The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 08, 2011
Filed:
Oct. 14, 2008
Daniel Davidson, Seattle, WA (US);
Joseph E. Skidmore, Mountlake Terrace, WA (US);
Richard A. Fine, Mercer Island, WA (US);
Daniel Davidson, Seattle, WA (US);
Joseph E. Skidmore, Mountlake Terrace, WA (US);
Richard A. Fine, Mercer Island, WA (US);
SonoSite, Inc., Bothell, WA (US);
Abstract
The present invention is directed to systems and methods that couple together optical devices in a manner that prevents damaging light from escaping the coupling except through the devices. In order to prevent damaging light from coming into contact with the user, the present invention obscures the source optical device by using at least one moveable gate to prevent damaging light from being transmitted outside of the coupling until such time as the target optical device is fully inserted into the coupling, thereby preventing light that could potentially damage a person from escaping the system except through the optical device.