Patents by Inventor Richard J. Mackool

Richard J. Mackool 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: 10568734
    Abstract: An ophthalmic device including an ophthalmic lens having anterior and posterior surfaces and at least one diffraction grating is described. The diffraction grating(s) are on the anterior and/or posterior surface(s). The diffraction grating(s) include zones. A first zone is at a first distance range from a center of the lens. A second zone is at a second distance range further from the center than the first distance range. A repeat zone is at a third distance range further from the center than the second distance range. The first zone includes echelette(s) having a first step height and a first radius of curvature. The second zone includes echelette(s) having a second step height and a second radius of curvature. The repeat zone includes echelette(s) having at least one of the first step height and the first radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Richard J. Mackool
  • Publication number: 20170252151
    Abstract: An ophthalmic device including an ophthalmic lens having anterior and posterior surfaces and at least one diffraction grating is described. The diffraction grating(s) are on the anterior and/or posterior surface(s). The diffraction grating(s) include zones. A first zone is at a first distance range from a center of the lens. A second zone is at a second distance range further from the center than the first distance range. A repeat zone is at a third distance range further from the center than the second distance range. The first zone includes echelette(s) having a first step height and a first radius of curvature. The second zone includes echelette(s) having a second step height and a second radius of curvature. The repeat zone includes echelette(s) having at least one of the first step height and the first radius of curvature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventor: RICHARD J. MACKOOL
  • Patent number: 9387122
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to operate a surgical instrument in response to a thermal condition being detected that warrants curtailment of further operation. When the thermal condition is reached, command signals are generated that cause a needle of the surgical instrument to either have its vibrational speed slowed, have its vibrational movement stopped, or have it withdrawn from its relative position. The detection is of infrared radiation wavelengths and is carried out with either a thermal imaging device of a thermal recognition device. A corresponding temperature of the detected infrared radiation wavelengths is compared to a critical temperature to determine whether the thermal condition has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Richard J. Mackool
  • Patent number: 8579929
    Abstract: A torsional ultrasound surgical hand piece lessens or eliminates chatter from lens material by imparting a twisting, rotary motion to a tip of a phacoemulsification needle at a resonant frequency in excess of 32 kHz. The hand piece has a horn that is designed to operate at an elevated frequency while maintaining size constraints for hand-held ophthalmic instruments. Optionally, heat generation is reduced either through the use of a polyimide tubing situated between the needle and the infusion sleeve, through the use of thermal watch to prevent overheating at the incision, and/or through the use of a bypass hole in the needle that diverts flow under suction into the needle via the bypass hole instead of exiting through an irrigation opening in the infusion sleeve when a tip port is occluded by lens material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard J. Mackool, James Y. Chon
  • Patent number: 8262728
    Abstract: An intraocular lens device that includes an intraocular lens optics that provides at least two powers of magnification one being near vision power and the other being distance vision power. The lens optics has surface modulations that are responsible for providing the near vision power. The zone structure provides an add power of over 6 diopters. The add power indicative of an extent that the near vision focusing power is greater than the distance vision focusing power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Novartis, AG
    Inventors: Xiaoxiao Zhang, Richard J. Mackool, Xin Hong, Michael A. Southard
  • Publication number: 20110106096
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to operate a surgical instrument in response to a thermal condition being detected that warrants curtailment of further operation. When the thermal condition is reached, command signals are generated that cause a needle of the surgical instrument to either have its vibrational speed slowed, have its vibrational movement stopped, or have it withdrawn from its relative position. The detection is of infrared radiation wavelengths and is carried out with either a thermal imaging device of a thermal recognition device. A corresponding temperature of the detected infrared radiation wavelengths is compared to a critical temperature to determine whether the thermal condition has been reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: ALCON, INC.
    Inventor: Richard J. Mackool
  • Publication number: 20100324581
    Abstract: A torsional ultrasound surgical hand piece lessens or eliminates chatter from lens material by imparting a twisting, rotary motion to a tip of a phacoemulsification needle at a resonant frequency in excess of 32 kHz. The hand piece has a horn that is designed to operate at an elevated frequency while maintaining size constraints for hand-held ophthalmic instruments. Optionally, heat generation is reduced either through the use of a polyimide tubing situated between the needle and the infusion sleeve, through the use of thermal watch to prevent overheating at the incision, and/or through the use of a bypass hole in the needle that diverts flow under suction into the needle via the bypass hole instead of exiting through an irrigation opening in the infusion sleeve when a tip port is occluded by lens material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: ALCON, INC.
    Inventors: Richard J. Mackool, James Y. Chon
  • Publication number: 20100286771
    Abstract: An intraocular lens device that includes an intraocular lens optics that provides at least two powers of magnification one being near vision power and the other being distance vision power. The lens optics has surface modulations that are responsible for providing the near vision power. The zone structure provides an add power of over 6 diopters. The add power indicative of an extent that the near vision focusing power is greater than the distance vision focusing power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Xiaoxiao Zhang, Richard J. Mackool, Xin Hong, Michael A. Southard
  • Patent number: 7762978
    Abstract: An infusion sleeve of an ultrasonic vibrating needle. The sleeve is collapsible and serrated or scalloped at a distal end. Fluid flows through a passage between the needle and the infusion sleeve in a direction from the proximal end of the sleeve to a distal end of the sleeve. Upon reaching the distal end, the fluid emerges by flowing across valley formations that are between peak formations of the distal end of the infusion sleeve. The peak formations abut the exterior of the incision so that the fluid flow cools tissue at the incision and the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Mackool
  • Publication number: 20090124960
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to operate a surgical instrument in response to a thermal condition being detected that warrants curtailment of further operation. When the thermal condition is reached, command signals are generated that cause a needle of the surgical instrument to either have its vibrational speed slowed, have its vibrational movement stopped, or have it withdrawn from its relative position. The detection is of infrared radiation wavelengths and is carried out with either a thermal imaging device of a thermal recognition device. A corresponding temperature of the detected infrared radiation wavelengths is compared to a critical temperature to determine whether the thermal condition has been reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: ALCON, INC.
    Inventor: Richard J. Mackool
  • Publication number: 20080139994
    Abstract: A torsional ultrasound surgical instrument that lessens or eliminates chatter from lens material by imparting a twisting, rotary motion to a tip of a phacoemulsification needle at a resonant frequency in excess of 32 kHz. Heat generation is reduced either through the use of a polyimide tubing situated between the needle and the infusion sleeve, through the use of thermal watch to prevent overheating at the incision, and/or through the use of a bypass hole in the needle that diverts flow under suction into the needle via the bypass hole instead of exiting through an irrigation opening in the infusion sleeve when a tip port is occluded by lens material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Richard J. Mackool, Mikhail Boukhny
  • Patent number: 7351219
    Abstract: An infusion sleeve of an ultrasonic vibrating needle. The sleeve is collapsible and serrated or scalloped at a distal end. Fluid flows through a passage between the needle and the infusion sleeve in a direction from the proximal end of the sleeve to a distal end of the sleeve. Upon reaching the distal end, the fluid emerges by flowing across valley formations that are between peak formations of the distal end of the infusion sleeve. The peak formations abut the exterior of the incision so that the fluid flow cools tissue at the incision and the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. MacKool
  • Patent number: 7172578
    Abstract: A flexible sheath is attached to an end of a rigid extension tube. The other end of the rigid extension tube is connected with a surgical handpiece. Two flexible sheaths may be used—one as a barrier against contamination of aspiration tubing and the other as a barrier against contamination of irrigation tubing. This is effected by securing two rigid extension tubes between the surgical handpiece and an associated one of the aspiration and irrigation tubings. Each flexible sheath is collapsible and expandable so they may be expanded from a collapsed condition over the associated aspiration or irrigation tubings and secured in the expanded condition. The aspiration and/or irrigation tubings are connected to a cassette of a surgical pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Mackool
  • Patent number: 7014629
    Abstract: A tapered infusion sleeve that has an orifice whose exterior margin is either rounded off, beveled, tapered, curved inclined or otherwise forms an angle with an adjacent exterior of the sleeve that is other than ninety degrees and other than substantially ninety degrees. As a result, the exterior margin is less likely to become caught or ensnared when being passed through an incision opening with a surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc
    Inventor: Richard J. Mackool
  • Patent number: 6875194
    Abstract: Air bubbles can be reduced or eliminated from the infusion source used during surgical procedures which require the delivery of irrigating fluid to the operating field. This is particularly a problem during surgical procedures performed within a closed organ, such as the eye. A constant low rate of infusion is created upon removal of a test chamber from a surgical handpiece. Pressure within the test chamber is lowered prior to removal of the test chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. MacKool
  • Publication number: 20040167462
    Abstract: Air bubbles can be reduced or eliminated from the infusion source used during surgical procedures which require the delivery of irrigating fluid to the operating field. This is particularly a problem during surgical procedures performed within a closed organ, such as the eye. A constant low rate of infusion is created upon removal of a test chamber from a surgical handpiece. Pressure within the test chamber is lowered prior to removal of the test chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventor: Richard J. MacKool
  • Publication number: 20040152990
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to operate a surgical instrument in response to a thermal condition being detected that warrants curtailment of further operation. When the thermal condition is reached, command signals are generated that cause a needle of the surgical instrument to either have its vibrational speed slowed, have its vibrational movement stopped, or have it withdrawn from its relative position. The detection is of infrared radiation wavelengths and is carried out with either a thermal imaging device of a thermal recognition device. A corresponding temperature of the detected infrared radiation wavelengths is compared to a critical temperature to determine whether the thermal condition has been reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventor: Richard J. Mackool
  • Publication number: 20040153026
    Abstract: A tapered infusion sleeve that has an orifice whose exterior margin is either rounded off, beveled, tapered, curved inclined or otherwise forms an angle with an adjacent exterior of the sleeve that is other than ninety degrees and other than substantially ninety degrees. As a result, the exterior margin is less likely to become caught or ensnared when being passed through an incision opening with a surgical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventor: Richard J. Mackool
  • Publication number: 20040092800
    Abstract: A system for instructing removal of cataract tissue, comprising a software routine that generates a vacuum generating signal indicating the vacuum force to be applied within the shaft of a phacoemulsification needle. The software routine is responsive to a vacuum monitoring signal that indicates that the magnitude of vacuum force within the needle shaft has reached a threshold level as a result of partial or complete occlusion of the tip of the needle by the cataract tissue, so as to send instructions to activate to and fro oscillation of the needle tip, or application of ultrasonic power thereto. The software routine may send further instructions to terminate the oscillation of the needle tip or application of ultrasonic power in response to the vacuum monitoring signal indicating that the magnitude of said vacuum force has decreased below threshold. Alternatively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Richard J. MacKool
  • Patent number: 6258053
    Abstract: A phacoemulsification apparatus includes a needle that is hollow and terminates in an evacuation port and has a straight portion and a bent or angulated portion spaced from the evacuation port. The needle defines an inner channel that narrows from the evacuation port before, at or beyond the angulated portion. The outer surface of the needle is also configured to converge before, at or beyond the bent or angulated portion. A flexible infusion sleeve surrounds the needle longitudinally along the straight portion of the needle and terminates at an area proximal to or in the vicinity of the angulated portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Alcon Universal, Ltd.
    Inventor: Richard J. Mackool