A Korean startup stands out for addressing a challenge that nearly every family knows all too well: how to quickly and confidently assess common health issues without rushing to an overcrowded hospital. That company is OTITON. Founded by Jayden Kim, OTITON is developing a deceptively simple product with ambitious implications.
That product is a smart thermometer capable of supporting at-home ENT (ear, nose, and throat) diagnosis. Designed initially for families and children, the technology is now expanding into an entirely new frontier: animal healthcare. These products have created a legacy for OTITON, recognized as CES’s distinguished Innovation Award honoree back to back years.
Pandemic-Era Insight Sparks Innovation
The idea behind OTITON was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period that exposed the fragility of healthcare systems worldwide. Overwhelmed hospitals, delayed appointments, and limited access to routine care created new pressures, especially for parents of young children.
The company’s founder, himself a young father, experienced this challenge firsthand. Common conditions such as fevers, ear infections, and mild inflammations often required in-person visits, even when the outcome was reassurance rather than treatment.
That experience led to the creation of Doctor in House, OTITON’s flagship product. The goal was to empower families with reliable, medically grounded tools to make informed decisions without replacing doctors, but by supporting them.
Doctor in House
At first glance, Doctor in House looks like a sleek, compact thermometer. In reality, it is a multifunction medical device designed to bring clinical insight into the living room.
On one side, the device functions as a high-precision infrared thermometer. On the other, it features a miniature medical-grade endoscope capable of visualizing the inside of the ear. When connected to a smartphone via a dedicated mobile app, users can measure body temperature and simultaneously view the ear canal in real time.
“We want to help families avoid unnecessary hospital visits,” Kim said. “At the same time, we want them to recognize when professional care is truly needed.”
Available in black, white, and ivory, Doctor in House is designed with everyday usability in mind. The companion app stores medical history, tracks symptom progression, and allows users to securely share data with healthcare professionals. This continuity of information is especially valuable for pediatric care, where recurring infections or subtle changes can be difficult to track over time.
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AI-Powered ENT Diagnosis at Home
What truly differentiates OTITON from other connected thermometers is its diagnostic intelligence. At the core of Doctor in House is an AI engine trained on more than 55,000 real clinical cases of otitis media, sourced from leading university hospitals in South Korea.
“Our ambition is to make diagnosis as simple as taking a temperature,” he explained. The AI is currently capable of identifying seven ENT-related conditions, including acute middle ear infections, eardrum perforations, and earwax blockages—issues that are especially common in young children.
The system does not claim to replace a physician’s diagnosis. Instead, it provides an initial assessment, helping users decide whether monitoring at home is sufficient or whether a medical consultation is warranted. “Accuracy is critical,” Kim emphasized. “That’s why we review and update our database three to four times a year to continuously improve diagnostic precision.”
Looking ahead, OTITON plans to expand the platform’s capabilities even further. A hearing test feature is currently in development, using variable-intensity sound signals to support early detection of hearing loss—another area where early intervention can make a significant difference.
Bridging the Gap Between Home and Clinic
OTITON’s approach reflects a broader shift in healthcare toward prevention, early detection, and decentralized care. By combining hardware, AI, and longitudinal data tracking, Doctor in House acts as a bridge between home observation and professional medicine.
For physicians, access to visual ear data and symptom history can improve the quality of remote consultations. For parents, it reduces uncertainty and anxiety which are the most common drivers of unnecessary emergency visits.
Importantly, the system is designed to support rather than bypass medical expertise. “We see this as a collaboration tool,” Kim noted. “Families, doctors, and technology working together.”
Doctor in House for Pets
OTITON’s ambitions extend beyond human healthcare. This year, the company plans to launch Doctor Pet, a specialized version of its device designed for animal health monitoring.
The motivation is driven by the fact that pets, like children, cannot clearly communicate discomfort. Ear infections are common in dogs, yet often go unnoticed until they become severe. “Animals can’t speak so we want to give them a digital voice.”
Designing Doctor Pet posed unique challenges. Animal ear anatomy, particularly in dogs, is more complex than in humans. OTITON redesigned the infrared sensor and probe tip, incorporating soft, interchangeable silicone tips to ensure comfort and safety. The diagnostic process remains non-invasive, minimizing stress for animals and owners alike.
The Doctor Pet app will allow pet owners to track symptoms, record treatments, and share data with veterinarians. Sold directly to consumers at a projected price of around $150, the device aims to be both accessible and practical. Even a potential staple for pet-loving households.
OTITON at CES 2026 and Beyond
As OTITON prepares for CES 2026, the company represents a growing category of Korean startups focused on practical, user-centered healthcare innovation. Rather than chasing futuristic concepts, Kim intends to address everyday problems with technology that is approachable, affordable, and grounded in clinical data.
With Doctor in House already demonstrating how AI can enhance at-home care—and Doctor Pet poised to enter the fast-growing pet health market—OTITON is positioning itself at the intersection of digital health, AI, and consumer wellness.
When healthcare systems remain under strain and minor conditions are often mismanaged or ignored, OTITON offers proactive, connected care that starts at home. As Kim put it, “Healthcare shouldn’t begin at the hospital. It should begin with awareness.”
If OTITON’s vision takes hold, the medicine cabinet of the future just got a whole lot smarter.
