Slit Lamp Microscope Slit Parallelism via Dual Spring Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional slit lamp microscopes face issues with slit width accuracy due to spontaneous closing, increased inspection time, and difficulty in forming a parallel slit, primarily caused by slippage and thermal expansion, leading to operational inefficiencies and reduced precision.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a slit lamp microscope with a pair of slit forming members held by holding members that can rotate oppositely, featuring a first urging means to bring the slit forming members close and a second urging means to stabilize their rotation, ensuring precise slit width adjustment and preventing spontaneous closing, while maintaining parallelism through balanced urging forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single urging means is used to bring slit forming members close, then the structure is simple, but slippage occurs causing spontaneous closing and loss of slit width accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The single urging means is divided into two separate urging means: a first urging means that urges the holding members to bring slit forming members close, and a second urging means that urges the holding members to press against the shaft member. This segmentation prevents slippage by distributing the urging functions, thereby maintaining slit width accuracy without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution adds a new dimension of control by introducing a second urging means that acts in a different direction (pressing holding members against the shaft member) rather than only along the slit width adjustment direction. This multi-dimensional urging system eliminates slippage and maintains precision.
2Productivity
If conventional slit width adjustment mechanism is used, then the structure is simple, but slippage causes spontaneous closing increasing inspection time
Solution Approach 1:
The second urging means applies a preliminary counteracting force by pressing the holding members against the shaft member, preventing slippage before it can occur. This preliminary anti-action ensures the slit width remains stable during inspection, preventing spontaneous closing and reducing inspection time.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional holding mechanism is used, then the structure is simple, but thermal expansion and slippage make it difficult to form parallel slit
Solution Approach 1:
The second urging means performs a preliminary action by continuously pressing the holding members against the shaft member, preventing thermal expansion and slippage from affecting slit parallelism. This preliminary stabilizing action ensures manufacturing precision is maintained without requiring complex compensation mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances slit parallelism and precision, reduces the force required for slit width adjustment, and prevents spontaneous closing, thereby improving operational efficiency and reducing the physical burden on examiners.
Implementation Method 1
a first urging means for urging the pair of holding means such that bring the pair of slit forming members close to each other
Implementation Method 2
a second urging means for urging the pair of holding members such that the pair of holding members are pressed against the shaft member
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a slit lamp microscope capable of forming a slit superior in terms of parallelism. The slit lamp microscope includes casings (100L and 100R) to the bottoms surfaces of which slit blades (107L) and (107R) are fixed and which are connected together so as to be rotatable around shaft members (102), and an inter-casing distance varying member (87) adapted to change the distance between the casings (100L and 100R) in correspondence with vertical movement of an ascent/descent shaft (86). Coil-like portions of torsion springs (103) are wound around the shaft members (102) to which the casings (100L and 100R) are connected. The torsion springs (103) urge the casings (100L and 100R) so as to bring the slit blades (107L and 107R) close to each other. Further, the casings (100L and 100R) are equipped with U-shaped springs (106) urging protrusions (100L′ and 100R′) thereof so as to press them against the shaft members (102).