Hand-held Ophthalmic illuminator

• US 20010038439A1
• Filed: 01/24/2001
• Published: 11/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eidolon Optical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Victor J. Doherty
• Inventors: Doherty, Victor J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,547,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/221
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0008 provided with illuminating means A61B3/117 takes precedence; goniolenses used for laser treatment A61F9/009; illuminating means for optical instruments G02B27/00

Abstract

The invention provides an ophthalmic illuminator, including a battery, an electrical resistor, an electrical switch and an LED. The battery is in circuit with the battery; and the electrical switch is in circuit with the resistor, where electrical energy flows through the circuit when the switch is in the closed position. The light emitting diode is in circuit with the switch and generates blue light energy which in turn causes fluorescence in a fluorescien dye administered to the patient'"'"'s eye when the switch is in the closed position. An optical element (e.g, a lens or reflector) can be disposed between the diode and the eye to increase blue light energy reaching the eye. The energy can be “pulsed” such that the diode generates the blue light at a predetermined frequency. A user of the illuminator, e.g., a physician, can hold the system by hand to operate the switch (e.g., through a button). A magnifier coupled to the system provides a magnified image of the patient'"'"'s eye, if desired. Preferably, an annular housing integrates the LED (or a plurality of LEDs) together such that a button activates and generates the blue light energy, and a user views through the center of the housing, through a magnifier therein, to view the patient'"'"'s eye.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic illuminator, comprising:

a battery;

an electrical resistor in circuit with the battery;

an electrical switch in circuit with the resistor;

at least one light emitting diode, in circuit with the switch, for generating blue light energy in response to activation of the switch; and

a fluorescein dye administered to a patent'"'"'s eye, the dye being responsive to the energy to fluoresce.

2. An illuminator of

claim 1

, further comprising an optical element disposed between the diode and the eye to increase blue light energy reaching the eye.

3. An illuminator of

claim 2

, wherein the element is one of a lens or a powered reflector.

4. An illuminator of

claim 1

, further comprising electronics for cyclically energizing the diode, wherein the diode generates the blue light at a predetermined frequency in order to increase the illumination appearance of the energy.

5. An illuminator of

claim 1

, further comprising a housing for integrating the battery, switch, resistor and diode into an integral package, the diode being positioned to generate blue light energy away from the package, and further comprising a magnifier lens coupled to the housing for providing a magnified image of the patient'"'"'s eye to a user of the illuminator.

6. An illuminator of

claim 5

, wherein the magnifier lens has a magnification between about 1.5×

and 15×

.

7. An illuminator of

claim 1

, further comprising a housing for integrating the battery, switch, resistor and diode into an integral package, the diode being positioned to generate blue light energy away from the package, and further comprising a zoom lens coupled to the housing for providing a selective magnified image of the patient'"'"'s eye to a user of the illuminator.

8. An illuminator of

claim 1

, wherein the dye comprises Sodium Fluorescein.

9. An illuminator of

claim 1

, wherein the diode comprises Gallium nitride.

10. An illuminator of

claim 1

, wherein the diode comprises Silicon Carbide.

11. An illuminator of

claim 1

, further comprising a substantially annular housing constructed and arranged with a button for operating the switch, a user of the illuminator viewing through an aperture in the housing to view the patient'"'"'s eye.

12. An illuminator of

claim 11

, further comprising a magnifying lens constructed and arranged with the aperture, for magnifying the patient'"'"'s eye for the user.

13. An illuminator of

claim 11

, further comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes, each diode responsive to activation by the button to generate the blue light.

14. An illuminator of

claim 1

, further comprising a focusing lens constructed and arranged with at least one of the diodes to focus the blue light energy onto the patient'"'"'s eye.

15. A method for illuminating a patient'"'"'s eye for ophthalmic examination, comprising the steps of:

administering a fluorescein dye to the patent'"'"'s eye, illuminating the eye with blue light energy generated from one or more light emitting diodes, the dye being responsive to the blue light energy to fluoresce, and viewing the patient'"'"'s eye, and viewing the eye while the dye fluoresces.

16. A method of

claim 15

, wherein the step of administering a fluorescein dye comprises administering Sodium Fluorescein to the eye.

17. A method of

claim 15

, wherein the step of illuminating the eye comprises pressing a button on an annular-shaped housing, and wherein the step of viewing the patient'"'"'s eye comprises viewing through a center of the housing.

18. A method of

claim 15

, wherein the step of illuminating comprises generating light from a plurality of light emitting diodes.

19. A method of

claim 15

, wherein the step of viewing comprises viewing through a magnifying lens coupled with a housing that supports the diodes.

20. A method of

claim 15

, further comprising the step of focusing the blue light energy onto the patient'"'"'s eye.