Medical diagnostic instrument
AssigneeWelch Allyn, Inc.
InventorsChris R. Roberts, Allan I. Krauter, Michael A. Pasik, John R. Strom, Peter J. Davis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A medical diagnostic instrument includes a housing containing at least one battery and a light source, such as a lamp, for illuminating a medical target. A switch includes a movable member that selectively moves at least one of the battery and the lamp into and out of electrical connection with the other. The instrument is preferably fabricated from a diecast or an extrusion process wherein a thin plastic sleeve member having text and/or graphic materials can be shrink fitted onto an extruded handle.
Claims24
A switch assembly for a medical diagnostic instrument having a lamp assembly with at least one electrical contact, said instrument further including a handle containing at least one battery said switch assembly including:
- at least one movable member engageable with said at least one battery, said movable member having an engagement portion for selectively moving said at least one battery from a first position in which said electrical contact and said at least one battery are in electrical contact with one another and a second position in which a spacing is formed between said at least one battery and said electrical contact of said lamp assembly wherein said at least one battery is biasedly positioned within said handle to engage said electrical contact, said engagement portion of said movable member being applicable to overcome the biasing force to form said spacing.
A handheld diagnostic instrument including:
- a housing;
- at least one battery retained within said housing;
- a light source assembly contained within said housing, said light source assembly having an electrical contact in proximity to said at least one battery wherein said at least one battery is biased into electrical contact with the contact of said light source assembly;
- and
- a switch assembly having an engagement portion for selectively overcoming said biasing force and moving said at least one battery from a first position to define a spacing in order to permit selective energization and de-energization of said light source assembly.
A method of operating a medical diagnostic instrument, said method including the steps of:
- disposing an electrical contact of a lamp assembly of said instrument into biased electrical connection with at least one retained battery of said instrument;
- and
- selectively moving at least one battery out of electrical contact with said lamp assembly by overcoming said biased connection, using a mechanical switch to cause the selective movement of said at least one battery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.