Hand held intraocular pressure recording system
First Claim
1. A hand held portable tonometer device for monitoring the intraocular pressure in an eye through the sclera, comprising:
- a tubular frame having an axis and forming a handle, said handle including pressure transducer means for generating intraocular pressure measurements, said transducer means including scleral probe means for scleral indentation;
biasing means for positioning said transducer means along said axis and for permitting movement thereof along said axis in response to pressure applied by urging said scleral probe means against the sclera;
contact means at a location along said axis for defining a zone of measurement within which said transducer means must be located to enable measurement of pressure, said zone having limits which correspond to predetermined upper and lower limits of measurable intraocular pressure and for providing a signal when said transducer means is in said zone;
output means mounted in said frame for displaying measurement of pressure by said transducer means in said zone of measurement upon receipt of said signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hand held portable tonometer device for monitoring the intraocular pressure in an eye through the sclera. The device has a tubular frame having an axis and forming a handle by which the device is held. The handle includes a pressure transducer for generating intraocular pressure measurements upon contact of a scleral probe on the eye to cause a scleral indentation and to transmit an input of the intraocular pressure. The transducer has a sliding transducer mounting sleeve mounting it on the axis. A spring positions the transducer along the axis at a point in response to pressure applied by urging the scleral probe against the sclera. The device includes an annular conductive ring mounted on the mounting sleeve and electrical contacts positioned at a predetermined position on the axis to complete an electrical circuit to generate a signal defining a zone of measurement which has predetermined upper and lower limits of pressure. An output device is mounted in the frame for recoding and/or displaying measurements of pressure by the transducer in the zone of measurement.
21 Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A hand held portable tonometer device for monitoring the intraocular pressure in an eye through the sclera, comprising:
-
a tubular frame having an axis and forming a handle, said handle including pressure transducer means for generating intraocular pressure measurements, said transducer means including scleral probe means for scleral indentation; biasing means for positioning said transducer means along said axis and for permitting movement thereof along said axis in response to pressure applied by urging said scleral probe means against the sclera; contact means at a location along said axis for defining a zone of measurement within which said transducer means must be located to enable measurement of pressure, said zone having limits which correspond to predetermined upper and lower limits of measurable intraocular pressure and for providing a signal when said transducer means is in said zone; output means mounted in said frame for displaying measurement of pressure by said transducer means in said zone of measurement upon receipt of said signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A hand held portable tonometer device for monitoring the intraocular pressure in an eye through the sclera, comprising:
-
a tubular frame having an axis and forming a handle, said handle including pressure transducer means for generating intraocular pressure measurements and having a sliding transducer mounting sleeve for mounting said transducer means on said axis, said transducer means including scleral probe means for scleral indentation, said transducer means including conductive means comprising an annular conductive ring mounted on said mounting sleeve; biasing means for positioning said transducer means along said axis and for permitting movement thereof along said axis in response to pressure applied by urging said scleral probe means against the sclera; contact means at a location along said axis for defining a zone of measurement within which said transducer means must be located to enable measurement of pressure, said zone having limits which correspond to predetermined upper and lower limits of measurable intraocular pressure and including signal means for providing a first audio signal when said device is operational and a second audio signal when said transducer means is in said zone, said contact means including electrical contacts positioned at a predetermined position on said axis for engagement with said ring to complete an electrical circuit to generate said second signal; and output means mounted in said frame for displaying measurements of pressure by said transducer in said zone of measurement upon receipt of said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (8)
-
-
9. A method of monitoring the intraocular pressure in an eye through the sclera, comprising the steps of:
-
contacting the eye by scleral indentation with a scleral projection means mounted on a pressure transducer means for generating intraocular pressure measurements, said transducer means being positioned to transmit a response to intraocular pressure when said transducer means is located in supports said transducer means, said zone having limits which correspond to predetermined upper and lower limits of measurable intraocular pressure; positioning said transducer means along said axis and permitting movement thereof along said axis in response to pressure applied by urging said scleral projection means against the sclera; displaying the results of measurements in said zone. - View Dependent Claims (10)
-
Specification