Patents Assigned to Acera, LLC
  • Patent number: 11914137
    Abstract: In one aspect, a light module is disclosed, which includes a housing providing a hollow chamber extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a lens positioned in the hollow chamber, where the lens has a lens body comprising an input surface for receiving light from a light source and an output surface through which light exits the lens body, said lens further comprising a collar at least partially encircling said lens body. The light module further includes at least one shoulder on which the lens collar can be seated for positioning the lens within the housing. A light source, e.g., an LED, is coupled to the hollow chamber, e.g., at its proximal end, for providing light to the lens. In some embodiments, an optical window is disposed in the hollow chamber and is optically coupled to the output surface of the lens such that the light exiting the lens passes through the optical window before exiting the light module. In some embodiments, the shoulder can be formed as part of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Acera, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas V. Root, Thomas Davis, Michael Cook, Carlton S. Jones, David Leo, Michael S. Epstein
  • Patent number: 11525999
    Abstract: In one aspect, a handheld lighting system is disclosed, which comprises a handheld housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a light module disposed at least partially in the housing. The handheld lighting system further includes a removable and replaceable power module that is coupled to the housing (e.g., it is at least partially disposed within the housing) and is electrically coupled to the light module, e.g., through a pair of electrical leads, for providing electrical power thereto. Light intensity from the light module may be controlled from a knob on the power module. Various adapters can allow the lighting system to attach to a multitude of medical, industrial, dental or veterinary endoscopes or other instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Acera LLC
    Inventors: Thomas V. Root, Michael Cook, Thomas Davis, Michael S. Epstein, Carlton Jones, David Leo
  • Patent number: 11467393
    Abstract: An elliptical lens comprises a lens body having a proximal section and a distal section. The proximal section has at least one input surface for receiving light from a light source and the distal section has at least one output surface through which light exits the lens body. The proximal section further comprises a substantially elliptical peripheral surface receiving at least a portion of the light entering the lens body via the at least one input surface and directing at least some of the received light via total internal reflection to the distal section such that at least a portion of the light directed to the distal section exits the lens body through said at least one output surface. Optical assemblies having said elliptical lens may be embedded in medical devices such as endoscopes to provide efficient illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Acera, LLC
    Inventors: Carlton Jones, Rachel Taranta, Thomas V. Root
  • Patent number: 11409096
    Abstract: In one aspect, a light module is disclosed, which includes a housing providing a hollow chamber extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a lens positioned in the hollow chamber, where the lens has a lens body comprising an input surface for receiving light from a light source and an output surface through which light exits the lens body, said lens further comprising a collar at least partially encircling said lens body. The light module further includes at least one shoulder on which the lens collar can be seated for positioning the lens within the housing. A light source, e.g., an LED, is coupled to the hollow chamber, e.g., at its proximal end, for providing light to the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Acera LLC
    Inventors: Thomas V. Root, Thomas Davis, Michael Cook, Carlton Jones, David Leo, Michael S. Epstein
  • Patent number: 11016282
    Abstract: In one aspect, a handheld lighting system is disclosed, which comprises a handheld housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a light module disposed at least partially in the housing. The handheld lighting system further includes a removable and replaceable power module that is coupled to the housing (e.g., it is at least partially disposed within the housing) and is electrically coupled to the light module, e.g., through a pair of electrical leads, for providing electrical power thereto. Light intensity from the light module may be controlled from a knob on the power module. Various adapters can allow the lighting system to attach to a multitude of medical, industrial, dental or veterinary endoscopes or other instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Acera LLC
    Inventors: Thomas V. Root, Michael Cook, Thomas Davis, Michael S. Epstein, Carlton Jones, David Leo
  • Patent number: 10782518
    Abstract: In one aspect, a light module is disclosed, which includes a housing providing a hollow chamber extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a lens positioned in the hollow chamber, where the lens has a lens body comprising an input surface for receiving light from a light source and an output surface through which light exits the lens body, said lens further comprising a collar at least partially encircling said lens body. The light module further includes at least one shoulder on which the lens collar can be seated for positioning the lens within the housing. A light source, e.g., an LED, is coupled to the hollow chamber, e.g., at its proximal end, for providing light to the lens. In some embodiments, an optical window is disposed in the hollow chamber and is optically coupled to the output surface of the lens such that the light exiting the lens passes through the optical window before exiting the light module. In some embodiments, the shoulder can be formed as part of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Acera LLC
    Inventors: Thomas V. Root, Thomas Davis, Michael Cook, Carlton Jones, David Leo, Michael S. Epstein
  • Patent number: 10768407
    Abstract: In one aspect, a light module is disclosed, which includes a housing providing a hollow chamber extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a lens positioned in the hollow chamber, where the lens has a lens body comprising an input surface for receiving light from a light source and an output surface through which light exits the lens body, said lens further comprising a collar at least partially encircling said lens body. The light module further includes at least one shoulder on which the lens collar can be seated for positioning the lens within the housing. A light source, e.g., an LED, is coupled to the hollow chamber, e.g., at its proximal end, for providing light to the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Acera, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas V. Root, Thomas Davis, Michael Cook, Carlton Jones, David Leo, Michael S. Epstein
  • Patent number: 10281709
    Abstract: In one aspect, a handheld lighting system is disclosed, which comprises a handheld housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a light module disposed at least partially in the housing. The handheld lighting system further includes a removable and replaceable power module that is coupled to the housing (e.g., it is at least partially disposed within the housing) and is electrically coupled to the light module, e.g., through a pair of electrical leads, for providing electrical power thereto. Light intensity from the light module may be controlled from a knob on the power module. Various adapters can allow the lighting system to attach to a multitude of medical, industrial, dental or veterinary endoscopes or other instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Acera, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas V. Root, Michael Cook, Thomas Davis, Michael S. Epstein, Carlton Jones, David Leo
  • Patent number: D836227
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Acera, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas V. Root