Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Johnston

Timothy J. Johnston 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: 6273885
    Abstract: A laser tissue treatment device capable of being handheld, the device comprising a semiconductor diode or diode array laser which emits energy and a device for surface cooling of tissue such that the energy is directed through said cooling device in contact with tissue. The diode laser operates at wavelengths between about 630 nm and 980 nm, and delivers a predetermined amount of energy in a predetermined period of time and having a predetermined spot size. The device utilizes one or more microlenses or microlens arrays to collimate the diode laser energy. Optionally, the device utilizes a deflecting optic for deflecting the diode laser energy through the cooling device which is in contact with tissue in which the deflecting optic is visually transparent such that the operator can see the tissue treatment area. A cooling device such as a sapphire plate or other active or passive cooling means is used to cool the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: CoolTouch Corporation
    Inventors: Dale E. Koop, Mark D. Selker, Timothy J. Johnston
  • Patent number: 6144787
    Abstract: Apparatus (20) for aiming and projecting laser radiation emitted from an output-face (56) at an output-end (52) of an optical-fiber transmitter (54), includes a target (26) surrounding the output-end of the optical-fiber transmitter and held in a fixed relationship therewith. One or more light sources (46) illuminate the target with visible light such that the target directs at least a portion of the visible light in the emission direction of the laser radiation whereby when the optical-fiber transmitter is directed toward a surface, the visible light directed by the target indicates an incidence region of the laser radiation on the surface. The apparatus optionally includes an optical system (27) arranged to project a visible image (72) of the target and an image (74) of the output-face of the optical fiber transmitter. The degree of focus of the visible target-image on the surface corresponds to the degree of focus of the laser radiation on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Johnston, John L. Nightingale