Brunton Auriscope

One of the first 19th century devices that allowed a magnified examination of the inner ear was the Brunton’s auriscope. This device is a short tube with openings for viewing, light, and to connect cone speculum that is inserted into the ear. The light focus is provided through a large funnel on the side of the tube, and a candle can be used to create artificial light. A mirror inside the tube allows the light to be directed for better vision. A magnifying lens in the eyepiece (eyepieces) allows the physician to examine the inner ear with better clarity.

An Electrified Auriscope

The Brunton’s auriscope was widely used from the 1860s through the early 20th century. Since the device was large, it was natural to insert a light, when the incandescent bulb was invented. This innovation informed the further improvement of the otoscope to the devices that more closely resemble modern otoscopes.

Kramer Speculum

As useful as the Brunton’s auriscope was, many physicians wanted a way to manipulate the ear canal better than the simple cone the device allowed them. Wilhelm Kramer invented an instrument that resembled the old Fabricius Hildanus device in the mid-19th century. It used the conical shape that Brunton developed, but allowed it to be opened with two handles. The device was called a Kramer’s Speculum. A. Hartmann, a physician from Berlin, further developed the Kramer speculum style in 1881, and the otoscope took its modern shape.