The basic VO system consists of a rod otoscope with removable otic speculum, color video camera, high intensity light source and a video display monitor. The figure below 2 presents two portable composite video systems containing each of these components. One (B, Rexton) allows the rod otoscope to be alternatively mounted on a standard otoscope handle for ocular viewing. The other (A, Starkey) features a light source which is integrated within the "pistol grip" handle and activated when the "trigger" is pulled. Basic portable systems generally function on-line only and cannot freeze-frame or store VO images. A very optional portable videotape recorder can serve as a less-than-optimal medium for storing VO records.
Roy F. Sullivan, Ph.D.