US5527261A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote hand-held diagnostic instrument with video imaging
Assignee: Welch Allyn Inc
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Filing: 1994-12-29
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Granted: 1996-06-18
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Expires: 2014-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A hand-held, fully remote diagnostic instrument having video capability is configured for any one of a number of clinical or industrial applications. The instrument has a casing that includes a hand-holdable body portion, a neck portion that extends from the body portion to a head portion that is formed of a back cover, a front cover, and a sealing gasket to form a fully soakable instrument. A circuit board assembly in the body portion contains video processing circuitry, and a flexible neck board which extends forward from the body portion through the neck portion of the casing to a head board located in the head portion of the casing. A solid state imager and a miniature lamp are disposed on the head board. The front cover contains an adjustable focus lens cell for focusing on the imager an image of a target in the lens cell's field of view. The instrument can be configured for various applications by installing front and back covers that are suited for a specific purpose. The instrument can thus be used, for example, as an otoscope, a dental camera, or a episcope. The instrument provides a monitor-ready standard format full color video signal to a remotely located monitor.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A. Monroe
- 👤 Robert J. Wood
- 👤 Gregory E. Pasik
- 👤 Robert R. Huntley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00142; A61B1/04; A61B1/042; A61B1/05; A61B1/233; A61B1/273; A61B1/2733
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A remote hand-held diagnostic instrument comprising: a hand-holdable casing including a body portion, a neck portion extending distally from the body portion, and a head portion formed with a front cover, a back cover, and a sealing means for providing a fluid seal between said front and back covers; circuit board means and video processing circuitry within said casing, said circuit board means including a flexible board extending from said body portion through said neck portion of said casing and having a head member positioned in the head portion of said casing; a solid state imager affixed within said head member and in circuit communication with said video processing circuitry; focusing means carried on said front cover for focusing onto the imager an image of an object in its field of view; a lamp carried on said head member; means in said front cover for directing illumination from said lamp into said field of view; electrical conduit means for carrying power to said video processor circuitry and to said lamp and for carrying from said video processor circuitry a video signal representing said object in said field of view; and transmitter means for receiving said video signal from said electrical conduit means and remotely transmitting said video signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A remote hand-held diagnostic instrument comprising: a hand-holdable casing including a body portion, a neck portion extending distally from the body portion, and a head portion formed with a front cover, a back cover, and a sealing means for providing a fluid seal between said front and back covers; circuit board means and video processing circuitry within said casing, said circuit board means including a flexible board extending from said body portion through said neck portion of said casing and having a head member positioned in the head portion of said casing; a solid state imager affixed within said head member and in circuit communication with said video processing circuitry; focusing means carried on said front cover for focusing onto the imager an image of an object in its field of view; a lamp carried on said head member; means in said front cover for directing illumination from said lamp into said field of view; electrical conduit means for carrying power to said video processor circuitry and to said lamp and for carrying from said video processor circuitry a video signal representing said object in said field of view; and transmitter means for receiving said video signal from said electrical conduit means and remotely transmitting said video signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The remote hand-held diagnostic instrument according to claim 1 wherein said front cover, back cover and sealing means are detachably connected to said head portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The remote hand-held diagnostic instrument according to claim 1 wherein said focusing means includes means for manually adjusting a focal length of a lens cell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The remote hand-held diagnostic instrument according to claim 3 wherein said lens cell has two focus positions relative to said head portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The remote hand-held diagnostic instrument according to claim 4 wherein one of said two focus positions is an intra-oral position having a range of field of approximately 1/4 inch to 1 and 1/4 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The remote hand-held diagnostic instrument according to claim 4 wherein one of said two focus positions is an extra-oral position having a range of field of approximately 6 inches to 8 inches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The remote hand-held diagnostic instrument according to claim 1 wherein said front cover is an otoscope cover having a conic nose in which a lens cell is located.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The remote hand-held diagnostic instrument according to claim 1 wherein one of said front and back covers is an episcope cover having a frustoconic face.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The remote hand-held diagnostic instrument according to claim 1 wherein said video processor circuitry on said circuit board means includes means for outputting to said conduit means a standard monitor-ready full color video signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The remote hand-held diagnostic instrument according to claim 1 wherein said solid state imager is detachably connected to the head member of said flexible board.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
242 words
A video diagnostic system comprising a) a remote hand-held diagnostic instrument including: a hand-holdable casing including a body portion, a neck portion extending distally from the body portion, and a head portion formed with a front cover, a back cover, and sealing means for providing a fluid-seal between said front and back covers; circuit board means and video processing circuitry within said casing, said circuit board means including a flexible board extending from said body portion through said neck portion of said casing and having a head member positioned in the head portion of said casing; a solid state imager affixed within said head member and in circuit communication with said video processing circuitry; focusing means carried on said front cover for focusing onto said solid state imager an image of an object in its field of view; a lamp carried on said head member; means in said front cover for directing illumination from said lamp into said field of view; electrical conduit means for carrying power to said video processor circuitry and to said lamp and for carrying from said video processor circuitry a video signal representing said object in said field of view; and transmitter means for receiving said video signal from said electrical conduit means and remotely transmitting said video signal, and b) at least one video monitor having a receiver for receiving said video signal while said remote hand-held diagnostic instrument is being used at a distant location.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
242 words
A video diagnostic system comprising a) a remote hand-held diagnostic instrument including: a hand-holdable casing including a body portion, a neck portion extending distally from the body portion, and a head portion formed with a front cover, a back cover, and sealing means for providing a fluid-seal between said front and back covers; circuit board means and video processing circuitry within said casing, said circuit board means including a flexible board extending from said body portion through said neck portion of said casing and having a head member positioned in the head portion of said casing; a solid state imager affixed within said head member and in circuit communication with said video processing circuitry; focusing means carried on said front cover for focusing onto said solid state imager an image of an object in its field of view; a lamp carried on said head member; means in said front cover for directing illumination from said lamp into said field of view; electrical conduit means for carrying power to said video processor circuitry and to said lamp and for carrying from said video processor circuitry a video signal representing said object in said field of view; and transmitter means for receiving said video signal from said electrical conduit means and remotely transmitting said video signal, and b) at least one video monitor having a receiver for receiving said video signal while said remote hand-held diagnostic instrument is being used at a distant location.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The video diagnostic system according to claim 11 wherein said front cover, back cover, and sealing means are detachably connected to said head portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The video diagnostic system according to claim 11 further comprising a lens cell, and wherein said focusing means includes means for manually adjusting a focal length of said lens cell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The video diagnostic system according to claim 13 wherein said lens cell has two focus positions relative to said portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The video diagnostic system according to claim 14 wherein one of said two focus positions is an intra-oral position having a range of field of approximately 1/4 inches to 1 and 1/4 inches.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The video diagnostic system according to claim 14 wherein one of said two focus positions is an extra-oral position having a range of field of approximately 6 inches to 8 inches.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The video diagnostic system according to claim 11 wherein said front and back covers are otoscope covers having a conic nose in which said lens cell is located.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The video diagnostic system according to claim 11 wherein one of said front and back covers is an episcope cover having a frustoconic face.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The video diagnostic system according to claim 11 wherein said video processor circuitry on said circuit board means includes means for outputting to said conduit means a standard monitor-ready full color video signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The video diagnostic system according to claim 11 wherein said solid state imager is detachably connected to the head member of said flexible board.
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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) | 1999-06-18 | 1999-12-18 | 2000-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-06-18 | 2003-12-18 | 2004-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-06-18 | 2007-12-18 | 2008-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |