Integrated ophthalmic examination chair and positioning system

Abstract

An ophthalmic examination chair having an integrated positioning capability for providing wheel chair access to an associated instrument stand accommodating the examining of disabled patients. The chair has a seat member which is configured to receive a seated patient and is movable from a forward position spacing the seated patient at a predetermined distance from an eye examination target. A lower base member is provided as extending along a longitudinal axis between a forward end and a rearward end, and as having an upper and a lower surface. An upper carriage member, having a bottom surface and a top surface supporting the seat member thereon, is supported on the upper surface of the base member for movement between the forward and the rearward end thereof along the longitudinal axis to position the seat member at the forward position and at a rearward position providing access to the instrument stand by a wheel chair patient positioned at the predetermined distance from the eye examination target. A locking assembly is employed to releasably lock the carriage member in a forward orientation disposing the examination chair at the forward position, and in a rearward orientation disposing the examination chair at the rearward position.