FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ear diagnosis and treatment unit and, more particularly, to an ear diagnosis and treatment unit adapted to connect a microscope attached with a camera to a monitor (a screen by which a patient can watch the treatment process) about a swivel chair for treating a patient, thereby enabling an ear diagnosis and treatment to be performed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, swivel chairs for treating a patient are disclosed in Korean Utility Model Application No. 0284427 filed by the present inventor. In other words, a microscope and a monitor according to the known art are integrally mounted to a rotary driving unit underneath a swivel chair for treating a patient via a connecting bar so that the microscope and the monitor can face the ears and be changed in positions thereof. A patient can watch the treatment process via the monitor on which a narrow and dark ear hole and an ear drum being treated and magnified by the microscope are shown, while a surgeon can treat the patient's ears and explain the treatment process to the patient and patient's guardian via the monitor, thereby enabling to enhance the treatment credibility and increase the remedial value to the maximum.

However, there is a problem in the conventional swivel chair thus described in that the conventional microscope and the monitor cannot be applied to the swivel chair for treating a patient (for example, to a chair not equipped with a microscope and a monitor) independently manufactured and provided to a hospital because the microscope and the monitor are integrally fixed via a connecting bar to a rotary driving unit underneath the swivel chair such that the existing swivel chair has to be replaced with a new one, resulting in an increase in overhead cost to the hospital.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is disclosed to solve the afore-mentioned problem and it is an object of the present invention to provide an ear diagnosis and treatment unit configured to allow a microscope and a monitor rotatably adjusted about the ears of a patient to be installed at a base body unit manufactured separately from a swivel chair for treating a patient and to be becomingly fitted to the swivel chair independently manufactured and purchased by a hospital, thereby eliminating the cost resulting from replacing the existing swivel chair. In accordance with the object of the present invention, there is provided an ear diagnosis and treatment unit mounted with a microscope (10) and a monitor (20) about a swivel chair for treating a patient, the microscope (10) and the monitor (20) each being oppositely and switchably positioned from the ears, the unit comprising: first and second connecting members (30, 32) each supporting the microscope (10) and the monitor (20) at a predetermined height; and a base body unit (50) for supporting the first and second connecting members (30, 32) such that the microscope (10) and the monitor (20) can be rotatably adjusted each at a distance opposite from the ears by the first and second connecting members (30, 32) and simultaneously for allowing the swivel chair for treating a patient to be mounted thereon, wherein the base body unit (50) comprises: a lower fixing plate (52) where a fixing axle (52a) is protruded therefrom; a rotary plate (54) rotatably fitted into the fixing axle (52a) and allowing the first and second connecting members (30,32) to be fixed to respective external sides thereof; and an upper fixing plate (56) coupled to the fixing axle (52a) to cover an upper side of the rotary plate (54) and allowing the swivel chair to be easily and supportively mounted on the upper side.

Preferably, the base body unit (50) comprises: a first bearing (58a) interposed between the lower fixing plate (52) and the rotary plate (54) for assisting the free movement of the rotary plate (54); and a second bearing (58b) interposed between the upper fixing plate (56) and the rotary plate (54) for assisting the free movement of the rotary plate (54).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view for illustrating an ear diagnosis and treatment unit according to an embodiment of the present invention mounted with a swivel chair for treating a patient; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for illustrating a base body unit of an ear diagnosis and treatment unit according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings, where the present embodiment is not limiting the scope of the present invention but is given only as an illustrative purpose.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ear diagnosis and treatment unit includes first and second connecting members (30,32) for respectively supporting a microscope (10) and a monitor (20) each at a predetermined height and a base body unit (50) for supporting the first and second connecting members (30, 32) to allow the microscope (10) and the monitor (20) to be rotatably adjusted by the first and second connecting members (30, 32) each spaced 180 degrees apart and for a known swivel chair for treating a patient to be supportively and centrally mounted thereon.

In other words, the first and the second connecting members (30, 32) includes fixing bars (34a, 34b), each being bent in the shape of an CU and fixed at a lower horizontal end thereof to an opposite location spaced, for example, 180 degrees apart relative to an external surface of the base body unit (50); link bars (36a, 36b), each mounted to an upper side of the fixing bars (34a, 34b) to support the microscope (10) and the monitor (20), enabling a position-adjustment to a predetermined angle by conducting an articulate movement, and a pad member (38), having wheels for smooth rotation, mounted at a right angled location underneath the fixing bar (34a) for preventing the fixing bar (4a) from being weighed down by the weight of various diagnosis and treatment equipments (a controller, suction device, shelves and the like each not shown), except the microscope.

The base body unit (50) includes a lower fixing plate (52) disposed with a fixing axle (52a) centrally and protrusively mounted on an upper surface thereof for being accommodated, for example, on an indoor floor; a rotary plate (54) rotatably fitted into a circumference of the fixing axle (52a) and supportively fixing the fixing bars (34a, 4b) each bar oppositely located, for example, 180 degrees apart; an upper fixing plate (56) for allowing the known swivel chair (40) to be easily mounted thereon and centrally formed with a fixing groove (56a), the known swivel chair being fitted into an upper end of the fixing axle (52a) to cover an upper portion of the rotary plate (54) and separately manufactured and delivered to hospitals; a plurality of first bearings (58a) interposed between the lower rotary plate (52) and the rotary plate (54) to enable the rotary plate (54) to supportively and smoothly rotate; and a plurality of second bearings (58b) interposed between the upper rotary plate (56) and the rotary plate (54) to enable the rotary plate (54) to freely and supportively rotate.

The microscope (10) and the monitor (20) are connected by a light source using an optical cable (not shown), and the optical cable is electrically connected to the microscope (10) and the monitor (20) along the interior of the fixing bars (34a, 34b) via the base body unit (50).

The operation of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the base body unit (50) is so arranged as to be covered on upper and lower sides thereof by the lower fixing plate (52) and the upper fixing plate (56) about the rotary plate (54).

The rotary plate (54) is so arranged as to be freely rotated by the plurality of first and second bearings (58a, 58b) when the rotary plate (54) is interposed between the lower rotary plate (52) and the upper fixing plate (56) and is also so arranged as to be free from any interference such that the base body unit (50) is not affected at all even if the conventional swivel chair (40) for treating a patient is installed on the upper central surface of the upper fixing plate (56).

Furthermore, the first and second connecting members (30, 32), each placed adjacent to or near one ear at 180 degrees apart, enables the microscope (10) and the monitor (20) to supportively maintain a predetermined height from the base body unit (50). The first and second connecting members also maintains a predetermined distance so as not to collide with the swivel chair (40) for treating a patient mounted on the base body unit (50).

In other words, the microscope (10), the monitor (20) and the base body unit (50) are manufactured independently from the swivel chair (40), and the microscope (10) and monitor (20) are rotatably supported to the base body unit (50) via the first and second connecting members (30, 32) such that the ear diagnosis and treatment unit according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention can be easily mounted to the swivel chair (40) widely distributed at ear, nose and throat hospitals.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents.

As apparent from the foregoing, there is an advantage in the ear diagnosis and treatment unit thus described according to the embodiment of the present invention in that a microscope and a monitor each oppositely located adjacent to an ear are connected to a base body unit via connecting members and can be mounted to an existing swivel chair for treating a patient independently manufactured and distributed to a hospital such that the cost resulting from replacing the existing swivel chair can be reduced.