Optical coherence tomography otoscope for imaging of tympanic membrane and middle ear pathology

Pathologies within the tympanic membrane (TM) and middle ear (ME) can lead to hearing loss. Imaging tools available in the hearing clinic for diagnosis and management are limited to visual inspection using the classic otoscope. The otoscopic view is limited to the surface of the TM, especially in diseased ears where the TM is opaque. An integrated optical coherence tomography (OCT) otoscope can provide images of the interior of the TM and ME space as well as an otoscope image. This enables the clinicians to correlate the standard otoscopic view with OCT and then use the new information to improve the diagnostic accuracy and management.