Patent US3874371A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3874371A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Otoscope
Assignee: Cavitron Corp
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Filing: 1974-01-11
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1994-01-11
Abstract
Abstract A novel otoscope for coaxially illuminating and viewing the interior of an ear having in combination a housing with an eyepiece at one end and a specula at the opposite end, a thick lens prism mounted between the eyepiece and the speculum, the thick lens prism functioning as a bi-convex thick lens to image the light in the region of view with a first spherical convex lens, along a light source axis directing the light from a bulb toward an internal reflecting surface of the prism at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle to reflect the light along the optical viewing axis through the second spherical convex lens of the prism to image the light in the viewed region.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth P Stader
- 👤 Vantine Allan D Le
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:40
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/227; A61B1/06; A61B1/0661; A61B1/0669
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
An optical device comprising a housing having an eye piece at one end, said eye piece being at one end of an optical viewing axis extending towards a region to be viewed opposite the other end of the housing, a bi-convex thick lens prism mounted in said housing, said prism having a first convex lens face on one side, a second convex lens face on an opposite side and an internal reflecting surface intermediate said two convex lens faces, light means mounted in said housing for directing light at said first convex lens faces, said first convex lens directing the light at said internal reflecting surface at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle, thereby causing the light to be internally reflected, said internal reflecting surface being mounted at such an angle in said housing intermediate the optical viewing axis to direct said reflected light along an axis which is coaxial with the optical viewing axis and through said second convex lens whereby the light illuminates the region to be viewed along the optical viewing axis, and an optical tube located in said housing along the optical viewing axis, said optical tube having viewing lens means for modifying the image of the viewed region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
An optical device comprising a housing having an eye piece at one end, said eye piece being at one end of an optical viewing axis extending towards a region to be viewed opposite the other end of the housing, a bi-convex thick lens prism mounted in said housing, said prism having a first convex lens face on one side, a second convex lens face on an opposite side and an internal reflecting surface intermediate said two convex lens faces, light means mounted in said housing for directing light at said first convex lens faces, said first convex lens directing the light at said internal reflecting surface at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle, thereby causing the light to be internally reflected, said internal reflecting surface being mounted at such an angle in said housing intermediate the optical viewing axis to direct said reflected light along an axis which is coaxial with the optical viewing axis and through said second convex lens whereby the light illuminates the region to be viewed along the optical viewing axis, and an optical tube located in said housing along the optical viewing axis, said optical tube having viewing lens means for modifying the image of the viewed region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The optical device of claim 1 which additionally comprises a mirror mounted in said housing between said light means and said first convex lens face, said mirror being mounted at an angle to reflect light from said light means towards the first lens face.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical device according to claim 2 wherein said light means is a lens end bulb.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical device according to claim 3 wherein said light means additionally comprises a battery pack detachably mounted on said housing, said battery pack also mounting said lens end bulb.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical device of claim 1 wherein a speculum is mounted on said housing opposite the eyepiece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
205 words
An optical device comprising a housing having an eye piece at one end, said eye piece being at one end of an optical viewing axis extending towards a region to be viewed opposite the other end of the housing, a bi-convex thick lens prism mounted in said housing said prism having a first convex lens face on one side, a second convex lens face on an opposite side and an inernal reflecting surface intermediate said two convex lens faces, light means mounted in said housing for directing light at said first convex lens face, said first convex leNs directing the light at said internal reflecting surface at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle, thereby causing the light to be internally reflected, said internal reflecting surface being mounted at such an angle in said housing intermediate the optical viewing axis to direct said reflected light along an axis which is coaxial with the optical viewing axis and through said second convex lens whereby the light, illuminates the region to be viewed along the optical viewing axis, said thick lens prism additionally comprising an optical viewing means for directing an image along the optical viewing axis between the region viewed and the eye piece.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
205 words
An optical device comprising a housing having an eye piece at one end, said eye piece being at one end of an optical viewing axis extending towards a region to be viewed opposite the other end of the housing, a bi-convex thick lens prism mounted in said housing said prism having a first convex lens face on one side, a second convex lens face on an opposite side and an inernal reflecting surface intermediate said two convex lens faces, light means mounted in said housing for directing light at said first convex lens face, said first convex leNs directing the light at said internal reflecting surface at an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle, thereby causing the light to be internally reflected, said internal reflecting surface being mounted at such an angle in said housing intermediate the optical viewing axis to direct said reflected light along an axis which is coaxial with the optical viewing axis and through said second convex lens whereby the light, illuminates the region to be viewed along the optical viewing axis, said thick lens prism additionally comprising an optical viewing means for directing an image along the optical viewing axis between the region viewed and the eye piece.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical device according to claim 6 wherein said optical viewing means is a stem integrally attached to said prism adjacent to a portion of the internal reflecting surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical device according to claim 6 wherein a viewing lens is mounted in said optical tube for modifying the viewed image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical device of claim 6 wherein a speculum is mounted on said housing opposite the eye piece.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The optical device of claim 6 which additionally comprises a mirror mounted in said housing between said light means and said first convex lens face, said mirror being mounted at an angle to reflect light from said light means towards the first lens face.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical device of claim 10 wherein said light means is a lens end bulb.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical device of claim 10 wherein said light means additionally comprises a battery pack detachably mounted on said housing, said battery pack also mounting a lens end bulb.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |