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US6739744B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Light delivery systems and applications thereof

Assignee: LUMTEX Inc
•
Filing: 2001-08-23
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Granted: 2004-05-25
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Expires: 2021-08-23
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Abstract

Abstract A lighting device includes an optic light guide having a free end that emits directional light. Surrounding the free end is a sleeve having an aperture through which a beam of light emitted by the free end of the light guide passes. The sleeve may be moved in and out relative to the free end to vary the size of the beam of light passing through the aperture.

Inventors

  • 👤 Jeffrey B. Williams
  • 👤 Peter W. Broer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 17:12
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/28; A61B17/2812; A61B17/02; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0005; G02B6/0008; G02B6/001; G02B6/0011; G02B6/0033; G02B6/0035; G02B6/0036; A61B1/00; A61B1/06; A61B1/0615; A61B1/07; A61B17/0206; A61B17/282; A61B2017/0237; A61B2017/0243; A61B90/30; A61B2090/306; A61B2090/309; F; F21; F21V; F21V33/00; F21V33/0064; F21V33/0068; F21V33/008; F21V33/0084; G02B6/0038; G02B6/0058; G02B6/0061; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S385/00; Y10S385/901

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim 109 words
A lighting device comprising an optic light guide for receiving light from a light source and propagating light therethrough via internal reflection, said light guide having a free end that emits directional light, and a sleeve surrounding said free end, said sleeve having an aperture axially outwardly spaced from said free end through which a beam of light from said free end passes, said sleeve being selectively axially movable in and out relative to said free end prior to and during use of the device to vary the distance between said aperture and said free end to vary the size of the beam of light passing through said aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 109 words
A lighting device comprising an optic light guide for receiving light from a light source and propagating light therethrough via internal reflection, said light guide having a free end that emits directional light, and a sleeve surrounding said free end, said sleeve having an aperture axially outwardly spaced from said free end through which a beam of light from said free end passes, said sleeve being selectively axially movable in and out relative to said free end prior to and during use of the device to vary the distance between said aperture and said free end to vary the size of the beam of light passing through said aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 45 words
The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising a lens attached to said sleeve, said lens covering said aperture to focus the beam of light passing through said aperture by moving said sleeve in or out relative to said free end of said light guide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 52 words
The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising a translucent or transparent protective cover surrounding said light guide, said protective cover having a closed end that covers said free end of said light guide, said sleeve surrounding said protective cover and being axially movable in and out relative to said protective cover.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
The lighting device of claim 3 wherein there is an air interface between said protective cover and said light guide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
The lighting device of claim 3 further comprising a connecting member attached to an other end of said light guide remote from said free end, said protective cover being sealed against said connecting member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising a support member for supporting said light guide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 34 words
The lighting device of claim 6 further comprising a connecting member attached to an other end of said light guide remote from said free end, said support member being integral with said connecting member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
The lighting device of claim 6 said support member is shaped to fit a particular application.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
The fighting device of claim 8 wherein said support member is used to attach said lighting device to a patient.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
The lighting device of claim 8 wherein said support member is used to attach said lighting device to a surgical instrument.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
The lighting device of claim 1 wherein said lighting device is a surgical lighting device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 60 words
The lighting device of claim 1 wherein said tight guide is flexible, further comprising a flexible protective cover surrounding said light guide, and a malleable wire extending between a portion of said light guide and said protective cover, said malleable wire being bendable to hold the shape of said portion of said light guide once arranged in a desired position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 147 words
A lighting device tot illuminating a viewing area comprising a light distributor for receiving light from a light source and propagating light therethrough via internal reflection, a light emitter for receiving light propagated by the light distributor and emitting directional light from a free end of said light emitter, and a sleeve surrounding said free end of said light emitter, said sleeve having an aperture axially outwardly spaced from said free end through which the directional light from said free end is beamed, said sleeve being selectively axially movable in and out relative to said free end of said light emitter prior to and during use of said device, said sleeve containing a lens covering said aperture to focus the beam of light passing through said aperture by moving said sleeve and thus said lens in or out relative to said free end of said light emitter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 147 words
A lighting device tot illuminating a viewing area comprising a light distributor for receiving light from a light source and propagating light therethrough via internal reflection, a light emitter for receiving light propagated by the light distributor and emitting directional light from a free end of said light emitter, and a sleeve surrounding said free end of said light emitter, said sleeve having an aperture axially outwardly spaced from said free end through which the directional light from said free end is beamed, said sleeve being selectively axially movable in and out relative to said free end of said light emitter prior to and during use of said device, said sleeve containing a lens covering said aperture to focus the beam of light passing through said aperture by moving said sleeve and thus said lens in or out relative to said free end of said light emitter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 29 words
The lighting device of claim 13 wherein said light emitter also emits diffuse light along a portion of the length of said light emitter immediately adjacent said free end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 56 words
The lighting device of claim 13 further comprising a translucent or transparent protective cover surrounding said light emitter, said protective cover having a closed end covering said free end of said light emitter, and said sleeve surrounding said closed end of said protective cover and being axially movable in and out relative to said protective cover.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 20 words
The lighting device of claim 15 wherein there is an air interface between said protective cover and said right emitter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 33 words
The lighting device of claim 15 further comprising a connecting member attached to an end of said light distributor remote from said light emitter, said protective cover being sealed against said connecting member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 17 words
The lighting device of claim 15 , wherein said light emitter and said protective cover are flexible.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 16 words
The lighting device of claim 13 further comprising a support member for supporting said lighting device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 17 words
The lighting device of claim 19 wherein said support member is shaped to fit a particular application.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 16 words
The lighting device of claim 19 wherein said support member is attached to an associated device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 15 words
The lighting device of claim 21 , wherein said associated device comprises a surgical instrument.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 44 words
The lighting device of claim 13 wherein said light emitter is flexible, and a malleable member extends along one side only of said light emitter, said malleable member being bendable to hold the shape of said light emitter once arranged in a desired position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 38 words
The lighting device of claim 23 further comprising a flexible protective cover surrounding said light emitter and said malleable member, said sleeve surrounding said protective cover and being axially movable in and out relative to said protective cover.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 43 words
The lighting device of claim 1 wherein said sleeve has an outer end wall axially outwardly spaced from said free end containing said aperture, said aperture having a substantially smaller diameter than the inner diameter of said sleeve adjacent said outer end wall.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2007-05-25 2007-11-24 2008-05-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2011-05-25 2011-11-24 2012-05-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2015-05-25 2015-11-24 2016-05-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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