Patent US5688220A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4607622A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber optic ocular endoscope
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1985-04-11
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Granted: 1986-08-26
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Expires: 2005-04-11
Abstract
Abstract An ocular endoscope having a minimum cross-section and designed primarily for use in treating, diagnosing and investigating problems associated with the eye. The probe associated with the endoscope comprises a first bundle of fiber optics carrying light for illumination, a second coaxial bundle of fiber optics terminating in a lens and adapted to view areas being illuminated completely surrounded by a plastic sheath that is semi-rigid and malleable and capable of assuming and holding a preferred shape. In the preferred embodiment a cross-sectional area is elliptical and the sheath contains a port in the area of maximum curvature, which port is adapted to receive a probe. The probe is preferably malleable and may be hollow for accepting instruments or fiber optics connected to an external source of coherent light in the form of a laser for treating purposes.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles D. Fritch
- 👤 John B. McAdams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:24
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/04; A61B1/042; A61B1/313; A61B1/317; A61F9/009; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22072; A61B18/00; A61B2018/00982; A61B90/00; A61B90/30; A61B2090/306; A61F9/02; A61F9/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
An ocular endoscope comprising: a first bundle of fiber optics adapted to be connected to a light source at one end for conducting and projecting light to selected areas at the other end, a second bundle of fiber optics coaxial with said first bundle and adapted to be connected to a display device at one end and a lens at the other end for viewing said areas illuminated by said first bundle, and a semi-rigid malleable flexible sheath encompassing said first bundle and said second bundle, said sheath, said first bundle and said second bundle of fiber optics having a cross-section approximating that of an ellipse whereby insertion of the probe is facilitated by conforming to the shape of the incision and risk of infection is minimized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
An ocular endoscope comprising: a first bundle of fiber optics adapted to be connected to a light source at one end for conducting and projecting light to selected areas at the other end, a second bundle of fiber optics coaxial with said first bundle and adapted to be connected to a display device at one end and a lens at the other end for viewing said areas illuminated by said first bundle, and a semi-rigid malleable flexible sheath encompassing said first bundle and said second bundle, said sheath, said first bundle and said second bundle of fiber optics having a cross-section approximating that of an ellipse whereby insertion of the probe is facilitated by conforming to the shape of the incision and risk of infection is minimized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
111 words
An ocular endoscope comprising: a first bundle of fiber optics adapted to be connected to a light source at one end for conducting and projecting light to selected areas at the other end, a second bundle of fiber optics coaxial with said first bundle and adapted to be connected to a display device at one end and a lens at the other end for viewing said areas illuminated by said first bundle, a conduit located coaxial with said first and second bundle and adapted to receive an external probe, and a sheath encompassing said first bundle, said second bundle and said conduit in a flexible arrangement and having an elliptical cross-section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
111 words
An ocular endoscope comprising: a first bundle of fiber optics adapted to be connected to a light source at one end for conducting and projecting light to selected areas at the other end, a second bundle of fiber optics coaxial with said first bundle and adapted to be connected to a display device at one end and a lens at the other end for viewing said areas illuminated by said first bundle, a conduit located coaxial with said first and second bundle and adapted to receive an external probe, and a sheath encompassing said first bundle, said second bundle and said conduit in a flexible arrangement and having an elliptical cross-section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An ocular endoscope according to claim 2 which includes a malleable probe inserted in said conduit whereby the external form and shape of said sheath can be formed to any desired shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ocular endoscope according to claim 2 in which said conduit is located in a portion of said sheath.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ocular endoscope according to claim 4 in which said conduit is located at the point of greatest curvature of said sheath.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
An ocular endoscope according to claim 2 in which said sheath is constructed of plastic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
An ocular endoscope comprising: a first bundle of fiber optics adapted to be connected to a light source at one end for conducting and projecting light to selected areas at the other end, a second bundle of fiber optics coaxial with said first bundle and adapted to be connected to a display device at one end and a lens at the other end for viewing said areas illuminated by said first bundle, a conduit located coaxial with said first and second bundle, a sheath encompassing said first bundle, said second bundle and said conduit in a flexible arrangement, and a semi-rigid malleable probe capable of assuming and holding any desired shape and adapted to be inserted in said conduit whereby said sheath is made to conform to the shape of said probe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
An ocular endoscope comprising: a first bundle of fiber optics adapted to be connected to a light source at one end for conducting and projecting light to selected areas at the other end, a second bundle of fiber optics coaxial with said first bundle and adapted to be connected to a display device at one end and a lens at the other end for viewing said areas illuminated by said first bundle, a conduit located coaxial with said first and second bundle, a sheath encompassing said first bundle, said second bundle and said conduit in a flexible arrangement, and a semi-rigid malleable probe capable of assuming and holding any desired shape and adapted to be inserted in said conduit whereby said sheath is made to conform to the shape of said probe.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An ocular endoscope according to claim 7 in which said sheath holding said first bundle, said second bundle and said conduit has an elliptical cross-section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An ocular endoscope according to claim 7 in which said conduit is located in said sheath.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ocular endoscope according to claim 9 in which said conduit is located in a portion of said sheath having the greatest curvature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ocular endoscope according to claim 7 in which said probe is hollow and adapted to receive diagnostic testing and treating devices.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ocular endoscope according to claim 11 in which said hollow probe contains a bundle of fiber optics connected to a laser source for treating said illuminated areas.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ocular endoscope according to claim 7 in which said second bundle of fiber optics terminates at a lens at the display device end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
An ocular endoscope according to claim 12 in which said display device includes a television vidicon camera focused on said lens and feeding a video signal to a television monitor for viewing said area illuminated by said first bundle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ocular endoscope according to claims 1, 2 or 7 in which said display device is a television monitor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-08-25 | 1990-02-24 | 1990-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-25 | 1994-02-24 | 1994-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-25 | 1998-02-24 | 1998-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |