Reichert, Inc.

Leica Microsystems Cms Gmbh

Leica Microsystems Inc.

Russell J Bonaventura

Scott W Parks

David G Kelkenberg

David L Beverly

David A Luce

James M Schweitzer

Jasna Roeth

Donald E Miller

Paul M Harrison

David Taylor

Manfred Gilbert

Kenneth M Northem

David A Taylor

A headrest for an ophthalmic instrument facilitates fine positioning of the instrument relative to an eye of a test subject without the need to remove a contact element of the headrest from contact with the test subject's face. The ophthalmic instrument may be, for example, a rebound tonometer or a non-contact tonometer. The headrest includes a hollow bulbous contact element formed of resiliently deformable material, for example a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or silicone rubber. An outer surface of the contact element may have a spherical shape or a spheroidal shape when the contact element is not deformed.

Flexible headrest for ophthalmic instrument

A spatially compact, lightweight positioning system for guiding an operator in positioning an ophthalmic instrument relative to an eye of a test subject has first and second light sources and an area detector spaced apart from a measurement axis of the instrument and from each other for providing positioning images which may be evaluated relative to stored calibration image information to determine current position of the instrument relative to the eye. The first and second light sources may fit within a lateral distance less than or equal to 25 mm. First and second illumination axes associated with the light sources may reside in a horizontal plane containing the measurement axis, and an observation axis of the area detector may reside in a vertical plane containing the measurement axis. The light sources and the area detector may be intersected by a plane which is normal to the measurement axis.

Positioning system for ophthalmic instrument

A docking station for receiving a hand-held rebound tonometer and a probe container carrying disposable tonometer probes has a docking cavity for receiving a portion of the rebound tonometer and a container receptacle for receiving the probe container. The docking station has an actuation feature arranged to move a cover associated with the probe container from a closed position to an open position as the container is inserted into the container receptacle so that tonometer probes in the container are accessible. The actuation feature may include a projection extending into an entryway leading to the container receptacle for engaging the cover but not the container, such that further insertion of the container moves the cover from the closed to the open position. The docking station may also have a storage recess for receiving an empty probe tube and cap after the probe has been removed from the tube for use.

Rebound tonometer docking station and probe dispenser

An ophthalmic instrument includes a carrier positionable relative to a test subject, and first and second measurement units mounted on the carrier by corresponding first and second parallelogram linkages. The first measurement unit, for example an autorefractor/keratometer, performs a first type of ophthalmic measurement, and is guided by the first parallelogram linkage to move relative to the carrier simultaneously in forward and downward directions from an idle position to a measurement position. The second measurement unit, for example a tonometer, performs a second type of ophthalmic measurement, and is guided by the second parallelogram linkage to move relative to the carrier simultaneously in forward and upward directions from an idle position to a measurement position. The first and second measurement units may each have a respective optical axis which aligns with a fixed measurement axis of the carrier when the measurement unit is in its measurement position.

Ophthalmic instrument having multiple measurement units

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

An interchangeable microscope stage drive assembly, including a microscope stage, and, a drive mechanism detachably secured to the microscope stage at more than one location of the stage.

Interchangeable microscope stage drive assembly

The invention includes an apparatus for controlling a microscope stage assembly having a rod for moving the stage in two directions. The rod is detachably secured to the microscope stage assembly. The rod includes at least one substantially circular stick with an attachment end and a gripping end. The attachment end is arranged to be detachably secured to the microscope stage assembly. The invention also includes an interchangeable microscope stage movement device for providing X and Y movement of a sample. The device includes a microscope stage assembly and a joystick detachably secured to the stage assembly at more than one location of the stage assembly.

Microscope stage apparatus and movement means

A microscope includes at least one focusing means for focusing an object plane. The focusing means includes first and second adjustment means. The first and second adjustment means are coaxial and independently rotatably adjustable with respect to one another. The second adjustment means are releasably fastenable to the focusing means. In a preferred embodiment, the first adjustment means comprises a coarse focus adjustment knob and the second adjustment means comprises a fine focus adjustment knob. The second adjustment means preferably includes magnetic means adapted for mating engagement with complementary magnetically attractable means of a rotatable focus drive means of the focusing means. A particularly preferred embodiment comprises at least two focusing means wherein the second adjustment means of each may be releasably attached to each; one on each opposite side of the microscope as desired.

Releasable/interchangeable fine focus knob for a microscope

A microscope having a moveable object holder forming a part of a stage assembly. The stage assembly includes at least one x-y control, for moving the stage assembly or a portion thereof, e.g. the object holder, in a horizontal x direction, which x direction is parallel to the shoulders of an operating microscopist sitting square to the microscope, and for moving the stage assembly or portion thereof in a horizontal y direction perpendicular to the x direction. The microscope has dual controls for moving the stage assembly or a portion thereof in a z direction perpendicular to the x-y directions and parallel to an optical path into an objective lens of the microscope, wherein the x-y control and z controls are located so as to permit single hand operation of both controls with minimal hand movement or so as to permit comfortable ergonomic dual hand operation while permitting the shoulders of an operating microscopist to remain aligned parallel to the x direction.

Erogonomically arranged object adjustment controls

The present invention discloses a microscope and a focusing device for a microscope. The focusing device has at least one operating element attached to a first axle of the focusing device for effecting movement of a microscope stage along the optical axis of the microscope. An adjustable stop mechanism is provided which cooperates with the focusing device to limit the movement of the microscope stage in the direction of the optical axis. The adjustable stop mechanism comprises a rod, a spring for biasing the rod and a screw for adjusting and fixing a position of the rod.

Microscope and focusing device for a microscope

A new arrangement for the revolving stage of a polarizing microscope is presented. A stage well adapted to be removably fitted into and attached to the center of a revolving stage is provided with a housing, an inner sleeve adapted to fit within the housing and to move vertically within the housing, and a sample platform. In a preferred embodiment, the inner sleeve also moves rotationally. The stage well extends below the upper surface of the revolving stage with sufficient clearance to avoid interference with condenser and/or other components present below the revolving stage. Also presented is a microscope stage assembly comprising a revolving stage and a stage well attached to a center opening in the microscope revolving stage.

Stage well

A microscope having a base mounted illuminator, an optical element holder operatively arranged to hold an optical element within a beam path of the microscope, and, means for magnetically securing the optical element holder to the illuminator. The optical element holder of the invention includes a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, the housing having an aperture operatively arranged to hold an optical element, such as a filter or the like, and, at least one magnet attached to, and extending from the bottom surface of the housing, the magnet operatively arranged to be attracted to a portion of the base-mounted illuminator. A magnetic optical element holder and optical element for a microscope in combination, having an annularly shaped housing having a flanged aperture therein, the housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, the optical element operatively arranged to be held within the flanged aperture, and, at least one magnet attached to the bottom surface of the housing. A magnetic optical element holder and illuminator for a microscope, the illuminator mounted in a base of the microscope, the illuminator having at least some ferromagnetic characteristic, an optical element holder comprising a housing having an aperture therein arranged to hold an optical element, the housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, and, at least one magnet mounted to the housing and arranged to hold the holder to a portion of the illuminator.

Magnetic optical element holder and microscope assembly including same

An anti-theft device secures a removable body part, such as a viewing unit, to a microscope stand. The device is intended to replace a common thumbscrew used to fix the location of a removable body part in a corresponding guide of the microscope stand, and comprises a housing threaded into a tapped hole in the stand for carrying a plunger and a driver both movable within an axial passageway in the housing. The driver is threadably adjustable by hand between driving and non-driving positions with respect to the plunger, and the plunger has a limited range of motion so that it may retract enough to allow the removable body part to be adjusted within the guide but not enough to allow the body part to be removed from the guide when the driver is in a non-driving position. The housing is tightened onto the microscope body by a tool such as a wrench, and the driver is held captive by a snap ring fitting within an internal groove near a trailing end of the housing.

Growing community of inventors

Williamsville, NY, United States of America

Russell J Bonaventura