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FAQ

Frequently asked questions:

  

What is the difference between the Pro Fiberoptic LED Otoscope and a traditional otoscope that uses a halogen bulb?

 

The patent pending design of the Pro Fiberoptic LED Otoscope is the first professional fiberoptic otoscope to ever make use of a LED light source. The biggest advantage of an LED light source over all the other otoscopes on the market which use halogen (incandescent) light sources is that the LED bulb contains no fragile filament that can be easily damaged and or burn out over time. The LED light source lasts essentially forever and will not be damaged by rough handling, dropping, or sudden movement. The LED light source is also much brighter and consists of full spectrum light instead of the yellowish light found in all incandescent light sources.

 

What color is the light from the LED otoscope?

 

The LED emits a full spectrum light. This appears as a white light with a slight bluish tint. Full spectrum light is the the same spectrum of light that is emitted by sunshine. Full spectrum light will give you the most true appearance of an object viewed under it. There is a very good explanation labout the advantages of full spectrum light on the OTT-LITE® website at  http://www.ottlite.com

The OTT-LITE® was specifically developed for hobbyist who needed full spectrum light similar to sunshine to get the most accurate and truest color from the objects they were working with.

 

Pro Fiberoptic LED Otoscopes with full spectrum led light sources will give you a truer color representation of the eardrum and ear canal structures than any other otoscope on the market today.

 

Side Note: If you are a medical professional then you have spent your entire career using an otoscope with an incandescent light source. The light from our LED otoscope is full spectrum and slightly different in color than your usual otoscope.

Our full spectrum light color is very similar to the light color from the OTT light pictured above on the left.

led-versus-halogen.jpg

The full spectrum light will be much less yellow and appear white with a slight bluish tint. This lack of yellow color in the light will make the eardrum appear slightly different than what you have grown accustomed. What you will see with our otoscope is actually the true tissue color of the eardrum as it would appear if you could place natural sunshine into the ear canal and view the eardrum with magnification.

 

What type batteries do the Otoscopes on the Aussie Otoscopes website use, and will re-chargable's also work?

The size of battery required will depend upon the model of the otosocpe you have chosen:

 

The Dr Mom Slimline Pocket Otoscope range of otoscopes come standard with 2 readily available and easily replaceable AAA batteries. Rechargeable AAA batteries can be purchased separately and also work well with these otoscopes.

 

The Mini Pro LED Fiberoptic otoscope requires two AA batteries.  This otoscope does not come with batteries supplied, and if you choose the more environmentally friendly (not to mention pocket-book friendly!) option of re-chargeables, we recommend you charge some at the time of purchasing your otoscope and it will be ready to use when it arrives!

 

The PRO LED Fiberoptic Otoscope and the Pro Veterinary Range of Otoscopes require size "C" batteries.  These need to be purchased separately and we recommend that if your choice is re-chargable, then charge some at the time of ordering and your otoscope will be ready for use when it arrives. (Our postage turnaround is pretty fast so make sure you get  those batteries on the charger!)

 

Will disposable specula work with all of your Otoscopes?

 

Yes, most disposable specula brands work well with our otoscopes. We also sell them on our website here.  Be sure to check out our prices as you'll most likely find our disposable specula will save you money.

 

What is the difference between the LED Dr Mom Otoscope® and the Original Dr Mom Otoscope® that uses a krypton bulb?

The Dr Mom LED is the first otoscope to ever make use of a LED light source. The biggest advantage of an LED light source over all the other otoscopes on the market which use incandescent light sources is that the LED bulb contains no fragile filament that can be easily damaged and or burn out over time. The LED light source lasts essentially forever and will not be damaged by rough handling, dropping, or sudden movement. The LED light source is also brighter and consists of full spectrum light instead of the yellowish light found in all incandescent light sources.

 

What color is the light from the LED otoscope?

 

The LED emits a full spectrum light color. This appears as a white light with a slight bluish tint. Full spectrum light is the the same spectrum of light that is emitted by sunshine. Full spectrum light will give you the most true appearance of an object viewed under it. There is a very good explanation about the advantages of full spectrum light on the OTT-LITE® website at  http://www.ott-lite.com The OTT-LITE® was specifically developed for hobbyist who needed full spectrum light similar to sunshine to get the most accurate and truest color from the objects they were working with.

 

You will notice the difference in the color of the board that the lights above are shining down on. The true color if taken out in sunshine is what you see under the OTT light on the left and not that of the yellowish light produced by an incandescent bulb in the lamp on the right.

 

 

 

How does the brightness of the LED light in the Dr Mom range of otoscopes compare to the halogen light in the larger professional type otoscopes?

 

The LED light source used in  our LED range of otoscopes  is actually brighter when measured with a photometer than the halogen light source on our Professional model otoscope yet burns cool and uses 1:20th the amount of power. If you darken a 24' by 24' room and stand at one end of it you can literally throw a bright beam of light onto the opposite wall through the specula tip of this otoscope.

 

Bottom line is that there will never be an issue with needing more light in an ear canal.

 

How long will the LED light last before it will need replacing?

 

The LED light source is warranted by us for life. If you left the LED light source turned on and running continuously it would burn for 25 years before it would need replacing. It would also maintain its same brightness during these 25 years of continuous use before it finally died and went black.

 

Will rough handling or dropping of the LED light cause it to burn out prematurely?

 

The LED light source does not contain a fragile filament as does all the  incandescent light sources found on all other otoscopes on the market today. We hold the patent and are the only company that offers an LED otoscope. One of the greatest advantages of having an LED light source is that the LED bulb is almost indestructible when it comes to dropping the otoscope or handling it roughly in any way. This is not the case with all other otoscopes on the market because they all use incandescent bulbs. Incandescent bulbs contain a fragile filament that burns hot. These bulbs are easily damaged with any rough handling or sudden movements. These bulbs also need routine replacement over time similar to the bulb in your table lamp at home which is also an incandescent bulb. The bulbs are also very expensive to replace, costing over $30 for the most common and well known  brand of otoscope found in the US and abroad today.  If you should, however, already own a halogen lit otoscope, you can also purchase replacement bulbs here at a fraction of the cost elsewhere!

 

What is the magnification of the otoscope lens?

 

Our otoscope lens uses between a 3x- 4x magnification. We use the same magnification and focal length as the standard Welch Allyn® otoscope. We actually used their lens as our prototype when developing our otoscope.  With the same magnification and focal lengths plus the advantage of a brighter, more true to life light source which is guarenteed for life, we figured we couldn't go wrong! (and neither can you)

 

Is higher magnification always better?

 

Bigger is not always better when it comes to looking in the ear at the eardrum. The key to finding the proper magnification is to deliver enough magnification that you are able to get a clear picture of the eardrum as a whole yet at the same time magnify it enough to see the details that are important when doing your exam. If you over magnify you can see very clear details of a small area but you are unable to get a clear picture of the entire eardrum. Again, the Welch Allyn® twas used as a prototype for optimum magnification and focal length .  The lens manufacturer of the otoscopes on our website use these same values when creating our lens.

 

Does the smaller viewing window of a pocket otoscope make it more difficult to see the eardrum than it would with the larger professional otoscopes that have a larger viewing window?

 

Even though the viewing window is smaller on our pocket otoscope than it is on larger professional models it does not limit what you see in the ear canal. The limiting factor on an otoscope is not the viewing window size but the diameter of the specula tip that is being inserted into the ear canal. Since the specula tip size is the same for any of our otoscopes (assuming you're comparing paediatric to paediatric and adult to adult)  as it is for the professional models the view of the eardrum is exactly the same.

 

What is the size and weight of the Dr Mom Pocket otoscopes?

 

The Dr Mom Otoscopes are around 7 inches long and weigh 5.2 gram with batteries. They are much lighter and some people (particularly women) find it easier to hold in the hand than the heavier professional models. This becomes especially important if you are using the otoscope to do an exam on an uncooperative child. They also fit nicely in a coat pocket and come standard with a pocket clip to make sure it stays in place.  Professionals find this convenient as it makes the otoscope a tool they can easily carry with them while on rounds.

 

Is it difficult for parents to learn to do ear exams?

 

This is one of those questions that has two answers....yes and no. The key to doing ear exams is practice. It is important to begin doing otoscope exams on a willing adult as opposed to a child. The ear canals of an adult are larger and the eardrum is easier to see in an adult. The key is to look into as many adult ear canals as possible to get a feel for what a normal eardrum looks like. Then when you look at an eardrum that is red, has fluid behind it, or is simply abnormal you will quickly recognize it.

The old saying practice makes perfect could not apply more to any situation than it does to doing ear exams.

It is also always important to always go slow and never ever force or pry the otoscope in an ear canal in any way shape or form. Always look to see what is in front of you through the viewing window of the otoscope before advancing it into an ear canal. Never push or pry the otoscope tip into any ear canal.  If in any doubt, leave it to a professional.

Realize that in some children and even adults it is impossible to see the eardrum. Some children and even adults have very small ear canals and/or also filled with earwax and debris which can make it impossible to see the eardrum. Even as a physician it is impossible to see into some ears clearly.

It is also advisable especially with pediatric exams to get the help of your local pediatrician. Many pediatricians today are very supportive of home ear exams and recognize the value of parents being able to monitor for the earliest signs of ear infection. Pediatricians also recognize the importance of the early recognition of earwax occlusions that can cause hearing loss. If not recognized early this hearing loss can go on to affect the speech development in a young child.

 

 

 

 

Lifetime Warranty

The Aussie Otoscope range carries a lifetime guarantee against defects in workmanship. Should the unit fail to function under conditions of normal use, simply return the unit and it will be repaired or replaced free of charge. This guarantee also covers the LED bulb. The warranty does exclude units that exhibit signs of use or abuse beyond normal and sensible wear and tear.