Gazing point illuminating device and surgical operation illuminating system using the same

• US 20010021108A1
• Filed: 03/06/2001
• Published: 09/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yanchers INC.
• Original Assignee: Kansai Technology Licensing Organization Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kawakami, Yoichi, Shimada, Jun-ichi, Fujita, Shigeo
• Granted Patent: US 6,554,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/103
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/20 Lighting for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/04 Illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence

Abstract

A gazing point illuminating device is provided with: a light source; a direction changing mechanism for changing the lighting direction of the light source; a gazing direction detector for detecting the direction of the user'"'"'s gazing line; and a controller for changing the lighting direction corresponding to the detected gazing direction. When, LEDs are used as the light source, and the light source is attached to the goggles worn by a user, the goggles can be useful gazing point illuminating device by themselves even if they do not include gazing point or direction detectors, because a person normally look straight ahead except for unusual occasions where he/she purposefully avert his/her gaze. Thus, an illuminating device fixed to a person'"'"'s head for lighting forward is a gazing point illuminating device. It is preferred to provide an LED panel at the left and right ends of goggles.

Claims

1. A gazing point illuminating device comprising:

a light source;

lighting direction changing means for changing a lighting direction of the light source;

gazing direction detecting means for detecting a direction of a user'"'"'s gazing line; and

controlling means for controlling the lighting direction according to the detected gazing direction.

2. The gazing point illuminating device according to

claim 1

, wherein the light source is an EL panel.

3. The gazing point illuminating device according to

claim 1

, wherein the light source is an LED panel including a plurality of LEDs.

4. The gazing point illuminating device according to

claim 1

, wherein:

a light source is provided for each of the left and right eyes;

the gazing direction detecting means detect the gazing directions of the left and right eyes independently; and

the controlling means control the light sources independently corresponding to the detected gazing directions.

5. The gazing point illuminating device according to

claim 4

, wherein the two light sources are placed at a left end and a right end of the goggles or eyeglasses.

6. A surgical operation illuminating system using the gazing point illuminating device according to

claim 1

.

7. A gazing point illuminating device comprising an LED panel including one or a plurality of LEDs attached to goggles or eyeglasses.

8. The gazing point illuminating device according to

claim 7

, wherein the LED panel is tiltable.

9. The gazing point illuminating device according to

claim 7

, wherein an LED panel is placed at each of a left end and a right end of the goggles or eyeglasses.

10. The gazing point illuminating device according to

claim 9

, wherein the LED panels are tiltable.

11. The gazing point illuminating device according to

claim 7

, wherein the LED panel includes one or a plurality of white LEDs.

12. The gazing point illuminating device according to

claim 7

, wherein the LED panel includes one or a plurality of sets consisting of a red LED, a green LED and a blue LED.

13. The gazing point illuminating device according to

claim 7

, wherein the LED panel includes one or a plurality of ultraviolet LEDs.

14. The gazing point illuminating device according to

claim 7

, wherein the LED panel includes one or a plurality of chip type LEDs.

15. The gazing point illuminating device according to

claim 7

, wherein a power source to the LED or LEDs is a battery wearable to a wearer of the goggles or eyeglasses.

16. The gazing point illuminating device according to

claim 7

, wherein the gazing point illuminating device further comprises dimming means for controlling a lighting strength of the LED or LEDs.

17. The gazing point illuminating device according to

claim 16

, wherein the dimming means comprise a voice recognition device to change the lighting strength of the LED or LEDs according to the user'"'"'s verbal command.

18. The gazing point illuminating device according to

claim 16

, wherein a power source to the LED or LEDs is a battery wearable to a wearer of the goggles or eyeglasses.

19. A gazing point illuminating device comprising an EL panel attached to goggles or eyeglasses.