Abstract: Ergonomic prism loupes provide establish deflection angle less than 45 degrees, more preferably around 40 degrees, to improves visual and postural ergonomics. It has been determined that with such a deflection angle, maximum head tilt is less than 20° for the vast majority of procedural configurations. The prism may be a roof prism. The eyepiece portion may include a singlet and a doublet lenses, and the objective portion may include a triplet lens. The objective portion may also include an optical element that establishes a working distance, and different eyepiece or objective portions may be provided for a range of magnifications. The invention further includes a structure for mounting the loupes on eyeglass frames, such as a through-the-lens (TTL) mounting structure, a front-lens mounting (FLM) structure, or a flip-up mounting structure.

Abstract: An illuminator enables the selection of different color temperatures for different medical, dental or surgical procedures. A first circuit board is moveable with respect to the housing and a second circuit board is fixed within the housing. A plurality of LEDs are mounted on the first circuit board, which receives power from electrical contacts between the two boards. A user control enables a user to move the first circuit board between different positions, wherein, in each position, different LEDs or combinations of the LEDs emit light through the light-transmission window. Movement of the user control may cause the first circuit board to rotate or slide relative the second circuit board. The source of electrical power may be remote or integrated batteries. The rear portion of the housing may include a mount for attaching the illuminator to eyeglass frames, a headband, or other head-mounting apparatus.

Abstract: An illuminator enables the selection of different color temperatures for different medical, dental or surgical procedures. A first circuit board is moveable with respect to the housing and a second circuit board is fixed within the housing. A plurality of LEDs are mounted on the first circuit board, which receives power from electrical contacts between the two boards. A user control enables a user to move the first circuit board between different positions, wherein, in each position, different LEDs or combinations of the LEDs emit light through the light-transmission window. Movement of the user control may cause the first circuit board to rotate or slide relative the second circuit board. The source of electrical power may be remote or integrated batteries. The rear portion of the housing may include a mount for attaching the illuminator to eyeglass frames, a headband, or other head-mounting apparatus.

Abstract: An assembly with removable and replaceable wire arms is used to attach different nose pad configurations to eyeglass frames for enhanced versatility. A plate with front and back surfaces and opposing side edges mounts on the bridge portion of the eyeglass frames. Opposing right and left wire members extending downwardly from the side edges of the plate terminate in a coupling mechanism adapted to receive a nose pad. The wire members are manually bendable, enabling a user to independently adjust the distance between the nose pads and the distance of the nose pads from the eyeglass frames. The coupling mechanisms may include holes to receive nose pads with posts, and screws to hold the posts in position, or barbed fins to receive nose pads with slots that engage with the barbed fins. The coupling mechanisms may receive physically separate nose pads or nose pads interconnected through an upper nose rest.

Abstract: Head-mounted accessories for surgeons and medical/dental practitioners are equipped with no-touch controls including, in different embodiments, passive and active infrared detection, voice operation, and capacitive proximity control. Compared to infrared, capacitive proximity control may be more omni-directional, whereas IR, particularly active IR, tends to be more effective in a cone of operation. Compared to voice activation, capacitive sensing is less expensive and less prone to false activation based upon ambient noise or other voices. The invention may be used to control other medical/dental accessories such as a head-mounted video camera, in which case the controller is further operative to at least turn the video camera ON or OFF. More preferably, a controller is additionally operative to control the focus or zoom of the video camera in accordance with touch-free commands.

Abstract: An optical mounting assembly is adapted for use with wrap-around type eyeglass frames of the type that utilize a single sheet of curved lens material to form right and left lenses which may carry through-the-lens or TTL oculars or loupes. The optical mounting assembly may attach to an existing pair of wrap-around type eyeglass frames, or the invention may include the frames. The bridge portion of the frames and the lens material are sandwiched between front and rear components, with a nose pad component coupled to the rear component. The nose pad component may comprise a pair of bendable wire arms covered with, or terminating in, cushioning material. An illuminator or video camera may couple to the front component. The rear component may be adapted to receive an optical accessory such as a light-blocking or light-admitting filter material.

Abstract: An assembly with removable and replaceable wire arms is used to attach different nose pad configurations to eyeglass frames for enhanced versatility. A plate with front and back surfaces and opposing side edges mounts on the bridge portion of the eyeglass frames. Opposing right and left wire members extending downwardly from the side edges of the plate terminate in a coupling mechanism adapted to receive a nose pad. The wire members are manually bendable, enabling a user to independently adjust the distance between the nose pads and the distance of the nose pads from the eyeglass frames. The coupling mechanisms may include holes to receive nose pads with posts, and screws to hold the posts in position, or barbed fins to receive nose pads with slots that engage with the barbed fins. The coupling mechanisms may receive physically separate nose pads or nose pads interconnected through an upper nose rest.

Abstract: Head-mounted accessories for surgeons and medical/dental practitioners are equipped with no-touch, hands-free controls. A voice-activated headlamp includes a controller operative to send a signal to control a light source in accordance with a voice command received through an integrated or remote microphone. The voice command and control may be speaker-dependent or speaker-independent, and the head-mounted unit may include an interface to a computer for voice-command training or other purposes. The head-mounted unit includes a memory for storing the voice commands. The invention may be used to control other medical/dental accessories such as a head-mounted video camera, in which case the controller is further operative to at least turn the video camera ON or OFF. More preferably, a controller is additionally operative to control the focus or zoom of the video camera in accordance with a voice command.

Abstract: Head-mounted accessories for surgeons and medical/dental practitioners are equipped with no-touch, hands-free controls. A voice-activated headlamp includes a controller operative to send a signal to control a light source in accordance with a voice command received through an integrated or remote microphone. The voice command and control may be speaker-dependent or speaker-independent, and the head-mounted unit may include an interface to a computer for voice-command training or other purposes. The head-mounted unit includes a memory for storing the voice commands. The invention may be used to control other medical/dental accessories such as a head-mounted video camera, in which case the controller is further operative to at least turn the video camera ON or OFF. More preferably, a controller is additionally operative to control the focus or zoom of the video camera in accordance with a voice command.

Abstract: Head-mounted accessories for surgeons and medical/dental practitioners are equipped with no-touch controls including, in different embodiments, passive and active infrared detection, voice operation, and capacitive proximity control. Compared to infrared, capacitive proximity control may be more omni-directional, whereas IR, particularly active IR, tends to be more effective in a cone of operation. Compared to voice activation, capacitive sensing is less expensive and less prone to false activation based upon ambient noise or other voices. The invention may be used to control other medical/dental accessories such as a head-mounted video camera, in which case the controller is further operative to at least turn the video camera ON or OFF. More preferably, a controller is additionally operative to control the focus or zoom of the video camera in accordance with touch-free commands.

Abstract: Head-mounted accessories for surgeons and medical/dental practitioners are equipped with no-touch, hands-free controls. A voice-activated headlamp includes a controller operative to send a signal to control a light source in accordance with a voice command received through an integrated or remote microphone. The voice command and control may be speaker-dependent or speaker-independent, and the head-mounted unit may include an interface to a computer for voice-command training or other purposes. The head-mounted unit includes a memory for storing the voice commands. The invention may be used to control other medical/dental accessories such as a head-mounted video camera, in which case the controller is further operative to at least turn the video camera ON or OFF. More preferably, a controller is additionally operative to control the focus or zoom of the video camera in accordance with a voice command.

Abstract: A headlight incorporates an infrared sensor enabling the light to be turned ON and OFF without physical contact. The system includes a light source and a mechanism for coupling the light source to eyeglass frames or to a headband. A power supply and control unit is disposed remotely from the light source and is interconnected to the light source through an electrical cable. An infrared (IR) motion sensor is interconnected to the power supply and control unit, and electrical circuitry within the power supply and control unit is operative to turn the light source ON and OFF is response to the detection of a hand or other body part by the sensor. In the preferred embodiment, the light source includes a light-emitting diode (LED), and the IR detector is user-adjustable to set the ON/OFF activation distance in accordance with user preferences.

Abstract: An adjustable nosepiece assembly for a set of eyeglass frames having a bridge portion between lenses comprises a nosepiece component configured for coupling to the bridge portion of the eyeglass frames, the nosepiece component being adapted for resting on a wearer's nose when wearing the eyeglass frames, and a plurality of spacer components configured for placement between the nosepiece component and the bridge portion of the eyeglass frames to adjust the distance between the nosepiece component and the bridge portion of the eyeglass frames. The nosepiece component may be an inverted-V shape with two angled, bendable leg portions. The spacer components may facilitate adjustment of the distance between the nosepiece component and the bridge portion of the eyeglass frames in a range of 1 mm to 1.5 cm or more.

Abstract: A miniature electronic device senses head tilt and informs the user so as to avoid neck strain. The device may inform the user via various audio/visual alarms, and my sound based upon angle, duration, or both. Wireless interfaces to other devices may be provided. The device includes a housing adapted for mounting on a wearer's head so as to move in a manner corresponding to front-to-back head movements, an input for receiving information corresponding to a particular forward head tilt angle, and a sensor that detects when a wearer of the device tilt their head at an angle equal to or greater than the particular forward head tilt angle. In particular embodiments the forward head tilt angle is in the range of 5 and 35 degrees, and more particularly approximately or equal to 20 degrees. The sensor may include a gyroscopic sensor, an acceleration sensor or, more preferably, a combination thereof.

Abstract: An improved illuminator with an adjustable beam pattern to be worn by medical and dental professionals includes a housing, a light-emitting diode (LED) disposed in the housing outputting light through a distal opening in the housing, an achromatic doublet lens mounted in the opening in the housing, and a singlet lens disposed between the LED and the achromatic lens. The distance between the singlet lens and the doublet lens may be adjustable, and/or distance between the LED and the singlet lens may be adjustable, through a threaded connections, for example. In the preferred embodiment, the achromatic doublet lens, the singlet lens, or both the singlet and the doublet lens have a planar surface. A conical mirror may be disposed between the LED and the singlet lens to increase the light collection efficiency of the LED.

Abstract: Dental/medical/surgical loupes have an improved declination angle to reduce neck and back strain. Eyeglass frames are provided with carrier lenses having bottom edges. A hole is provided in each carrier lens, each hole having an outer periphery that extends below the bottom edge of the carrier lens, resulting in a pair of opposing pointed ends. A pair of ocular devices are cemented in a respective one of the holes, such that a portion of the ocular body also extends below the bottom edge of the carrier lens. Each ocular is then cemented or otherwise permanently affixed into position to achieve a desired declination angle. For added stability, a pair of holes may be formed into the body of each ocular, each pair of holes being physically aligned with the two opposing pointed ends of the carrier lens associated with that ocular.

Abstract: A headlight incorporates an infrared sensor enabling the light to be turned ON and OFF without physical contact. The system includes a light source and a mechanism for coupling the light source to eyeglass frames or to a headband. A power supply and control unit is disposed remotely from the light source and is interconnected to the light source through an electrical cable. An infrared (IR) motion sensor is interconnected to the power supply and control unit, and electrical circuitry within the power supply and control unit is operative to turn the light source ON and OFF is response to the detection of a hand or other body part by the sensor. In the preferred embodiment, the light source includes a light-emitting diode (LED), and the IR detector is user-adjustable to set the ON/OFF activation distance in accordance with user preferences.