Patents by Inventor Kirk W. Todd

Kirk W. Todd 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).

  • Patent number: 9320646
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may allow each of the surgical steps of a surgical procedure to be defined and associated with a function of the surgical console using a GUI. The defined surgical procedure can then be saved and later invoked by a user of the surgical console to conduct the surgical procedure. When the saved surgical procedure is invoked representations of the defined surgical steps are displayed to the user using a GUI so the user can conduct the surgical procedure by navigating through the representations of the surgical steps such that when a representation of a surgical step is selected the surgical console is configured according to the functionality associated with that surgical step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Kirk W. Todd, Paul J. Essex, Johan Ekvall, Torsten A. Gelland, Roger D. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8631802
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for allowing a user to modify a surgical procedure. An embodiment of the method of the present invention can include: providing a GUI on a touch screen of a surgical console, said GUI comprising a representation of the surgical procedure and representations of one or more surgical steps, wherein the GUI allows a user to modify the representation of the surgical procedure by dragging and dropping representations of surgical steps using the touch screen; detecting that the representation of the surgical procedure has been modified; and modifying the surgical procedure to correspond to the modified representation of the surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Paul J. Essex, Johan Ekvall, Kirk W. Todd
  • Publication number: 20130047109
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for allowing a user to modify a surgical procedure. An embodiment of the method of the present invention can include: providing a GUI on a touch screen of a surgical console, said GUI comprising a representation of the surgical procedure and representations of one or more surgical steps, wherein the GUI allows a user to modify the representation of the surgical procedure by dragging and dropping representations of surgical steps using the touch screen; detecting that the representation of the surgical procedure has been modified; and modifying the surgical procedure to correspond to the modified representation of the surgical procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: Paul J. Essex, Johan Ekvall, Kirk W. Todd
  • Patent number: 8272387
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for allowing a user to modify a surgical procedure. An embodiment of the method of the present invention can include: providing a GUI on a touch screen of a surgical console, said GUI comprising a representation of the surgical procedure and representations of one or more surgical steps, wherein the GUI allows a user to modify the representation of the surgical procedure by dragging and dropping representations of surgical steps using the touch screen; detecting that the representation of the surgical procedure has been modified; and modifying the surgical procedure to correspond to the modified representation of the surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Paul J. Essex, Johan Ekvall, Kirk W. Todd
  • Patent number: 8246580
    Abstract: A microsurgical system capable of controlling aspiration and detecting an occlusion via monitoring a change in either suction flow rate or suction impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Mark A. Hopkins, John C. Huculak, Kirk W. Todd, Roger Thomas, Shawn X. Gao, Nader Nazarifar
  • Patent number: 8048094
    Abstract: A microsurgical system, and a foot controller for the improved operation of a microsurgical system, are disclosed. A surgeon may use the foot controller to simultaneously control multiple surgical parameters based upon movement of a foot pedal of the foot controller in a single plane of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Russell L. Finlay, Christopher C. Jung, John C. Huculak, Paul Essex, Kirk W. Todd
  • Publication number: 20100030168
    Abstract: A microsurgical system capable of controlling aspiration and detecting an occlusion via monitoring a change in either suction flow rate or suction impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Mark A. Hopkins, John C. Huculak, Kirk W. Todd, Roger Thomas, Shawn X. Gao, Nader Nazarifar
  • Patent number: 7568619
    Abstract: System and method for identifying a component, such as an optical probe or pneumatic scissors, of an ophthalmic surgical device. A component of a surgical device includes an identifier, such as a RFID tag. Data from the RFID tag is transmitted to a RFID reader in the device. A controller determines whether the component corresponding to the received data is operable with the surgical device based on criteria, such as whether the received data is an authorized code that matches data stored in memory or whether the received data solves or satisfies an algorithm. The authorized codes are selected from a larger set of available codes. The controller enables or disables the operation of the device with the component based on whether the criteria is satisfied, the number of uses of the component, an amount of time that has passed since the component has been used, or a geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk W. Todd, Johan G. Ekvall, Frederick M. Reed, T. Scott Rowe, Christopher Horvath
  • Publication number: 20090121838
    Abstract: A smart connector system includes a machine connector disposed on a face of a surgical machine, an illumination ring located on the face of the surgical machine and disposed around a periphery of the machine connector, an RFID reader antenna located in close proximity to the machine connector and the face of the surgical machine, and an accessory connector adapted to couple with the machine connector. The accessory connector has an RFID tag antenna and is capable of attaching a tool to the surgical machine. When the accessory connector is brought within close proximity to the machine connector, a communications connection is established between the RFID tag antenna and the RFID reader antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Victor B. Mezhinsky, Fang Wen, Argelio Olivera, Mark A. Hopkins, Kirk W. Todd
  • Publication number: 20090082794
    Abstract: A microsurgical system, and a foot controller for the improved operation of a microsurgical system, are disclosed. A surgeon may use the foot controller to simultaneously control multiple surgical parameters based upon movement of a foot pedal of the foot controller in a single plane of motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Russell L. Finlay, Christopher C. Jung, John C. Huculak, Paul Essex, Kirk W. Todd
  • Patent number: 7470277
    Abstract: A microsurgical system, and a foot controller for the improved operation of a microsurgical system, are disclosed. A surgeon may use the foot controller to simultaneously control multiple surgical parameters based upon movement of a foot pedal of the foot controller in a single plane of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell L. Finlay, Christopher C. Jung, John C. Huculak, Paul Essex, Kirk W. Todd
  • Publication number: 20080003555
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method useful in setting up a complex ophthalmic surgical instrumentation and consumables associated therewith. One embodiment is directed to a surgical system capable of displaying a video showing setup instructions corresponding to a consumable or a consumable pack. Each pack may contain one or more consumables. Once a consumable is scanned, selected, or otherwise identified, the surgical system may operate to query a database to obtain Directions For Use (DFU) and other data associated with the consumable, update pack settings accordingly, and provide setup instructions in various modes, including the Wizard. The Wizard provides setup instructions (e.g., visual, audio, text, etc.) one step at a time and displays the next step in a pre-defined setup sequence only when the preceding step has been correctly and successfully completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Johan Ekvall, Kirk W. Todd, Paul J. Essex, Torsten A. Gelland
  • Publication number: 20080004728
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for allowing a user to modify a surgical procedure. An embodiment of the method of the present invention can include: providing a GUI on a touch screen of a surgical console, said GUI comprising a representation of the surgical procedure and representations of one or more surgical steps, wherein the GUI allows a user to modify the representation of the surgical procedure by dragging and dropping representations of surgical steps using the touch screen; detecting that the representation of the surgical procedure has been modified; and modifying the surgical procedure to correspond to the modified representation of the surgical procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Paul J. Essex, Johan Ekvall, Kirk W. Todd
  • Publication number: 20070202479
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may allow each of the surgical steps of a surgical procedure to be defined and associated with a function of the surgical console using a GUI. The defined surgical procedure can then be saved and later invoked by a user of the surgical console to conduct the surgical procedure. When the saved surgical procedure is invoked representations of the defined surgical steps are displayed to the user using a GUI so the user can conduct the surgical procedure by navigating through the representations of the surgical steps such that when a representation of a surgical step is selected the surgical console is configured according to the functionality associated with that surgical step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventors: Kirk W. Todd, Paul J. Essex, Johan Ekvall, Torsten A. Gelland, Roger D. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6659998
    Abstract: A microsurgical system, and a method of mapping the surgical functions of the microsurgical system to a foot controller operatively coupled with the system, are disclosed. The microsurgical system includes a computer, a foot controller operatively coupled to the computer, and a touch screen display operatively coupled to the computer. The foot controller has a plurality of switches. Each of the switches is for controlling a surgical function of the microsurgical system and for actuation by a user's foot. The touch screen display has the ability to display a graphic representation of the foot controller including the plurality of switches, and to display a list of surgical functions so that the list is associated with the graphical representation of one of the plurality of switches. By touching one of the surgical functions in the list, a user can exchange the surgical functions associated with any two of the plurality of switches on the foot controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Alcon Universal Ltd.
    Inventors: Greg L. DeHoogh, Paul J. Essex, Donn D. Lobdell, Roger Thomas, Kirk W. Todd
  • Publication number: 20030073980
    Abstract: A microsurgical system, and a foot controller for the improved operation of a microsurgical system, are disclosed. A surgeon may use the foot controller to simultaneously control multiple surgical parameters based upon movement of a foot pedal of the foot controller in a single plane of motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Russell L. Finlay, Christopher C. Jung, John C. Huculak, Paul Essex, Kirk W. Todd
  • Publication number: 20020045887
    Abstract: A microsurgical system, and a method of mapping the surgical functions of the microsurgical system to a foot controller operatively coupled with the system, are disclosed. The microsurgical system includes a computer, a foot controller operatively coupled to the computer, and a touch screen display operatively coupled to the computer. The foot controller has a plurality of switches. Each of the switches is for controlling a surgical function of the microsurgical system and for actuation by a user's foot. The touch screen display has the ability to display a graphic representation of the foot controller including the plurality of switches, and to display a list of surgical functions so that the list is associated with the graphical representation of one of the plurality of switches. By touching one of the surgical functions in the list, a user can exchange the surgical functions associated with any two of the plurality of switches on the foot controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Greg L. DeHoogh, Paul J. Essex, Donn D. Lobdell, Roger Thomas, Kirk W. Todd