Brunton Auriscope

One of the first 19th-century devices to allow magnified examination of the inner ear was the Brunton auriscope. This device featured a short brass tube with separate openings for viewing, illumination, and attachment of a cone-shaped speculum that is inserted into the ear. Light entered the ear through a large, side-mounted funnel that concentrated illumination from an external source such as a candle. An internal mirror helped guide the light for improved visibility, while a magnifying lens in the eyepiece allowed the physician to examine the ear with greater clarity.

An Electrified Auriscope

The Brunton auriscope was widely used from the 1860s through the early 20th century. Since the device was relatively large, it readily accommodated the addition of a light source following the invention of the incandescent bulb. This innovation helped drive further refinements in otoscope design, leading to instruments that more closely resemble those used today.

Kramer Speculum

As useful as the Brunton’s auriscope was, many physicians wanted a better way to manipulate the ear canal than the simple cone device allowed. Wilhelm Kramer invented an instrument that resembled the earlier Fabricius Hildanus device of the mid-19th century. While it retained Brunton’s conical form, it could be opened using two handles, allowing for greater control. The device became known as Kramer’s Speculum. In 1881, Berlin physician A. Hartmann further refined this design, helping shape the otoscope into a form that closely resembles modern instruments.