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US4582405A
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Ophthalmological combination instrument for diagnosis and treatment
Assignee: Carl Zeiss AG
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Filing: 1984-08-27
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Granted: 1986-04-15
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Expires: 2004-08-27
Abstract
Abstract An Nd:YAG laser of small size with a passive quality switch is combined with a slit-lamp instrument, to form an ophthalmological combination instrument for diagnosis and treatment. By a plurality of pulses within a pulse train, which succeed each other within the μ sec range, particularly good therapeutic effects are obtained. A second laser, emitting continuous visible radiation, has its beam aligned with the beam of invisible radiation from the first laser, and shows the user at all times the location of the beam of invisible radiation. The visible beam of radiation is split into two beams separated from each other by a light-free zone, and there is provision for blocking and unblocking these two beams alternately, which produces an effect which greatly aids the user in accurate focusing. This combination instrument affords the user the possibility of making a diagnosis and following it immediately by treatment.
Inventors
- 👤 Ortwin Muller
- 👤 Kurt Schulz
- 👤 Albrecht Vogel
- 👤 Gerhard Hanemann
- 👤 Gerhard Muller
- 👤 Gunther Kurbitz
- 👤 Arnold Guttner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B3/00; A61B3/10; A61B3/12; A61B3/1225; A61B3/13; A61B3/135; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61F9/00821; A61F9/00823; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/26; A61B2018/2015; A61B2018/2025; A61F2009/0035
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
An ophthalmological combination instrument comprising a stereoscopic viewing microscope and an auxiliary unit, said auxiliary unit including first laser means and second laser means, said first laser means having means for emitting pulsewise invisible radiation providing a plurality of individual pulses each having a duration of about 5 n sec, the individual pulses being time spaced from each other by about 10μ sec, an energy of about 15 mJ being produced in one pumping operation, said radiation emitted by said first laser means forming a first beam, said second laser means having means for emitting continuous visible radiation to form a second beam which, in cross section, consists of two individual beams with a light-free zone between them, and means for directing said first beam and said second beam along a common axis toward an object to be observed or treated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
An ophthalmological combination instrument comprising a stereoscopic viewing microscope and an auxiliary unit, said auxiliary unit including first laser means and second laser means, said first laser means having means for emitting pulsewise invisible radiation providing a plurality of individual pulses each having a duration of about 5 n sec, the individual pulses being time spaced from each other by about 10μ sec, an energy of about 15 mJ being produced in one pumping operation, said radiation emitted by said first laser means forming a first beam, said second laser means having means for emitting continuous visible radiation to form a second beam which, in cross section, consists of two individual beams with a light-free zone between them, and means for directing said first beam and said second beam along a common axis toward an object to be observed or treated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said combination instrument includes an observation ray path along which a user of said instrument may observe said object, further comprising conversion filter means and laser protection filter means interposed in said observation ray path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said two individual beams of said second beam each have a cross section in the shape of a sector of a circle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention defined in claim 1, further comprising means for alternately blocking and unblocking said two individual beams of said second beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention defined in claim 4, wherein said means for blocking and unblocking comprises a bar diaphragm moved back and forth over the cross section of said second beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention defined in claim 5, wherein said bar diaphragm is so shaped and positioned that when it completely blocks one of said individual beams of said second beam, the other of said individual beams is completely unblocked, and vice versa.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention defined in claim 5, wherein said means for alternately blocking and unblocking includes resilient means tending to move said bar diaphragm to an unblocking position, and rotary operating means for shifting said bar diaphragm to a blocking position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention defined in claim 7, wherein said bar diaphragm is a pivoted member, and said resilient means is a separate spring operatively connected to said pivoted member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention defined in claim 7, wherein said rotary operating means is a motor driven eccentric member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention defined in claim 7, wherein said bar diaphragm is an elastic member one part of which is held in fixed position, and said resilient means is inherent resilience of said elastic member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention defined in claim 10, wherein said elastic member is a spring wire.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention defined in claim 1, further comprising electric switch means for rendering said two beams of said second radiation beam alternately effective and ineffective.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said combination instrument has a microscope viewing system with viewing axes, further comprising a housing arranged at least mainly above said viewing axes, said housing containing substantially all mechanical-optical parts of said first laser means and said second laser means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention defined in claim 13, wherein said housing has operating controls for said first and second laser means arranged on a side of said housing faced toward a user of said combination instrument.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention defined in claim 13, wherein said housing is of generally T-shape, having a wide upper portion at an elevation substantially above said viewing axes where such wide portion will not interfere with a user's view of a patient on the other side of the instrument from the user, and a substantially narrower lower portion serving to support said wide upper portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said first laser means includes an Nd:YAG laser.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said second laser means includes a He-Ne laser.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention defined in claim 1, wherein said first laser means includes an Nd:YAG laser and said second laser means includes a He-Ne laser.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3096767A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-04-14 | 1989-10-14 | 1990-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-14 | 1993-10-14 | 1994-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-14 | 1997-10-14 | 1998-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |