US 7,244,024 B2 · Eye target apparatus

Abstract

An eye target apparatus and method helping to control an operative eye focus line of sight position during medical procedures on the operative eye of a cooperative awake patient. The apparatus includes a housing for occluding substantially all visual perception from an exterior environment for a non operative eye, the housing including a cover, with an internal surface that forms a plane approximately perpendicular to the non operative eye line of sight axis. Also included is a visually perceptible element adjacent to the internal surface being in visual communication with the non operative eye and structure for moving the visually perceptible element within the plane to any selected position, the apparatus is operational to help the non operative eye focus on a selected line of sight position upon the visually perceptible element with the result in assisting in the operative eye achieving a stable selected line of sight position.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An eye target apparatus for use in helping to control an operative eye focus line of sight axis position during medical procedures on the operative eye, comprising:

(a) a housing for occluding substantially all visual perception from an exterior environment for a non operative eye, said housing including a cover, said cover also including an internal surface that forms a plane positioned approximately perpendicular to the non operative eye line of sight axis;
(b) a visually perceptible element adjacent to said cover internal surface being in visual communication with the non operative eye;
and
(c) means for moving said visually perceptible element within the plane to any selected position, wherein said eye target apparatus is operational to help the non operative eye focus on a selected line of sight focus axis position upon said visually perceptible element with the result in assisting in the operative eye achieving a stable selected line of sight focus axis position with minimal operative eye movement from the selected line of sight focus axis position.

1 more element

An eye target apparatus for use in helping to control an operative eye focus line of sight axis position during medical procedures on the operative eye, comprising:

(a) a housing for occluding substantially all visual perception from an exterior environment for a non operative eye, said housing including a cover with an aperture, said cover also including an internal surface that forms a plane positioned approximately perpendicular to the non operative eye line of sight axis;
(b) a cap having a slidable engagement with said cover, said cap being sized and configured to substantially occlude said aperture through a selected range of said slidable engagement;
and
(c) a visually perceptible element disposed upon said cap being in visual communication with the non operative eye, said visually perceptible element being positioned to be adjacent to said cover internal surface, wherein said eye target apparatus is operational to help the non operative eye focus on a selected line of sight focus axis position upon said visually perceptible element with the result in assisting in the operative eye achieving a stable selected line of sight focus axis position with minimal operative eye movement from the selected line of sight focus axis position.

1 more element

A method of using an eye target apparatus for use in helping to control an operative eye focus line of sight axis position during medical procedures on the operative eye, comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning a patient;
(b) locating a medical device including a light source over the operative eye of the patient;
(c) providing an eye target apparatus that includes a housing for occluding substantially all visual perception from an exterior environment for a non operative eye, said housing including a cover, said cover also including an internal surface that forms a plane positioned approximately perpendicular to the non operative eye focus line of sight axis, a visually perceptible element adjacent to said cover internal surface being in visual communication with the non operative eye, said visually perceptible element being normally unactivated, and a means for moving said visually perceptible element within the plane to any selected position;
(d) placing said eye target apparatus over the non operative eye of the patient to occlude substantially all visual perception from the exterior environment for the non operative eye;
(e) instructing the patient to open their operative and non operative eyes for a selected period;
(f) activating said visually perceptible element at the conclusion of said selected period;
(g) confirming that the patient sees said visually perceptible element substantially centered in said light source to establish proper patient operative eye and non operative eye focus line of sight axes;
(h) moving said visually perceptible element to a selected position to further establish a desired patient operative eye focus line of sight axis position;
and
(i) performing required medical procedure on the operative eye.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Eye target apparatus

Life of this patent

Eye target apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28