Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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rhis inventian relatad generally to optical ~ystems and,
mor~ particularly~ to an optical system for detailed self~
analysis of the eye and surrounding region~ of the face.
It ha~ been known in the prlor art to examine the eye and
surrounding area by use of a mirror. However~ it has been found
that the use of an ordinary mirror for such examination i~ not
suitable for detailed investigation lnvolving the ~ye,
particularly with respect to the use of contact lenses. For the
per~on who U5Q5 a Lontact lens, it is n~cessary to appraise the
accuracy of the positioning of the lens ov~r the cornea to
visualize the pre~ence of absence of any air bubbles, dirt
particles, eye lashes, QtC. ~ that may cau~e discomfort~
vi5ual ize the presence or absence of any fold~ or tears of the
soft lens or any fractures or defects in a hard contact lens, ~nd
ad3ust the position of th~ so-called bifocal contact lens~ which
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require6 th~t a specific portion of the lens be situated over the
luwer par~ o~ ~he cornea at all tlmes~ Such actiYity requires a
c;l~er e~aminatlon~ of the Qyeball than ha~ typ~ically been
available through the use of~an ordinary mirror.
It has~beQn~known in the prior art to use a c~ncave lens
for t~e entiro facial e~amination. Such lenses are typically
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found in th~ dressing areas and can b~ used for the application
of cosmetics and for other ~ctivity requiring a somewhat more
detailed vi~ual image of the facial r~gion than can be provided
by use of a mirror. Typically, however. ~uch concave lenses have
not b~en satisfactory to provide a det~iled examination of the
specific area such as the area of the eye. In addition~ such
lenses have typically been fairly large and therÆfore have not
been suitably portable. ~l~o, th~ focal lengths of said lenses
do not permit clo~e ~xamination of the eye.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an optical 5y~tem that i~ ea~ily portablQ and which can
be used to provide a detailed self-examination of the are~ of the
eye or th~ ~urrounding facial regions. In addition, it i5
desirable to provide a self-examination instrument that does not
rely on ambient light and yet can protect again~t inadvertent
focussiny of direct sunlight to the eye or other parts of the
face and body.
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It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide apparatu~ and method for detailed examination of the eye
and surrounding facial regions.
It i5 a more particular object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus for detailed examination o~ the area of the
eye that lncludes a lens sy~tem for close examination of the view
aroa.
It 15 a more particular object of the prF~ent invention to
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provide apparatu~ and method for detailed examination of the area
of the face and the vicinity o~ the eye that provides a self-
contained source of illumination.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
an apparatus and method for detailed self-examination in the
vicinity of the eye that can protect against inadvertent exposure
to direct çunlight.
The aforementioned and other object6 of the present
invention are accomplished, according to the present invention.
by providing a housing that holds a lens. The lens can be
positioned by the user to provide a detailed image to the user of
the area under examination. In addition. the holder ha~ a
surface extending beyond the lens çurface whith minimi2ed the
risk of reflection of direct sunlight into the eye. The holder
also includefi a lamp and battery system along with a switch for
activating and deactivating the lamp that provides illumination
of the area under examination.
These and other features of the present invention will be
understood upDn reading of the following descriptian along wlth
the drawingsn
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the use of a lens
for d~tailed eKamlnation.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sel~-examination
apparatus of the present invention.
~ Igure 3 is a cross-section view, taken along line 3-3 of
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131 1637
Figure 29 of ~he apparatus according to the present invention for
e~amination of the area of the eye.
Figure 4 is a front view of the apparatus for facial self-
examination of the present invention.
Figure S is a view further 6howing the apparatus of the
present invention in use.
Figure h is a perspective view showing a partial cutaway
showing the ~lements of the pre~ent invention with a convex lens
reflecting surface.
Figure 7 is a cross-section view, taken along line 7-7 of
Figure 6, showing a convex lens reflecting surface arrangement of
the present invention.
Referring first to Figure 1 and Figure 5, the basic optical
configuratlon of the ~elf-examination apparatus of the present
invention, generally referred to by reference number 1, is shown
in use. Th~ eye 5 uses a lens system 10 that includes a
reflecting concave surface 11 or any other type of re-Flecting
surface 1~, such as conve~ surface 12 shown in Figures ~ and 7~
~y varying the position of the ~ye 5 and the lens system 10, a
close visualization of the image of the eye 5 can be obtained.
It will be clear that the radius of curvature of the concave
surface 11, for example, will determine the optimum viewing
distance of the eye ~for self-examination of the eye. Other
ref}ective convex lens surface 12~ or the like, may be used
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and having similar results as the above-discussed concave
~urface 11.
Referring next to Figure Z and Figure 69 there is shown, in
perspective views, the self~examination apparatu~ 1 of the
pr~sent invention~ including the optical syste~ and associated
apparatus. The apparatus comprises a housing 20 that includes an
outer surfac~ 2Z and switch Z1 positioned on the outer surface
22. The concave ¢urface 11, (see Figure 2)~ or other reflecting
lens surface 12, (see Figure ~), i5 positioned such that a highly
reflective inner wall 23 extends oeyond the lens ~ystem.
Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line
indicated 3-3 in Figure 2, wherein lens syste~ 10 is shown as a
concave reflective surface 11. Similarly, Figure 7 show~ a
cross-sectional view taken along the line indicatQd 7-7 in Figure
~, wherein len6 ~ystem 10 is shown as a convex reflectivP lens
surface 12. FigurQs ~ and 7 further showing wall portion 23 o~
housing 20 extending well beyond lens system 10. Shown als~ in
Figures 3 and 7 i5 len~ system 10 mounted on a transparent ~ember
30 and having lightbulb 32 being located there behind lens system
10 in a highly reflective chamber 31. The interior of the
housing behind the reflecting chamber 31 includes batteries 33
and associated electrical couplings 28 and sprinys 29 for
mounting the batteries 33 and for coupling the batterie6 33 and
thQ light bulb 32 with switch 21. Through switch 21, the light
bulb 32 can be activated as needed.
Referring next to Figure 4, a front view of the self-
;
;' examination apparatus 1 i5 shown. The outer surface of the
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housing i5 22, the inner surf~ce of th~ extended region of thehousing i~ ~hown ~5 23, while the lens system 10 and the
transparent member ~0 are po6itioned in the interior of the
e~tended portion 23. ~lso shown is switoh 21 for activating the
light bulb 3Z.
The self-examination apparatus 1 is adapted to have a
reflecting surf~ce 11, 12 of the lens system (preferably oonCavQ,
although other reflecting shapes may be used a~ previously
discussed) by which the eye 5 can seQ an exquisitely detailed
version of itçelf by looking into the lens system 10. The
apparatu~ 1 includeç a shield Z3 that pr~vents direct sunllght
from inadvertently striking the reflecting surface 11, lZ and
being reflected toward the region of the eye 5, possibly damaging
the eye 5. In addition, th~ self-examination app~ratus 1 has an
independent light source (e.g., lightbulb 32) so that in low
levels of ambient light~ the u~er will not be viewing the image
at a low level of illumlnation. The lightbulb 32 i5 adapted to
provide light that exits from the surface 31 of the lamp chamber
through the transparent member 30 and forwardly onto the region
of the eye ~5 well as onto the extended wall portions 23. The
extended wall portions 23 of the housing 20 are highly reflective
50 that a large percentage of the light i5 projected forward and
into the region of the eye 5.
It wi~l be clear to those skllled in thæ art that the
r~flective surface li. 12 is located on the outside of lens
system 10 of th~ preferred embodiment. Howover~ said reflectivQ
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surface 11, 12 can be located elsewh~re in the lens system 10.
Q use of the self-e~amination apparatus 1 previously
discussed9 is to assist people in adjusting contac~ lenses.
~ecause of the nature of thæ contact lens, as well ~s its small
size, the present invention proVidQs an i~proved method fDr
manipulation uf çaid cont~ct lens.
In addition, the self-examination apparatus 1 h~s further
applic~tions tD ophthalmological and related activities in which
a patient can be expected to pro~ide sel-f-examination. The
apparatu~ 1 permits the user to see in detail the characteristics
of the cornea and the conjutiva, the anterior chamber, the iris
pupil, lens and surrounding tissue. ~lso various parts of the
eyelids and as~ociated s~ructures can be examined. Examples of
further uses can be visualization of the location of eye damage
produced by a foreign ob3ect or examination of changes related to
inflammatory or infectious diseases of the eyes and surrounding
ti~sues and evolution and progression disQases of the lenses
such as cataracts. In addition, many useful applications can be
derived in identifying and monitoring changes related to
therapeutic modalities as they affect the eye and the surrounding
i55ue5. The changes produced by therapy including surgical
therapy of various diseases and tumorous condition o~ the eyes
can be monitored by the patient. Th~ device can be of as6istance
for patient in seeing details of the results of plastic surgery
~and other changes in the vicinity of the eye such as
reconstruc~ive pro~edures.
, The present invention also permits a close inspection of the
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eyelids and surrounding areas that can be use to insure the
correct usage of makeup and similar modalities of said
surrounding areas and to insurQ complete removal of makeup after
cleaning or wa~hing of the area. Thusl the ~elf-examination
apparatus 1 can be eçpecially important in identifying the
presence of irritating makeup residals in the connecting areas of
the eye 5. The self-examination apparatus 1 can also be used to
examine tattoos of the eyelid arQas or by those attempting to
provide their own tattoo procedures on the surrounding area of
the eye S.
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