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US5784508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ball, wide-angle illuminator for eye surgery
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1996-02-09
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Granted: 1998-07-21
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Expires: 2016-02-09
Abstract
Abstract The illuminator of the invention takes relatively coherent light exiting from a fiber optic cable and spreads it in an even manner over a wide viewing area of an eye retina, and by securing a transparent ball to face the light output of the fiber optic cable with an air gap in-between, thus allowing a large light index differential between the fiber material and the light refracting material while having the second surface of the ball immersed in vitreous eye fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 R. Scott Turner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:13
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/241; A; A61; A61B; A61B90/00; A61B90/30; A61B2090/306; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00863; A61F9/00727; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4202; G02B6/4203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
In a stem to illuminate the retina of an eye, apparatus comprising: a fiber optic cable within said stem having a light output end delivering relatively coherent light; a support tube surrounding said fiber optic cable and extending a portion beyond said light output end; a transparent material comprising a ball within said extended portion of said support tube; an air gap between said light output end of said fiber optic cable and said material comprising said ball; wherein said ball is held within said extended portion of said support tube by a seal for preventing vitreous eye fluid from reaching said air gap; and wherein said material comprising said ball is of an optical index to bend the relatively coherent light facing said ball an amount to illuminate a large portion of the retina.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
In a stem to illuminate the retina of an eye, apparatus comprising: a fiber optic cable within said stem having a light output end delivering relatively coherent light; a support tube surrounding said fiber optic cable and extending a portion beyond said light output end; a transparent material comprising a ball within said extended portion of said support tube; an air gap between said light output end of said fiber optic cable and said material comprising said ball; wherein said ball is held within said extended portion of said support tube by a seal for preventing vitreous eye fluid from reaching said air gap; and wherein said material comprising said ball is of an optical index to bend the relatively coherent light facing said ball an amount to illuminate a large portion of the retina.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ball is held within said extended portion of said support tube by a press fit to comprise said seal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ball partially extends past the end of said stem.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ball is further secured within said stem by a rolling over of the edge of said stem.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light exiting said ball is at a divergence of approximately 90°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ball is composed of sapphire of optical grade quality.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a handpiece stem to illuminate the retina of an eye, apparatus comprising: a fiber optic cable within said stem having a light output end delivering relatively coherent light; a support tube surrounding said fiber optic cable and extending a portion beyond said light output end; a transparent material comprising a ball within said extended portion of said support tube; and an air gap between said light output end of said fiber optic cable and said material comprising said ball; wherein said ball is held within said extended portion of said support tube by a press-fit to provide a seal about said ball for preventing vitreous eye fluid from reaching said air gap; and wherein said material comprising said ball is of an optical index to bend the relatively coherent light facing said ball an amount to illuminate a large portion of the retina.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a handpiece stem to illuminate the retina of an eye, apparatus comprising: a fiber optic cable within said stem having a light output end delivering relatively coherent light; a support tube surrounding said fiber optic cable and extending a portion beyond said light output end; a transparent material comprising a ball within said extended portion of said support tube; and an air gap between said light output end of said fiber optic cable and said material comprising said ball; wherein said ball is held within said extended portion of said support tube by a press-fit to provide a seal about said ball for preventing vitreous eye fluid from reaching said air gap; and wherein said material comprising said ball is of an optical index to bend the relatively coherent light facing said ball an amount to illuminate a large portion of the retina.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said ball partially extends past the end of said handpiece stem.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said ball is further secured within said stem by a rolling over of the edge of said stem.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the light exiting said ball is at a divergence of approximately 90°.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said ball is composed of sapphire of optical grade quality.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of obtaining wide-angle illumination for retinal eye surgery by taking relatively coherent light exiting from a fiber optic cable and dispersing it in an even manner to illuminate the surface of a retina while immersed in vitreous eye fluid, by placing a transparent material comprising a ball of a curvature to refract said relatively coherent light exiting from said fiber optic cable to bend to a 90° divergence on the light exit side of said ball.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of obtaining wide-angle illumination for retinal eye surgery by taking relatively coherent light exiting from a fiber optic cable and dispersing it in an even manner to illuminate the surface of a retina while immersed in vitreous eye fluid, by placing a transparent material comprising a ball of a curvature to refract said relatively coherent light exiting from said fiber optic cable to bend to a 90° divergence on the light exit side of said ball.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a stem to provide invasive illumination inside a body over a wide angle at close proximity and in relatively transparent fluid, apparatus comprising: a fiber optic cable within said stem having a light output end delivering relatively coherent light; a support tube surrounding said fiber optic cable and extending a portion beyond said light output end; a transparent material comprising a ball within said extended portion of said support tube; an air gap between said light output end of said fiber optic cable and said material comprising said ball; wherein said ball is held within said extended portion of said support tube by a press-fit to provide a seal about said ball for preventing said relatively transparent fluid from reaching said air gap; and wherein said material comprising said ball is of an optical index to bend the relatively coherent light facing said ball an amount to illuminate a large portion of the retina.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
155 words
In a stem to provide invasive illumination inside a body over a wide angle at close proximity and in relatively transparent fluid, apparatus comprising: a fiber optic cable within said stem having a light output end delivering relatively coherent light; a support tube surrounding said fiber optic cable and extending a portion beyond said light output end; a transparent material comprising a ball within said extended portion of said support tube; an air gap between said light output end of said fiber optic cable and said material comprising said ball; wherein said ball is held within said extended portion of said support tube by a press-fit to provide a seal about said ball for preventing said relatively transparent fluid from reaching said air gap; and wherein said material comprising said ball is of an optical index to bend the relatively coherent light facing said ball an amount to illuminate a large portion of the retina.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of obtaining invasive illumination inside a body over a wide angle at close proximity and in a relatively transparent fluid by taking relatively coherent light exiting from a fiber optic cable and dispersing it in an even manner to illuminate the surface of a retina while immersed in vitreous eye fluid, by placing a transparent material comprising a ball of a curvature to refract said relatively coherent light exiting from said fiber optic cable to bend to a 90° divergence on the light exit side of said ball.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of obtaining invasive illumination inside a body over a wide angle at close proximity and in a relatively transparent fluid by taking relatively coherent light exiting from a fiber optic cable and dispersing it in an even manner to illuminate the surface of a retina while immersed in vitreous eye fluid, by placing a transparent material comprising a ball of a curvature to refract said relatively coherent light exiting from said fiber optic cable to bend to a 90° divergence on the light exit side of said ball.
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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) | 2001-07-20 | 2002-01-19 | 2002-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-20 | 2006-01-19 | 2006-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-20 | 2010-01-19 | 2010-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |