# US 10,441,162 B2 · Ophthalmic examination suite having chair with sideward movement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,162 B2 - Document ID: US10441162B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/213,043 - Filed: 2016-07-18 - Published: 2016-11-10 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-19 - Assignees: Reliance Medical Products, Inc. - Applicants: Reliance Medical Products, Inc. - Inventors: Gary G. Schwaegerle; Michael A. Carvajal; Deepak Sridhara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441162B2 ## CPC - A61B 3/0083: {provided with means for patient positioning} - A61B 3/0075: {provided with adjusting devices, e.g. operated by control lever} - A61G 5/00: Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs (devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or device not forming part of the body A61F4/00; bicycles specially adapted for disabled riders B62K3/16) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) ## Abstract An ophthalmic examination suite including a base support having a base plate, a carriage movable on the base plate, the carriage being laterally movable between a first position and a second position relative to an instrument delivery stand, and a chair coupled to the carriage, the chair being configured to receive a seated patient thereon. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ophthalmic examination suite comprising: a base support having a base plate; a carriage movable linearly on the base plate; a chair coupled to the carriage, the chair being configured to receive a seated patient thereon; and an instrument arm assembly configured to hold an examination instrument; wherein the carriage is configured to laterally move the chair in a substantially linear sideways direction towards an instrument delivery stand; further wherein, the instrument arm assembly is positionable over the chair to provide the examination instrument to a location beside the chair opposite the instrument delivery stand. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 1, wherein the instrument arm assembly extends from the instrument delivery stand via an adjustable arm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 2, wherein the instrument arm assembly further comprises a table adjustably connected to the adjustable arm via a linkage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 1, wherein the carriage is operatively coupled to the base plate by a track and guide assembly, the track and guide assembly facilitating movement of the carriage on the base plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of wheels connected to the carriage, wherein at least one of the plurality of wheels is configured to engage the track and guide assembly during movement of the chair sidewardly towards the instrument delivery stand. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of wheels rotates about a horizontal rotation axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of wheels rotates about a vertical rotation axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of wheels connected to the carriage, wherein at least one of the plurality of wheels is configured to engage the base plate when the carriage moves the chair sidewardly towards the instrument delivery stand. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 1, further comprising a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the chair relative to the base support. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 9, wherein the lift mechanism includes a lift cylinder device cooperating with a lift extension assembly and a pulley assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of base covers that are configured to at least partially cover the base plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The ophthalmic examination suite of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of base covers is configured to nest within a second one of the plurality of base covers. ### Claim 13 A method of configuring an ophthalmic examination suite to facilitate examining a patient in a wheelchair, the ophthalmic examination suite including a base support having a base plate, a carriage movable on the base plate, an instrument arm assembly for presenting an examination instrument to a patient, and a chair coupled to the carriage, the method comprising: creating a space lateral and adjacent to the chair by laterally sliding the carriage in a substantially linear sideways direction towards an instrument delivery stand; moving a wheelchair into the space; and positioning the instrument arm assembly over the chair to present an instrument in front of the wheelchair positioned in the space. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the ophthalmic examination suite further includes a track and guide assembly for providing movement of the carriage with respect to the base plate, and wherein the method further comprises: engaging the track and guide assembly with at least one wheel as the carriage is moved to the position generally adjacent to the instrument delivery stand. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the ophthalmic examination suite further includes an instrument arm assembly for presenting an examination instrument to a patient, and wherein the method further comprises: moving the instrument arm assembly away from the chair prior to moving the chair. ### Claim 16 An examination suite comprising: a base plate; a carriage movable linearly on the base plate with a plurality of wheels; a chair coupled to the carriage; and an instrument arm assembly that an instrument supporting element; wherein the carriage and chair move laterally in a substantially linear sideways direction towards the instrument arm assembly; further wherein, the instrument supporting element is positionable over the chair to a location beside the chair opposite the instrument arm assembly; further wherein, the carriage is operatively coupled to the base plate by a track and guide assembly, the track and guide assembly facilitating movement of the carriage on the base plate and at least one of the plurality of wheels is configured to engage the track and guide assembly during movement of the chair sidewardly towards the instrument delivery stand. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The examination suite of claim 16, further wherein at least one of the plurality of wheels rotates about a horizontal rotation axis and at least one of the plurality of wheels rotates about a vertical rotation axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The examination suite of claim 16, further comprising a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the chair relative to the base support. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The examination suite of claim 18, wherein the lift mechanism includes a lift cylinder device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The examination suite of claim 19, further comprising a lift extension assembly.