Patents by Inventor Erich Blaha

Erich Blaha has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5342351
    Abstract: For defined positioning of a laser beam in an ophthalmological instrument with a slit projection device and an optical observation unit, a focusing objective is displaced by a displacement device in a plane parallel to the observation beam path of the optical observation unit. The laser beam path and the slit projection beam path are separately deflected coaxially with the observation beam path in the direction of the target plane. Defined positioning of a laser beam in the patient's eye is achieved by means of the displacement device, which includes a displacement element connected to the focusing objective, and an operating element. The displacement device furthermore offers diverse means of adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventors: Erich Blaha, Martin Poxleitner, Gerhard Hanemann
  • Patent number: 5071246
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a confocal scanning ophthalmoscope defining an illuminating beam path and a viewing beam path with these paths having respective portions extending along a common path segment. The ophthalmoscope has a light-deflecting device mounted in a first apparatus part and in the common path segment for scanning the ocular fundus point-by-point. A first flexible light-wave conductor conducts light transmitted by a real light source to a point light source. The ophthalmoscope has a pinhole diaphragm which is mounted in the viewing beam path and in a plane conjugated to the point light source. A detector of the ophthalmoscope measures the light transmitted through the pinhole diaphragm and a second flexible light-wave conductor conducts this light to the detector. The detector is mounted in a second apparatus part separate from the first apparatus part so as to permit movement of the parts relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventors: Erich Blaha, Gerhard Gaida
  • Patent number: 4786161
    Abstract: In an instrument for the examination and surgery of the eye, an ophthalmological objective is combined with an operation microscope whose main objective is combined with an optical system of variable back focus and focal length. Every plane of the eye lying between the cornea and the fundus is imaged by the instrument at an intermediate image plane. In this way, with a single instrument, the operator can carry out work on the cornea, the eye lens, the vitreous body, and the retina. Since the instrument provides the observer with a reflection-free image, contact of the eye to be operated upon with an optical auxiliary means which eliminates the refractive power is unnecessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventors: Ortwin Muller, Albrecht Vogel, Ulrich Lemcke, Gerhard Hanemann, Fritz Strahle, Franz Muchel, Erich Blaha
  • Patent number: 4767204
    Abstract: An illuminating unit for a standard slit lamp is described, which can be mounted as a structural unit on the prism head of the standard slit lamp. The illuminating unit enables photographic documentation of the optical sections observed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventor: Erich Blaha
  • Patent number: 4765336
    Abstract: A known slit-lamp apparatus includes a slit projector defining an optical axis and a corneal microscope. A supplement arrangement makes it possible to conduct a laser treatment with the known slit-lamp apparatus. A therapeutic laser beam is reflected coaxially into the projection beam path of the slit projector. An optical displacement arrangement is mounted on the optical axis downstream of where the therapeutic laser beam is reflected in and serves to displace the laser beam and the projection beam horizontally with respect to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventors: Erich Blaha, Hartmut Gartner
  • Patent number: 4593683
    Abstract: A headband to be worn on the head of a person making an examination, with an examination instrument such as an observation unit and an illuminating unit supported from the headband so as to be adjacent the eyes of the examining person. A counterweight on the rear of the headband counterbalances some of the weight of the examination instrument at the front, and makes the headband sit more evenly and comfortably on the wearer's head. The counterweight may contain a power pack, such as rechargeable batteries, providing power for the illuminating unit through a cord extending along one side of the headband.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventor: Erich Blaha
  • Patent number: 4568158
    Abstract: A binocular ophthalmoscope having two horizontally displaceable deflecting mirrors in the ray paths from the two eyes of the observer to the pupil of the eye being examined, and a vertically displaceable and also tiltable mirror in the beam path from a source of illumination to the pupil of the eye being examined. Movement of the horizontally displaceable mirrors toward or away from each other varies the stereoscopic base of observation. Vertical displacement and tilting of the other mirror serves to vary the location where the illuminating beam enters the pupil relative to the location where the rays from the eyes of the observer enter the pupil of the eye being examined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventors: Erich Blaha, Roland Trentin
  • Patent number: 4465348
    Abstract: A compact apparatus for the subjective and objective determination of refraction of the eyes of a person. Two projection ray paths (6, 7), separated in space from each other, are provided, both ray paths containing systems (10, 11) for the continuous adjustment of spherical and astigmatic effects. Together with an optical telesystem (15) and the lenses of the eye they focus a test mark (3) on the retina of each of the eyes (18, 20) of the test subject. The light reflected by the retina passes via mirrors (14) into observation ray paths (21). They focus the retina and thus the test mark (3) in an image plane (30). The adjustment systems are displaced until the images of the test mark appear sharp in the image plane (30). After such an objective determination it is possible by actuating the same adjustment elements (10, 11) to adjust subjectively until the test subject sees the test mark with optimum sharpness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1984
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventors: Walter Lang, Franz Muchel, Erich Blaha
  • Patent number: 4461551
    Abstract: The invention contemplates structure for such combinable use of a portable ophthalmoscopy light and a portable stereomicroscope that components are readily convertible to selectively provide ophthalmoscope functions for examination of posterior regions of an eye, and slit-lamp functions for examination of anterior regions of the eye. Knob adjustment of the housing of the ophthalmoscopy light provides selective availability of circular and slit diaphragms, as well as filters, as appropriate to the particular kind of observation to be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1984
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventor: Erich Blaha
  • Patent number: 4427269
    Abstract: In articulated optical systems, rotation of the image takes place due to the articulations. The invention eliminates this disadvantage by producing a signal whose polarity is dependent on the direction of rotation in which the image produced in the observation plane (64) is turned with respect to the object. By the signal, a compensation element (72) arranged in the articulated optical system is turned until the signal has disappeared. Two devices are disclosed for producing the signal: 1. At the start of the articulated optical system a mark (16) is introduced by reflection, it being focused at the end of the articulated optical system on a sensor (67). 2. On all articulations there are arranged position transmitters (111,112, etc.) which are connected with a minicomputer (130) which calculates the resultant image rotation and gives off a corresponding signal via a digital analog converter (131).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventors: Walter Lang, Erich Blaha, Roland Schmauder, Franz Muchel
  • Patent number: 4175826
    Abstract: The invention contemplates a viewing-head attachment removably securable to the body of a microscope and adapted to accommodate binocular viewing elements. The attachment employs two housings which are pivotally connected so that the binocular-viewing elements on one housing are enabled to stereoscopically view an object examinable under the microscope body to which the attachment is secured. The quality of stereoscopic viewing is unaffected regardless of the instantaneous pivot-angle relationship as between the two housings, and no further optical adjustments are needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventors: Erich Blaha, Kurt Schulz
  • Patent number: 4026293
    Abstract: A photocoagulator using a gas discharge lamp and a mirror for forming a double image of the luminous plasma region of the lamp in a photocoagulation area adjusted for size by interchangeable field stops is improved for easier adjustability when field stop sizes are changed. A manually operable screw ring moves the lamp axially relative to the mirror to adjust the separation of one image from the other relative to the size of the field stop, and the side of the field stop facing toward the coagulation area is illuminated for brightening the environment of the coagulation area for easier observation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1977
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventors: Erich Blaha, Walter Lang, Ortwin Mueller
  • Patent number: D330769
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, Heidenheim-Brenz
    Inventors: Erich Blaha, Gerhard Gaida