초록 ▼

An instrument stand for supporting ophthalmological instruments. The instrument stand may include a console housing configured to receive differently-configured electronics modules. In addition to, or instead of, the interchangeable electronics modules, the console housing may also be provided with

An instrument stand for supporting ophthalmological instruments. The instrument stand may include a console housing configured to receive differently-configured electronics modules. In addition to, or instead of, the interchangeable electronics modules, the console housing may also be provided with a removable shelf that is resistant to unintentional removal during use. In addition to, or instead of, the interchangeable electronics modules and removable shelf, the instrument stand may also include a support arm having a cutout on different surfaces so that a panel carrying electrical inserts may be positioned in the cutout on one of the surfaces, while covering the unused cutout on the other surface with a blank panel.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. An instrument stand for use with a medical instrument, the instrument stand comprising: a console housing having a support surface defining a horizontal plane and a side wall surrounding said support surface; an instrument pole projecting from said base; a support arm extending from sa

We claim: 1. An instrument stand for use with a medical instrument, the instrument stand comprising: a console housing having a support surface defining a horizontal plane and a side wall surrounding said support surface; an instrument pole projecting from said base; a support arm extending from said instrument pole, said support arm configured to support the medical instrument; and a shelf removably supported above said support surface, said shelf having first and second side edges and a front edge connecting said first and second side edges, said first and second side edges being shaped to match said side wall so that said shelf cannot be removed from said console housing by a force applied to said shelf in said horizontal plane, wherein said side wall has opposite first and second side wall portions each adjacent to a corresponding one of said first and second side edges of said shelf, said side wall portions being separated by a first separation distance defined in the horizontal plane at a location coinciding with said front edge of said shelf, and said first and second side edges of said shelf being separated by a second separation distance greater than said first separation distance adjacent to said front edge. 2. The instrument stand of claim 1 wherein said shelf is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of acrylic-based polymers and polycarbonates. 3. An instrument stand for use with a medical instrument, the instrument stand comprising: a console housing having a support surface defining a horizontal plane and a side wall surrounding said support surface; an instrument pole projecting from said base; a support arm extending from said instrument pole, said support arm configured to support the medical instrument; and a shelf removably supported above said support surface, said shelf having first and second side edges and a front edge connecting said first and second side edges, said first and second side edges being shaped to match said side wall so that said shelf cannot be removed from said console housing by a force applied to said shelf in said horizontal plane, wherein said first and second side edges of said shelf are separated by a distance that narrows in a direction toward said front edge, and said side wall has first and second side edge portions with a complementary narrowing such that each contacts a corresponding one of said first and second side wall portions. 4. An instrument stand comprising: a base; a support arm extending from said base, said support arm including an interior space and first and second surfaces each including at least one cutout providing access to said interior space; a first panel removably mounted to said first surface, said first panel configured for covering said at least one cutout in said first surface to block access to said interior space when mounted to said first surface; and a second panel removably mounted to said second surface, said second panel including at least one electrical insert positioned in said at least one cutout in said second surface and said second panel configure for covering said at least one cutout when said second panel is mounted to said second surface. 5. The instrument stand of claim 4 wherein said first panel is further configured to be mounted to said second surface for covering said at least one cutout in said second surface. 6. The instrument stand of claim 4 wherein said base includes an electronics module electrically coupled with said at least one electrical insert. 7. The instrument stand of claim 4 further comprising: a third panel configured to be removably mounted to said first surface, said third panel including at least one electrical insert positioned in said at least one cutout in said first surface when said third panel is mounted to said first surface. 8. The instrument stand of claim 4 wherein said first panel is further configured to be removably mounted to said second surface, said first panel covering said at least one cutout in said second surface to block access to said interior space when mounted to said second surface. 9. The instrument stand of claim 4 wherein said first and second surfaces are arranged on said support arm to permit said support arm to be optionally configured to allow said at least one electrical insert to be operated by either right-handed users or left-handed users. 10. The instrument stand of claim 4 wherein said second panel includes an opening, and said at least one electrical insert is mounted in said opening. 11. An instrument stand comprising: a base; a support arm extending from said base, said support arm adapted to telescope relative to said base; a counterweight positioned inside said base, said counterweight being adapted to move responsive to telescoping movement of said support arm relative to said base; a cable coupling said support arm with said counterweight; a pulley mounted inside said base and having a portion in contact with said cable, said cable causing rotation of said pulley when said counterweight moves; and a curved restraining member extending across at least said portion of said pulley in contact with said cable, said restraining member preventing said portion of said cable from losing contact with said pulley. 12. The instrument stand of claim 11 wherein said curved restraining member projects across a circumferential groove defined in said pulley for receiving said cable. 13. A method of configuring an ophthalmological instrument stand, the method comprising: removing a first electronics module from a module-receiving space defined in a console housing of the instrument stand, the first electronics module configured with circuitry to control a device associated with the ophthalmological stand; and installing a second electronics module in the module-receiving space, the second electronics module configured with circuitry to control a different device associated with the ophthalmological stand. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first electronics module has malfunctioning circuitry, and installing the second electronics module further comprises: exchanging the first electronics module with malfunctioning circuitry for another first electronics module having operational circuitry. 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the device is an ophthalmological instrument. 16. The instrument stand of claim 3 further comprising: an instrument pole projecting from said base; and a support arm extending from said instrument pole, said support arm configured to support a medical instrument. 17. The instrument stand of claim 3 wherein said shelf is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of acrylic-based polymers and polycarbonates.