The nasal speculite

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To design a cost effective, handy, easy to fabricate, ergonomic nasal speculum with a built-in light source. DESIGN: Instrumentation SETTING: Tertiary Government Hospital MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two 3cc syringes were mounted on each side of a nasal speculum to serve as battery cases for the two 1.5 volts battery. A laryngoscope bulb, connected to a metallic plate, made from the two long arms of a paper fastener, was then suspended from the speculum screw, with the bulb positioned in between the speculum blades. An electric wire connected the batteries and the metallic plate. The upper negative pole wire was connected to a ballpen spring and was glued near the fulcrum. The device illuminates automatically with opening of the speculum blades. RESULTS: Nasal speculite provided comparable visualization of the nasal cavity as that with a nasal speculum with head mirror and light source. The illumination was adequate and there was no more need for light focusing. There were no complaints of discomfort from the subjects. CONCLUSION: The Nasal speculite is a cost effective, handy, easy to fabricate ergonomic instrument that can be used by the ENT specialist at his/her own convenience, obviating the need for head mirrors and light source, in the examination of the nasal cavities. (Author)