US4930512A — Hand held spring-loaded ultrasonic probe

Claim 1

Independent Claim 149 words

A hand held apparatus for uniformly biasing a transducer assembly against a human eye comprising: an outer housing adapted to be hand held; an inner housing slidably insertable into said outer housing and movable between an extended position for contact with said eye and a retracted position with respect to said outer housing for protective storage thereof; means for biasing said inner housing into said extended position; a transducer for contacting an eye for conducting measurements thereof; and means for holding said transducer, said holding means and transducer being provided on a front portion of said inner housing for emitting and receiving ultrasonic energy from said eye when said inner housing is in said extended position, said biasing means providing biasing forces less than that which would cause deformation of said eye when said eye is contacted with said transducer to avoid applanation thereof while said measurements are conducted.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 149 words

A hand held apparatus for uniformly biasing a transducer assembly against a human eye comprising: an outer housing adapted to be hand held; an inner housing slidably insertable into said outer housing and movable between an extended position for contact with said eye and a retracted position with respect to said outer housing for protective storage thereof; means for biasing said inner housing into said extended position; a transducer for contacting an eye for conducting measurements thereof; and means for holding said transducer, said holding means and transducer being provided on a front portion of said inner housing for emitting and receiving ultrasonic energy from said eye when said inner housing is in said extended position, said biasing means providing biasing forces less than that which would cause deformation of said eye when said eye is contacted with said transducer to avoid applanation thereof while said measurements are conducted.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising illumination means concentrically mounted within said front portion of said inner housing rearward of said holding means and viewable by said eye.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said illumination means comprises a light emitting diode and a fiber optic rod.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a curved contact member attached to said transducer for conforming contact with said eye.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said curved contact member and said transducer are each provided with a concentric bore therethrough so as to enable said eye to view said illumination means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an echo ranging device electrically connected to said transducer for calculating intraocular distances.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said spring has associated therewith a spring constant, said spring constant being essentially the same in said extended position and in said retracted position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising means for limiting travel of said inner housing between said extended position and said retracted position.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said limiting means comprises an end stop attached to said inner housing for contacting a first end of said spring.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said limiting means further comprises an end plug attached to said outer housing for contacting a second end of said spring.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 38 words

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said end plug is adjustably removably attached to said outer housing so as to permit removal or replacement of said spring and also to permit selection and adjustment of a preload force.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 46 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of bushings attached to an inner surface of said outer housing for maintaining said inserted inner housing in a concentric relationship with said outer housing and providing a low friction interface between said inner and outer housings.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said bushings comprise linear ball bushings.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising set screw means for removal of said linear ball bushings.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transducer is provided with a focusing means for producing a focused beam.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a water stand-off attached to said front portion of said inner housing.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said water stand-off comprises a stand-off section, a membrane and seal means for sealing said membrane to said stand-off section, wherein said membrane is adapted for conforming contact with said eye.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 354 words

An apparatus for biasing a transducer assembly against an eye with a predetermined pressure not exceeding a threshold pressure which would cause deformation of the eye, comprising: an annular shaped transducer having a contact surface to matingly engage said eye; an inner housing member concentrically attached to said transducer and having a rear portion and a front portion, said front portion being greater in diameter than said rear portion and being provided with a tip section having a bore extending therethrough; a fixation light mounted concentrically within said tip section of said inner housing member at a rear end of said bore extending through said tip section, said bore extending outwards through a center of said annular shaped transducer; first lead means for transmission of electrical signals and connected to said fixation light and extending rearward through a center bore in said inner housing and exiting a rear portion of said inner housing; second lead means for transmission of electrical signals and connected to said transducer and extending rearward through said center bore in said inner housing and exiting said rear portion of said inner housing; an outer housing into which said inner housing is at least partially concentrically insertable, said outer housing having a front portion and a rear portion; bushing means for providing a low friction interface between said inner and outer housings and upon which said inner housing is slidably insertable into said outer housing, said bushing means being provided between said concentric inner and outer housings; means for limiting the movement of said inner housing relative to said outer housing between said extended position and said retracted position; and spring means for biasing said inner housing into said extended position with respect to said outer housing, said inner housing being positionable between said extended and retracted positions, said spring means having a spring constant which is the same in the retracted and extended position of the spring, and being positioned with respect to said limiting means such that the pressure applied by said transducer to said eye does not exceed said threshold pressure which would cause deformation of said eye.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 354 words

An apparatus for biasing a transducer assembly against an eye with a predetermined pressure not exceeding a threshold pressure which would cause deformation of the eye, comprising: an annular shaped transducer having a contact surface to matingly engage said eye; an inner housing member concentrically attached to said transducer and having a rear portion and a front portion, said front portion being greater in diameter than said rear portion and being provided with a tip section having a bore extending therethrough; a fixation light mounted concentrically within said tip section of said inner housing member at a rear end of said bore extending through said tip section, said bore extending outwards through a center of said annular shaped transducer; first lead means for transmission of electrical signals and connected to said fixation light and extending rearward through a center bore in said inner housing and exiting a rear portion of said inner housing; second lead means for transmission of electrical signals and connected to said transducer and extending rearward through said center bore in said inner housing and exiting said rear portion of said inner housing; an outer housing into which said inner housing is at least partially concentrically insertable, said outer housing having a front portion and a rear portion; bushing means for providing a low friction interface between said inner and outer housings and upon which said inner housing is slidably insertable into said outer housing, said bushing means being provided between said concentric inner and outer housings; means for limiting the movement of said inner housing relative to said outer housing between said extended position and said retracted position; and spring means for biasing said inner housing into said extended position with respect to said outer housing, said inner housing being positionable between said extended and retracted positions, said spring means having a spring constant which is the same in the retracted and extended position of the spring, and being positioned with respect to said limiting means such that the pressure applied by said transducer to said eye does not exceed said threshold pressure which would cause deformation of said eye.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said bushing means comprises a plurality of linear ball bushings.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said bushing means is attached to an inner surface of said outer housing.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said limiting means is adjustably removably attached to said outer housing so as to permit removal of said spring means and also to permit selection and adjustment of a preload force.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 135 words

In a diagnostic device for measuring distances between anatomical structures of the type having a transducer assembly for contacting an anatomical surface, a transducer holding means for holding the transducer, lead means connected to said transducer for transmission of electrical signals, the improvement which comprises biasing means and second holding means, said transducer holding means being insertable into said second holding means and movable therein between an extended position and a retracted position, said biasing means being located between said second holding means and said transducer holding means such that said transducer holding means is biased in said extended position at rest and at least partially in said retracted position upon forceful engagement of said device with an eye, said biasing means providing biasing forces less than that which would cause deformation of said eye.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 135 words

In a diagnostic device for measuring distances between anatomical structures of the type having a transducer assembly for contacting an anatomical surface, a transducer holding means for holding the transducer, lead means connected to said transducer for transmission of electrical signals, the improvement which comprises biasing means and second holding means, said transducer holding means being insertable into said second holding means and movable therein between an extended position and a retracted position, said biasing means being located between said second holding means and said transducer holding means such that said transducer holding means is biased in said extended position at rest and at least partially in said retracted position upon forceful engagement of said device with an eye, said biasing means providing biasing forces less than that which would cause deformation of said eye.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 36 words

The diagnostic device of claim 23 further comprising means for limiting travel of said transducer holding means with respect to said second holding means, such travel being limited between said extending position and said retracted position.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 37 words

The diagnostic device of claim 24 wherein said biasing means comprises a spring, said spring having associated therewith a spring constant, said spring constant being essentially the same in said extended position and in said retracted position.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 32 words

The diagnostic device of claim 25 wherein said means for limiting travel comprises an end stop attached to said transducer holding means, said end stop contacting a first end of said spring.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 33 words

The diagnostic device of claim 26 wherein said means for limiting travel further comprises an end plug attached to said second holding means, said end plug contacting a second end of said spring.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 28 words

The diagnostic device of claim 27 wherein said end plug is removably attached to said second holding means so as to permit removal or replacement of said spring.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 56 words

The diagnostic device of claim 28 further comprising a plurality of bushings attached to an inner surface of said second holding means, said bushings maintaining said inserted transducer holding means in a concentric relationship with said second holding means and also providing a low friction interface between said transducer holding means and said second holding means.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 13 words

The diagnostic device of claim 29 wherein said bushings comprise linear ball bushings.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 21 words

The diagnostic device of claim 23 further comprising a water stand-off attached to said front portion of said transducer holding means.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 38 words

The diagnostic device of claim 31 wherein said water stand-off comprises a stand-off section, a membrane and seal means for sealing said membrane to said stand-off section, wherein said membrane is adapted for conforming contact with said eye.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 237 words

A hand held apparatus for uniformly biasing a transducer against a human eye comprising: (a) an outer housing adapted to be hand held; (b) an inner housing slidably insertable into said outer housing and movable between an extended position for contact with said eye and a retracted position with respect to said outer housing for protective storage thereof; (c) spring means for biasing said inner housing into said extended position, said spring means having associated therewith a spring constant, said spring constant being essentially the same in said extended position and in said retracted position; and (d) means for limiting travel of said inner housing between said extended position and said retracted position including: (i) an end stop attached to said inner housing for contacting a first end of said spring means; and (ii) an end plug attached to said outer housing or contacting a second end of said spring means; (iii) wherein said end plug is adjustably removably attached to said outer housing so as to permit removal or replacement of sad spring means and selection and adjustment of a preload force; and (e) means for holding a transducer, said holding means and said transducer being provided on a front portion of said inner housing for engaging said eye when said inner housing is in said extended position; said spring means adapted to provide reduced biasing forces when said eye is contacted to avoid applanation thereof.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 237 words

A hand held apparatus for uniformly biasing a transducer against a human eye comprising: (a) an outer housing adapted to be hand held; (b) an inner housing slidably insertable into said outer housing and movable between an extended position for contact with said eye and a retracted position with respect to said outer housing for protective storage thereof; (c) spring means for biasing said inner housing into said extended position, said spring means having associated therewith a spring constant, said spring constant being essentially the same in said extended position and in said retracted position; and (d) means for limiting travel of said inner housing between said extended position and said retracted position including: (i) an end stop attached to said inner housing for contacting a first end of said spring means; and (ii) an end plug attached to said outer housing or contacting a second end of said spring means; (iii) wherein said end plug is adjustably removably attached to said outer housing so as to permit removal or replacement of sad spring means and selection and adjustment of a preload force; and (e) means for holding a transducer, said holding means and said transducer being provided on a front portion of said inner housing for engaging said eye when said inner housing is in said extended position; said spring means adapted to provide reduced biasing forces when said eye is contacted to avoid applanation thereof.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising illumination means concentrically mounted within said front portion of said inner housing rearward of said holding means and viewable by said eye.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising a curved contact member attached to said transducer for conforming contact with said eye.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said curved contact member and said transducer are each provided with a concentric bore therethrough so as to enable said eye to view said illumination means.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising an echo ranging device electrically connected to said transducer for calculating intraocular distances.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 46 words

The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising a plurality of bushings attached to an inner surface of said outer housing for maintaining said inserted inner housing in a concentric relationship with said outer housing and providing a low friction interface between said inner and outer housings.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said bushings comprise linear ball bushings.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising means to indicate when said transducer holding means is advanced beyond a predetermined point.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-06-04	1993-12-04	1994-06-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-06-04	1997-12-04	1998-06-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-06-04	2001-12-04	2002-06-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Hand held spring-loaded ultrasonic probe

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag