Medical instrument and handle assembly
First Claim
1. A battery handle for a medical diagnostic instrument, the handle being arranged to accommodate either non-rechargeable or rechargeable type cells, a pair of the latter cells being assembled in a pack that is dimensionally different than a pair of the former, a movable contact member engageable with a terminal of whichever type of cell is employed in the handle, means in the handle to complete a circuit between the cells and a light source, said last-named means including means for conducting current from one end of the handle to the other, current conducting means forming a part of the recharging circuit for the rechargeable cells, said last-named means being insulated from the handle current conducting means, the movable contact members when engaging the terminal of a non-rechargeable cell being position so as to contact the handle current conducting means, the movable contact member when engaging the terminal of a rechargeable cell being positioned so as to contact the recharging circuit current conducting means whereby the cell can be recharged.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery handle for an electrically illuminated diagnostic instrument, the handle being able to accommodate either non-rechargeable or rechargeable cells. The handle is constructed so that rechargeable cells can be recharged without removing the cells from the handle. Non-rechargeable cells are insulated from the recharging circuit so that if the handle is inadvertently placed in a recharging unit with non-rechargeable cells in it, the latter will not be damaged. The handle includes a neck portion to which different diagnostic instruments can be releasably connected, and with no instruments attached the neck portion can be used as a general illuminator with particular utility as a throat illuminator.
63 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. A battery handle for a medical diagnostic instrument, the handle being arranged to accommodate either non-rechargeable or rechargeable type cells, a pair of the latter cells being assembled in a pack that is dimensionally different than a pair of the former, a movable contact member engageable with a terminal of whichever type of cell is employed in the handle, means in the handle to complete a circuit between the cells and a light source, said last-named means including means for conducting current from one end of the handle to the other, current conducting means forming a part of the recharging circuit for the rechargeable cells, said last-named means being insulated from the handle current conducting means, the movable contact members when engaging the terminal of a non-rechargeable cell being position so as to contact the handle current conducting means, the movable contact member when engaging the terminal of a rechargeable cell being positioned so as to contact the recharging circuit current conducting means whereby the cell can be recharged.
- 5. A battery handle for a medical diagnostic instrument, the handle being adapted to accommodate either non-rechargeable or rechargeable type cells, a pair of the latter being assembled in a pack having a different length than the overall length of a pair of the former, a movable contact in the handle engageable with a terminal of whichever type cell is employed in the handle, said contact being spring biased into engagement with the terminal, means in the handle to complete a circuit between the cells and a lamp, said last-named means including means for conducting current from a point in the handle adjacent the movable contact to one terminal of the lamp, a current conducting member forming a part of the recharging circuit for the recharging cells, said last-named member being adjacent the movable contact and insulated from the means for conducting current to said one lamp terminal, the movable contact when engaging the terminal of a non-rechargeable cell being positioned so as to contact the means for conducting current to said one lamp terminal, the movable contact when engaging the terminal of a rechargeable cell being positioned so as to contact the conducting member of the recharging circuit whereby the cell can be recharged.
Specification