Abstract: A sight system is provided which may be selectively used in a variety of different ways. In one example, the sight system may be positioned on a rifle to provide a rifle sight system. In this example, the sight system may be positioned on the rifle barrel a substantial distance away from a user's eye. Advantageously, such an implementation may permit a user to effectively sight the rifle without compromising situational awareness. In another example, the sight system may be used to provide a telescopic sight with a reticle (e.g., a dot, crosshair, mark, or other appropriate shape) superimposed on an image (e.g., a zoomed or non-zoomed image) displayed from a camera. In another example, the sight system may be used to provide an occluded sight in which a camera and/or display of the sight system is disabled. As a result, a reticle may be displayed over an opaque background.

Abstract: Various gun sights and related methods are provided. In one embodiment, a gun sight includes a light source adapted to project light, a user-viewable interface, and an optical element. The optical element includes a first surface adapted to pass the light to provide a reticle at the user-viewable interface. The optical element also includes a second surface adapted to refract the light to provide a light guide at a peripheral area of the user-viewable interface to aid a user to substantially align the user's eye with the reticle. Various mechanisms for aligning gun sights, attaching gun sights, related methods, and other embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical footswitch that includes a base, a pedal, an encoder assembly, a wireless interface, and an internal power generator. The pedal mounts upon the base and pivots. The encoder assembly couples to the pedal. As the pedal pivots, the encoder assembly translates the mechanical signal of the pedal into a control signal based on the pedals position and/or orientation. The wireless interface couples the encoder assembly to receive the control signal. The wireless interface also couples the surgical footswitch to a surgical console operable to control and direct surgical equipment. The wireless interface passes the control signal from the encoder to the surgical console, which then directs the surgical equipment based on the control signal. This wireless interface eliminates the tangle of wires or tethers, which may be a hazard in the surgical theater.

Abstract: A sight system is provided which may be selectively used in a variety of different ways. In one example, the sight system may be positioned on a rifle to provide a rifle sight system. In this example, the sight system may be positioned on the rifle barrel a substantial distance away from a user's eye. Advantageously, such an implementation may permit a user to effectively sight the rifle without compromising situational awareness. In another example, the sight system may be used to provide a reflex sight with a reticle (e.g., a dot, crosshair, mark, or other appropriate shape) superimposed on an image (e.g., a zoomed or non-zoomed image) displayed from a camera. In another example, the sight system may be used to provide an occluded sight in which a camera and/or display of the sight system is disabled. As a result, a reticle may be displayed over an opaque background.

Abstract: Various gun sights for firearms and related methods of use are provided. In one embodiment, the sight includes an apparatus adapted to be mounted at a rear end of a firearm and arranged to occlude one eye of a user of the firearm and to generate an illuminated dot that is disposed such that it is generally centered on the longitudinal axis of the barrel of the firearm. The gun sight produces a collimated beam of light that creates an image of an illuminated dot by either a refractive method or a reflective method. In use, a dominant eye of the user is occluded by the sight and the other eye of the user is focused on the target. The user then adjusts the position of the gun relative to the target such that the user perceives the illuminated dot of the sight to be positioned on the target.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an ophthalmic endoilluminator includes at least one pump light source and a scintillator fiber optically coupled to the pump light source. The scintillator fiber receives an output of the pump light source and produces light in a different wavelength range than the output of the pump light source. An optical coupling element couples the light to an optical fiber, which conducts the light into an eye.

Abstract: Various gun sights for firearms and related methods of use are provided. In one embodiment, the sight includes an apparatus adapted to be mounted at a rear end of a firearm and arranged to occlude one eye of a user of the firearm and to generate an illuminated dot that is disposed such that it is generally centered on the longitudinal axis of the barrel of the firearm. The gun sight produces a collimated beam of light that creates an image of an illuminated dot by either a refractive method or a reflective method. In use, a dominant eye of the user is occluded by the sight and the other eye of the user is focused on the target. The user then adjusts the position of the gun relative to the target such that the user perceives the illuminated dot of the sight to be positioned on the target.

Abstract: A sight system is provided which may be selectively used in a variety of different ways. In one example, the sight system may be positioned on a rifle to provide a rifle sight system. In this example, the sight system may be positioned on the rifle barrel a substantial distance away from a user's eye. Advantageously, such an implementation may permit a user to effectively sight the rifle without compromising situational awareness. In another example, the sight system may be used to provide a reflex sight with a reticle (e.g., a dot, crosshair, mark, or other appropriate shape) superimposed on an image (e.g., a zoomed or non-zoomed image) displayed from a camera. In another example, the sight system may be used to provide an occluded sight in which a camera and/or display of the sight system is disabled. As a result, a reticle may be displayed over an opaque background.

Abstract: A sight system is provided which may be selectively used in a variety of different ways. In one example, the sight system may be positioned on a rifle to provide a rifle sight system. In this example, the sight system may be positioned on the rifle barrel a substantial distance away from a user's eye. Advantageously, such an implementation may permit a user to effectively sight the rifle without compromising situational awareness. In another example, the sight system may be used to provide a telescopic sight with a reticle (e.g., a dot, crosshair, mark, or other appropriate shape) superimposed on an image (e.g., a zoomed or non-zoomed image) displayed from a camera. In another example, the sight system may be used to provide an occluded sight in which a camera and/or display of the sight system is disabled. As a result, a reticle may be displayed over an opaque background.

Abstract: An ophthalmic illuminator is disclosed, one embodiment comprising: an illumination source, wherein the illumination source produces an arc; a lens, such as a condensing lens, for focusing light produced by the illumination source arc; and an optical fiber for carrying the focused light to a surgical site, such as an eye. The illumination source is positioned offset from a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber to compensate for shifting of the illumination source arc over time. The offset position can be such that the illumination source is positioned in a vertically offset position from the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber. The longitudinal axis corresponds to the optical path axis of the optical fiber. The ophthalmic illuminator can further comprise a reflector for reflecting the light produced by the illumination source arc, wherein the reflector is positioned offset from the illumination source to decrease the rate of erosion of an illumination source cathode.

Abstract: Various gun sights for firearms and related methods of use are provided. In one embodiment, the sight includes an apparatus adapted to be mounted at a rear end of a firearm and arranged to occlude one eye of a user of the firearm and to generate an illuminated dot that is disposed such that it is generally centered on the longitudinal axis of the barrel of the firearm. The gun sight produces a collimated beam of light that creates an image of an illuminated dot by either a refractive method or a reflective method. In use, a dominant eye of the user is occluded by the sight and the other eye of the user is focused on the target. The user then adjusts the position of the gun relative to the target such that the user perceives the illuminated dot of the sight to be positioned on the target.

Abstract: Various gun sights for firearms and related methods of use are provided. In one embodiment, the sight includes an apparatus adapted to be mounted at a rear end of a firearm and arranged to occlude one eye of a user of the firearm and to generate an illuminated dot that is disposed such that it is generally centered on the longitudinal axis of the barrel of the firearm. The gun sight produces a collimated beam of light that creates an image of an illuminated dot by either a refractive method or a reflective method. In use, a dominant eye of the user is occluded by the sight and the other eye of the user is focused on the target. The user then adjusts the position of the gun relative to the target such that the user perceives the illuminated dot of the sight to be positioned on the target.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical footswitch that includes a base, a pedal, an encoder assembly, a wireless interface, and an internal power generator. The pedal mounts upon the base and pivots. The encoder assembly couples to the pedal. As the pedal pivots, the encoder assembly translates the mechanical signal of the pedal into a control signal based on the pedals position and/or orientation. The wireless interface couples the encoder assembly to receive the control signal. The wireless interface also couples the surgical footswitch to a surgical console operable to control and direct surgical equipment. The wireless interface passes the control signal from the encoder to the surgical console, which then directs the surgical equipment based on the control signal. This wireless interface eliminates the tangle of wires or tethers, which may be a hazard in the surgical theater.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical footswitch that includes a base, a pedal, an encoder assembly, a wireless interface, and an internal power generator. The pedal mounts upon the base and pivots. The encoder assembly couples to the pedal. As the pedal pivots, the encoder assembly translates the mechanical signal of the pedal into a control signal based on the pedals position and/or orientation. The wireless interface couples the encoder assembly to receive the control signal. The wireless interface also couples the surgical footswitch to a surgical console operable to control and direct surgical equipment. The wireless interface passes the control signal from the encoder to the surgical console, which then directs the surgical equipment based on the control signal. This wireless interface eliminates the tangle of wires or tethers, which may be a hazard in the surgical theater.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an ophthalmic endoilluminator includes at least one pump light source and a scintillator fiber optically coupled to the pump light source. The scintillator fiber receives an output of the pump light source and produces light in a different wavelength range than the output of the pump light source. An optical coupling element couples the light to an optical fiber, which conducts the light into an eye.

Abstract: An epoxy resin composition is disclosed that comprises an epoxy resin, a reactive phosphonate curing agent, an inorganic filler, whose presence allows for reduced amounts of phosphonate as compared to a composition not containing the filler, an optional polybenzoxazine resin, and an optional co-curing agent.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for filtering light. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention may filter light provided as a source of illumination by using one or more mirrors in an optical path. In a specific embodiment, one or more cold mirrors in the optical path are coated such that they are operable to reflect light in the desired wavelengths while transmitting other wavelengths of light. Thus, as light from a light source is reflected off these cold mirrors undesired wavelengths of light may be substantially removed from the light before it is utilized to illuminate an area. In other embodiments, one or more hot mirrors mirror may also be provided in the optical path, where these hot mirrors are coated such that they are operable to transmit the desired wavelengths of light and reflect undesired wavelengths.

Abstract: An ophthalmic illuminator is disclosed, one embodiment comprising: an illumination source, wherein the illumination source produces an arc; a lens, such as a condensing lens, for focusing light produced by the illumination source arc; and an optical fiber for carrying the focused light to a surgical site, such as an eye. The illumination source is positioned offset from a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber to compensate for shifting of the illumination source arc over time. The offset position can be such that the illumination source is positioned in a vertically offset position from the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber. The longitudinal axis corresponds to the optical path axis of the optical fiber. The ophthalmic illuminator can further comprise a reflector for reflecting the light produced by the illumination source arc, wherein the reflector is positioned offset from the illumination source to decrease the rate of erosion of an illumination source cathode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical footswitch that includes a base, a pedal, an encoder assembly, a wireless interface, and an internal power generator. The pedal mounts upon the base and pivots. The encoder assembly couples to the pedal. As the pedal pivots, the encoder assembly translates the mechanical signal of the pedal into a control signal based on the pedals position and/or orientation. The wireless interface couples the encoder assembly to receive the control signal. The wireless interface also couples the surgical footswitch to a surgical console operable to control and direct surgical equipment. The wireless interface passes the control signal from the encoder to the surgical console, which then directs the surgical equipment based on the control signal. This wireless interface eliminates the tangle of wires or tethers, which may be a hazard in the surgical theater.

Abstract: An epoxy resin composition is disclosed that comprises an epoxy resin, a reactive phosphonate curing agent, an inorganic filler, whose presence allows for reduced amounts of phosphonate as compared to a composition not containing the filler, an optional polybenzoxazine resin, and an optional co-curing agent.