EP0221649A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Slit lamp attachment
Assignee: Ocular Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1986-09-09
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2006-09-09
Abstract
Abstract An attachment (54) for a slit lamp that permits the operator to view the superimposition of an image of a patient's eye and a second image that may comprise a fluorescein angiogram (56) or other photographic image of the patient's eye, or an image formed by a CRT or other display system. The slit lamp includes objective means (46) for forming the first image directed along a first optical path, and viewing means (48) comprising an eyepiece (50,52), the viewing means (48) being attachable to the objective means (46) such that the eyepiece (50,52) is positioned along the first optical path. The attachment (54) includes a body (60), a beamsplitter (62), and an image forming system (64,66,68,70). The body (60) includes means (98,104) for attaching the body (60) between the objective means (46) and viewing means (48), and also includes a passage (76) through which the first image can pass along the first optical path to the viewing means (48). The beamsplitter (62) is mounted in the body (60), and positioned in the first optical path. The image forming system (64,66,68,70) projects the second image into the beamsplitter (62), such that a portion of the second image is reflected along the first optical path. The image forming system (64,66,68,70) may include a zoom lens system (64,66) for adjusting the size of the second image. The zoom lens system (64,66) may comprise a pair of lenses and positioning means including an inner tube (82) having a pair of helical slots (126) and a pair of outer tubes (140,142) having a pair of longitudinal slots (144,146). Beamsplitter positioning means (110,112) are also provided for permitting the operator to precisely position the first and second images with respect to one another.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory L. Heacock
- 👤 Phillip J. Erickson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:09
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61B; A61B3/00; A61B3/10; A61B3/13; A61B3/132; A61B3/135; A61F9/00821; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00863
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A slit lamp attachment that permits an operator to view the superimposition of a first image of a patient's eye and a second image, the slit lamp comprising objective means for forming the first image directed along a first optical path, and viewing means comprising an eyepiece, the viewing means being attachable to the objective means such that the eyepiece is positioned along the first optical path to permit viewing of the first image through the eyepiece, the slit lamp attachment comprising: (a) a body including means for attaching the body between the objective means and the viewing means and a passage through which the first image can pass along the first optical path from the objective means to the viewing means; (b) a beamsplitter mounted in the body and positioned in the first optical path; and, (c) an image forming system comprising means for forming the second image and for projecting the second image onto the beamsplitter such that a portion of the second image is reflected by the beamsplitter along the first optical path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A slit lamp attachment that permits an operator to view the superimposition of a first image of a patient's eye and a second image, the slit lamp comprising objective means for forming the first image directed along a first optical path, and viewing means comprising an eyepiece, the viewing means being attachable to the objective means such that the eyepiece is positioned along the first optical path to permit viewing of the first image through the eyepiece, the slit lamp attachment comprising: (a) a body including means for attaching the body between the objective means and the viewing means and a passage through which the first image can pass along the first optical path from the objective means to the viewing means; (b) a beamsplitter mounted in the body and positioned in the first optical path; and, (c) an image forming system comprising means for forming the second image and for projecting the second image onto the beamsplitter such that a portion of the second image is reflected by the beamsplitter along the first optical path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
108 words
The slit lamp attachment of Claim 1, wherein the objective means and the viewing means include an objective connector and a viewing connector respectively, the objective connector and the viewing connector being adapted to connect the viewing means directly to the objective means, and wherein the slit lamp attachment comprises a first connector adapted to cooperate with the objective connector to attach the body to the objective means and a second connector adapted to cooperate with the viewing connector for attaching the viewing means to the body, the first connector being substantially similar to the viewing connector and the second connector being substantially similar to the objective connector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The slit lamp attachment of Claim 1, wherein the image forming system comprises a zoom lens system including means for adjusting the size of the second image in relation to the size of the first image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
109 words
The slit lamp attachment of Claim 3, wherein the zoom lens system comprises first and second lenses mounted along a second optical path, an inner tube having a helical slot and a central axis positioned along the second optical path, an outer tube having a longitudinal slot, the outer tube being positioned around and rotatable with respect to the inner tube, the first lens being slidably mounted within the inner tube and having an outwardly extending pin extending through the helical slot and the longitudinal slot, whereby rotation of the outer tube with respect to the inner tube causes the first lens to move along the second optical path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
152 words
The slit lamp attachment of Claim 3, wherein the zoom lens system comprises first and second lenses mounted along a second optical path, an inner tube having first and second helical slots and a central axis positioned along the second optical path, and first and second outer tubes having respective first and second longitudinal slots, each outer tube being positioned around and rotatable with respect to the inner tube, the first lens being slidably mounted within the inner tube and having an outwardly extending first pin extending through the first helical slot and the first longitudinal slot, the second lens being slidably mounted within the inner tube and having an outwardly extending second pin extending through the second helical slot and the second longitudinal slot, whereby the first and second lenses can be independently moved along the second optical path by rotation of the outer tubes with respect to the inner tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
The slit lamp attachment of Claim 1, further comprising means for switching the image forming system between on and off states, and wherein the reflection/transmission characteristics of the beamsplitter are selected such that the first image may be viewed through the viewing means when the image forming system is in its off state, and the superimposition of the first and second images may be viewed through the viewing means when the image forming system is in its on state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The slit lamp attachment of Claim 6, wherein the beamsplitter is approximately thirty percent reflective.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The slit lamp attachment of Claim 1, wherein the image forming system comprises means for mounting a transparency that may comprise a photographic image of the patient's eye, illumination means for illuminating the transparency, and means for receiving light from the illuminated transparency and for forming said light into the second image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The slit lamp attachment of Claim 1, wherein the image forming system comprises a two-dimensional display system and means for receiving light from the two-dimensional display system and forming said light into the second image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The slit lamp attachment of Claim 9, wherein the image forming system includes means for causing the display system to display the current value of a parameter associated with the slit lamp, whereby the operator may view the value of said parameter through the viewing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
191 words
A slit lamp attachment that permits an operator to view the superimposition of a first image of a patient's eye and a second image, the slit lamp comprising objective means for forming a pair of first images directed respectively along a pair of first optical paths, and a binocular comprising two eyepieces, the binocular being attachable to the objective means such that the two eyepieces are positioned along the respective first optical paths to permit viewing of the pair of first images through the respective eyepieces, the slit lamp attachment comprising: (a) a body including means for attaching the body between the objective means and the binocular and passage means through which the first images can pass along the respective first optical paths from the objective means to the binocular; (b) a beam splitter mounted in the body and positioned in only one of the first optical paths; and, (c) an image forming system comprising means for forming the second image and for projecting the second image onto the beam splitter such that a portion of the second image is reflected by the beam splitter along said one first optical path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
191 words
A slit lamp attachment that permits an operator to view the superimposition of a first image of a patient's eye and a second image, the slit lamp comprising objective means for forming a pair of first images directed respectively along a pair of first optical paths, and a binocular comprising two eyepieces, the binocular being attachable to the objective means such that the two eyepieces are positioned along the respective first optical paths to permit viewing of the pair of first images through the respective eyepieces, the slit lamp attachment comprising: (a) a body including means for attaching the body between the objective means and the binocular and passage means through which the first images can pass along the respective first optical paths from the objective means to the binocular; (b) a beam splitter mounted in the body and positioned in only one of the first optical paths; and, (c) an image forming system comprising means for forming the second image and for projecting the second image onto the beam splitter such that a portion of the second image is reflected by the beam splitter along said one first optical path.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
105 words
The slit lamp attachment of Claim 11, wherein the objective means and the binocular include an objective connector and a binocular connector respectively, the objective connector and the binocular connector being adapted to connect the binocular directly to the objective means, and wherein the slit lamp attachment comprises a first connector adapted to cooperate with the objective connector to attach the body to the objective means and a second connector adapted to cooperate with the binocular connector for attaching the binocular to the body, the first connector being substantially similar to the binocular connector and the second connector being substantially similar to the objective connector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The slit lamp attachment of Claim 11, wherein the image forming system comprises a zoom lens system including means for adjusting the size of the second image in relation to the size of the first images.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
The slit lamp attachment of Claim 11, further comprising a means for switching the image forming system between on and off states, and wherein the reflection/transmission characteristics of the beamsplitter are selected such that the first images may be viewed through the binocular when the image forming system is in its off state, and the superimposition of the first and second images may be viewed through the binocular when the image forming system is in its on state.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The slit lamp attachment of Claim 14, wherein the beamsplitter is approximately thirty percent reflective.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
The slit lamp attachment of Claim 11, wherein the image forming system comprises means for mounting a transparency that may comprise a photographic image of the patient's eye, illumination means for illuminating the transparency, and means for receiving light from the illuminated transparency and for forming said light into the second image.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The slit lamp attachment of Claim 11, wherein the image forming system comprises a two-dimensional display system and means for receiving light from the two-dimensional display system and forming said light into the second image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
87 words
The slit lamp attachment of Claim 17, further comprising a second beamsplitter positioned in the other one of the first optical paths such that the second beamsplitter reflects a portion of the corresponding first eye image out of the first optical path onto a third optical path, a television camera mounted in the third optical path for receiving the reflected first image and forming a corresponding video signal, and means for providing the video signal to the two-dimensional display system for display by the two-dimensional display system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
120 words
In an optical system for transmitting an image along an optical path and including an optical element in said optical path, improved means for adjusting the position of the optical element along the optical path comprising an inner tube having a helical slot and a central axis positioned along the optical path, an outer tube having a longitudinal slot, the outer tube being positioned around and rotatable with respect to the inner tube, the optical element being slidably mounted within the inner tube and including an outwardly extending pin extending through the helical slot and the longitudinal slot, whereby rotation of the outer tube with respect to the inner tube causes the optical element to move along the optical path.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
120 words
In an optical system for transmitting an image along an optical path and including an optical element in said optical path, improved means for adjusting the position of the optical element along the optical path comprising an inner tube having a helical slot and a central axis positioned along the optical path, an outer tube having a longitudinal slot, the outer tube being positioned around and rotatable with respect to the inner tube, the optical element being slidably mounted within the inner tube and including an outwardly extending pin extending through the helical slot and the longitudinal slot, whereby rotation of the outer tube with respect to the inner tube causes the optical element to move along the optical path.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
169 words
A mounting assembly for mounting an optical element, comprising: (a) first support means for mounting the optical element such that the optical element is rotatable about a first axis that is fixed with respect to the first support means; (b) second support means for mounting the first support means such that the first support means is rotatable about a second axis that is fixed with respect to the second support means and normal to the first axis, and, (c) manipulation means including a handle pivotally mounted to the first support means for rotation about a third axis normal to the first and second axes, the manipulation means further including engagement means for causing rotation of the optical element about the first axis when the handle is rotated about the third axis, whereby rotation of the handle about the third axis causes rotation of the optical element about the first axis, and rotation of the handle about the second axis causes rotation of the optical element about the second axis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
169 words
A mounting assembly for mounting an optical element, comprising: (a) first support means for mounting the optical element such that the optical element is rotatable about a first axis that is fixed with respect to the first support means; (b) second support means for mounting the first support means such that the first support means is rotatable about a second axis that is fixed with respect to the second support means and normal to the first axis, and, (c) manipulation means including a handle pivotally mounted to the first support means for rotation about a third axis normal to the first and second axes, the manipulation means further including engagement means for causing rotation of the optical element about the first axis when the handle is rotated about the third axis, whereby rotation of the handle about the third axis causes rotation of the optical element about the first axis, and rotation of the handle about the second axis causes rotation of the optical element about the second axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.