Head support
First Claim
1. A head support comprising:
- a) an upper frame adapted to accommodate a patient'"'"'s head;
b) a shaft connected to the upper frame and extending outwardly from the frame to a distal portion of the shaft; and
, c) a lockable bearing assembly connecting the distal portion of the shaft to a structure, the lockable bearing assembly affording the shaft freedom of axial and pivotal motion when in an unlocked configuration and locking the shaft against motion when in a locked configuration.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a head support apparatus. The apparatus may for example be used for ophthalmic examination. In some embodiments, the apparatus may allow six degrees of freedom of motion during initial positioning of a patient'"'"'s head, and may then be locked to hold the patient'"'"'s head in place precisely. The head support mechanism may include three shafts connecting an upper frame to a structure. Each shaft may be provided with a ball-and-socket joint at one end and a lockable bearing assembly on the other end. The lockable bearing assembly may provide a combination of sliding and pivotal movement. A biasing assembly may be provided to support each shaft, and to return each shaft to a self-centered and fully lifted rest position. A head clamping apparatus is also disclosed comprising pivoting clamping arms and an adjustable chin rest.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A head support comprising:
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a) an upper frame adapted to accommodate a patient'"'"'s head;
b) a shaft connected to the upper frame and extending outwardly from the frame to a distal portion of the shaft; and
,c) a lockable bearing assembly connecting the distal portion of the shaft to a structure, the lockable bearing assembly affording the shaft freedom of axial and pivotal motion when in an unlocked configuration and locking the shaft against motion when in a locked configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of ophthalmological ultrasonography comprising:
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a) attaching a lockable head support to a patient'"'"'s head, so that the patient'"'"'s head has six degrees of freedom of motion within a defined range of space;
b) positioning the patient'"'"'s head in engagement with an eye seal and providing a fluid within a space defined by the eye seal for transmission of sound between an ultrasound transducer and the patient;
c) locking the patient'"'"'s head in a fixed position for ultrasonographic examination.
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Specification