Remote hand-held diagnostic instrument with video imaging
US5527261A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jun 18, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 29, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/2733
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A hand-held, fully remote diagnostic instrument having video capability is configured for any one of a number of clinical or industrial applications. The instrument has a casing that includes a hand-holdable body portion, a neck portion that extends from the body portion to a head portion that is formed of a back cover, a front cover, and a sealing gasket to form a fully soakable instrument. A circuit board assembly in the body portion contains video processing circuitry, and a flexible neck board which extends forward from the body portion through the neck portion of the casing to a head board located in the head portion of the casing. A solid state imager and a miniature lamp are disposed on the head board. The front cover contains an adjustable focus lens cell for focusing on the imager an image of a target in the lens cell's field of view. The instrument can be configured for various applications by installing front and back covers that are suited for a specific purpose. The instrument can thus be used, for example, as an otoscope, a dental camera, or a episcope. The instrument provides a monitor-ready standard format full color video signal to a remotely located monitor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.