Patent US3897141A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3897141A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ophthalmic fixation device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-09-22
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Granted: 1975-07-29
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Expires: 1992-09-22
Abstract
Abstract An ophthalmic fixation device comprises a base on which the patient''s head rests and a small red light adapted to be moved in a circular path around and above the patient''s face. During examination and/or treatment of the patient''s eyes, the patient is instructed to fix his gaze upon the small red light. If the physician desires the patient to change the position of his eyes and assume a new position of fixation, the physician need only change the position of the red light, and the patient will automatically change the positioning of his eyes in order to follow the light.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley S Schocket
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:29
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/16; A61B5/161; A61B3/00; A61B3/0008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
An ophthalmic fixation device for examining the eyes of a patient, the device comprising a substantially planar base sized and shaped to enable a patient to rest his head thereon; an elongated rigid supporting arm extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of said base; mounting means for attaching one end of said supporting arm to said base for movement around the periphery of said base in a predetermined arc while at all times remaining perpendicular to the plane thereof; an elongated flexible cable fixed at one end to the end of said supporting arm remote from said base; a light attached to the end of said flexible cable remote from said supporting arm; power means for providing electrical energy to said light; wherein said mounting means attaches said supporting arm to said base in such a manner as to enable said light to rotate above the face of a patient whose head is resting on said base through an arc of approximately at least 270* in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said base without altering the orientation of said light relative to said supporting arm; and wherein said flexible cable enables said light to complete a full 360* arc above the face of the patient.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
An ophthalmic fixation device for examining the eyes of a patient, the device comprising a substantially planar base sized and shaped to enable a patient to rest his head thereon; an elongated rigid supporting arm extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of said base; mounting means for attaching one end of said supporting arm to said base for movement around the periphery of said base in a predetermined arc while at all times remaining perpendicular to the plane thereof; an elongated flexible cable fixed at one end to the end of said supporting arm remote from said base; a light attached to the end of said flexible cable remote from said supporting arm; power means for providing electrical energy to said light; wherein said mounting means attaches said supporting arm to said base in such a manner as to enable said light to rotate above the face of a patient whose head is resting on said base through an arc of approximately at least 270* in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said base without altering the orientation of said light relative to said supporting arm; and wherein said flexible cable enables said light to complete a full 360* arc above the face of the patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said supporting arm is adapted to move said light within the patient''s field of vision from 8 to 18 inches from each eye.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said supporting arm is adapted to move said light from 8 to 11 incheS from each eye of the patient.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said base defines a headrest which is circular in configuration and wherein a portion of the circular headrest is bend about a cord of the circle at an angle of about 60*.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said light is a red light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said light is adapted to flicker.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the intensity of the light can be varied.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said base is composed of a planar headrest, and further wherein said supporting arm is rotatably attached to the underside of the approximate center of the headrest so that said supporting arm and said light can be rotated about the approximate center of said headrest.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said supporting arm is rotatably attached to said headrest by means of a slip ring and brush assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said power means is a battery.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said power means includes connecting means for electrically connecting said light to an external power source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said light can rotate through a full 360* without altering the orientation of said light relative to said supporting arm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
213 words
In an apparatus for examining the eyes of a patient wherein the patient must fix his eyes on a target which moves about his head through a full 360* path, the apparatus comprising: a substantially planar base on which the patient''s head can rest; an elongated rigid support arm extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said base; mounting means for attaching one end of said support arm to said base for movement around the periphery of said base in a predetermined arc while at all times remaining perpendicular to the plane thereof; an elongated flexible cable fixed at one end to the end of said support arm remote from said base; a light source mounted on the end of said support arm remote from said base; means for energizing said light source; wherein said mounting means enables said support arm and its associated light source to travel through an arc of approximately at least 270* around said base without altering the relative orientation between the light source and the support arm, said at least 270* travel being such that said light source moves in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said base; and wherein said flexible cable enables said light source to complete a full 360* travel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
213 words
In an apparatus for examining the eyes of a patient wherein the patient must fix his eyes on a target which moves about his head through a full 360* path, the apparatus comprising: a substantially planar base on which the patient''s head can rest; an elongated rigid support arm extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said base; mounting means for attaching one end of said support arm to said base for movement around the periphery of said base in a predetermined arc while at all times remaining perpendicular to the plane thereof; an elongated flexible cable fixed at one end to the end of said support arm remote from said base; a light source mounted on the end of said support arm remote from said base; means for energizing said light source; wherein said mounting means enables said support arm and its associated light source to travel through an arc of approximately at least 270* around said base without altering the relative orientation between the light source and the support arm, said at least 270* travel being such that said light source moves in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said base; and wherein said flexible cable enables said light source to complete a full 360* travel.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
214 words
An apparatus for examining the eyes of a patient while the patient rests his head on a head rest defining a plane generally perpendicular to the forward line of sight of the patient, and fixes his eyes on a target moving about his head, the apparatus comprising: an elongated rigid support arm extending substantially perpendicular to said plane; mounting means for attaching one end of said support arm to said head rest for movement around the periphery of said head rest while at all times remaining perpendicular to said plane; an elongated flexible cable fixed at one end to the end of said support arm remote from said head rest; a light source target mounted on the end of said flexible cable remote from said support arm; circuitry for delivering energy to said light source; wherein said mounting means enables said support arm and its associated light source to travel through an arc of approximately at least 270* without altering the relative orientation between the light source and the support arm, said travel being such that said light source remains in a plane substantially parallel to the plane defined by said head rest; and wherein said flexible cable enables said light source to complete a full 360* arc about the head of the patient.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
214 words
An apparatus for examining the eyes of a patient while the patient rests his head on a head rest defining a plane generally perpendicular to the forward line of sight of the patient, and fixes his eyes on a target moving about his head, the apparatus comprising: an elongated rigid support arm extending substantially perpendicular to said plane; mounting means for attaching one end of said support arm to said head rest for movement around the periphery of said head rest while at all times remaining perpendicular to said plane; an elongated flexible cable fixed at one end to the end of said support arm remote from said head rest; a light source target mounted on the end of said flexible cable remote from said support arm; circuitry for delivering energy to said light source; wherein said mounting means enables said support arm and its associated light source to travel through an arc of approximately at least 270* without altering the relative orientation between the light source and the support arm, said travel being such that said light source remains in a plane substantially parallel to the plane defined by said head rest; and wherein said flexible cable enables said light source to complete a full 360* arc about the head of the patient.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for examining the eyes of a patient while the patient rests his head on a substantially planar head rest and fixes his eyes on a target moving aBout his head, the apparatus comprising: an elongated rigid support arm fixedly connected to and extending from said head rest substantially perpendicular to the plane thereof; a flexible cable mounted on said support arm at the end thereof remote from said head rest; a light source target mounted on the end of said flexible cable remote from said support arm; circuitry for delivering energy to said light source; and mounting means for rotatably connecting said flexible cable to said mounting arm, so that said flexible cable and its associated light source can be rotated relative to said support arm and at said mounting means through an arc of approximately at least 270* in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said head rest and substantially around the periphery of said head rest without altering other than the relative angular orientation between the light source and said support arm.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
178 words
An apparatus for examining the eyes of a patient while the patient rests his head on a substantially planar head rest and fixes his eyes on a target moving aBout his head, the apparatus comprising: an elongated rigid support arm fixedly connected to and extending from said head rest substantially perpendicular to the plane thereof; a flexible cable mounted on said support arm at the end thereof remote from said head rest; a light source target mounted on the end of said flexible cable remote from said support arm; circuitry for delivering energy to said light source; and mounting means for rotatably connecting said flexible cable to said mounting arm, so that said flexible cable and its associated light source can be rotated relative to said support arm and at said mounting means through an arc of approximately at least 270* in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said head rest and substantially around the periphery of said head rest without altering other than the relative angular orientation between the light source and said support arm.
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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) | 1978-07-28 | 1979-01-27 | 1979-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-28 | 1983-01-27 | 1983-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-28 | 1987-01-27 | 1987-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |