Abstract: A structural light fixture for the ceiling of clean room, such as a clean room for pharmaceutical or electronic research or production, includes an outer U-shaped beam and an inner U-shaped beam. The inner U-shaped beam nests within the outer U-shaped beam. The inner and outer U-shaped beams are mutually reinforcing so that the combination of the two U-shaped beams is stronger and stiffer than either U-shaped beam alone. The top side of the outer U-shaped beam is exposed to the outside of the clean room and includes no perforations so that the outer U-shaped beam is a barrier to gas, particulates, microorganisms or disinfectants that otherwise would pass through the clean room ceiling. The removable inner U-shaped beam includes a lamp and power supply, allowing maintenance of the structural light fixture from the interior of the clean room without interrupting the barrier to contamination created by the structural light fixture.

Abstract: A method for educating a patient in a location at which care will be given includes: positioning the patient in the location at which the patient will be examined by a caregiver; identifying one or more modules of educational information relevant to the patient; accessing the modules at a computing device located in the location; and presenting the modules to the patient.

Abstract: A method for assisting a caregiver to satisfy one or more quality measures includes: selecting a quality measure; presenting, by a medical device, a first requirement associated with the quality measure to the caregiver; identifying, by the medical device, when the first requirement is satisfied; presenting a second requirement associated with the quality measure to the caregiver; identifying when the second requirement is satisfied; and selecting a billing code associated with the quality measure. Additional quality measures and/or requirements can also be addressed.

Abstract: A tip for coupling sound between a medical instrument and an ear includes a sealing surface configured to substantially conform the tip to an auditory canal of the ear. The tip includes an acoustic tube acoustically coupled to at least one of the plurality of openings and defining a first acoustic path. The tip also includes a second acoustic path acoustically coupled to at least another one of the plurality of openings in the sealing surface. The acoustic tube of the first acoustic path is configured to substantially acoustically isolate the first acoustic path from the second acoustic path. A tympanometric instrument is configured to use the tip and to provide an acoustic measurement of the ear of a patient.

Abstract: A tip for coupling sound between a medical instrument and an ear includes a sealing surface configured to substantially conform the tip to an auditory canal of the ear. The tip includes an acoustic tube acoustically coupled to at least one of the plurality of openings and defining a first acoustic path. The tip also includes a second acoustic path acoustically coupled to at least another one of the plurality of openings in the sealing surface. The acoustic tube of the first acoustic path is configured to substantially acoustically isolate the first acoustic path from the second acoustic path. A tympanometric instrument is configured to use the tip and to provide an acoustic measurement of the ear of a patient.

Abstract: A stethoscopic assembly includes a stethoscope having a chest piece interconnected to at least one earpiece, the chest piece having an acoustical sensor enabling patient sounds to be heard through the at least one earpiece. A microprocessor connected to the acoustical sensor of the stethoscope includes a buffer wherein sound data picked up from the microphone is stored in volatile memory for a predetermined time period. At least one user operable switch connected to the microprocessor enables selective capture of sound data for storage and playback, such as through at least one speaker. In some versions the acoustical sensor is releasable from the chest piece.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining refractive aberrations of the eye of a patient includes an instrument housing having a light source for projecting a substantially focused beam of light at the back of the eye of a patient, said substantially focused beam acting as a secondary source for a return light path of a fonned outgoing wavefront exiting said eye. An electronic sensor is disposed along said light return path, said electronic sensor having a light detecting surface disposed perpendicular to said return light path, and at least one microoptics array disposed between the electronic sensor and the eye along said return light path.

Abstract: There is a hand-held opto-diagnostic medical system comprising a medical instrument including a housing having an optical passage through the housing and a light source for illuminating the target area. The medical instrument has a plurality of optical lenses with varying diopters fixed to one or more rotatably mounted lens selection discs which are mounted within the housing and positioned to lie in a plane perpendicular to the optical passage. The rotation of the discs sequentially disposes one or a combination of the lenses into the optical passage. The front face of the housing has a window with an indicator to display the diopter value of the lens or lenses disposed. The system further comprises an adapter coupled to the front face of the housing. The adapter has a beam splitter mechanically and optically coupled into the adapter.

Abstract: An ophthalmoscope is provided with a slidably mounted rack which carries two polarizing filters mounted at right angles to each other so as to simultaneously position one filter in the light path and the other in the viewing path. The rack also carries a clear lens and a red-free filter for optional positioning in the light path.

Abstract: A portable, hand-held tympanometer that has the capability of performing the tympanometry and of displaying and storing the test results all within the hand-held instrument. A separate unit that is not in any way attached to the tympanometer during the testing is provided to print the test results and to recharge the tympanometer battery. The tympanometer has a body portion and a head portion to which a speculum is attached, the speculum being adapted to engage the canal of the ear being examined in sealed relation thereto. A speaker in the speculum transmits acoustic signals into the ear canal and a microphone in the speculum receives the signals that are reflected back through the canal by the tympanic membrane. A pressure transducer is located in the head portion of the tympanometer, and a miniature pump located in the body portion operates to introduce a range of pressures into the ear canal while the acoustic signals are being transmitted and received.

Abstract: A blood pressure measuring device including a housing, a rubber bulb connected to the housing for providing fluid under pressure to a cuff and a gauge on the housing for indicating the pressure of the fluid in the cuff. In the housing there is a piston and rolling diaphragm assembly arranged so that the piston is moved by the fluid under pressure. The piston in turn moves the free end of a leaf spring operatively connected to the gauge needle whereby movement of the piston causes the needle to rotate with respect to its dial. The leaf spring is engaged by an adjustable fulcrum that can be moved on one axis to adjust for the zero setting of the gauge needle and on another axis to control the spring rate of the spring. By controlling the spring rate, the gauge can be accurately calibrated. The adjustments for the fulcrum are accesible from the exterior of the housing. The device also includes a valve for bleeding the fluid under pressure and a trigger element for operating the valve.