US6419627B1 — Ophthalmic endoscope and endoscope attachments fo…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 68 words

Ophthalmic endoscope comprising a rigid probe with an optical axis and a tip, for use with an endoscope attachment having generally tubular body member, said endoscope having engaging means adapted for slidingly mounting said attachment on said rigid probe so that, when so mounted, said body is co-extensive with said probe, and for releasably engaging the body member to provide selective displacement of said attachment on said probe.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 68 words

Ophthalmic endoscope comprising a rigid probe with an optical axis and a tip, for use with an endoscope attachment having generally tubular body member, said endoscope having engaging means adapted for slidingly mounting said attachment on said rigid probe so that, when so mounted, said body is co-extensive with said probe, and for releasably engaging the body member to provide selective displacement of said attachment on said probe.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

An endoscope according to claim 1 further comprising a dichroic optical element for selectively directing laser light along said optical axis.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 13 words

An endoscope according to claim 2 wherein said dichroic optical element is interchangeable.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 25 words

An endoscope according to claim 1 further comprising a light coupling for transmitting illumination light along an endoscope attachment for illumination of an eye's interior.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 36 words

An endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein said engaging means is motorized and is capable of providing said displacement within a distance enabling the use of said attachment whilst maintaining the endoscope's field of view.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

An endoscope according to claim 1 further comprising an electrical coupling for energizing a cauterization tip of an endoscope attachment for ocular cauterization intervention.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

An endoscope according to claim 1 further comprising a sensor selectively urgeable against an eye wall during an ophthalmic surgical procedure.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

An endoscope according to claim 7 wherein said sensor is extendable in a direction substantially parallel to said optical axis.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said rigid probe includes an optic core and a fiber optic annulus in a cross section thereof perpendicular to said probe axis.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 77 words

An endoscope attachment for use with an ophthalmic endoscope having a rigid probe with an optical axis and a tip and having an attachment interface, the endoscope attachment comprising a generally tubular body member shaped and dimensioned for mounting on and tight sliding along said probe so as to be co-extensive with said probe when mounted thereon, and engaging means for engaging said attachment interface so as to enable selective displacement of said attachment along said probe.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 77 words

An endoscope attachment for use with an ophthalmic endoscope having a rigid probe with an optical axis and a tip and having an attachment interface, the endoscope attachment comprising a generally tubular body member shaped and dimensioned for mounting on and tight sliding along said probe so as to be co-extensive with said probe when mounted thereon, and engaging means for engaging said attachment interface so as to enable selective displacement of said attachment along said probe.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

An endoscope attachment according to claim 10 wherein said body member has longitudinally directed fiber optics for transmitting illumination light therealong for illumination of an eye's interior, when the attachment is mounted on said probe.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 25 words

An endoscope attachment according to claim 10 further comprising surgery associated means disposed beyond the probe tip when said attachment is mounted on the probe.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

An endoscope attachment according to claim 12 wherein said surgery associated means includes an optical element for ocular examination.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

An endoscope attachment according to claim 12 wherein said surgery associated means includes a surgical tip for ocular surgical intervention.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 20 words

An endoscope attachment according to claim 12 wherein said surgery associated means includes a cauterization tip for ocular cauterization intervention.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 75 words

A multi-purpose ophthalmic endoscope system comprising an ophthalmic endoscope having a rigid probe with an optical axis and a tip, and a plurality of different endoscope attachments each having a generally tubular body member slidingly mountable on said rigid probe so as to be co-extensive therewith, said endoscope and said attachments having engaging means for releasably interacting with each other in such a manner as to enable selective displacement of each attachment on said probe.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 75 words

A multi-purpose ophthalmic endoscope system comprising an ophthalmic endoscope having a rigid probe with an optical axis and a tip, and a plurality of different endoscope attachments each having a generally tubular body member slidingly mountable on said rigid probe so as to be co-extensive therewith, said endoscope and said attachments having engaging means for releasably interacting with each other in such a manner as to enable selective displacement of each attachment on said probe.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 16 words

A multi-purpose ophthalmic endoscope system according to claim 16 , wherein said engaging means is motorized.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 36 words

A multi-purpose ophthalmic endoscope system according to claim 16 , wherein said engaging means is adapted to provide said displacement within a distance enabling the use of said attachment whilst maintaining the endoscope's field of view.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 60 words

A multi-purpose ophthalmic endoscope system according to claim 16 , wherein at least one of said attachments has an operative tip at a distal end of said body member, selected from a group consisting of an optical element for ocular examination and ocular, laser intervention, a surgical tip for ocular surgical intervention, and a cauterization tip for ocular cauterization intervention.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 36 words

A multi-purpose ophthalmic endoscope system according to claim 19 , wherein said attachments are adapted for mounting on said probe so as to dispose their operative tips in the vicinity of the tip of said probe.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 37 words

A multi-purpose ophthalmic endoscope system according to claim 20 , wherein at least one of said attachments is adapted for mounting on said probe so as to dispose its operative tip beyond the tip of said probe.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 70 words

An ophthalmic endoscope comprising a rigid probe with an optical axis and a tip, for use with an endoscope attachment having generally tubular body member adapted to be slidingly mounted on said rigid probe, said endoscope having engaging means for releasably engaging said body member and for selectively displacing said attachment on said probe within a distance enabling the use of said attachment whilst maintaining the endoscope's field of view.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 70 words

An ophthalmic endoscope comprising a rigid probe with an optical axis and a tip, for use with an endoscope attachment having generally tubular body member adapted to be slidingly mounted on said rigid probe, said endoscope having engaging means for releasably engaging said body member and for selectively displacing said attachment on said probe within a distance enabling the use of said attachment whilst maintaining the endoscope's field of view.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 83 words

An ophthalmic endoscope system comprising an ophthalmic endoscope having a rigid probe with an optical axis and a tip, and at least one endoscope attachment having a generally tubular body member adapted to be slidingly mounted on said rigid probe, said endoscope and said attachment having engaging means adapted to interact with each other so as to provide for selective displacement of said attachment on said probe within a distance enabling the use of said attachment whilst maintaining the endoscope's field of view.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 83 words

An ophthalmic endoscope system comprising an ophthalmic endoscope having a rigid probe with an optical axis and a tip, and at least one endoscope attachment having a generally tubular body member adapted to be slidingly mounted on said rigid probe, said endoscope and said attachment having engaging means adapted to interact with each other so as to provide for selective displacement of said attachment on said probe within a distance enabling the use of said attachment whilst maintaining the endoscope's field of view.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 15 words

An ophthalmic endoscope according to claim 23 , comprising a plurality of the endoscope attachments.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 52 words

An ophthalmic endoscope system according to claim 23 , wherein said attachment has an operative tip at a distal end thereof, selected from a group consisting of an optical element for ocular examination and ocular laser intervention, a surgical tip for ocular surgical intervention, and a cauterization tip for ocular cauterization intervention.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 33 words

An ophthalmic endoscope system according to claim 23 , wherein said attachment is adapted for mounting on said probe so as to dispose an operative tip thereof beyond the tip of said probe.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-07-15	2006-01-14	2006-07-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-07-15	2010-01-14	2010-07-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-07-15	2014-01-14	2014-07-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Ophthalmic endoscope and endoscope attachments for use therewith

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