Patent US6436035B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6436035B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Intensity controllable hand-held surgical light
Assignee: Duke University
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Filing: 2000-09-07
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Granted: 2002-08-20
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Expires: 2020-09-07
Abstract
Abstract A hand-held surgical light assembly is provided with a light source, and a handpiece which is adapted to be grasped and manipulated by a user. The handpiece has a light guide with a proximal end optically connected to the light source, and a distal end which projects outwardly from said handpiece so as to direct light guided thereby onto a field of view determined by manipulation of the handpiece by the user. The handpiece includes a switch assembly which is operatively coupled to the light source to allow user selection between at least two different light intensities (e.g., essentially on/off) discharged by said light guide onto the field of view. In preferred forms, the switch assembly includes an electrically conductive inner base member and an electrically conductive outer tubular elastomeric member concentrically positioned in surrounding, but spaced relationship, with the inner base member. When contact between the inner base member and the outer elastomeric member is made, switch circuitry changes the visible light intensity of the visible light generated by the light source, e.g., by either directly modulating the current to the lamp itself, or by providing an electrically operable shutter assembly which masks the light generated by the light source. The former embodiment is especially well suited for surgical lights which are self-contained (i.e., have the light sources contained in the handpiece), while the latter is especially well suited for surgical lights which have remotely positioned light sources.
Inventors
- 👤 Cynthia A. Toth
- 👤 Ronald F. Overaker
- 👤 Brian C. Dodge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/0079; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0082; A61B5/0084; A61B90/00; A61B90/30; A61F9/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A hand-held surgical light assembly comprising: a light source; and a handpiece adapted to be grasped and manipulated by a user; wherein said handpiece has a light guide with a proximal end optically connected to the light source, and a distal end which projects outwardly from said handpiece and directs light guided thereby onto a field of view determined by manipulation of the handpiece by the user; and wherein said handpiece includes a membrane switch assembly which is operatively coupled to the light source to allow user selection between at least two different light intensities discharged by said light guide onto the field of view; and wherein said membrane switch assembly includes an inner electrically conductive base member, and a tubular electrically conductive elastomeric member concentrically surrounding said base member in spaced relationship thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A hand-held surgical light assembly comprising: a light source; and a handpiece adapted to be grasped and manipulated by a user; wherein said handpiece has a light guide with a proximal end optically connected to the light source, and a distal end which projects outwardly from said handpiece and directs light guided thereby onto a field of view determined by manipulation of the handpiece by the user; and wherein said handpiece includes a membrane switch assembly which is operatively coupled to the light source to allow user selection between at least two different light intensities discharged by said light guide onto the field of view; and wherein said membrane switch assembly includes an inner electrically conductive base member, and a tubular electrically conductive elastomeric member concentrically surrounding said base member in spaced relationship thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 1 , wherein said light source is contained within said handpiece.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 2 , wherein said handpiece includes a source of electrical power electrically connected to said switch assembly and said light source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 1 , wherein said light source is remotely positioned relative to said handpiece, and wherein said light source includes an electrically-operable shutter assembly connected operatively to said switch assembly to effect said at least two different light intensities.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 4 , wherein said base member is cylindrical and is sleeved over said hand-piece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 5 , wherein said switch assembly includes proximal and distal electrically non-conductive mounting rings which are fixed to and concentrically separate said tubular electrically conductive elastomeric member and said electrically conductive base member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 4 , 5 or 6 , wherein said shutter assembly includes a solenoid which is actuated in response to actuation of said switch assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 7 , wherein said solenoid includes a shuttle member connected to said proximal end of said light guide, said shuttle member being moveable to responsively cause said proximal end of said light guide to be moved towards and away from said light source to thereby effect said at least two light intensities.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 7 , wherein said shutter assembly includes a flexible shutter band having one end connected to a shuttle member moveable within said solenoid and an opposite end moveable into and out of covering relationship with said proximal end of said light guide in response to movement of said shuttle member to there effect said at least two light intensities.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 7 , wherein said shutter assembly includes a shutter paddle connected operatively to said solenoid for movement into and out of covering relationship with said proximal end of said light guide to effect said at least two light intensities.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 10 , wherein said shutter paddle is moved radially into and out of said covering relationship with respect to said proximal end of said light guide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 10 , wherein said shutter paddle is moved rotationally into and out of said covering relationship with respect to said proximal end of said light guide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 12 , wherein said shutter assembly includes a drive shaft disposed generally parallel to said proximal end of said light guide, said drive shaft having one end connected to said solenoid, and an opposite end connected to said shutter paddle such that activation of said solenoid rotates said drive shaft which, in turn, rotates said shutter paddle into and out of said covering relationship.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 1 , wherein said light source is positioned remotely from said handpiece.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 14 , herein said assembly includes a optical fiber element which optically connects said light source and said light guide of said handpiece.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 1 , 2 , 14 or 15 , wherein said at least two different light intensities discharged by said light guide onto the field of view includes on and off light illumination conditions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
130 words
A hand-held surgical light comprising: a handpiece adapted to be grasped and manipulated by a surgeon; a light source for generating a source of visible light; a light guide having a distal end projecting forwardly of said handpiece and having a proximal end in optical communication with said light source; and a membrane switch carried by said handpiece and electrically connected to said light source so as to change intensities of visible light generated by said light source, wherein said membrane switch includes (i) a central electrically conductive cylindrical base member, and a tubular electrically conductive elastomeric outer member concentrically sleeved over said base member so as to establish an annular space therebetween, wherein contact between said outer member and said base member causes said change of visible light intensities.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
130 words
A hand-held surgical light comprising: a handpiece adapted to be grasped and manipulated by a surgeon; a light source for generating a source of visible light; a light guide having a distal end projecting forwardly of said handpiece and having a proximal end in optical communication with said light source; and a membrane switch carried by said handpiece and electrically connected to said light source so as to change intensities of visible light generated by said light source, wherein said membrane switch includes (i) a central electrically conductive cylindrical base member, and a tubular electrically conductive elastomeric outer member concentrically sleeved over said base member so as to establish an annular space therebetween, wherein contact between said outer member and said base member causes said change of visible light intensities.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 17 , wherein said light source is contained within said handpiece.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 18 , wherein said handpiece includes a source of electrical power electrically connected to said switch and said light source.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 17 , wherein said light source is remotely positioned relative to said handpiece, and wherein said light source includes an electrically-operable shutter assembly connected operatively to said membrane switch to effect said change of visible light intensities.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 20 , wherein said base member is tubular and is sleeved over said hand-piece.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 21 , wherein said membrane switch includes proximal and distal electrically non-conductive mounting rings which are fixed to and concentrically separate said tubular electrically conductive elastomeric member and said electrically conductive base member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 20 , 21 or 22 , wherein said shutter assembly includes a solenoid which is actuated in response to actuation of said membrane switch.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
58 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 23 , wherein said solenoid includes a shuttle member connected to said proximal end of said light guide, said shuttle member being moveable to responsively cause said proximal end of said light guide to be moved towards and away from said light source to thereby effect said at least two light intensities.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
65 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 23 , wherein said shutter assembly includes a flexible shutter band having one end connected to a shuttle member moveable within said solenoid and an opposite end moveable into and out of covering relationship with said proximal end of said light guide in response to movement of said shuttle member to there effect said change of visible light intensities.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 23 , wherein said shutter assembly includes a shutter paddle connected operatively to said solenoid for movement into and out of covering relationship with said proximal end of said light guide to effect said change of visible light intensities.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 26 , wherein said shutter paddle is moved radially into and out of said covering relationship with respect to said proximal end of said light guide.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 26 , wherein said shutter paddle is moved rotationally into and out of said covering relationship with respect to said proximal end of said light guide.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
70 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 28 , wherein said shutter assembly includes a drive shaft disposed generally parallel to said proximal end of said light guide, said drive shaft having one end connected to said solenoid, and an opposite end connected to said shutter paddle such that activation of said solenoid rotates said drive shaft which, in turn, rotates said shutter paddle into and out of said covering relationship.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hand-held light assembly of claim 17 , wherein said base member is tubular and is sleeved over said hand-piece.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
119 words
A hand-held surgical light comprising: a handpiece; a fiber optic light guide projecting forwardly of said hand piece; a source of visible light optically connected to said light guide so that visible light generated by said source thereof may be projected from a distal end of said light guide onto a surgical field of view; and a switch carried by said handpiece and operatively connected to said source of visible light to allow selection of visible light intensities projected from said distal end of said light guide, wherein said switch includes an inner electrically conductive cylindrical base coaxial with said handpiece, and an outer electrically conductive elastomeric band circumferentially and concentrically surrounding said inner base in spaced relation thereto.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
119 words
A hand-held surgical light comprising: a handpiece; a fiber optic light guide projecting forwardly of said hand piece; a source of visible light optically connected to said light guide so that visible light generated by said source thereof may be projected from a distal end of said light guide onto a surgical field of view; and a switch carried by said handpiece and operatively connected to said source of visible light to allow selection of visible light intensities projected from said distal end of said light guide, wherein said switch includes an inner electrically conductive cylindrical base coaxial with said handpiece, and an outer electrically conductive elastomeric band circumferentially and concentrically surrounding said inner base in spaced relation thereto.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
The hand-held surgical light of claim 31 , wherein said source of visible light includes a shutter assembly operatively connected to said switch which changes intensities of visible light projected from said distal end of said light guide in response to switch activation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The hand-held surgical light of claims 31 , wherein said inner base is a cylindrical member concentrically sleeved over an exterior surface of said handpiece.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
35 words
The hand-held surgical light of claim 33 , wherein said switch includes proximal and distal mounting rings longitudinally separated from one another, to maintain said spaced relation of said inner base and outer elastomeric band.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-19 | 2006-02-18 | 2006-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-19 | 2010-02-18 | 2010-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-19 | 2014-02-18 | 2014-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |