US4856872A — Attachment for microscopes

Claim 1

Independent Claim 222 words

In a sterilizable attachment for a microscope, in particular stereomicroscopes for facilitating a contact-free viewing of an eye freely movable by the patient, in particular the fundus of the eye, the improvement wherein the sterilizable attachment has two lens means arranged in a housing thereof, the distance between said lens means being adjustable for the purpose of compensating for the sight deficiency of said eye, said lens means replacing the objective lens of the microscope, wherein said attachment having an adapter is connected to the microscope, an outer lens of said lens means being adapted to be positioned very close to a patient's eye, said lens means including support means for supporting said outer lens for easy movement relative to said housing in the axial direction thereof to prevent injury to said eye should the microscope be inadvertently adjusted or the patient's eye is inadvertently moved in such a manner to bring the lens into engagement with said eye, and wherein all reciprocally movable and turnable parts of said attachment are provided with a coating which consists of pressed and sintered PTFE polymers containing Al 2 O 3 particles to facilitate them being sterilized in a heated environment without the heat causing a destruction of the ability of said support means allowing said outer lens to easily move relative to said housing.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 222 words

In a sterilizable attachment for a microscope, in particular stereomicroscopes for facilitating a contact-free viewing of an eye freely movable by the patient, in particular the fundus of the eye, the improvement wherein the sterilizable attachment has two lens means arranged in a housing thereof, the distance between said lens means being adjustable for the purpose of compensating for the sight deficiency of said eye, said lens means replacing the objective lens of the microscope, wherein said attachment having an adapter is connected to the microscope, an outer lens of said lens means being adapted to be positioned very close to a patient's eye, said lens means including support means for supporting said outer lens for easy movement relative to said housing in the axial direction thereof to prevent injury to said eye should the microscope be inadvertently adjusted or the patient's eye is inadvertently moved in such a manner to bring the lens into engagement with said eye, and wherein all reciprocally movable and turnable parts of said attachment are provided with a coating which consists of pressed and sintered PTFE polymers containing Al 2 O 3 particles to facilitate them being sterilized in a heated environment without the heat causing a destruction of the ability of said support means allowing said outer lens to easily move relative to said housing.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

The attachment according claim 1, wherein said housing consists of two housing parts which are screwed to each other and which have a safety mechanism for preventing an unintended separation thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

The attachment according to claim 2, wherein said safety mechanism consists of a spring-loaded nose, which is supported in a first housing part and engages an acme thread constructed on a second housing part.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

The attachment according to claim 3, wherein said support means for said outer lens includes a guide part movable in a guide way in said axial direction, said guide way being fixedly arranged in said first housing part.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

The attachment according to claim 4, wherein a work position of said outer lens is determined by a stop inserted into said first housing part.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

The attachment according to claim 5, wherein said stop is formed of a ring.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 14 words

The attachment according to claim 2, wherein said safety mechanism is a threaded nut.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 216 words

In an attachment for a microscope, in particular stereomicroscopes for facilitating a contact-free viewing of an eye freely movable by the patient, in particular the fundus of the eye, the improvement wherein the attachment has two lens means arranged in a housing thereof, the distance between said lens means being adjustable for the purpose of compensating for the sight deficiency of said eye, said lens means replacing the objective lens of the microscope, wherein said attachment having an adapter is connected to the microscope, wherein a quick-change adapter is adapted to be attached to said adapter, which quick-change adapter has an axis of rotation to which a lever is secured, on which lever, at an equal distance from the axis of rotation, is arranged, on one side, said attachment, and on the other side, said normal objective lens of said microscope, wherein an outer lens of said lens means of said attachment is arranged easily movably relative to said housing in the axial direction thereof to prevent injury to said eye should the microscope be inadvertently adjusted to bring the lens into engagement with said eye, and wherein all reciprocally movable and turnable parts of said attachment are provided with a coating which consists of pressed and sintered PTFE polymers containing Al 2 O 3 particles.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 216 words

In an attachment for a microscope, in particular stereomicroscopes for facilitating a contact-free viewing of an eye freely movable by the patient, in particular the fundus of the eye, the improvement wherein the attachment has two lens means arranged in a housing thereof, the distance between said lens means being adjustable for the purpose of compensating for the sight deficiency of said eye, said lens means replacing the objective lens of the microscope, wherein said attachment having an adapter is connected to the microscope, wherein a quick-change adapter is adapted to be attached to said adapter, which quick-change adapter has an axis of rotation to which a lever is secured, on which lever, at an equal distance from the axis of rotation, is arranged, on one side, said attachment, and on the other side, said normal objective lens of said microscope, wherein an outer lens of said lens means of said attachment is arranged easily movably relative to said housing in the axial direction thereof to prevent injury to said eye should the microscope be inadvertently adjusted to bring the lens into engagement with said eye, and wherein all reciprocally movable and turnable parts of said attachment are provided with a coating which consists of pressed and sintered PTFE polymers containing Al 2 O 3 particles.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

The attachment according to claim 8, wherein said quick-change adapter is connected to said adapter by connecting pegs of said adapter.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The attachment according to claim 8, wherein said axis of rotation of said quick-change adapter is coupled to a drive motor.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-08-14	1993-02-13	1993-08-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-08-14	1997-02-13	1997-08-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-08-14	2001-02-13	2001-08-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Attachment for microscopes

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