US4896959A — Visual acuity unit for treatment of amblypia

Claim 1

Independent Claim 188 words

In an ocular stimulator unit to improve a user's acuity having a solitary visual target presented without interference from other visual stimulus, means for randomly selecting and generating at least one of a number of various figures to be displayed on the target, a keyboard through which the user can respond to various figures seen on the visual target, means for comparing the displayed figure with responses from the keyboard, means to inform the user of the correctness or incorrectness of the response, and means to adjust the apparent size of the displayed figure to maintain the figure displayed at a level of minimal discernible size, the improvement which comprises wherein the means to adjust the apparent size of the displayed figure comprises multiple lighted visual targets, each target available to serve as the solitary visual target presented individually during treatment and without interference from the other targets wherein said multiple visual targets are placed in a darkened chamber; means to maintain each of the visual targets at a different acuity demand level; and means for the user to select electronically which of the multiple targets to view.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 188 words

In an ocular stimulator unit to improve a user's acuity having a solitary visual target presented without interference from other visual stimulus, means for randomly selecting and generating at least one of a number of various figures to be displayed on the target, a keyboard through which the user can respond to various figures seen on the visual target, means for comparing the displayed figure with responses from the keyboard, means to inform the user of the correctness or incorrectness of the response, and means to adjust the apparent size of the displayed figure to maintain the figure displayed at a level of minimal discernible size, the improvement which comprises wherein the means to adjust the apparent size of the displayed figure comprises multiple lighted visual targets, each target available to serve as the solitary visual target presented individually during treatment and without interference from the other targets wherein said multiple visual targets are placed in a darkened chamber; means to maintain each of the visual targets at a different acuity demand level; and means for the user to select electronically which of the multiple targets to view.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 50 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means to maintain each of the multiple targets at a different acuity level comprises at least two clusters of plural visual targets, each cluster containing targets of plural apparent sizes, wherein each cluster is oriented at a different optical distance from the user.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the apparent size of at least one of the targets is achieved in part through use of at least one lens.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the optical distance between the user and at least one cluster is achieved in part through use of at least one reflective surface.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein at least one of the reflective surfaces is a beam splitter.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 54 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a cluster of visual targets is positioned behind the beam splitter, the targets therein to be viewed through said beam splitter, and another cluster of visual targets is positioned in front of the beam splitter, the reflection of the targets therein to be viewed on the beam splitter.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said plural visual targets are achieved through use of a single display capable of generating figures of multiple sizes.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 65 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for the user to select electronically which of the multiple targets to view comprises each target being a light emitting diode (LED) display; each LED display being powered from a common source; target select logic being provided to direct power to only one LED display; and means being provided to control which display is to be illuminated.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the target select logic comprises an up/down counter and a demultiplexer connected between the power source and each of the displays.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means to inform the user of the correctness or incorrectness of the response includes means to tally the user's correct responses.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said tallying means comprises a counter receiving a signal for each correct response connected to a demultiplexer, the output of the demultiplexer driving a display showing the number of correct responses.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 143 words

A user controlled acuity therapy unit for treatment of amblyopia and similar conditions, which unit comprises: a darkened chamber; multiple lighted visual targets placed in the darkened chamber, each target to be viewed alone without interference of other visual stimulus; means for randomly selecting and generating at least one of a number of various figures to be displayed on a target; a keyboard through which the user can respond to various figures seen on a visual target; means for comparing the displayed figure with responses from the keyboard; means to inform the user of the correctness or incorrectness of a response; means to maintain each of the targets at a different acuity level; and means for the user to select electronically which of the multiple targets to view in order to maintain the figure displayed thereon at a level of minimal discernible size.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 143 words

A user controlled acuity therapy unit for treatment of amblyopia and similar conditions, which unit comprises: a darkened chamber; multiple lighted visual targets placed in the darkened chamber, each target to be viewed alone without interference of other visual stimulus; means for randomly selecting and generating at least one of a number of various figures to be displayed on a target; a keyboard through which the user can respond to various figures seen on a visual target; means for comparing the displayed figure with responses from the keyboard; means to inform the user of the correctness or incorrectness of a response; means to maintain each of the targets at a different acuity level; and means for the user to select electronically which of the multiple targets to view in order to maintain the figure displayed thereon at a level of minimal discernible size.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 59 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein the means to maintain each of the targets at a different acuity level comprises dividing the multiple visual targets into at least two clusters of plural visual targets, each cluster of plural targets containing targets of plural apparent sizes; and positioning each cluster at a different optical distance from the user.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein the apparent size of at least one target is altered by using at least one lens.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein the optical distance between a cluster and the user may be increased within a chamber of restricted size through use of at least one reflective surface.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein at least one of the reflective surfaces is a beam splitter.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 57 words

The apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein at least one cluster of visual targets is positioned behind the beam splitter, the targets therein viewed through said beam splitter; and at least one other cluster of visual targets is positioned in front of the beam splitter, the reflection of the targets therein viewed on the beam splitter.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 50 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for the user to select electronically which of the multiple targets to view comprises a target select logic which controls which one of the lighted targets is to be illuminated; and means to direct said target select logic to illuminated specific target.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the target select logic comprises an up/down counter and a demultiplexer connected between a power source and each of the displays.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 51 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means to inform the user of the correctness or incorrectness of a response includes tallying means comprising a counter receiving a signal for each correct response connected to a demultiplexer, the output of the demultiplexer driving a display showing the number of correct responses.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-01-29	1993-07-31	1994-01-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-01-29	1997-07-31	1998-01-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-01-29	2001-07-31	2002-01-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Visual acuity unit for treatment of amblypia

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