US1678681A - Ophthalmoscope - Google Patents

Description

July 31, 19,28. 1,678,681

M. POSER OPHTHALMOSCOPE Filed June 20, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,M L15- ATTORNEY Patented July 31, 1928.

MAX POSER,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BAUSCH & LOMB OPTICAL CO., OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

OPHTHALMOSCOPE.

Application filed June 20,

This invention relates to hand ophthalmoscopes and has as one of its objects the provision of an improved instrument of this character of a complete and selfcontained nature applicable to various uses in its field and with the parts thereof compactly arranged and conveniently adjustable to afford efficiency in operation. Another object is to provide such an instrument combining the u Morton type of lens system with an efficient electric illuminating system fully adjustable as to intensity and character of the projected light beam by adjusting means conveniently arranged within reach of the fin- ]5 gers of the hand supporting the instrument.

A further object is to provide an instrument of the above character embodying a light filter adjustable toward andfrom operating position by means also conveniently located adjacent the instrument handle. Still a further object is the embodiment of the features described in an advantageous construction practical from the point of View of manufacture as well as of use.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in theclaims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an instrument embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figs. 3 and 4 are rear elevations of a portion of the same with parts in different positions of adjustment.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary views of interior parts in different positions of adjustment;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal central section partly broken away;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing handle parts broken away in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a lens casing with its cover removed and Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view partly broken away illustrating the lens adjusting and indicating means.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

7 The embodiment of the invention herein disclosed by way of illustration comprises preferably a tubular handle portion 11 upon 55 which the instrument proper is carried and 1923. Serial No. 646,578.

which is preferably made large enough in size to serve as a container for one or more dry batteries 12 of a common variety for the illuminating system. The handle has an open lower end closed by a cap 13 carrying a spring 14 which holds the batteries in position and connects one terminal thereof with the inner metal wall 15, Fig. 8 of the handle. The latter has a metal barrel port1on 16 extending from one end thereof and carries within it a non-metallic sleeve 17 whrch in turn supports a metal sleeve 18 pro ecting somewhat into the handle chamber. Sleeve 18 contacts with the other battery terminal as shown.

The handle portion preferably houses an adjustable rheostat comprising a resistance coil 19 wound on an insulating support 20 carried by posts 23 projecting inwardly of the handle wall through a slot 24L therein. One end of the coil is connected by means of a clip 25 with barrel 16. Slidably supported on the exterior of the handle in position for convenient adjustment by the thumb is a finger piece 26 carrying a spring contact 27 projecting through slot 24 in sliding contact with the metal wall 15 of thehandle and movable over, as well as into and out of engagement With the winding 19. Finger piece 26 with the associated parts described serves to not only make and break the electrical circuit for the illuminating system but also to adjust the voltagetransmitted and the intensity of illumination. It is to be understood, of course, .tlltllllIlStGiLCl of using batteries, an electrical supply line may be connected through the lower end of the handle'with the circuit portions of the latter already described.

Barrel 16 extends for a short distance above the handle and has fixed therein a sleeve 28, Fig. 7, a portion of the upper end of which is reduced in thickness and bent to form one or more spring fingers 29 for a purpose described hereafter. Sleeve 28 is in electrically conducting relation with the barrel and with the latter forms a part of the electric circuit. Telescopically and removably fitted over the upper end of sleeve 28 is a tubular portion 30 of a supporting means comprising also a plate like portion 31 on the forward side of which the lens: system is carried. A pin 32 in the end of barrel 16 engages a slot 33 formed in the lower end of the tubular portion 30 of the supporting means to prevent rotation of the latter on the sleeve and barrel. 7

The lens system is of the well known Morton type comprising an aperture opening 34 in the upper end of plate portion 31 with which a series of corrective lenses 35 may be individually brought into registry. These lenses are movably carried in a continuous channel 36 formed in the forward side of the plate portion and extending at one end over the aperture 34. The lenses are moved by a star wheel 37 rotatably carried on a. cover 38 for the lens channel. A knurled finger wheel 39 is provided for rotating wheel 37 and adjusting and moving the lenses one at a time over the aperture Wheel 39 being located Within convenient reach of a finger of the hand supporting the instrument. For indicating the power of these lenses and their position relative to the aperture there is provided a dial 40 rotatably supported on plate 31 which carries also a cover for the dial having an opening 41 at which the power of the lens positioned at the aperture 34 is indicated, wheel 40 being connected by gearing as shown in Fig. 10 with the adjusting wheel 39. At 42 is a disc fitted with a plurality of supplementary lenses brought by the rotation of the disc into registry with the aperture 34 in front of the lenses 35, these lens systems being as stated of a well known type and requiring therefore no further description.

The tubular portion 30 of the supporting means has fixed in its upper end a sleeve 43 in which is mounted in the present instance a reflecting prism 44 having a condensing lens portion 45 preferably formed as a part thereof. The prism faces are so disposed that a beam of light directed upwardly from a lamp hereafter described is condensed and totally reflected internally from the rear face '44 against the forward face 44 of the prism which is suitably coated preferably with a black film forming a reflecting surface from which the beam of light after refraction at the rear surface isprojected in a substantially horizontal direction as indicated. The lamp 46 is carried at the upper end of a holder or tube 47 sliding in the tubular portion 30 of the supporting means. The lamp is provided with a condensing lens 48 mounted in a sleeve 49 carried by the lam The tubular holder 47 is reduced in diameter at its lower portion 50 at which it is slidably supported in sleeve 28. The spring fingers 29 of the sleeve 48 serve to frictionally restrain movement of the lamp holder and also the detachment of the supporting means and furthermore insure good electrical contact between sleeve 28 and the lamp holder. This end of the holder supports in insulated relation a plunger 51 having a split resilient lower end sliding in and contacting with the sleeve 18 which engages one of the battery terminals. Plunger 51 carries a rod 52 provided at its upper end with a spring 53 yicldably supporting a contact pin 54 engagii'ig one terminal of the lamp the other of which contacts with the holder 4". The latter engages sleeve 28 connected with the other battery terminal, thus completing the lamp circuit. The sliding adjustment provided for the amp and its condensing lens 48 is for the purpose of varying the distance between the latter and the condensing lens portion 45 of prism 44 for the purpose of varying the focus of the light beam and the area of illumination. This adjustment is made by means of a collar 55 sliding on barrel 16 and connected by means of a pin 56 with the lower end of the lamp holding tube 47. The pin works in a slot 57 in the barrel and sleeve 28. The collar, as shown is conveniently located within reach of a finger ofthe hand holding the instrument. v

For certain uses of the instrument as for example in examining for minute eXudates, hemorrhage and other pathological conditions, it has been found that a semi-red-free light filter may be advantageously combined with the instrument, since with such filter the red background of the fundus, arteries, veins and the like, appear dark, owing to the absorption of the red rays by the filter. On the other hand, the colors of light yellow up to blue will pass through such a filter and consequently the contrast between exudates and the surrounding fundus area is very much increased; also changes in the double contours of the walls in the arteries, veins and many other pathological -conditions are more easily recognized. To this end such a filter is provided as-indicuted at 58, Fig. 7, mounted in a'frame 59 carried on the upper end of arod 60 sliding in a guide channel formed in the rear of the plate portion 31 to carry the filter toward and from the axis of the lens means or in other words into and out of registry with the aperture 34. The lower end of rod 60 is connected with a 'collar 61 sliding on the lower end of the tubular portion 30 of the supporting means just above the adjustable collar 55 and also within convenient reach of a finger of the hand holdingthe instrument. i l 7 As apparent from the drawings the construction of the instrument is of a thorough practical character with the parts compactly arranged. Such compact arrangement facilitated by the use of a self contained electric illuminating system affords a narrow type of instrument by means of which the distance between the eyes of the patient and observer can be reduced to a minimun'i, thus increasing the area of the retina brought into view. 7

Y The invention thus effectively embodies a complete combination in one instrument of a superior optical lens system, a powerful and fully controlled illuminating system and a light filter for increasing the range of usefulness of the instrument, all of which parts may be conveniently adjusted or controlled by the thumb and fingers of the hand supporting the instrument.

I claim as my invention:

1. A hand ophthalmoscope comprising a handle portion and a supporting portion in extension of the latter, object illuminating means on said supporting portion, lens means on the latter for examining an object, and a rod slidable longitudinally on said supporting portion to carry a light filter at one end thereof into and out of the axis of said lens means with a finger piece at the other end of said rod adjacent said handle portion for sliding said rod.

2; In a hand ophthalmoscope, the combination of a tubular handle portion, a barrel carried thereby in extension thereof, a sleeve extending from said barrel, supporting means removably carried on the exterior of said sleeve, lens means and a light reflecting and condensing means on said supporting densing means and adjustably carried in said sleeve, a collar slidable on said supporting means adjacent said handle portion and connected with said filter for adjusting the same, a lamp provided with condensing means slidably carried inesaid sleeve, and a collar slidable on said barrel and connected with said lamp for adjusting the latter.

3. In an ophthalmoscope, a holder, a plate upon the holder having a viewing aperture therein, a source of white light upon the holder, means for condensing and projecting the light upon the retina of the eye, and a light filter for absorbing red' light rays mounted upon the holder to occupy a position between the aperture and the eye under observation whereby the latter may be illuminated with a white light and at the same time viewed through a red absorbing light filter.

MAX POSER.

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