REPLACEMENT LIGHT ASSEMBLY

• US 20120002422A1
• Filed: 07/01/2010
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Lia, Raymond A., Goldfain, Ervin, Roberts, Chris R., Slawson, Steven R., Wood, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,459,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/294
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/06 with illuminating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0661 Endoscope light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/12 for looking at the eye fundus, e.g. ophthalmoscopes A61B3/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0068 Medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/20 Lighting for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A light assembly for a hand-held medical diagnostic instrument. The light assembly includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a light source mounted to the top surface, and the bottom surface having first and second electrical terminals. The light assembly further includes a circuit board disposed inclined to the substrate, the circuit board having first and second electrical terminals, a first connector mounting and electrically connecting the first electrical terminal of the substrate to the first electrical terminal of the circuit board, a second connector mounting and electrically connecting the second electrical terminal of the substrate to the second electrical terminal of the circuit board, a heat sink, and a thermal conductor thermally connecting at least one of the first and second electrical terminals of the substrate to the heat sink.

Claims

1. A light assembly for a hand-held medical diagnostic instrument, comprising:

(a) a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a light source mounted to the top surface, and the bottom surface having first and second electrical terminals;

(b) a circuit board disposed inclined to the substrate, the circuit board having first and second electrical terminals;

(c) a first connector mounting and electrically connecting the first electrical terminal of the substrate to the first electrical terminal of the circuit board;

(d) a second connector mounting and electrically connecting the second electrical terminal of the substrate to the second electrical terminal of the circuit board;

(e) a heat sink; and

(f) a thermal conductor thermally connecting at least one of the first and second electrical terminals of the substrate to the heat sink.

2. The assembly of claim 1, the thermal conductor thermally connecting the at least one electrical terminal to the heat sink via one of the first and second connectors.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the thermal conductor comprises an electrically insulative material.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the thermal conductor comprises an epoxy substantially overlaying the circuit board and the first and second connectors.

5. The assembly of claim 1, the thermal conductor thermally connecting the circuit board to the heat sink.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the heat sink comprises a thermally conductive housing extending about the circuit board.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the housing defines a chamber, the thermal conductor substantially filling the chamber around the circuit board.

8. The assembly of claim 1, the heat sink comprising a housing defining a longitudinal axis and a shoulder substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

9. The assembly of claim 8, further including a lens overlaying the light source, the lens contacting the shoulder and directing radiation from the light source to a target.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the lens is fixed relative to the light source such that contact between the shoulder and the lens disposes the light source at a desired position along the longitudinal axis.

11. The assembly of claim 1, the heat sink comprising a housing defining a longitudinal axis and a keyway extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

12. The assembly of claim 11, further including a lens fixed relative to the light source and defining a key disposed within the keyway, the key fixing the light source at a desired radial position about the longitudinal axis.

13. The assembly of claim 11, the housing including a cylindrical outer wall, and a pin disposed on the outer wall coplanar with the longitudinal axis and the keyway.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the pin is formed by the outer wall.

15. The assembly of claim 1, further including a lens fixed relative to the light source, the lens comprising a concave surface receiving radiation from the light source and one of a planar and a convex surface directing the received radiation toward a target.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the planar surface is disposed at an angle relative to the substrate.

17. The assembly of claim 1, further including a lens fixed relative to the light source, the lens comprising a planar surface receiving radiation from the light, source, and one of a planar surface and a convex surface directing the received radiation toward a target.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the planar surface is disposed at an angle relative to the substrate.

19. The assembly of claim 1, further including a lens fixed relative to the light source, the lens comprising a saddle-shaped surface receiving radiation from the light source and a planar surface directing the received radiation toward a target, the planar surface being disposed at an angle relative to the substrate.

20. The assembly of claim 1, further including a lens defining a first surface receiving radiation from the light source, a second surface directing the received radiation toward a target, and a mounting surface fixed to the substrate.

21. A method of manufacturing a light assembly for a hand-held medical diagnostic instrument, comprising:

(a) providing an LED mounted to a substrate, the substrate having a pair of electrical terminals;

(b) mounting and electrically connecting the electrical terminals of the substrate to corresponding electrical terminals of a circuit board of the light assembly; and

(c) thermally connecting the electrical terminals of the substrate to a heat sink of the light assembly.

22. The method of claim 21, further including electrically insulating the electrical terminals of the substrate from the heat sink.

23. The method of claim 21, further including overlaying the electrical terminals of the substrate, the heat sink, and a portion of the circuit board with an electrically insulative thermal conductor.

24. The method of claim 21, further including connecting a lens to the substrate, a portion of the lens being supported by the heat sink.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the heat sink comprises a cylindrical housing having an open end, the method further including connecting an alignment pin to an outer wall of the housing at a predetermined distance from the open end, and mounting the substrate within the pinned housing.

26. A light assembly for a hand-held medical diagnostic instrument, comprising:

(a) a thermally conductive cylindrical housing defining an open end;

(b) a lens disposed proximate the open end;

(c) an LED mounted to a substrate and fixed relative to the lens, the substrate defining a pair of electrical terminals;

(d) a light assembly circuit board disposed within the housing, the electrical terminals mounted and electrically connected to the circuit board; and

(e) an electrically insulative thermal conductor thermally connecting the electrical terminals to the housing.

27. A method of forming a lens for a hand-held medical diagnostic instrument, comprising:

(a) providing a mold body having a first end, a second end, and a cavity between the first and second ends, the cavity configured to receive a flow of lens material;

(b) connecting a first insert to the first end such that an optical surface of the first insert is fluidly connected to the cavity, the optical surface of the first insert being one of planar and concave;

(c) connecting a second insert to the second end such that an optical surface of the second insert is fluidly connected to the cavity, the optical surface of the second insert being one of planar, concave, and saddle-shaped; and

(d) filling the cavity with the flow of lens material to form the lens, the optical surfaces of the first and second inserts forming corresponding optical surfaces on the lens.