OPHTHALMIC EXAMINATION SUITE HAVING CHAIR WITH SIDEWARD MOVEMENT

• US 20160324415A1
• Filed: 07/18/2016
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reliance Medical Products
• Original Assignee: Reliance Medical Products Incorporated (Metall ZUG AG)
• Inventors: Schwaegerle, Gary G., Carvajal, Michael A., Sridhara, Deepak
• Granted Patent: US 10,441,162 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0075 provided with adjusting devices, e.g. operated by control lever manipulators B25J
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0083 provided with means for patient positioning
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/00 Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs chairs with toilet conveniences A47K11/04; devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or device not forming part of the body A61F4/00; running gear or propulsion features B60K; bicycles specially adapted for disabled riders B62K3/16 ; Invalid chairs having removable seats specially adapted to be transferred with the invalid to a vehicle and support the invalid during use of the vehicle A61G3/02

Abstract

An ophthalmic examination suite including a base support having a base plate, a carriage movable on the base plate, the carriage being laterally movable between a first position and a second position relative to an instrument delivery stand, and a chair coupled to the carriage, the chair being configured to receive a seated patient thereon.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic examination suite comprising:

a base support having a base plate;

a carriage movable on the base plate, the carriage being laterally movable between a first position and a second position relative to an instrument delivery stand; and

a chair coupled to the carriage, the chair being configured to receive a seated patient thereon.

2. The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 1, wherein the chair is movable in a lateral, sideward direction with the carriage between the first position and the second position, the lateral, sideward movement being in a direction transverse to a direction the chair faces.

3. The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 1, further comprising an instrument arm assembly configured to hold an examination instrument.

4. The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 3, wherein the instrument arm assembly extends from the instrument delivery stand via an adjustable arm.

5. The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 4, wherein the instrument arm assembly further comprises a table adjustably connected to the adjustable arm via a linkage.

6. The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 1, wherein the carriage is operatively coupled to the base plate by a track and guide assembly, the track and guide assembly facilitating movement of the carriage on the base plate.

7. The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of wheels connected to the carriage, wherein at least one of the plurality of wheels is configured to rollingly engage the track and guide assembly during movement of the carriage between the first position and the second position.

8. The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of wheels rotates about a substantially horizontal rotation axis.

9. The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of wheels rotates about a substantially vertical rotation axis.

10. The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of wheels connected to the carriage, wherein at least one of the plurality of wheels is configured to rollingly engage the base plate when the during movement of the carriage between the first position and the second position.

11. The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 1, further comprising a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the chair relative to the base support.

12. The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 11, wherein the lift mechanism includes a lift cylinder device cooperating with a lift extension assembly and a pulley assembly.

13. The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of base covers that are configured to at least partially cover the base plate.

14. The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of base covers is configured to nest within a second one of the plurality of base covers.

15. A method of configuring an ophthalmic examination suite to facilitate examining a patient in a wheelchair, the ophthalmic examination suite including a base support having a base plate, a carriage movable on the base plate, and a chair coupled to the carriage, the method comprising:

creating a space lateral and adjacent to the chair by moving the carriage to a position generally adjacent to an instrument delivery stand; and

moving a wheelchair into the space.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of creating a space lateral and adjacent to the chair comprises moving the carriage in a lateral, sideward direction that is transverse to a direction in which the chair is facing.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the ophthalmic examination suite further includes a track and guide assembly for providing movement of the carriage with respect to the base plate, and wherein the method further comprises:

rollingly engaging the track and guide assembly with at least one wheel as the carriage is moved to the position generally adjacent to the instrument delivery stand.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the ophthalmic examination suite further includes an instrument arm assembly for presenting an examination instrument to a patient, and wherein the method further comprises:

positioning the instrument arm assembly to present an instrument in front of the wheelchair positioned in the space.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the ophthalmic examination suite further includes an instrument arm assembly for presenting an examination instrument to a patient, and wherein the method further comprises:

moving the instrument arm assembly away from the chair prior to moving the chair.