US2683450A - Otoscope - Google Patents

Description

6. F. SCHENK July 13, 1954 OTOSCO'PE Filed June 13, 1952 INVENTOR GEORGE. SCHENK ATTORNEYS Patented July 13, 1954 O'I OSCOPE George F. Schenk, Buifalo, N. Y., assignor to American Optical Company,

Southbridge,

Mass., a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application June 13, 1952, Serial No. 293,413

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in diagnOstic instruments and has reference particularly to an instrument of the otoscope class embodying means for gaining access to a source to be examined and having self-contained illuminating means for illuminating said source.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide an instrument of the otoscope class embodying a main support carrying a speculum for aiding in gaining access to a source to be observed and having improved adjustable means thereon for supporting illuminating means in positions to direct light rays through the speculum and to a focal point adjacent the small end of said speculum and improved tubular supporting means therefor, said adjustable means being such as to permit said illuminating means to be adjusted upon said tubular means in a predetermined arc to said various positions while retaining the focus of said light rays at said focal point.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character wherein said supporting means embodies means for quickly and easily interchanging light sources therein and wherein newly inserted light sources will be automatically aligned and focused when inserted.

Another object is the provision of an otoscope or the like of the above character wherein electrical energy is supplied to the source of illumination in the supporting means by means of leads connected with a source of electrical energy in the support, the entire electrical means being so constructed and arranged as to assure a relatively constant supply of electrical energy to the source of illumination without afiecting the adjustment of the supporting means on the support.

Another object is to provide an instrument of the above character having supporting means adjustably attached to the main support by pivotal means embodying a wide frictional area, and stop means associated with said pivotal means for controlling the related positions of adjustment of said supporting means and said main support.

Other objects are to provide an instrument of the above character which is rugged in construction, simple and efficient in operation, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an otoscope head embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the supporting means for the source of illumination;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view partly in section of the otoscope head; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Many prior art types of otoscopes and like instruments embody supporting means carrying a light source for illuminating a source to be examined through a, speculum, wherein the supporting means is movable on its support to adjust the light source as desired. In such constructions electrical energy is usually supplied to the light source through frictional contacts. However, such frictional contacts have proven to be somewhat unreliable since during use of the instrument the parts may become worn or misaligned, causing a loose fit between the parts whereupon the continuity of the supply of electrical energy to the light source may be interrupted. Such interruptions could be seriously detrimental, particularly when occurring during use of the instrument for surgical purposes or the like.

The present invention overcomes the above and other disadvantages of the prior art through the provision of an instrument embodying novel readily adjustable means for securing a supporting member to the main support whereby a light source carried by the supporting member can be adjusted through a predetermined arc and will be supplied constantly with electrical energy when desired through substantially positively attached electrical leads. Thus, through any adjusted position of the light source there will always be constant undiminished illumination of the objective field. The present invention further provides an improved connection between the supporting means for the light source and the main support for the speculum wherein a large area frictional engagement therebetween exists whereby misalignment and consequent possibility of disturbing the desired axial relation of the light source and viewing means with respect to the axis of the speculum is obviated.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the device embodying the invention comprises a preferably metallic main support I 0 having a hollow head portion I2 which is removably mounted on a handle I I (Fig. 1). The main support Ill has a speculum supporting portion thereon in the form of an integral ring-like member 1 3 which threadedly or otherwise receives the large end of a cone shaped speculum [4. The main support Ill is provided with another portion l5 which extends 3 angularly downwardly as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and has a slightly curved upwardly extending metallic supporting member it": attached thereto. The member is is provided with an enlarged portion H which is adapted to fit over and retatably move about a rearwardly extending bearing portion l8a of an elongated tubular member [8. The tubular member [8 has a peripheral flange l9 formed on one end thereof against which one edge of the enlarged portion ll rests and which has its other end positioned within the portion and held immovably therein by a set screw 20. The inner edge of the enlarged portion l1 intimately and movably engages the adjacent edge of the portion and thus is prevented from movement toward and away from the speculum. Thus, there is provided a wide pivotal bearing area providing appreciable axial length and circumferential area for frictional engagement between the supporting member It and the tubular member If; to thereby make a very strong construction and to eliminate all possible looseness and play between these relatively movable parts.

In rotatably moving the supporting member it about the tubular member it it is to be noted that such movement is about an axis A-A extending along the axis of the tubular member i8 and intersecting the plane of the small end of the speculum i4 substantially centrally of said end.

The free end of the supporting member I6 is provided with a tubular extension 2i which is directed toward the speculum M and which carries therein a lamp socket 22 having a light source in the form of a prefocused filament bulb 23 mounted therein. The bulb 23 is assembled in the socket 22 prior to insertion in the instrument with its filament 23a in axial alignment with the socket 22 and in predetermined spacial relation with the plane of a peripheral flange 2 1 formed on the socket. The major portion of the lamp socket 22 is adapted to relatively intimately engage the inner walls of the tubular extension 2! with its peripheral flange 24 received within an annular recess formed in the end of the extension 2i. A cap 26 is threadedly mounted over the end of the extension 2| and when screwed tightly onto the extension 2! has an annular interior shoulder portion thereof in engagement with the end of the extension 2 i. Spring means, which will be presently described, urges the flange 24 into firm engagement with shoulder portion 25, thus retaining the lamp socket 22 in desired position within the extension 25. provided with a central opening therethrough in which is positioned a suitable condensing lens 21 which is adapted, when assembled with the extension 21 and prefocused illuminating unit, to concentrate the light rays from the bulb 23 to produce a brightly lighted spot adjacent the small end of the speculum hi, the light rays passing along an axial path indicated by line B-B in Fig. 3.

With such a construction it is evident that such prefocused bulb and socket illuminating units can be interchanged without requiring special adjustments and with assurance that the newly inserted bulb will emit light which Will be concentrated as desired.

It is also apparent that adjustment of the supporting member or movable arm l5 about axis A-A may be performed and when this adjustment is within a predetermined range of lateral adjustment the light rays from lamp 23 will The cap 23 is always be directed toward the small end of the speculum, thus insuring illumination of the object field in all positions of adjustment.

A spring detent 28 is positioned in the portion lb of the main support It and is adapted to frictionally engage the base of a recessed section 28a (Fig. 4) in the adjacent edge of the enlarged portion I1 of the supporting member 16 for assisting in retaining the member H5 in various positions of adjustment. The recess 28a is of a controlled length whereby its end walls will limit the extent of movement of the supporting member iii on its pivot and thus establish said predetermined range of lateral adjustment of the supporting member it.

The supporting member is provided at its upper end with an opening 29 (Fig. 2) in which is positioned a magnifying lens 30 which is so mounted as to permit viewing, by the operator, along axis CC which intersects axes A-A and B-B substantially at their point of intersection. The user of the instrument thus is provided constantly with a clear enlarged illuminated view of the objective field.

The supporting member IE is provided with a longitudinal recess 32 (Fig. 2) in which is located an elongated plate or cover 34 formed of plastic or the like. The inner surface of the cover 34 is provided with a boss 35 for receiving a screw 33 or the like for retaining the cover 34 in place. Over the boss 35 are mounted metal connecting members 36 and 31 spaced by a non-conductive ring 38. Each of the metal connecting members and 3! has one end of respective wires 39 and ie soldered or otherwise securely connected thereto, the wires 39 and 49 extending through communicating openings or passageways l6 and I8 provided therefor in the interior of the supporting member Hi and in the side wall of the tubular member !8 respectively and thence through an opening or central passageway Nib in the tubular member it and into the hollow interior ID of the main support [0. The connecting member 36 is formed with a spring arm M which extends into resilient engagement with a single central contact in the adjacent end of the lamp 23 while the other member 31 has a spring arm 31a formed with a bifurcated end which engages the socket 22 of the lamp 23. Thus, the spring arms urge the flange 24 toward annular shoulder portion 25 and electrical current can travel from wire 39, through member 36 and arm 4! to the end of lamp 23, and from the lamp either through the grounded socket 22, supporting member It, member 3i to the wire at, or through the base of the lamp 23, spring arm 3100, and member 3'! to wire it. This construction insures continuous flow of current by decreasing chances of loose connections which might interrupt the flow of current to the lamp. An insulator 38a is attached to the non-conductive ring 38 and extends between spring arms 32a and M to keep them separated.

The main support iii is hollow, as described above, and has positioned therein one end of a metal tube 22 to which the opposed end of wire til it attached. The tube 42 has a non-conductive bushing 43 therein in which is positioned a spring device 45 having one end attached to the opposed end of wire 39 and having its other end adapted to engage batteries or the like (not shown) mounted in handle H. The metal tube 42 is in the conventional manner grounded to a metallic liner or battery casing forming a part of the handle.

It is to be noted that the wires 39' and 40 are of sufiicient length within the main support I0 that the supporting member Hi can be easily adjusted without any strain, tension or other effect upon the wires. Thus, current can be supplied to the lamp constantly when desired throughout the entire range of adjustment thereof. Also, any looseness in the connection'between thesupporting member l6 and the main support ID will have no effect on the supply of current to the bulb 2-3.

A device constructed and arranged as described above is rugged and efiicient in its use and yet is attractive in appearance and simple in operation.

While in the foregoing description the supporting member i6 has been referred to as being preferably formed of metal, it is to be understood that a plastic material such as Bakelite or the like may be used since it is apparent that electrical energy will pass from the lamp 23 through the spring arm 31a to the lead 40. Therefore, it is unnecessary that the member [6 be formed of metal to serve as means for passage of the current to the lead 40.

It will be apparent, however, that many changes may be made in the arrangement of parts shown and described without departing fromthe spiritof the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that all material shown or described should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a diagnostic instrument of the character described, a head comprising a hollow mainsupport, a downwardly and rearwardly extending tubular member carried by said main support, a

relatively wide cylindrical bearing surface on said tubular member, an adjustable arm carried by said tubular member and having a recess therein, ring-shaped means carried by and extending upwardly from said main support, a cone-shaped speculum carried by the ring-shaped mean on said main support in spaced relation with said arm, said speculum having its large end disposed toward said adjustable means and its smaller end projecting forwardly thereof, illuminating means carried by said adjustable arm and extending from said recess for projecting light rays as a convergent beam to a focal point substantially centrally of the smaller end of the speculum and substantially in the transverse plane thereof, said adjustable arm being rotatably mounted on said tubular member for lateral movement of said illuminating means in a predetermined are about the axis of said cylindrical bearing surface, said axis extending upwardly and forwardly so as to substantially intersect said focal point, said main support, said tubular member and said adjustable arm having adjacent openings therein whereby the interior of said main support is in constant communication with the recess in the adjustable arm, and electrical means comprising flexible wires extending through said hollow main support and through said openings into the recess in said adjustable arm, and connecting said illuminating means with electrical conducting means in said main support, whereby said adjustable arm may be adjusted while maintaining the supply of current to said illuminating means.

2. In a diagnostic instrument of the character described, a head comprising a hollow main sup port, an adjustable arm carried by said main support and having a recess therein, said main support and said adjustable arm having openings therein whereby the interior of said main support is in constant communication with the recess in the adjustable arm, a cone-shaped speculum carried by said main support in spaced relation with and having its large end disposed toward said adjustable arm and its smaller end forwardly thereof, a tubular bearing member mounted in said main support, said adjustable arm having one end thereof rotatably mounted on said tubular bearing member with a wide area frictional engagement therebetween, said arm being movable about said bearing member and about an axis substantially intersecting a focal point, adjacent and substantially centrally of the smaller end of the speculum, said adjustable arm further having an opening near its opposed end, illuminating means comprising a lamp assembly dise posed in said latter opening in the adjustable arm and extending into the recess therein, a cap attached to said adjustable arm over said latter opening therein for retaining said illuminating means in said latter opening, said cap having a lens therein for projection of light rays as a concentrated beam from said illuminating means to said focal point, and electrical means comprising flexible wires extending through said hollow main support and through said openings into the recess in said adjustable arm for con necting said illuminating means with a source of current.

3. A diagnostic instrument head comprising a main support having electrical conducting means in a base portion thereof and having a first passageway extending vertically therefrom, a second passageway in said main support communicating with and extending downwardly and rearwardly from the upper end of said first passageway, upstanding ring-shaped means carried by an upper portion of said main support in normally fixed relation thereto, a substantially conically shaped speculum having its larger rear end carried by said ring-shaped means and having the smaller end thereof disposed forwardly thereof, a tubular member carried by said main support in substantial alignment with said second passageway, said tubular means having an elongated cylindrically shaped bearing surface formed thereon and disposed so that the axis thereof passes through the transverse plane of the smaller end of said speculum substantially centrally of the opening therein, an upwardly extending movable arm having a relatively large supporting portion integral therewith, a cylindrical bore extending through said relatively large supporting portion, said bore receiving said elongated cylindrical bearing surface, an upwardly facing aperture in said tubular member, an upwardly extending recess in said movable arm, illuminating means carried by an upper portion of said movable arm and disposed so as to direct a convergent beam of light through said speculum and to focus said beam substantially at said transverse plane of the front end of said speculum, said movable arm being arcuately adjustable about the axis of said tubular means to various positions within a predetermined adjustment range while directing said beam through said speculum, electrical contact means carried by said arm within said recess for contacting said illuminating means, and flexible electrical means fixedly connected at one end thereof to said electrical contact means and extending through said recess, said aperture and said passageways, and having the opposite end thereof fixedly connected to said electrical conducting means in said base portion.

4. A diagnostic instrument head comprising a main support having electrical conducting means in a base portion thereof and having a first passageway therein communicating with said electrical conducting means, a second passageway in said main support communicating with and extending angularly from one end of said first passageway, a tubular member carried by said main support in substantial alignment with said second passageway, ring-shaped means carried by said main support in normally fixed relation thereto, a substantially conically shaped speculum having its larger end carried by said ring-shaped means and having its smaller end directed forwardly away from said ring-shaped means, said tubular member havin an elongated cylindrically shaped bearing surface formed thereon and disposed so that the axis thereof extends forwardly and passes through the transverse plane of the small end of said speculum substantially centrally of the opening therein, a movable arm mounted on said tubular member and having a relatively large supporting portion integral therewith, a cylindrical bore extending through said relatively large supporting portion, said bore receiving said elongated cylindrical bearing surface, an aperture in said tubular means communicating with said second passageway, a recess in said movable arm communicating with said aperture, illuminating meanscarried by said movable arm and disposed so as to direct a convergent beam of light through said speculum and to focus said beam substantially at the plane of the small end of said speculum, said movable arm being arouately adjustable about the axis of said bearing surface to various positions within a predetermined adjustment range while directing said beam through said speculum, and flexible electrical means connected at one end thereof to said illuminating means and extending through said recess, aperture and passageways, and having the opposite end thereof connected to said electrical conducting means in said base portion.

5. A diagnostic instrument head comprising a main support having electrical conducting means in a base portion thereof and having a first passageway therein communicating with said electrical conducting means, a second passageway in said main support communicating with and extending angularly downwardly and rearwardly from said first passageway, ringshaped support means fixedly carried by said main support and supporting a substantially conically shaped speculum, said speculum having its larger rear end attached to said ringshaped support means and having its smaller end directed forwardly therefrom, a tubular member carried by said main support within said second passageway and having a bearing portion extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom, said bearing portion having an elongated cylindrically shaped bearing surface formed thereon and disposed so that the axis thereof passes through the transverse plane of the small end of said speculum substantially centrally of the opening therein, an upwardly extending arm movably mounted on said tubular member and having a relatively large supporting portion integral therewith which is provided with a cylindrical bore extending therethrough, said bore receiving said elongated cylindrical bearing surface in said tubular member, said movable arm and said tubular member having communicating apertures therein, illuminating means comprising a lamp assembly carried by said movable arm and disposed so as to direct a convergent beam of light through said speculum and to focus said beam substantially at the plane of the front end of said speculum, said movable arm being arcuately adjustable about the axis of said bearing surface to various positions within a predetermined adjustment range while directing said beam through said speculum, and flexible conducting means electrically connected at one end thereof to said illuminating means and extending through said apertures and said passageways, and having the opposite end thereof electrically connected to said electrical conducting means in said base portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,913,780 Wappler June 13, 1933 2,507,771 Cole May 16, 1950

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