Self-Imaging Nasal Device for Remote Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for capturing internal body images, such as endoscopes, are typically used by medical professionals and not by untrained individuals, limiting self-diagnosis and remote medical consultations, as they are not easily accessible or user-friendly for personal use.
Innovation Solution
A self-imaging device system that includes guide elements with apertures for camera insertion into body cavities, a flexible connector, and a processor for image/video recording, storage, and wireless transmission, equipped with adjustable lenses and various light sources for enhanced visualization, allowing patients to capture and share high-resolution images of internal structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If endoscopes and similar devices are used for capturing internal body images, then image quality and professional diagnostic capability are improved, but device complexity and requirement for trained operation increase, making them inaccessible to untrained individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables patients to perform self-examination of their nasal cavities without requiring medical professional assistance. The system includes a camera positioned within the nasal cavity to capture images, along with integrated lighting and control mechanisms that allow the patient to independently obtain diagnostic images of their own nasal structures.
Solution Approach 2:
A portable electronic device serves as an intermediary between the patient and medical professional. It captures high-resolution images of the nasal cavity using an integrated camera system, stores them locally, and enables wireless transmission to remote physicians, thereby bridging the gap between patient self-examination and professional diagnosis.
2Measurement precision
If medical professionals perform direct inspection of body portions, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but accessibility and availability of medical expertise to remote or underserved areas is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The portable electronic device acts as an intermediary tool that captures diagnostic-quality images of the nasal cavity and enables wireless transmission to remote medical professionals. This allows patients in remote or underserved areas to obtain expert diagnostic evaluation without requiring physical presence of a physician, thereby extending accessibility while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual copy of the nasal cavity structures through high-resolution digital imaging. These image copies can be transmitted electronically to medical professionals for remote examination and diagnosis, allowing experts to evaluate patients remotely without physical presence, thus maintaining diagnostic accuracy while improving accessibility.
3Reliability
If traditional imaging devices are used, then professional diagnostic capability is maintained, but patient autonomy and ability to perform self-diagnosis are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device empowers patients to independently examine their own nasal cavities by providing them with a portable imaging system that captures high-resolution images. Patients can control the camera positioning, trigger image capture, and transmit results to healthcare providers, thereby exercising autonomy while maintaining reliable diagnostic capability through professional review of the captured images.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables untrained individuals to capture and remotely transfer high-resolution images of internal body structures to medical professionals, facilitating self-diagnosis and remote medical consultations, while providing improved visualization and accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
At least one camera is disposed within one or more apertures to allow recording images or videos of the nasal cavities of a patient
Implementation Method 2
The light source may include one or more filters for different light wavelengths such as infrared, and ultraviolet light
Implementation Method 3
In one embodiment, there are also filters allowing for chemiluminescence or tissue autofluorescence capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
A system for self-imaging a body portion includes a self-imaging device and an ancillary device that is attachable to the self-imaging device. The self-imaging device has a base member, a camera located within the base member and a guide element for transmitting light along a path extending between the camera and an exposed tip of the guide element that opens out of the self-imaging device at a given side of the device. The ancillary device is arranged to attach to the self-imaging device at said same given side while substantially not obstructing incoming light arriving towards the self-imaging device from being transmitted via the guide element towards the camera.