Abstract: A lamp socket is provided which contains a ballast, or lamp driver which remains in the socket when the tube is replaced and supports the gas discharge tube. The lamp socket includes connectors for attachment to the gas discharge tube, lamp driver circuitry including an oscillator, power semiconductors, and protective and filter circuitry, and a housing containing the lamp driver circuitry including an oscillator, power semiconductors, and protective and filter circuitry.

Abstract: An instrument and method to measure the position of the occlusal plane of the mouth with reference to the structural features of the cranium. The instrument includes a vertical face bow, positioned on the nasal bridge and the forward edge of the base of the chin. The device employs light beams to make measurements of the patient's occlusal plane and the nose-to-chin distances. The device utilizes an internal processor to make the necessary calculations, provides direct numerical readouts, is battery powered and self-calibrating. The entire device is sealed to permit cold sterilization by liquids.

Abstract: The illuminated tongue depressor includes a handle having a battery-operated light source and a depressor blade selectively coupled with or uncoupled from the handle for discard and replacement. The blade includes a length extending longitudinally between a proximal end and a distal end and laterally between opposite sides, and includes upper and lower surfaces, a peripheral edge between the upper and lower surfaces defining a relatively thin blade thickness, a root adjacent the proximal end of the blade, a tip at the distal end of the blade, and a light conducting material between the upper and lower surfaces and extending along the blade from the root to at least a portion of the peripheral edge at the tip of the blade.

Abstract: An illuminating tongue depressor includes a handle having a battery-operated light source and a depressor blade selectively coupled with or uncoupled from the handle for discard and replacement, the blade being constructed of a light-conducting synthetic resin material of relatively thin cross-section and being arched laterally to resist bending along the length thereof, the blade including a light-receiving surface at the proximal end thereof for juxtaposition with the light source and a light-directing configuration at the distal end thereof for directing light conducted from the light source and projected from the distal end to a defined area to be inspected during use of the tongue depressor in the examination of a patient.