate to the accompanying drawings. Further, it should be understood that this summary and other descriptions and figures provided herein are intended to illustrate by way of example only and, as such, that numerous variations are possible. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a nasopharyngeal mirror device, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a computing device, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a nasopharyngeal mirror device, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a housing, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a housing, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of a convex mirror, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a method, according to an example embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Conventional nasopharyngeal mirrors typically do not provide a full view of the adenoid and surrounding tissues and are not adjustable to accommodate the patient&#39;s unique anatomy. Additionally, the patient&#39;s or the surgeon&#39;s breath during the adenoidectomy can cause the nasopharyngeal mirror to fog up and impair the surgeon&#39;s view of the patient&#39;s tissues. Also, conventional nasopharyngeal mirrors are of limited use in an educational setting because a student is not able to share the surgeon&#39;s view of the patients&#39; tissue during the adenoidectomy. 
     Within examples, a nasopharyngeal mirror device includes a handle, a convex mirror configured to move with respect to the handle, and an anti-fogging device configured to reduce condensation on the convex mirror. A method of using the nasopharyngeal mirror device includes inserting the convex mirror of the nasopharyngeal mirror device into a mouth of a patient and moving the convex mirror with respect to the handle of the nasopharyngeal mirror device such that a tissue of interest of the patient is viewable within the convex mirror. The method also includes capturing an image of the tissue of interest with a camera of the nasopharyngeal mirror device while the tissue of interest is viewable within the convex mirror. 
     Thus, the nasopharyngeal mirror device and methods for its use include various potential benefits when compared to conventional nasopharyngeal mirror devices. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a nasopharyngeal mirror device  100 . The nasopharyngeal mirror device  100  includes a handle  102 , a convex mirror  104  configured to move with respect to the handle  102 , and an anti-fogging device  106  configured to reduce condensation on the convex mirror  104 . The nasopharyngeal mirror device  100  also includes a heater  108 , a camera  110 , a light source  112 , and a computing device  200 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the computing device  200 . The computing device  200  includes one or more processors  202 , a non-transitory computer readable medium  204 , a communication interface  206 , a display  208 , and a user interface  210 . Components of the computing device  200  are linked together by a system bus, network, or other connection mechanism  212 . 
     The one or more processors  202  can be any type of processor(s), such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor, a multicore processor, etc., coupled to the non-transitory computer readable medium  204 . 
     The non-transitory computer readable medium  204  can be any type of memory, such as volatile memory like random access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), or non-volatile memory like read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, magnetic or optical disks, or compact-disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), among other devices used to store data or programs on a temporary or permanent basis. 
     Additionally, the non-transitory computer readable medium  204  can be configured to store instructions  214 . The instructions  214  are executable by the one or more processors  202  to cause the computing device  200  to perform any of the functions or methods described herein. 
     The communication interface  206  can include hardware to enable communication within the computing device  200  and/or between the computing device  200  and one or more other devices. The hardware can include transmitters, receivers, and antennas, for example. The communication interface  206  can be configured to facilitate communication with one or more other devices, in accordance with one or more wired or wireless communication protocols. For example, the communication interface  206  can be configured to facilitate wireless data communication for the computing device  200  according to one or more wireless communication standards, such as one or more Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 801.11 standards, ZigBee standards, Bluetooth standards, etc. As another example, the communication interface  206  can be configured to facilitate wired data communication with one or more other devices. 
     The display  208  can be any type of display component configured to display data. As one example, the display  208  can include a touchscreen display. As another example, the display  208  can include a flat-panel display, such as a liquid-crystal display (LCD) or a light-emitting diode (LED) display. 
     The user interface  210  can include one or more pieces of hardware used to provide data and control signals to the computing device  200 . For instance, the user interface  210  can include a mouse or a pointing device, a keyboard or a keypad, a microphone, a touchpad, or a touchscreen, among other possible types of user input devices. Generally, the user interface  210  can enable an operator to interact with a graphical user interface (GUI) provided by the computing device  200  (e.g., displayed by the display  208 ). 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the nasopharyngeal mirror device  100 . The nasopharyngeal mirror device  100  includes the handle  102 , the convex mirror  104  configured to move with respect to the handle  102 , and the anti-fogging device  106  configured to reduce condensation on the convex mirror  104 . 
     The handle  102  can be formed of metal, plastic, or composite materials, for example. The handle  102  includes a first portion  126  and a second portion  128  that is between the first portion  126  and the convex mirror  104 . The first portion  126  is wider with respect to a longitudinal axis  114  of the handle  102  than the second portion  128 . As such, the first portion  126  provides an ergonomic gripping surface for the surgeon and the second portion  128  is more easily insertable into the patient&#39;s mouth and/or more easily maneuverable within the patient&#39;s mouth. The handle  102  also includes a third portion  130  that is bendable. The handle  102  (e.g., the third portion  130 ) is configured to retain a shape formed after bending. 
     The convex mirror  104  can take the form of a metal-coated piece of glass or plastic, for example. The metal coating faces upward in  FIG. 3  and is reflective. The convex mirror  104  is mounted in a housing  111  that is connected to the second portion  128  of the handle  102  via the third portion  130  of the handle  102 . Thus, the third portion  130  of the handle  102  allows the convex mirror  104  to move and/or rotate with respect to the handle  102 . For example, the convex mirror  104  can rotate about one or more of the orthogonal axes  114 ,  116 , and  118 . 
     The convex shape of the convex mirror  104  will generally allow a surgeon to view a larger area of the patient&#39;s tissues when compared to a flat or concave mirror of similar size. 
     The anti-fogging device  106  can include a hydrophobic coating on the convex mirror  104 . The hydrophobic coating can help reduce condensation on the convex mirror  104 . The hydrophobic coating can include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorocarbon solids, oils, and/or any materials formed of non-polar and/or hydrophobic molecules. Additionally or alternatively, the surface of the convex mirror can be silanized to form the hydrophobic coating (e.g., treated with silane gas to coat the surface with organofunctional alkoxysilane molecules). The hydrophobic coating can be deposited concurrently with or after the reflective metal coating. The hydrophobic coating is generally transparent. 
     In addition, the hydrophobic coating can also be an anti-scratch coating including an oxidized aluminum (Al 2 O 3 ) layer, for example. In some examples, aluminum can be deposited on the surface of the convex mirror  104  and heated at atmospheric pressure to form a transparent aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) that is scratch resistant. In another example, the convex mirror  104  can include a stand-alone anti-scratch coating instead of the hydrophobic coating. 
     The anti-fogging device  106  can also include the heater  108  which is not shown in  FIG. 3 , but can be housed within the housing  111  under the convex mirror  104 . The heater  108  can include a halogen bulb or a resistive heating coil, for example. The heater  108  is configured to heat the convex mirror  104  to a temperature greater than 33° C., or more specifically greater than 36° C., which can reduce condensation on the convex mirror  104 . 
     The anti-fogging device  106  helps provide a clear view of the patient&#39;s tissues to the surgeon by reducing condensation on the convex mirror  104 . 
     The camera  110  includes an image sensor configured to capture still images or video of tissues that are viewable upon the convex mirror by the surgeon during use of the nasopharyngeal mirror device  100 . The images or video can be provided to an external monitor by the communication interface  206 , for example. Thus, a student can view the actions of the surgeon in real time. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the housing  111 . As shown, the nasopharyngeal mirror device  100  also includes the light source  112  that is configured to illuminate a field of view of the camera  110 . More specifically, the light source  112  includes multiple lighting elements  113  (e.g., light emitting diodes) that encircle an aperture  115  of the camera  110 . 
     The user interface  210  can receive a particular input that causes the light source  112  to be enabled (e.g., turned on). Additionally or alternatively, the user interface  210  can receive another input that causes the camera  110  to change its zoom setting and/or to enable (e.g., turn on) the camera  110 . 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the housing  111 . As shown, a first optical axis  120  of the camera  110  forms an angle  122  with a second optical axis  124  of the convex mirror  104 . The first optical axis  120  is the axis of symmetry of the camera  110 . The second optical axis  124  passes through a center of curvature of the convex mirror  104  and is the axis of symmetry of the convex mirror  104 . In various embodiments, the angle  122  is at least 30 degrees, at least 45 degrees, or at least 60 degrees. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of the convex mirror  104 . The convex mirror  104  has a radius  132  of curvature ranging from 200-250 millimeters, or more specifically, 220-230 millimeters. 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram of a method  700  of operating the nasopharyngeal mirror device  100 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the method  700  includes one or more operations, functions, or actions as illustrated by blocks  702 ,  704 , and  706 . Although the blocks are illustrated in a sequential order, these blocks may also be performed in parallel, and/or in a different order than those described herein. Also, the various blocks may be combined into fewer blocks, divided into additional blocks, and/or removed based upon the desired implementation. 
     At block  702 , the method  700  includes (e.g., a surgeon) inserting the convex mirror  104  of the nasopharyngeal mirror device  100  into a mouth of a patient. 
     At block  704 , the method  700  includes (e.g., the surgeon) moving the convex mirror  104  with respect to the handle  102  of the nasopharyngeal mirror device  100  such that a tissue interest (e.g., an adenoid) of the patient is viewable within the convex mirror  104 . 
     At block  706 , the method  700  includes the camera  110  capturing an image of the tissue of interest with the camera  110  of the nasopharyngeal mirror device  100  while the tissue of interest is viewable within the convex mirror  104 . 
     While various example aspects and example embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various example aspects and example embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.