1. A method for operating a webcam, comprising:
moving a first lens from a first position wherein an image from said first lens is in focus on an image sensor of said webcam to a second position;
moving a second lens from a first position not in optical alignment with the first lens, into a second position in optical alignment with said first lens, wherein an image from said first and second lenses is in focus on an image sensor of said webcam with said first and second lenses in the second positions; and
wherein said moving is done using a single mechanical structure for moving both said first and second lenses in response to a single movement by a user, and said moving of said first lens changes a distance between the first lens and the image sensor.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said second lens is mounted on a member that slides to a position in front of the first camera lens, said member being curved and slideable within a curved slot in a housing of said webcam.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said member is moveable via a protrusion configured for engagement with a user’s finger.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising blocking light from entering the first lens via movement of the member to a position that physically obstructs the first lens.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said webcam includes a rounded housing, and the second lens is disposed on a curved cover that slides over the first lens.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second lens provides a magnification of less than or equal to 2.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein a motion of the single mechanical structure exerts a direct physical pressure on a lens holder of the first lens to cause movement of the first lens.
8. A method for operating a webcam, comprising:
disposing a first lens in a position wherein an image from said first lens is in focus on an image sensor of said webcam;
moving a second lens from a first position not in optical alignment with the first lens, into a second position in optical alignment with said first lens, and moving said first lens so as to change a distance between said first lens and the image sensor, wherein an image from said first and second lenses is in focus on the image sensor of said webcam; and
wherein said second lens is mounted on a member that slides to a position in front of the first camera lens, said member being curved and slideable within a curved slot in a housing of said webcam.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said moving is done using a single mechanical structure for moving both said first and second lenses in response to a single movement by a user.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein a motion of the single mechanical structure exerts a direct physical pressure on a lens holder of the first lens to cause movement of the first lens.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein said member is moveable via a protrusion configured for engagement with a user’s finger.
12. The method of claim 8, further comprising blocking light from entering the first lens via movement of the member to a position that physically obstructs the first lens.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the second lens provides a magnification of less than or equal to 2.
14. A webcam, comprising:
an aperture;
an image sensor;
a first lens;
a second lens including a first position not in optical alignment with said first lens, and a second position in optical alignment with said first lens, wherein an image from said first and second lenses is in focus on said image sensor when said second lens is in the second position; and
a mechanical structure configured to move both said first lens and said second lens in response to a single movement by a user,
wherein said moving of said first lens changes a distance between the first lens and the image sensor.
15. The webcam of claim 14, wherein said mechanical structure includes a protrusion configured for engagement with a user’s finger.
16. The webcam of claim 14, wherein the second lens is carried by a member configured to block light from entering the first lens via movement of the member to a position that physically obstructs the first lens.
17. The webcam of claim 14, wherein the second lens provides a magnification of less than or equal to 2.
18. The webcam of claim 14, wherein a motion of the mechanical structure exerts a direct physical pressure on a lens holder of the first lens to cause movement of the first lens parallel to an optical path of the webcam.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
We claim:
1. A catheter and introducer needle assembly, comprising:
a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
a catheter hub in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of the catheter;
an extension tube attached to the catheter hub and in fluid communication with the catheter hub;
an introducer needle removably disposed in the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end, the introducer needle including a main portion and an enlarged diameter portion;
a needle shield selectively engaged to the catheter hub and slidingly mounted to the introducer needle for movement from a first position to a second position at the distal end of the introducer needle, the needle shield including:
a housing having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a cavity, wherein the needle is disposed, at least in part, within the cavity;
a wall formed in the housing;
at least one tab disposed within the cavity and disposed adjacent to the wall and proximal to the wall; and
means for preventing unwanted distal movement of the needle shield off the distal end of the introducer needle;
wherein, when the needle shield is moved from the first position to the second position, the tab flexes proximally to permit passage of the enlarged diameter portion of the introducer needle; and
wherein, when the needle shield is in the second position, the tab is prevented from flexing distally by the wall.
2. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a resilient clip mounted in the needle shield which is adapted to flex into and out of engagement with the catheter hub wherein, when the needle shield is in the first position, the introducer needle contacts the clip so it is flexed into a biased position into engagement with the catheter hub and, when the needle shield is in the second position, the introducer needle disengages the clip so it can flex to its unbiased position out of engagement with the catheter hub.
3. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a retention plate disposed in the housing of the needle shield, wherein at least two tabs are leaf springs connected to the retention plate.
4. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the wall and the tab are substantially perpendicular to an axis of the catheter and introducer needle assembly and wherein the tab is in contact with the wall.
5. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 4 wherein the tab defines a hole that has a radius which is smaller than the radius of the enlarged diameter portion.
6. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 5 wherein the tab defines a hole that is larger than the main portion of the introducer needle and the wall includes an opening which is larger than the enlarged diameter portion of the introducer needle.
7. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing unwanted distal movement of the needle shield off the distal end of the introducer needle includes a tether.
8. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing unwanted distal movement of the needle shield off the distal end of the introducer needle includes an opening in the housing that is smaller than the enlarged diameter portion of the introducer needle.
9. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing unwanted distal movement of the needle shield off the distal end of the introducer needle includes a washer in the housing disposed about the introducer needle and including a hole that is smaller than the enlarged diameter portion of the introducer needle.
10. A catheter and introducer needle assembly, comprising:
a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
a catheter hub in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of the catheter;
an introducer needle removably disposed in the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end, the introducer needle including a main portion and a discontinuous portion disposed near the distal end;
a needle shield selectively engaged to the catheter hub and slidingly mounted to the introducer needle for movement from a first position to a second position at the distal end of the introducer needle, the needle shield including:
a housing having a proximal portion, a distal portion, an axis extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, and a cavity, wherein the needle is slidingly disposed, at least in part, within the cavity;
a medial wall formed in the housing and being disposed perpendicular to the axis of the housing;
flexible tabs disposed adjacent to and in contact with the medial wall;
wherein, when the needle shield is in the first position, the introducer needle is disposed between the tabs, and the tabs are adapted to permit passage of the main portion of the introducer needle;
wherein, when the needle shield is moved from the first position to the second position, the tabs permit passage of the discontinuous portion of the introducer needle; and
wherein, when the needle shield is in the second position, the tabs engage the discontinuous portion of the needle introducer needle to prevent relative movement between the needle shied and the introducer needle in at least one direction.
11. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 10 further comprising a resilient clip that is adapted to flex between a biased position and an unbiased position in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the housing wherein, in the biased position, the clip engages the catheter hub and, in the unbiased condition, the clip disengages the catheter hub and wherein, when the needle shield is in the first position, the clip is held to one side of the introducer needle so it is flexed into the biased position and, when the needle shield is in the second position, the clip flexes to the unbiased position out of engagement with the catheter hub.
12. A needle shielding assembly comprising:
a needle having a proximal end, a distal end, an axis, a main portion, a discontinuous portion and a sharp tip at the distal end; and
a needle shield slidingly mounted to the introducer needle for movement from a first position to a second position covering the sharp tip of the introducer needle, the needle shield including:
a housing having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a cavity, wherein the needle is disposed, at least in part, within the cavity;
a wall formed in the housing;
at least one flexible tab disposed adjacent to the wall and proximal to the wall; and
means for preventing unwanted distal movement of the needle shield off the sharp tip of the needle when the shield is in the second position;
wherein, when the needle shield is moved from the first position to the second position, the tab permits passage of the discontinuous portion of the needle; and
wherein, when the needle shield is in the second position, the tab restrains the discontinuous portion and is prevented from flexing distally by the wall.
13. The needle shielding assembly of claim 12 further comprising a catheter having a catheter hub, wherein the catheter is slidingly engaged with the needle, and further comprising a clip connected to the housing and selectively engaged to the catheter hub.
14. The needle shielding assembly of claim 13 wherein, when the needle shield is in the first position, the clip is held to one side of the needle in a biased position and, when the needle shield is in the second position, the clip flexes out of engagement with the catheter hub.
15. The needle shielding assembly of claim 13 wherein the clip has a generally V-shaped configuration including a pair of legs.
16. The needle shielding assembly of claim 12 wherein the discontinuous portion has a tapered proximal portion and a distally facing shoulder.
17. The needle shielding assembly of claim 12 wherein the discontinuous portion is a crimp or a notch.
18. The needle shielding assembly of claim 12 wherein the flexible tab defines a through hole sized to permit passage of the main portion of the needle but to engage the discontinuous portion as it passes through the tabs.
19. The needle shield assembly of claim 12 wherein the tab is disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis of the needle.
20. A needle for use with a needle shield assembly comprising:
a hollow needle cannula having a proximal end and a distal end and an axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
a sharp tip formed at the distal end;
a hub engaged to the proximal end of the needle;
a discontinuity permanently located on the needle near the distal end of the needle, wherein the discontinuity comprises, at least in part, an enlarged diameter portion;
wherein the enlarged diameter portion includes a tapered proximal portion and a distally facing shoulder; and
wherein the distally facing shoulder is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the hollow needle cannula.
21. The needle of claim 20 further comprising a notch disposed in the hollow needle cannula, wherein the notch is positioned along the hollow needle cannula at a point proximal to the discontinuity.
22. A needle shield for use with the needle of claim 20 comprising a housing slidingly mounted on the needle cannula and a means for engaging the discontinuity to secure it in relation to the housing.
23. A catheter and introducer needle assembly, comprising:
a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
a catheter hub in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of the catheter;
an introducer needle slidingly disposed in the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end, the introducer needle including a main portion and at least one shoulder extending circumferentially about the needle;
a needle shield selectively engaged to the catheter hub and slidingly moveable with respect to the introducer needle from a first position to a second position at the distal end of the introducer needle, the needle shield comprising:
a housing having an open proximal portion, a distal portion, an axis extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, and a cavity, wherein the needle is slidingly disposed, at least in part, within the cavity;
at least one resilient tab extending radially inward in the housing;
wherein, when the needle shield is in the first position, it is engaged to the catheter hub and the introducer needle is disposed in contact with the tab, and the tab is adapted to permit passage of the main portion of the introducer needle;
wherein, when the needle shield is moved from the first position to the second position, the tab permits passage of the main portion of the introducer needle; and
wherein, when the needle shield is in the second position, the tab engages the shoulder of the needle introducer needle to prevent relative movement between the needle shied and the introducer needle in at least one direction.
24. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 23 wherein the shoulder extends completely circumferentially about the needle.
25. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 23 wherein the shoulder has an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the main portion of the needle.
26. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 23 wherein the shoulder has an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the main portion of the needle.