Reichert, Inc.

Leica Gmbh

Donald E Miller

David A Luce

Russell J Bonaventura

David L Beverly

David G Kelkenberg

Douglas H Hoover

Carl E Hynes

David Biggins

A tool for calibrating a non-contact tonometer (NCT) comprises a body having a mating feature configured for removably mounting the body on the nosepiece or on the measurement head of the NCT, a pressure sensor carried by the body and arranged to receive an air pulse discharged by the NCT to provide a pressure signal in response to the air pulse, and a radiation emitter carried by the body, wherein the radiation emitter provides a pseudo-applanation event when the pressure signal reaches a predetermined level that is detectable by the NCT as though an actual corneal applanation had taken place. In one embodiment, the mating feature includes a mounting orifice for receiving a portion of the nosepiece. In another embodiment, the mating feature includes a pair of mounting pins sized for receipt by a corresponding pair of mounting holes in the measurement head of the NCT.

Tonometer calibration tool

A subjective ophthalmic refractor is improved for operator visibility in a darkened examination room by forming a cylinder axis scale of the refractor as a light-transmitting component having opaque scale gradations and installing a polar array of illumination sources to project light through the cylinder axis scale, which preferably includes a translucent material for diffuse illumination. In an alternative embodiment, the cylinder axis scale includes a photoluminescent material to which the scale gradations are applied. The refractor is further improved by installing respective illumination sources near a cylinder power readout and a sphere power readout of the refractor. The disclosure additionally relates to a method for retrofitting an ophthalmic refractor to illuminate the cylinder axis scale, cylinder power readout, and sphere power readout.

Ophthalmic refractor having retrofittable readout illumination

An alignment override control for effecting automatic vertical alignment of a test axis of an ophthalmic instrument with the center of an eye is disclosed. The test axis is associated with optical alignment means of the instrument vertically movable by an elevation motor controlled by a motor drive. A joystick and a pair of directional switches are connected to the motor drive for manual positioning of the test axis. When the eye comes within a field of view defined by the optical means, the override control disconnects the switches and automatically signals the elevation motor to effect automatic alignment using signal information originating from the optical means.

Joystick override control for an ophthalmic instrument

Growing community of inventors

La Quinta, CA, United States of America

Donald E Miller