DISPOSABLE COVER FOR CONTACT-TYPE LENS PIECE

• US 20090211586A1
• Filed: 02/23/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Natus Healthcare Technologies Ireland Holding I Limited, Natus Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Clarity Medical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Baker, Phil, Mullowney, Keith, Shea, William, Linder, Barry, Cheng, Yeou-Yen, Reed, Shelly, Crone, Willem
• Application Number:
  US12/391,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20090211586A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/849
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/00 Apparatus for testing the eyes; Instruments for examining the eyes eye inspection using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/10; devices for treatment of the eyes A61F9/00; exercisers for the eyes A61H5/00; optical systems in general G02B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/10 specially adapted for instruments, e.g. microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/20 specially adapted for patients

Abstract

In one embodiment, a pliable film adapted to conform to parts of an optical examination device and provide a barrier between the eye of a patient being examined and the optical examination device.

Claims

1. A disposable lens cover comprising:

a flexible optical coupling section formed of a material that is medically approved for contact with eye and configured to cover the contact lens of a contact-type ophthalmic imaging device, with the contact-type ophthalmic imaging device having a housing, an aperture, and a contact lens configured to be optically coupled to the eye of a patient; and

a mounting section, surrounding the flexible optical coupling section, preformed to mold to the housing to securely position the optical coupling section over the contact lens of the contact-type ophthalmic imaging device.

2. The disposable lens cover of claim 1 where:

the mounting section is made of a less flexible material than the optical coupling section.

3. The disposable lens cover of claim 2 where:

the flexible optical coupling section and the mounting section are formed of different materials.

4. The disposable lens cover of claim 1 where:

the flexible optical coupling section has an interior surface configured to face the contact lens of the contact-type ophthalmic imaging device and an exterior surface configured to face the eye and where the flexible optical coupling section has a shape such that the exterior surface conforms to the cornea of the eye of a patient when the cornea abuts the exterior surface.

5. The disposable lens cover of claim 4 where:

the optical coupling section has a shape such that the interior surface intimately fits the contact lens of the contact-type ophthalmic imaging device.

6. The disposable lens cover of claim 4 where:

the optical coupling section is formed to have a form similar to that of a contact lens, with the exterior surface molded to fit the radius of the eye the patient.

7. The disposable lens cover of claim 4 where:

the optical coupling section has an indention shaped to conform to the shape of the cornea of the eye of a patient.

8. The disposable lens cover of claim 7 where:

the indention is oriented to allow examination of a patient in the vertical position.

9. The disposable lens cover of claim 1 where:

the optical coupling section contains an encapsulated optical gel configured to deform to match the surface of the contact lens of the contact-type ophthalmic imaging device and to the cornea.

10. The disposable lens cover of claim 1 where:

the optical coupling section contains a filter to discriminate particular wavelengths of interest.

11. The disposable lens cover claim 1 where:

the optical coupling section includes marks configured to provide dimensional references for alignment to image, measurements or references to registration with the anatomy when the marks are coincident with an illumination beam.

12. The disposable lens cover claim 1 where:

the optical coupling section is in the shape of a wedge lens for anterior angle imaging

13. A disposable lens cover comprising:

a flexible optical coupling disc formed of a material that is medically approved for contact with eye and configured to fit within an aperture in the housing of a contact-type ophthalmic imaging device having a contact lens disposed within the aperture, with the flexible optical coupling disc having an interior surface configured to face toward the contact lens and an exterior surface configured to face toward the eye of the patient, with the flexible optical coupling disc having a shape such that the interior surface intimately fits the contact lens of the contact-type ophthalmic imaging device.

14. The disposable lens cover of claim 13 with:

the flexible optical coupling disc having a shape such that the exterior surface conforms to the cornea of the eye of a patient when the cornea abuts the exterior surface.

15. The disposable lens cover of claim 13 where:

the optical coupling disc is in the form of a bag and contains an encapsulated optical gel or liquid configured to deform to match the surface of the contact lens of the contact-type ophthalmic imaging device and to the cornea.

16. The disposable lens cover of claim 13 where:

the optical coupling disc is formed to have a form similar to that of a contact lens, with the exterior surface molded to fit the radius of the eye the patient.

17. The disposable lens cover of claim 13 where:

the optical coupling disc has indention shaped to conform to the shape of the cornea of the eye of a patient.

18. The disposable lens cover of claim 17 where:

the indention is oriented to allow examination of a patient in the upright position.

19. The disposable disc cover of claim 13 where:

the optical coupling section contains a filter to discriminate particular wavelengths of interest.

20. The disposable disc of claim 13 where:

the optical coupling disc includes marks configured to provide dimensional references for alignment to image, measurements or references to registration with the anatomy when the marks are coincident with an illumination beam.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a casing having a cylindrical receptacle, with the cylindrical receptacle having an inner surface;

a cylindrical container having an outer surface and an upper supporting surface, with the cylindrical container disposed within the receptacle with a reservoir formed between the inner surface of the cylindrical receptacle and the outer surface of the cylindrical container and with the upper receiving surface configured to support a disposable lens cover for covering the contact lens of a contact-type ophthalmic imaging device, with the contact-type ophthalmic imaging device having a housing, an aperture, and a contact lens configured to be optically coupled to the eye of a patient, with a section of housing surrounding the aperture slanting away from the aperture at a first angle A and with sides of the upper supporting surface slanting at an angle B where the angle B is less than the angle A so that space is formed when the housing abuts the upper supporting surface to reduce suction between the housing and the upper surface when mounting a disposable cover on housing.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 where:

the cylindrical container has a rough or wavy supporting surface to reduce suction between the supporting surface and the disposable lens cover.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 where:

the supporting surface has structures formed thereon to reduce suction between the supporting surface and the disposable lens cover.