Patent US5071246A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5071246A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Confocal scanning ophthalmoscope
Assignee: Carl Zeiss AG
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Filing: 1990-10-25
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Granted: 1991-12-10
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Expires: 2010-10-25
Abstract
Abstract The invention is directed to a confocal scanning ophthalmoscope defining an illuminating beam path and a viewing beam path with these paths having respective portions extending along a common path segment. The ophthalmoscope has a light-deflecting device mounted in a first apparatus part and in the common path segment for scanning the ocular fundus point-by-point. A first flexible light-wave conductor conducts light transmitted by a real light source to a point light source. The ophthalmoscope has a pinhole diaphragm which is mounted in the viewing beam path and in a plane conjugated to the point light source. A detector of the ophthalmoscope measures the light transmitted through the pinhole diaphragm and a second flexible light-wave conductor conducts this light to the detector. The detector is mounted in a second apparatus part separate from the first apparatus part so as to permit movement of the parts relative to each other.
Inventors
- 👤 Erich Blaha
- 👤 Gerhard Gaida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:41
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B3/00; A61B3/10; A61B3/12; A61B3/1225
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A confocal scanning ophthalmoscope apparatus defining an illuminating beam path and a viewing beam path with respective portions of the paths extending along a common path segment, the ophthalmoscope apparatus comprising: a first apparatus part; a second apparatus part separate from said first apparatus part so as to permit movement of said parts relative to each other; a real light source for generating light for travelling along said illuminating beam path; focussing means for forming a point light source in said first apparatus part; a first flexible light-wave conductor for transmitting said light from said real light source to said focussing means; a light-deflecting device mounted in said first apparatus part on said common path segment to receive the light from said point light source for scanning the ocular fundus of a patient point-by-point and for transmitting light reflected from the ocular fundus; a pinhole diaphragm mounted in said viewing beam path in a plane conjugated to said point light source; means for transmitting the light reflected from the ocular fundus along said viewing beam path toward said pinhole diaphragm; a detector mounted in said second apparatus part for measuring the light transmitted through said pinhole diaphragm; and, a second flexible light-wave conductor disposed between said pinhole diaphragm and said detector for conducting the light transmitted through said pinhole diaphragm to said detector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A confocal scanning ophthalmoscope apparatus defining an illuminating beam path and a viewing beam path with respective portions of the paths extending along a common path segment, the ophthalmoscope apparatus comprising: a first apparatus part; a second apparatus part separate from said first apparatus part so as to permit movement of said parts relative to each other; a real light source for generating light for travelling along said illuminating beam path; focussing means for forming a point light source in said first apparatus part; a first flexible light-wave conductor for transmitting said light from said real light source to said focussing means; a light-deflecting device mounted in said first apparatus part on said common path segment to receive the light from said point light source for scanning the ocular fundus of a patient point-by-point and for transmitting light reflected from the ocular fundus; a pinhole diaphragm mounted in said viewing beam path in a plane conjugated to said point light source; means for transmitting the light reflected from the ocular fundus along said viewing beam path toward said pinhole diaphragm; a detector mounted in said second apparatus part for measuring the light transmitted through said pinhole diaphragm; and, a second flexible light-wave conductor disposed between said pinhole diaphragm and said detector for conducting the light transmitted through said pinhole diaphragm to said detector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The confocal scanning ophthalmoscope apparatus of claim 1, said second flexible light-wave conductor being a multimode light-wave conductor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The confocal scanning ophthalmoscope apparatus of claim 2, said real light source also being mounted in said second apparatus part.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The confocal scanning ophthalmoscope apparatus of claim 3, said detector being a photomultiplier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The confocal scanning ophthalmoscope apparatus of claim 2, said pinhole diaphragm defining an aperture having a diameter; and, said second flexible light-wave conductor having a core diameter greater than said diameter of said aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The confocal scanning ophthalmoscope apparatus of claim 2, said second flexible light-wave conductor being dimensioned so as to constitute said pinhole diaphragm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-09 | 1995-06-10 | 1995-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-09 | 1999-06-10 | 1999-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-09 | 2003-06-10 | 2003-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |