Head Strap for Medical Loupes

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and system to construct a head strap for a dental or medical pair of magnifying loupe glasses. Key features of the disclosure are that the head strap is hygienic and very easy to disinfect, while at the same time being easy and quick to adjust and securely attach to the head, and quickly and securely attach to the temples of a standard loupe.

Claims

1. A head strap for medical loupe glasses, comprising: a pair of tubes of flexible material joined together at one end of each tube; and magnets physically attached to each tube at points along its length, wherein said tubes are attachable to temples of a pair of eyeglasses and said magnets are joined together by magnetic attraction.

2. The head strap of claim 1 wherein said flexible material is silicone.

3. The head strap of claim 1 wherein said flexible material is rubber.

4. The head strap of claim 1 wherein said flexible material is polyvinyl chloride.

5. The head strap of claim 1 wherein said flexible material is polyurethane.

6. The head strap of claim 1 wherein said flexible material is nylon.

7. The head strap of claim 1 wherein said flexible material is cotton.

8. The head strap of claim 1 wherein said flexible material is braided fiberglass.

9. The head strap of claim 1 wherein said flexible material is fluoropolymer.

10. The head strap of claim 1 wherein said tubes are connected by a weighted block selected from a plurality of blocks having different weights.

11. The head strap of claim 1 wherein said tube has a rough inner surface.

12. A head strap for medical loupe glasses, comprising: a pair of tubes of flexible material joined together at one end of each tube; and magnets inserted in each tube wherein the magnets are free to move within the tubes, wherein said tubes are attachable to temples of a pair of eyeglasses and said magnets are joined together by magnetic attraction.

13. The head strap of claim 12 wherein said flexible material is silicone.

14. The head strap of claim 12 wherein said flexible material is rubber.

15. The head strap of claim 12 wherein said flexible material is polyvinyl chloride.

16. The head strap of claim 12 wherein said flexible material is polyurethane.

17. The head strap of claim 12 wherein said flexible material is nylon.

18. The head strap of claim 12 wherein said flexible material is cotton.

19. The head strap of claim 12 wherein said flexible material is braided fiberglass.

20. The head strap of claim 12 wherein said flexible material is fluoropolymer.

21. The head strap of claim 12 wherein said tubes are connected by a weighted block, the block selected from a plurality of blocks having different weights.

22. The head strap of claim 12 wherein said tube has a rough inner surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a person wearing a pair of loupes with a head strap, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a person wearing a pair of loupes with a head strap in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the head strap with the magnets not connected.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the head strap with the magnets connected.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the end of the silicone tube of the head strap that is pushed over the temples of the loupes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] In the preferred embodiment the dentist or surgeon disinfects their head strap by wiping with a disinfect wipe. The user then attaches the head strap to a pair of loupes which the dentist of surgeon owns, purchased from one of the many manufacturers selling such items. The user then adjusts the fitting of the head strap by moving the magnets inside the head strap silicone tubes. Once adjusted the user places the loupes on the head, with the loupes resting on the bridge of the nose and the loupe temples resting over the ears of the user. The head strap is passed over the head and using a simple hand motion the head strap is tightened by pushing the magnets together. The user is then free, with two hands, to continue with his work.

[0026] Reference is made to FIG. 1 which shows a side elevation view of a person wearing a pair of loupes with a head strap, FIG. 2 which shows a perspective view of the same person wearing the pair of loupes and head strap, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. which show perspective views of the head strap on its own and FIG. 5 which shows a perspective view of the end of the silicone tube of the head strap which is attached to the temples of the loupes.

[0027] In step 1, the dentist or surgeon disinfects the head strap 20 by wiping the outer smooth silicone surface 30 and 32 and aluminum connector block 38 with a readily available disinfectant wipe, or by boiling the head strap 20 in water for 3 to 4 minutes. The head strap is easy to clean because the uniform construction of the head strap means there are no sharp edges to catch either the wipe or other foreign objects such as hair and also because the head strap is made from silicone material. Silicone is quick-drying, non-porous and hypoallergenic and is 35 times more hygienic than nylon and therefore the head strap is highly more hygienic than a pair of nylon or cotton retainers.

[0028] In step 2, if this is the first time that the user is wearing the head strap they will adjust the size of the head strap by moving the Neodymium N52 magnets 34 and 36 located inside the silicone tubes up or down by a gentle squeeze to ensure the distance between the ends of the head strap 26 and 28 and the magnets 36 and 38 is approximately the distance between the ears 22 and 24 and the back of the head.

[0029] The disc shaped magnets 36 and 38 have been designed with dimensions of 8 mm diameter and 5 mm width, which sit inside the silicon tubing 30 and 32 which has an internal diameter of 4 mm. This combination of sizes has been found to be optimal to allow the magnets to move without slipping. The magnets 34 and 36 have flat faces to ensure there are no ‘pinch points’ which can wear excessively when the magnets are constantly connected and reconnected.

[0030] In step 3, the user attaches the ends of the head strap 26 and 28 to the loupes 12 by inserting the ends of the temples 18 into the ends of the head strap 26 and 28 using a push and twisting motion until tight. The inside of the ends of the silicone tubing 26 and 28 have been designed with a textured internal surface 40 so that the silicone both grips more to the surface of the temples arms using the raised surface elements and also at the same time allows for the silicone material to stretch between the raised surface elements to accommodate as many different sizes and styles of loupe temple arms as possible.

[0031] Once the head strap 20 is attached to the loupes 12, in step 4, the user guides the temples of the loupes 18 either side of the head 10 and over the ears 22 and 24 and the nose bridge of the loupes 14 sit on the user's nose Whilst guiding the loupes the user ensures that the head strap 20 is placed over the head 10.

[0032] In step 5, once the loupes are comfortable on the ears 22 and 24 and nose 14, the user grasps the magnets 34 and 36 and pushes them together behind the head until the magnets come together due to their magnetic attraction. If the head strap is found to be too loose or tight on their first use, the user can pull the magnets 34 and 36 apart and slide them up or down further inside the silicone tube 30 and 32 as required to re-adjust the size and then ‘click’ them together again.

[0033] During the dental or surgical procedure, the user can view in detail the area to be examined using the loupe magnification lenses 16. If the user needs to move their head from side to side, or up and down, the loupe strap 20 ensures that the loupes 12 remain stable on the nose and ears 22 and 24 and do not slip so much that the view down the magnification lenses 16 is not straight or distorted, or that the loupes 12 do not fall due to their weight and unbalanced nature and potentially break.

[0034] In an alternative embodiment, where heavier or larger loupes 12 are required, the aluminum connector block 38 can be replaced with an alternative heavier weighted block to counterbalance the weight of the loupes on the nose, and over the ears 22 and 24 to ensure a more stable sitting of the loupes 12 on the head 10.

[0035] Once the user has completed their dental or surgical procedure, the user can pull the magnets 34 and 36 apart to loosen the loupes, and the loupes can be taken on the face in a forward motion, with the head strap 20 passing over the head 10.