Performance Evaluation and Optimization of Design of Light Focus in Otoscope during Otoscopic Examination by Headlight

Abstract

We evaluated the performance of light focus in an existing otoscope with a headlight employing an LED source. The mechanism of the otoscope was shown, and a coordinate system was set in the otoscope to evaluate the light-focusing performance. Experimental equipment based on the set coordinate system was built using the existing otoscope and headlight. We demonstrated experimental methods for measuring illuminance at the narrow mouth in the otoscope using the built experimental equipment. In the experiments conducted using the experimental methods, the performance of light focus in the existing otoscope was evaluated by measuring the illuminance. The optimal new otoscope for focusing light was designed using a headlight employing the LED source. The otoscope was built using the results obtained by the designs. We evaluated the performance of light focus in the designed otoscope with the otoscopes we built. The experimental equipment was built with the constructed otoscope and the headlight. We demonstrated experimental methods for measuring illuminance at the narrow mouth in the otoscope using the built experimental equipment. In the experiments conducted using the experimental methods, the performance of light focus in the designed otoscope was evaluated by the measured illuminance.