Abstract: A vitreous cutter 10 includes a plurality of vanes 14 rotatably attached within a housing 12. An inlet 16 receives pressurized fluid, which causes rotation of the vanes 14. An outlet 20 allows the pressurized fluid to exit the cutter 10. A cam 24 rotates upon rotation of the vanes 14, which causes reciprocal movement of a vitrectomy probe 28.

Abstract: A placido device 10 includes a single-curvature, semi-circular screen 12 having an opaque covering which is interrupted along its surface to form an illuminated pattern. A flat top 14 is attached to the top of the screen 12 and angled from the screen front 28 towards the screen bottom 26. Also, a flat bottom 16 is attached to the bottom of the screen 12 and angled from the screen front 28 towards the screen top 24.

Abstract: A placido pattern 10 for use in obtaining a topography of an eye, includes a series of spaced arcuate segments 12 centered about a central point 14 and a series of spaced radial lines 16 emanating from the central point 14. Each pair of adjacent radial lines 16 defines a boundary of a portion of the arcuate segments 12.

Abstract: A system (10) for measuring a diameter of a limbus of an eye (12). An image recorder (14) is at a known location apart from the eye and records an illuminated limbus image. An illumination source (16) at a known location relative to the image recorder (14) illuminates the limbus. A computer device (18) connected to the image recorder (14) determines the diameter of the limbus from the recorded illuminated limbus image.

Abstract: An adjustable fluid flow resistor cassette 10 for use in ophthalmic surgery, includes a housing 12. A set of path restrictors 24 are disposed within the housing 12, and the restrictors 24 cooperate to vary a fluid flow path length from an inlet 16 to an outlet 18.

Abstract: A fluid flow resistor 10 for use in ophthalmic surgery includes a housing 12 having an inlet 14 and an outlet 16. An elongated turbine 22 is caused to spin within the housing 12 by a flow of fluid which extracts energy from the fluid flow and effectively increases a resistance to fluid flow from the inlet 14 to the outlet 16.

Abstract: A device 10 for rotationally moving a mirror includes a mirror mount 20 connected to a pivot lever 22. A motor 12 having a lead-screw 14 moves the lead-screw in a linear manner along an axis 26. An elongated angled member 18 is connected to the lead-screw 14 and abuts the pivot lever 22. The elongated angled member 18 is set at a non-parallel angle with respect to the lead-screw 14 so that as the lead-screw 14 is moved along its axis 26 the elongated angled member 18 causes the pivot lever 22 to pivot, and in turn, causes the mirror 20 to rotate.

Abstract: A foot controller 10 for use in ophthalmic surgery includes an accelerator-type pedal 14 for activating and controlling various surgical instruments, and a door 18 covering a switch 24. The door functions as a heel-rest when in a closed position and as a switch-shroud when in an open position.

Abstract: A foot controller 32 for use with ophthalmic surgical equipment 34 includes a foot controller 32 having a door 18. Door 18 covers a surgical switch 24 when door 18 is in a closed position, and door 18 is a shroud for a surgical switch 24 when door 18 is in an open position. A door-position sensor 48 disables activation of the surgical switch 24, except when the door is in an open position.

Abstract: A collection reservoir 54 includes a rigid-walled cassette adapted for connection to aspiration tubing 50. The cassette also includes a pair of electrodes 36 positioned so that the electrodes are electrically connectable to a flow meter 34. In operation, the electrodes are exposed to the fluid and tissue being aspirated from the surgical site so that the flow meter indicates a flow rate of the fluid and tissue from the surgical site.

Abstract: An intraocular lens derivation system 10 includes an eye surface measurement device 12 for measuring the shape and position of at least the anterior and a posterior corneal surfaces of the eye, a length measurement device 14 for measuring at least the axial length of the eye, and an IOL calculator 24, connected to devices 12 and 14, for accurately selecting the proper IOL using at least in the selection the measured anterior and posterior corneal surface information and the axial length of the eye.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical pump system 32 includes a collection reservoir 54 and a venturi pump 56 for creating a vacuum level for aspirating fluid and tissue from a surgical site to the collection reservoir 54. Aspiration tubing 50 connects to each of a surgical handpiece 46 and the collection reservoir 54. A flow meter 34 is electrically connected to either the aspiration tube 50 or the collection reservoir 54. Control circuitry 38 is connected to the flow meter 34 and to the venturi pump 56 for varying a vacuum level of the pump 56 to maintain a desired flow rate of the fluid and tissue being aspirated from the surgical site.

Abstract: Delivery device 10 for use in ophthalmic surgery includes body portion 12 for retaining an agent to be applied to a patient's eye. Body portion 12 includes structure forming a concave surface 14, so that when the delivery device 10 is placed on the eye, the device 10 closely fits to a corneal curvature of the eye.

Abstract: A microkeratome cutting head assembly 10. A cutting blade 14 of the assembly 10 has a nominal length and presents a forward cutting edge 22. An applanation member 12 for applanating a cornea of an eye includes a trailing portion 18 having a curved section presenting an apex 20. The forward cutting edge 22 of the cutting blade 14 of the nominal length is positioned relative to the apex 20 so that together the forward cutting edge 22 and the apex 20 define a desired thickness of a flap 50 to be created from the cornea 48 such that the flap 50 is essentially not compressed.

Abstract: A system for removing the lens from an eye of a mammal, including a lens-removal device having a probe for penetrating the lens capsule. The probe includes a sheath that shields a rotating impeller at all times, with the impeller being pneumatically actuated to advance to a lens removal position within the sheath. The impeller is pneumatically rotated using a turbine mechanism within a handle for the probe. Irrigation and aspiration are provided to facilitate removal of the lens tissue. The turbine is driven with pulsed air to prevent stiction. A purge/protection cap helps remove air bubbles from the system prior to use and protects the delicate impeller during transport. An operating system is also provided with a foot pedal actuator.

Abstract: An eye evaluation system includes an eye evaluating device (12) that acquires at least two exams of a patient's eye. The exams are a measure of some aspect of a patient's vision. An algorithm (FIG. 2) then compares the exams to determine if the exams are acceptable.

Abstract: An enucleated eye examination container 10 includes a housing 12 with an interior 14 to be pressurized. An eye retaining member 16 is contained within housing 12. An eye abutment portion 18 receives the eye 20 so that the eye 20 is urged against eye abutment portion 18 by eye retaining member 16. A connector 24 is attached to housing 12 for connection to a pressurized source of gas.

Abstract: An eye measurement system (10) includes a biometric ruler (14) and an anterior segment analyzer (12) where the system (10) compares a biometric ruler measurement to an anterior segment analyzer measurement to correct for any error in the biometric ruler measurement.

Abstract: Calibration of a differential scale factor associated with left and right wheels of a vehicle having a terrestrial navigation system. The terrestrial navigation system includes a GPS receiver integrated with a dead reckoning system. The dead reckoning system has wheel sensors coupled to the left and right wheels. The calibration of the differential scale factor includes: determining a heading change with the dead reckoning system, using the determined heading change to determine an open loop heading, determining an error in the differential scale factor based on the open loop heading and an alternate heading, and using the error in the differential scale factor to adjust an initial value of the differential scale factor.

Abstract: An ophthalmic illumination system is provided that emits a light that is controllably variable in color. Because the light originates from LEDs, less heat is generated from the emitted light as compared to conventional ophthalmic illumination systems using tungsten or discharge sources.