Author: claimsbot

1. In a laser video endoscope for ophthalmologic surgery having a hand piece, the improvement providing a probe that can be adapted to pass through a 23 gauge sleeve comprising:
a hollow rigid probe extending distally of the hand piece,
said probe having a distal portion and a proximal portion,
said distal portion of said probe having approximately a 25 mil outer diameter, at least approximately a 2 mil thick sidewall and approximately a 710 mil length,
said proximal portion of said probe having at least an approximately 35 mil outer diameter and at least an approximately five mil thick sidewall,
said probe containing a laser guide fiber, an imaging component and an illumination fiber bundle,
said laser guide fiber being approximately 100 microns in diameter,
said imaging component being approximately 14 mils in diameter,
said illumination bundle having approximately 210 fibers.
2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said rigid probe is metal.
3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said imaging component is a fiber optic bundle having approximately 6,000 fibers.
4. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said imaging component is a fiber optic bundle having approximately 6,000 fibers.
5. The endoscope improvement of claim 1, wherein:
said laser fiber is adapted to transmit approximately 532 nanometer laser energy,
a camera coupled to said imaging component, and
a blocking filter between said imaging component and said camera to block wavelengths of said laser energy, said filter being otherwise transparent to visible light.
6. The endoscope improvement of claim 3, wherein:
said laser fiber is adapted to transmit approximately 532 nanometer laser energy,
a camera coupled to said imaging component, and
a blocking filter between said fiber optic bundle and said camera to block the wavelength of said laser energy, said filter being otherwise transparent to visible light.
7. The improvement of claim 5 wherein said rigid probe is metal.
8. The improvement of claim 6 wherein said rigid probe is metal.
9. In a laser video endoscope for ophthalmologic surgery having a hand piece, the improvement providing a probe that can be adapted to pass through a 23 gauge sleeve comprising:
a hollow rigid probe extending distally of the hand piece,
said probe having a distal portion and a proximal portion,
said distal portion of said probe having approximately a 25 mil outer diameter and approximately a 2 mil thick sidewall,
said proximal portion of said probe having at least an approximately 35 mil outer diameter and at least an approximately five mil thick sidewall,
said probe containing a laser guide fiber, an imaging component and an illumination fiber bundle.
10. The improvement of claim 9 wherein:
said laser guide fiber being approximately 100 microns in diameter,
said imaging component being approximately 14 mils in diameter,
said illumination bundle having approximately 210 fibers.
11. The endoscope improvement of claim 10, wherein:
said laser fiber is adapted to transmit approximately 532 nanometer laser energy,
a camera coupled to said imaging component, and
a blocking filter between said imaging component and said camera to block wavelengths of said laser energy, said filter being otherwise transparent to visible light.
12. In a laser video endoscope for ophthalmologic surgery having a hand piece, the improvement providing a probe that can be adapted to pass through a 23 gauge sleeve comprising:
a hollow rigid probe extending distally of the hand piece,
said probe having a distal portion and a proximal portion,
said distal portion of said probe having approximately a 25 mil outer diameter and approximately a 2 mil thick sidewall,
said probe containing a laser guide fiber, an imaging component and an illumination fiber bundle,
said laser guide fiber being approximately 100 microns in diameter,
said imaging component being approximately 14 mils in diameter,
said illumination bundle having approximately 210 fibers.
13. The endoscope improvement of claim 12, wherein:
said laser fiber is adapted to transmit approximately 532 nanometer laser energy,
a camera coupled to said imaging component, and
a blocking filter between said imaging component and said camera to block wavelengths of said laser energy, said filter being otherwise transparent to visible light.

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 fiber optical device comprising:
one or more substrates;
an array of filters, each of the filters having a designated spectral response to transmit only a predetermined wavelength and reflect other wavelengths,
an array of collimators, each aligned respectively with one of the filters and bonded via one or more wedges to the one or more substrates.

2. The optical device of claim 1 further comprising:
an array of mirrors configured to successively reflect the reflected other wavelengths to the array of filters.

3. The optical device of claim 1, wherein the one or more wedges are inserted into gaps between one of the collimators and the one or more substrates to hold up aligned positions of the one of the collimators.

4. The optical device of claim 3, wherein the one of the collimators is bonded to the one or more wedges on respective contacts therebetween by applying a bonding agent thereto.

5. The optical device of claim 4, wherein the one or more wedges are bonded to the one or more substrates to secure aligned positions of the one of the collimators.

6. The optical device of claim 3, wherein each of the wedges is so shaped that sliding of the wedges into the gaps will not flip over or up the one of the collimators when being pushed to slide in.

7. The optical device of claim 3, wherein each of the wedges has a cross-section shaped substantially like a right triangle.

8. A method for configuring an optical device, the method comprising:
placing an array of filters on a substrate, each having a designated spectral response to transmit only a predetermined wavelength and reflect other wavelengths;
aligning an array of collimators with the filters, each of the filters corresponding to one collimator in the array of collimators and transmitting the predetermined wavelength to the collimator;
sliding two wedges respectively towards the collimator till respective contacts between the two wedges and the collimator are established; and
applying a small amount of bonding agent to the respective contacts to bonding the collimator and the wedges so that aligned positions of the collimator are secured.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising bonding the two wedges to the substrate.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein each of the wedges has a cross-section shaped substantially like a right triangle having a hypotenuse thereof so that each of the wedges has a sliding side on the hypotenuse.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the sliding of the two wedges respectively towards the collimator comprises facing down the sliding side of each of the wedges; and pushing each of the wedges slowly towards the collimator till the respective contacts are respectively established.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the wedges is so shaped that the sliding of the two wedges respectively towards the collimator will not flip over or up the collimator that has been already aligned with one of the filters.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the wedges has a cross-section shaped substantially like a right triangle.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein aligned positions of the collimator with respect to one of the filters are securely held up by the wedges.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the placing of the array of filters on the substrate comprising:
placing an array of mirrors configured to successively reflect the reflected other wavelengths to each of the filters; and
adjusting an incident angle of each of the filters to ensure that the transmitted wavelength goes into a corresponding one of the collimators.

16. A fiber optical device comprising:
a substrate;
a first and a second array of filters, each of the filters having a designated and distinct spectral response to transmit only a predetermined wavelength and reflect other wavelengths,
a first and a second array of collimators, each aligned respectively with one of the filters and bonded via one or more wedges to the substrate, and
wherein a multiplexed signal come into one of the filters in the first array that transmits a first predetermined wavelength in the multiplexed signal to one of the collimators in the first array and reflects the other wavelengths in the multiplexed signal to one of the filters in the second array that transmits a second predetermined wavelength in the multiplexed signal to one of the collimators in the second array.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the wedges has a cross-section shaped substantially like a right triangle.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the wedges are respectively filled in gaps between one of the collimators and the substrate, and wherein the gaps are created to align one of the collimators with respect to a corresponding one of the filters.

1-4. (canceled)
5. A hand held apparatus for producing a spray pattern from a pen or pen-like liquid dispensing device without the intervention of a power source other than a human operator, the apparatus comprising
a frame containing an air nozzle and a pen holder disposed with its axis inclined to the axis of the air nozzle; and
a substantially rigid connecting portion for holding the air nozzle and the pen holder at a fixed angular separation,
the nozzle having a first wider end adapted to permit the direction of air by a human operator through the nozzle, and a second narrower end through which air is directed over the nib of a pen or pen-like liquid dispensing device received in the pen holder, the send end being truncated at an angle which is substantially similar to the angle subtended by the axis of the pen holder to the axis of the nozzle providing a space into which, in use, the nib of the pen is received.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second end is truncated at an angle of between 20 and 60 degrees to the axis of the nozzle.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second end is truncated at an angle of between 40 and 50 degrees to the axis of the nozzle.
8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second end is truncated at an angle of 45 degrees to the axis of the nozzle.
9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a hand operated, flexible bulb sealably connected to the first end of the nozzle by means of which air under pressure an be directed through the nozzle.
10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a mouthpiece and conduit connected to the first end of the nozzle by means of which air can be blown by the operator through the nozzle.
11. An assembly comprising the apparatus of claim 5; and
a pen or pen-like liquid dispensing device.
12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pen or pen-like liquid dispensing device is a felt tipped pen.
13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pen or pen-like liquid dispensing device is configured to dispense an edible food colorant.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A power steering fluid filter comprising:
a housing defining an interior chamber having an upstream end and a downstream end;
a fluid inlet communicating with the interior chamber at its upstream end;
a fluid outlet communicating with the interior chamber at its downstream end;
a filter element disposed within the interior chamber, the filter element being movable between an operable position wherein fluid flowing through the chamber passes through the filter element and a bypass position wherein fluid flowing through the chamber bypasses the filter element;
a spring disposed in the housing yieldably biasing the filter element to its operable position;
the housing being formed by a first housing portion and a second housing portion connected together; and
a release mechanism holding the first and second housing portions together and being selectively removable to release the first and second housing from each other to permit replacement of the filter element.

2. The power steering fluid filter of claim 1 and further comprising a magnet within the housing for capturing entrained ferrous debris in fluid flowing through the filter.

3. The power steering fluid filter of claim 2 and wherein the magnet is positioned within the filter element.

4. The power steering fluid filter of claim 3 and wherein the magnet is movable within the filter element.

5. The power steering fluid filter of claim 4 and wherein the filter element comprises a ferrous rim and wherein the magnet is at least partially surrounded by the ferrous rim to hold the magnet within the filter element via magnetic attraction to the rim.

6. The power steering fluid filter of claim 5 and wherein the filter element comprises a thimble filter.

7. The power steering fluid filter of claim 1 and wherein the spring has a spring constant and wherein the spring constant is preselected to allow the filter element to move to its bypass position under the influence of fluid pressure when the filter element becomes at least partially clogged with debris.

8. The power steering fluid filter of claim 1 and wherein the first and second housing portions are telescopically connected together.

9. The power steering fluid filter of claim 8 and further comprising an O-ring disposed between the first and second housing portions and forming a seal therebetween.

10. The power steering fluid filter of claim 8 and wherein the release mechanism comprises a removable locking clip.

11. The power steering fluid filter of claim 10 and wherein the locking clip extends through the first housing portion and the second housing portion and is removable to allow the housing portions to be separated.

12. A vehicle power steering system incorporating the power steering fluid filter of claim 1.

13. The power steering system of claim 1 and wherein the housing is formed of aluminum.

14. A power steering fluid filter comprising:
a housing defining an interior chamber having an upstream end and a downstream end;
a fluid inlet communicating with the interior chamber at its upstream end;
a fluid outlet communicating with the interior chamber at its downstream end;
a thimble filter disposed within the interior chamber, the thimble filter having a rim and a mesh screen and being movable within the interior chamber between an operable position against the upstream end of the interior chamber wherein fluid flowing through the chamber passes through the mesh screen and a bypass position displaced from the upstream end of the interior chamber wherein fluid flowing through the chamber bypasses the mesh screen;
a spring disposed in the housing yieldably biasing the mesh screen to its operable position, the spring being at least partially compressed between the downstream end of the interior chamber and the rim of the thimble filter;
an annular magnet in the interior chamber and positioned such that fluid flowing through the interior chamber passes through the annular magnet;
the housing being formed by a first housing portion and a second housing portion telescopically coupled together together; and
a locking clip holding the first and second housing portions together and being selectively removable to release the first and second housing portions from each other to permit replacement of the filter element.

15. The power steering fluid filter as claimed in claim 14 and wherein the locking clip is a generally U-shaped spring clip having first and second legs that extend through aligned openings in the first and second housing portions to hold the housing portions together, and a bight portion that can be grasped to remove the locking clip.