Borescopic optical system for medical diagnostic instruments and medical diagnostic instruments having interlocking assembly features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10028648-B2
Application number	US-201715493500-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2017
Priority date	Sep 15, 2014
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A medical diagnostic instrument or a plurality of disparate medical diagnostic instruments are configured with a common optical architecture that functionally creates a virtual eye to create closer proximity to a patient and therefore increase the field of view in regard to a target of interest. The optical system includes a distal optical element, at least one relay lens and an eyepiece lens in which the optical system can be integrated within at least one instrument or be provided using a releasable module. Additionally, at least one of a viewing assembly and illumination assembly of at least one medical diagnostic instrument can be assembled using a series of components that are connected by interlocking features.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An otoscope comprising:
an instrument head having a distal end opening, an opposing proximal end opening, and a substantially hollow interior enabling a target of interest to be viewed by a caregiver in a first viewing mode; and
a module releasably attachable for insertion into the interior of the instrument head, the module having a contained optical system that increases the field of view for viewing a target of interest in a second viewing mode distinct from the first viewing mode, the module extending into a distal end of the instrument head when attached thereto.

2. The otoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the optical system of the module comprises a distal lens element, at least one intermediate relay lens element and a proximal eyepiece lens element, each of the lens elements of the contained optical system of the module being aligned with the distal and proximal end openings of the instrument head when the module is attached to the instrument head.

3. The otoscope according to claim 2 , wherein each of the lens elements of the contained optical system of the module are made from plastic.

4. The otoscope according to claim 3 , wherein each of the lens elements of the contained optical system of the module are reversible.

5. The otoscope according to claim 4 , wherein at least some of the lens elements of the contained optical system of the module are interchangeable.

6. The otoscope according to claim 4 , wherein each of the lens elements include a raised peripheral edge along each optical surface thereof.

7. The otoscope according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one relay lens element and eyepiece lens element are axially disposed in relation to at least one flexible member within the module, the module further including a twistable retaining cap to permit minor positional adjustments of the contained lens elements for focusing.

8. The otoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the instrument head includes a proximal window used in the first viewing mode that is releasably removable to permit the module to be inserted into the instrument head for use in the second viewing mode.

9. A physical assessment device comprising:
an instrument housing having an interior;
a viewing assembly disposed between distal and proximal end openings of the instrument housing; and
an illumination assembly including at least one light source for illuminating a target of interest, at least one of the viewing assembly and illumination assembly having a plurality of components that are assembled by interlocking engagement with one another wherein the illumination assembly is configured for interlocking connection with a first viewing assembly having a first field of view and a second viewing assembly having a second view of view.

10. The physical assessment device according to claim 9 , wherein the illumination assembly and viewing assembly include interlocking features that enable releasable connection therebetween.

11. The physical assessment device according to claim 9 , wherein the instrument is an ophthalmoscope.

12. The physical assessment device according to claim 9 , wherein the viewing assembly comprises an optical system that produces a distal entrance pupil for providing an enhanced field of view of a target of interest.

13. The physical assessment device according to claim 12 , wherein the viewing assembly comprises a distal objective lens, at least one intermediately disposed relay lens and a proximal eyepiece lens.

14. The physical assessment device according to claim 13 , wherein each of the lenses are reversible.

15. The physical assessment device according to claim 14 , wherein the lenses each include a raised peripheral edge on each optical surface.

16. The otoscope according to claim 15 , in which the optical system is contained within a module that is attached relative to the instrument head, the module extending into a distal end of the instrument head when attached thereto.

17. The otoscope according to claim 16 , in which the module is releasably attached to the instrument head.

18. An otoscope comprising:
an instrument head having a distal end opening, an opposing proximal end opening, and a substantially hollow interior; and
an optical system comprising a distal lens element, at least one intermediately disposed relay lens element and a proximal eyepiece lens, each of the lens elements being aligned with the distal end opening and proximal end opening along an optical axis in which each of the lens elements are made from plastic and are defined by symmetrical optical surfaces on opposing sides, enabling the lens elements to be reversibly assembled and optically aligned.

19. The otoscope according to claim 18 , wherein each lens element includes a raised peripheral edge on each optical surface.

Assignees

• Welch Allyn Inc

Inventors

• Goldfain Ervin
• Lia Raymond A

Classifications

• G02B13/0095

  Relay lenses or rod lenses (in instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies G02B23/2446) · CPC title

• A61B3/156

  for blocking · CPC title

• A61B3/12

  for looking at the eye fundus, e.g. ophthalmoscopes (A61B3/13 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B3/1208

  Multiple lens hand-held instruments · CPC title

• A61B1/0625

  for multiple fixed illumination angles · CPC title