U.S. patent application number 09/863426 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-10 for magnifying glass with illumination means for use in medicine and an illumination means.
Invention is credited to Burckhardt, Rainer.
Application Number | 20020003602 09/863426 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27213906 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020003602 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Burckhardt, Rainer |
January 10, 2002 |
Magnifying glass with illumination means for use in medicine and an
illumination means
Abstract
The invention relates to a novel magnifying glass for use in
medicine, with magnifying glass optics which can be attached to a
carrier element on the head of the user and with at least one
illumination means provided on the magnifying glass, with an
electrically operated light source.
Inventors: |
Burckhardt, Rainer; (Weiden,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOFFMAN WASSON & GITLER
2361 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY
SUITE 522
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
|
Family ID: |
27213906 |
Appl. No.: |
09/863426 |
Filed: |
May 24, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
351/57 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21Y 2115/10 20160801;
F21W 2131/20 20130101; A61B 90/30 20160201; G02B 25/004 20130101;
G02C 7/088 20130101; F21L 14/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
351/57 |
International
Class: |
G02C 007/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 9, 2000 |
DE |
100 28 264.4 |
Jun 16, 2000 |
DE |
100 29 707.2 |
Jun 29, 2000 |
DE |
100 31 685.9 |
Claims
1. Magnifying glass for use in medicine, with magnifying glass
optics (2) which can be attached to a carrier element (4, 5) on the
head of the user and with at least one illumination means (6) which
is provided on the magnifying glass (1), with an electrically
operated light source, characterized in that the light source is
formed by several LEDs (12, 12a) which are spatially offset against
one another, that for each LED or each group of several LEDs there
is an optical focussing element (9) with which the light beams of
the LEDs are focussed at a focus, and that a portable power supply
unit (13) with at least one battery (15) for operation of the LEDs
is located spatially separate from the light source (6, 6a) and is
connected to it via a power supply cable (19).
2. Magnifying glass as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one LED
which is used as a light source emits white or approximately light
white.
3. Magnifying glass as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least
one LED which forms the light source has a light intensity of at
least 2000 mcd, for example a light intensity of at least 3000
mcd.
4. Magnifying glass as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
wherein the light source is formed by at least one multiple LED
which has at least two light-emitting areas on a common
semiconductor chip or bar.
5. Magnifying glass as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
wherein the light source is provided adjustably on the optics of
the magnifying glass or on the adapter (3) there.
6. Magnifying glass as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized by a lens arrangement (10) which consists of several
focussing lenses or is made monolithic with several lens elements
or areas which act as focussing lenses.
7. Magnifying glass as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized by an actuating element (22) which is arranged
separately from the illumination means (6, 6a) and which controls
the illumination means by touching and/or proximity, especially
turns it on and off.
8. Magnifying glass as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
wherein the illumination means (6, 6a) has several LEDs (12, 12a)
and wherein the light of these LEDs is concentrated by optical
elements, for example by optical fibers at the focus of a common
lens or focussing optics.
9. Magnifying glass as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
wherein there are aspherical lenses (9a) for focussing the light
beams of the LEDs (12, 12a).
10. Illumination means for use in medicine or for microscopy, with
at least one electrically operated light source, wherein the light
source is formed by several LEDs (12, 12a) which are spatially
offset against one another, wherein for each LED or each group of
several LEDs there is an optical focussing element (9) with which
the light beams of the LEDs are focussed at a focus, and wherein a
portable power supply unit (13) with at least one battery (15) for
operation of the LEDs is located spatially separate from the light
source (6, 6a) and is connected to it via a power supply cable
(19).
11. Illumination means as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one
LED used as a light source emits white or approximately light
white.
12. Illumination means as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein at
least one LED which forms the light source has a light intensity of
at least 2000 mcd, for example a light intensity of at least 3000
mcd.
13. Illumination means as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
wherein the light source is formed by at least one multiple LED
which has at least two light-emitting areas on a common
semiconductor chip or bar.
14. Illumination means as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
wherein the light source is provided adjustably on the optics of
the magnifying glass or on the adapter (3) there.
15. Illumination means as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized by a lens arrangement (10) which consists of several
focussing lenses or is made monolithic with several lens elements
or areas which act as focussing lenses.
16. Illumination means as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
characterized by an actuating element (22) which is arranged
separately from the illumination means (6, 6a) and which controls
the illumination means by touching and/or proximity, especially
turns it on and off.
17. Illumination means as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
wherein it has several LEDs (12, 12a) or at least one multiple LED
with at least two-light emitting areas, and wherein the light of
these LEDs or light-emitting areas is concentrated by optical
elements, for example by optical fibers at the focus of a common
lens or focussing optics.
18. Illumination means as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
wherein it has several LEDs (12, 12a) or at least one multiple LED
with at least two-light emitting areas, and wherein the light of
these LEDS or light-emitting areas is concentrated by optical
elements, for example by at least one optical fiber optics and/or
lens optics at the focus of a common lens or in an area to be
illuminated.
19. Illumination means as claimed in one of the preceding claims,
wherein there are aspherical lenses (9a) for focussing the light
beams of the LEDs (12, 12a).
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a magnifying glass as claimed in
the preamble of claim 1 and to an illumination means as claimed in
the preamble of claim 10.
[0002] Especially in medicine, for example in microsurgery, but
also in other areas of medicine, magnifying glasses are known, for
example as telescopic spectacles or as magnifying glasses mounted
on a headband. Furthermore, illumination means are also known for
these magnifying glasses, with which (illumination means) the
respective viewing field or surgical field can be illuminated.
[0003] Light sources for these illumination means have recently
been halogen lamps with the pertinent optics. The major
disadvantages are that these illumination means have high heat
evolution and relatively large dimensions and require high electric
power for their operation so that either only stationary power
supply devices with the defect of no mobility or battery-operated
power supply units which can be carried on the body and which are
heavy can be used.
[0004] In particular, a binocular magnifying glass which can be
worn with a headband with two magnifying optics and one
illumination means (WO 96/25873) is known. The latter consists
essentially of a light source which is spatially separate from the
magnifying glass and the illumination means there, the light from
which source is coupled into the illumination means via an optical
fiber. This known version among others has the defect that the
optical fiber is disruptive when a binocular magnifying glass is
being used and the freedom of movement of the user is adversely
affected.
[0005] Furthermore, a binocular ophthalmoscope for viewing the
retina of the human eye is also known (U.S. Pat. No. 5,841,509). To
illuminate the retina there is a light source for example in the
form of a light emitting diode, with light which is mixed into the
beam path of the ophthalmoscope so that the illumination of the
retina to be examined takes place by part of the optics of the
ophthalmoscope. The light source is housed either directly in the
housing of the ophthalmoscope or separate from it, the light in
turn then being coupled in via an optical fiber. To avoid damage to
the retina, the light source has only very low power. This known
device is generally neither designed nor suited as a magnifying
glass for viewing the working field or the surgical field.
[0006] The object of the invention is to avoid these defects. To
achieve this object the magnifying glass is made according to claim
1 and the illumination means is made according to claim 10.
[0007] One special feature of the invention is that the light
source is formed by several LEDs with a high illumination intensity
of at least 2000 mcd, for example with an illumination intensity of
at least 3000 mcd. The light of the individual LEDs is focussed at
the focus by the focussing element which is assigned to the
respective LED. The LEDs are supplied with power via a portable
power supply unit which is located separately from the light source
and is connected to it via a power supply cable.
[0008] In one especially advantageous embodiment of the invention,
separately from the illumination means there is an actuating
element which controls the illumination means by contact or by
proximity, especially turns it on and off. This is especially
important in particular in surgical applications with respect to
hygiene and sterility to be maintained.
[0009] Developments of the invention are the subject matter of the
dependent claims. The invention is detailed below using the figures
on one embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 1 shows one possible embodiment of the magnifying glass
as claimed in the invention as telescopic spectacles;
[0011] FIG. 2 shows another possible embodiment of the magnifying
glass as claimed in the invention for attachment to a headband;
[0012] FIG. 3 shows a simplified section through the illumination
means for use in the magnifying glass of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 shows the illumination means of FIG. 3 in a front
view;
[0014] FIG. 5 shows another possible embodiment of the illumination
means for use in the magnifying glass of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0015] FIG. 6 shows in an individual representation and in a
section a focussing lens for use in the illumination means.
[0016] In the figures a surgical microscope or a magnifying glass
with double optics is generally labelled 1; it is especially, but
not exclusively, suited for use in medicine, for example dentistry,
microsurgery, etc.
[0017] The two optics 1 and 2 are conventionally provided on an
adjustable adapter 3 with which the magnifying glass 1 can be
attached selectively to spectacles 4 or to eyeglass frames to form
telescopic spectacles or to another holder which is attached to the
head of the user, for example to a headband.
[0018] Between the two optics 2 on the adapter 3 is an illumination
means 6 which delivers a combined light beam 7 which illuminates
the area viewed through the magnifying glass 1 or through the
optics 2 (for example, surgical or viewing area).
[0019] FIG. 2 shows the illumination means 6 in detail. It consists
in this embodiment essentially of a cylindrical housing 8 which has
on the front side an arrangement of several lenses, i.e. in the
embodiment shown of a total of three lenses 9 which form focussing
optics and which are arranged uniformly offset around the center
axis M of the housing 8 in a common plane perpendicular to this
center axis. Within the housing 8 is a board 11 which with its
surface sides is perpendicular to the center plane M and which on
its side facing the lens arrangement 10 has several LEDs 12, the
number of LEDs in the embodiment shown being equal to the number of
lenses 9 and each LED being located coaxially or essentially
coaxially to the optical axis of a lens 9.
[0020] The LEDs used are so-called "ultra-bright LEDs", i.e.
light-limiting diodes which have especially high efficiency, for
example, an efficiency of 85% and thus at low electrical power
consumption ensure high light output and have a light spectrum
which corresponds to that of white light, i.e. for example daylight
or approximately daylight.
[0021] Other advantages of the illumination means 6 are among
others:
[0022] Due to the high efficiency of the LEDs used, the
illumination means 6 has only low heat evolution. It can therefore
be positioned with the magnifying glass closely in the area of the
eyes and the nose of the user.
[0023] Furthermore at any time there is the possibility of
focussing and adjusting the illumination means 6 by hand without
the prior need to turn off and cool the illumination means 6.
[0024] The illumination means 6 can be produced with extremely
small dimensions and with very low weight; this among others
enables optimum positioning of the illumination means 6 on the
magnifying glass 1 and comfortable wearing of the magnifying glass
1, for example, on eyeglass frames 4 or on a headband 5, since the
total weight of the magnifying glass 1-illumination means 6 is not
noticeably influenced by the illumination means 6.
[0025] By attaching the illumination means 6 to the magnifying
glass 1 the light beam 7 is automatically entrained when the user
of the magnifying glass 1 moves his head so that the viewing field
is always optimally illuminated.
[0026] As is indicated in FIG. 2 with the double arrow A, the board
11 with the LEDs there can be adjusted in the direction of the
center axis M relative to the lens arrangement 10 for focussing or
imaging the individual light beams at the focus in the viewing
plane. Here then there is especially also the possibility of
orienting the individual lenses 9 of the lens arrangement 10 with
their optical axes such that the focusses of the then converging
individual beams form an overall focus which optimally illuminates
the viewing field or surgical field.
[0027] The LEDs are operated from a power supply unit 13 with a
housing 14 which has small dimensions so that it can be comfortably
held in a pocket, for example in the breast pocket of work
clothing, a shirt or a blouse. The housing 14 contains at least one
battery pack or battery 15, for example a replaceable battery or a
rechargeable battery. Furthermore, in the housing there is control
and monitoring electronics 16 which monitors especially the state
of the battery 15 and displays the state or drain of the battery 15
by means of a LED display 16 on the top of the housing 14.
[0028] On the top of the housing 14 there are various terminals, in
the embodiment shown a terminal 18 for a thin, very flexible cable
19 via which the illumination means 6 is connected to the power
supply unit 13, and a terminal 20 for connection of a control line
21 which connects the power supply unit 13 or its electronics 16 to
an actuating element 22, for example, to a momentary contact
control switch, via which the illumination means 6 can be turned on
and off by touching when the power supply unit 13 is turned on.
[0029] The actuating element 22 is made such that it can be
comfortably attached for example by means of a clip which is not
shown or in some other suitable way to the desired location on the
clothing of the user of the magnifying glass 1 such that this
actuating element 22 can then be actuated by being touched for
example with the arm, wrist, elbow, etc. and thus it is possible to
turn the illumination means 6 on and off without using the hand;
this is very important especially in surgical applications with
respect to the hygiene and sterility to be maintained.
[0030] On the top of the housing 14 there is furthermore a central
switch 23 with which the power supply unit overall can be turned on
and off. The weight of the illumination means 6 is for example 6
grams. With conventional batteries 15 a long operating life, for
example at least 40 hours, can be reached until it is necessary to
replace the battery.
[0031] The illumination means 6 is not only small and light, but
this illumination means and the pertinent power supply unit 13 are
also invulnerable to impacts. The size of the housing 14
corresponds for example to the size of a pack of cigarettes or half
a pack of cigarettes.
[0032] Because it is also possible to use replaceable batteries,
i.e. those which cannot be recharged or regenerated, the invention
can be used especially wherever battery chargers are not available
or their use is not feasible.
[0033] It was assumed above that the lens arrangement 10 is formed
by three discrete lenses 9. But of course it is also fundamentally
possible to use, instead of individual lenses, a multiple lens in
which the individual lenses are combined into a monolithic multiple
lens. Furthermore, it is also possible to use a lens common to all
the LEDS instead of several individual lenses or lens elements. In
the embodiment shown the lenses 9 are shown as optical convergent
lenses. Of course, also other focussing elements are conceivable as
individual lenses or lens arrangements.
[0034] FIG. 5 shows as another possible embodiment in a partial
representation a board 11 on an illumination means 6a. In this
illumination means, LEDs in the form of SMDs are used which enable
a very dense arrangement on the board 11 so that in this version
the individual light beams of a plurality of these LEDs 12a can be
optimally focussed by means of a single optical focussing element
at the focus of the common light beam 7. As shown in FIG. 5, in
this version the LEDs 12a are arranged in several rows and columns
so that the LEDs with their light-emitting active layer lie a
quadratic grid so that illumination of the working area or viewing
area as uniform as possible in all directions takes place.
[0035] The described arrangement of the LEDs enables illumination
of the working area or viewing area as uniform as possible in all
directions.
[0036] LEDs 12 or 12a with the illumination means 6 turned on are
operated for example continuously. But basically there is also the
possibility of operating the LEDs 12 or 12a pulsed, for example
with a frequency of 100 Hz, by changing the pulse width also
control of the light intensity then being possible.
[0037] FIG. 6 shows in a simplified representation and in a section
another possible version of the focussing lens 9a which is used
instead of the focussing lens 9. The focussing lens 9a is an
aspherical lens which is produced by pressing out of a suitable
optical material, for example a plastic material which is suitable
for optical lenses. The particular feature of the focussing lens 9a
is that it has one flat side 24 and one curved side 25 and is made
aspherical on the curved side 25, i.e. with a radius of curvature
which is smaller in the area of the optical axis and increases as
the distance from the optical axis 26 increases. Using this
aspherical focussing lens allows better concentration also of the
edge beams 27 and thus improves the light output; this is
especially important when using LEDs 12 and 12a as the light
source.
[0038] The invention was described above using embodiments. It goes
without saying that numerous other changes and modifications are
possible without departing from the idea underlying the invention.
Thus it is also possible for example to use LEDs, instead of the
lenses 9 or the lens arrangement 10, which are provided with a
built-in optical element which focusses the light beam.
[0039] Furthermore it is also possible to use, instead of
individual LEDs 12 and 12a, multiple LEDs which have several
light-emitting emitters on a semiconductor chip or bar. Here it is
then also especially possible to provide several such chips and
then to combine the individual beams of these chips into a common
light beam which illuminates the respective viewing or working
area.
[0040] Furthermore, it is also possible when using several LEDs or
one or more multiple LEDs to combine the light of these light
sources via optical elements, for example via lenses or lens
optics, via optical fiber optics, etc. in an area to be illuminated
or at a common focal point or to concentrate the light via optical
elements, for example via the aforementioned optical elements or
optical fibers at the focal point of common focussing optics or a
lens so that then only a single optical focussing or projection
system is necessary in spite of a plurality of LEDs.
[0041] The illumination means 6 or 6a was described above in
conjunction with the magnifying glass 1. But basically the
illumination means is also suitable for other purposes where it is
a matter of illuminating smaller areas, for example as the
illumination means in a microscope.
* * * * *