Patents by Inventor Bruce A. Christie

Bruce A. Christie has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20130238091
    Abstract: The present application describes a device and methods that use a small-aperture mask surgically implanted in the optical path to improve the depth of focus of, for example, a pseudophakic patient. The device can be inserted adjacent to an intraocular lens (IOL). The device may include one or more connectors for attaching the device to an intraocular lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: ACUFOCUS, INC.
    Inventors: Randall Danta, Bruce Christie, Robert Grant
  • Patent number: 8460374
    Abstract: A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Christie, Thomas A. Silvestrini, Kevin F. Hahnen
  • Publication number: 20120310338
    Abstract: Intraocular implants and methods of making intraocular implants are provided. The intraocular implants can improve the vision of a patient, such as by increasing the depth of focus of an eye of a patient. In particular, the intraocular implants can include a mask having an annular portion with a relatively low visible light transmission surrounding a relatively high transmission central portion such as a clear lens or aperture. This construct is adapted to provide an annular mask with a small aperture for light to pass through to the retina to increase depth of focus. The intraocular implant may have an optical power for refractive correction. The intraocular implant may be implanted in any location along the optical pathway in the eye, e.g., as an implant in the anterior or posterior chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: ACUFOCUS, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Christie, Alexei N. Kosmynine
  • Publication number: 20120245683
    Abstract: A corneal implant adapted for implantation between layers of a cornea to focus an image on a retina of an eye includes an inlay, an outer perimeter, and a clear central region capable of refracting light to compensate for a refractive error of an eye. The inlay also has an annular opaque region comprising a plurality of holes or otherwise being adapted to transport nutrients. The annular opaque region extends from the outer circumference of the inlay to the clear central portion. The opaque region extends over a minority of the surface area of the implant. The anterior and posterior surfaces of the inlay are configured to abut adjacent layers of the cornea.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: ACUFOCUS, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Christie, Thomas Silvestrini
  • Publication number: 20120143325
    Abstract: Corneal inlays and masks and methods of improving vision of a patient with corneal inlays and masks are provided. Masks with an aperture can improve the vision of a patient, such as by increasing the depth of focus of an eye of a patient. For example, a mask can have an annular portion with a relatively low visible light transmission surrounding a relatively high transmission central portion, such as a clear lens or aperture. This provides an annular mask with a small aperture for light to pass through to the retina to increase depth of focus. The mask may also include nutrient transport structures that provide nutrient flow through mask to prevent nutrient depletion. These nutrient transport structures can be configured to concentrate nutrient transmission near a center region of the mask to provide more nutrient flow near the center region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Christie, Edward W. Peterson, Corina Van De Pol
  • Patent number: 8079706
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for aligning an implant with a visual axis of an eye of a patient. The apparatus has an instrument with an instrument axis and an aperture through which the patient may look along the instrument axis. The implant includes an aperture having an implant axis that can be positioned substantially collinear with the instrument axis. The implant further includes a substantially opaque annulus extending between the aperture and an outer periphery of the implant. The annulus has a nutrient transport structure for conveying nutrients between anterior and posterior surfaces of the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Silvestrini, Bruce A. Christie, Kevin F. Hahnen, Carl F. Knopp
  • Publication number: 20110040376
    Abstract: Intraocular implants and methods of making intraocular implants are provided. The intraocular implants can improve the vision of a patient, such as by increasing the depth of focus of an eye of a patient. In particular, the intraocular implants can include a mask having an annular portion with a relatively low visible light transmission surrounding a relatively high transmission central portion such as a clear lens or aperture. This construct is adapted to provide an annular mask with a small aperture for light to pass through to the retina to increase depth of focus. The intraocular implant may have an optical power for refractive correction. The intraocular implant may be implanted in any location along the optical pathway in the eye, e.g., as an implant in the anterior or posterior chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: ACUFOCUS, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Christie, Alexei N. Kosmynine
  • Publication number: 20090306773
    Abstract: Implants configured for corneal implantation are disclosed that have a light transmitting portion and a light-blocking portion disposed about the periphery of the implant. The implant can be an elongate member, such as a split or continuous ring, that can be implanted in the cornea to alter the refractive properties of the cornea by altering the curvature of the anterior surface of the cornea, thereby providing corrective refraction. The light-blocking portion can reduce edge effects, which may be visible or distracting to the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Silversrini, Bruce A. Christie
  • Patent number: 7628810
    Abstract: A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Christie, Thomas A. Silvestrini
  • Publication number: 20070225691
    Abstract: A method is provided for increasing the depth of focus of an eye of a patient. A visual axis of the eye is aligned with an instrument axis of an ophthalmic instrument. The ophthalmic instrument has an aperture through which the patient may look along the instrument axis. A first reference target is imaged on the instrument axis at a first distance with respect to the eye. A second reference target is imaged on the instrument axis with the ophthalmic instrument at a second distance with respect to the eye. The second distance is greater than the first distance. Movement is provided such that the patient's eye is in a position where the images of the first and second reference targets appear to the patient's eye to be aligned. A mask comprising a pin-hole aperture having a mask axis is aligned with the instrument axis such that the mask axis and the instrument axis are substantially collinear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Silvestrini, Bruce Christie, Kevin Hahnen, Carl Knopp
  • Publication number: 20060274264
    Abstract: A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventors: Bruce Christie, Thomas Silvestrini, Kevin Hahnen
  • Publication number: 20060274265
    Abstract: A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Inventors: Bruce Christie, Thomas Silvestrini, Kevin Hahnen
  • Publication number: 20060271183
    Abstract: A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Bruce Christie, Thomas Silvestrini, Kevin Hahnen
  • Publication number: 20060271026
    Abstract: A method is provided for increasing the depth of focus of an eye of a patient. A visual axis of the eye is aligned with an instrument axis of an ophthalmic instrument. The ophthalmic instrument has an aperture through which the patient may look along the instrument axis. A first reference target is imaged on the instrument axis at a first distance with respect to the eye. A second reference target is imaged on the instrument axis with the ophthalmic instrument at a second distance with respect to the eye. The second distance is greater than the first distance. Movement is provided such that the patient's eye is in a position where the images of the first and second reference targets appear to the patient's eye to be aligned. A mask comprising a pin-hole aperture having a mask axis is aligned with the instrument axis such that the mask axis and the instrument axis are substantially collinear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Silvestrini, Bruce Christie, Kevin Hahnen, Carl Knopp
  • Publication number: 20060268229
    Abstract: A method is provided for increasing the depth of focus of an eye of a patient. A visual axis of the eye is aligned with an instrument axis of an ophthalmic instrument. The ophthalmic instrument has an aperture through which the patient may look along the instrument axis. A first reference target is imaged on the instrument axis at a first distance with respect to the eye. A second reference target is imaged on the instrument axis with the ophthalmic instrument at a second distance with respect to the eye. The second distance is greater than the first distance. Movement is provided such that the patient's eye is in a position where the images of the first and second reference targets appear to the patient's eye to be aligned. A mask comprising a pin-hole aperture having a mask axis is aligned with the instrument axis such that the mask axis and the instrument axis are substantially collinear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Silvestrini, Bruce Christie, Kevin Hahnen, Carl Knopp
  • Publication number: 20060271182
    Abstract: A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Bruce Christie, Thomas Silvestrini, Kevin Hahnen
  • Publication number: 20060271179
    Abstract: A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Bruce Christie, Thomas Silvestrini, Kevin Hahnen
  • Publication number: 20060271181
    Abstract: A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Bruce Christie, Thomas Silvestrini, Kevin Hahnen
  • Patent number: D656526
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Christie, Edward W. Peterson, Corina van de Pol
  • Patent number: D681086
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Christie, Edward W. Peterson, Corina van de Pol