Advanced Ear Examination using Deep Learning-assisted Mobile Otoscope

Abstract

Digital video otoscope is an indispensable tool in otology that allows inspection of the external auditory canal and tympanic membrane. However, existing solutions have limitations in the diagnosis of various ear diseases and portability. Here, we propose a mobile, deep learning-assisted otoscope for low-resource settings. Our deep learning architecture was trained on clinical data to identify and classify various ear diseases. To evaluate our platform, we compared its performance with the device used in the hospital practice. Our preliminary results demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy indicating a strong potential to become a viable screening solution in low-resource, non-specialist settings.