Abstract: A focusing mechanism for an optical instrument includes an eyepiece having at least one lens element retained within an eyepiece housing, a stationary carrier for retaining the eyepiece, and a rotatable thumb wheel. A pair of levers operatively connect the eyepiece housing with the rotatable thumb wheel, the thumb wheel including corresponding pairs of cam channels on either side for receiving one end of a corresponding lever, the remaining end of each lever engaging the eyepiece housing, wherein rotational movement of the thumb wheel produces axial movement of the eyepiece relative to said carrier.

Abstract: A retrofocus objective lens system which is conducive for an otoscope includes a first group of optical elements positioned at a distal portion and a second group of optical elements proximally spaced from the first group of optical elements. The first group of optical elements includes at least one negative small diameter lens while the second group of optical elements include a plurality of small diameter lenses having an aggregate optical power which is positive, allowing an image of interest to be transmitted through the system without any intermediate imaging planes, and without the need for rod lenses. The first and second lens groups are retained in a plurality of linearly interconnected lens tubes such that one lens tubes is linearly adjustable in relation to the remaining lens tubes in order to vary the focal length of the lens system.

Abstract: A handle for a diagnostic instrument includes a battery housing for retaining at least one rechargeable battery and a set of interchangeable adapters which can be selectively and releasably engaged with the housing to allow recharging of the battery through interconnection with an external power source, such as a wall outlet. The adapters are directly attached and detached to one end of the battery housing without requiring any disassembly or modification of the battery housing, allowing the instrument to be used either with or without an attached adapter.

Abstract: An imaging instrument includes a compact hand-held housing having an electronic imaging element supported within a housing, and a plurality of interchangeable instrument heads separably attachable to the housing. Each of the instrument heads includes an optical system disposed in alignment with the electronic imaging element along an instrument viewing axis. Preferably, the instrument further includes an integral display for displaying at least one captured or real-time video image as viewed through the instrument head of choice. The instrument includes a controller with sufficient programmable logic to capture and store a plurality of imaging images which can be transferred along with audio and/or annotation data relating to a captured image. Corresponding video and audio data can be then transferred using a receiving cradle to a computer which contains software which organizes the stored data for further processing.

Abstract: A diagnostic binocular viewing instrument includes a housing having a defined inner cavity, and a pair of adjustable eyepiece assemblies slidingly attached to said housing, each of the sliding eyepiece assemblies having an adjustable mirror for aligning to a fixed centrally disposed mirror. The eyepiece assemblies include depending locking fingers which provide releasable engagement with the instrument housing and the mirror each of retained in the eyepiece assemblies can be adjusted using a pair of spaced adjustment members in combination with a biasing spring and a oppositely arranged T-shaped projection to allow the mirror to be adjustable in at least two axes.

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: A binocular ophthalmoscope having a pair of eyepieces that are mounted in a frame and arranged to view a target area in the eye through a pair of angularly offset reflecting surfaces. The reflecting surfaces are seated on a carriage that is mounted for reciprocation in the frame. A mirror is pivotally mounted in the frame and arranged to direct a beam of light at the target area. A camming mechanism connects the mirror and the carriage so that the axis of the light beam and the axes of the image paths to the reflecting surfaces all move closer together as the carriage moves in one direction and moves further apart as the carriage moves in the opposite direction.