Patents Assigned to AcuFocus, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9844919
    Abstract: Intraocular implants and methods of making intraocular implants are provided. The intraocular implant can include a mask adapted to increase depth of focus. The method of manufacturing the implant can include positioning the mask with an aperture on a protruding pin of a positioning mold portion. The protruding pin can be configured to center the mask in the intraocular lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam C. Reboul, Patrick H. Benz, R. Kyle Webb
  • Patent number: 9603704
    Abstract: Implantable corneal and intraocular implants such as a mask are provided. The mask can improve the vision of a patient, such as by being configured to increase the depth of focus of an eye of a patient. The mask can include an aperture configured to transmit along an optical axis substantially all visible incident light. The mask can further include a transition portion that surrounds at least a portion of the aperture. This portion can be configured to switch from one level of opacity to another level of opacity through the use of a controllably variable absorbance feature such as a switchable photochromic chromophore within a polymer matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Silvestrini
  • Patent number: 9573328
    Abstract: Intraocular implants and methods of making intraocular implants are provided. The intraocular implant can include a mask adapted to increase depth of focus. The method of manufacturing the implant can include positioning the mask with an aperture on a protruding pin of a positioning mold portion. The protruding pin can be configured to center the mask in the intraocular lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam C. Reboul, Patrick H. Benz, R. Kyle Webb
  • Patent number: 9545303
    Abstract: A mask is provided that is configured to increase the depth of focus of a patient. The mask can include an aperture configured to transmit along an optical axis substantially all visible incident light. The mask can further include a portion surrounding at least a portion of the aperture. The portion may be configured to be substantially opaque to visible electromagnetic radiation and be substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation transmitted from an ocular examination device (e.g., substantially transparent to at least some non-visible electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength between about 750 nm and about 1500 nm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Abhiram S. Vilupuru, Marie Dvorak Christ
  • Patent number: 9492272
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Christie, Alexei N. Kosmynine
  • Patent number: 9427311
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Christie, Edward W. Peterson, Corina van de Pol
  • Patent number: 9427922
    Abstract: Intraocular implants and methods of making intraocular implants are provided. The intraocular implant can include a mask adapted to increase depth of focus. The method of manufacturing the implant can include positioning the mask with an aperture on a protruding pin of a positioning mold portion. The protruding pin can be configured to center the mask in the intraocular lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam C. Reboul, Patrick H. Benz, R. Kyle Webb
  • Patent number: 9204962
    Abstract: Implantable corneal and intraocular implants such as a mask are provided. The mask can improve the vision of a patient, such as by being configured to increase the depth of focus of an eye of a patient. The mask can include an aperture configured to transmit along an optical axis substantially all visible incident light. The mask can further include a transition portion that surrounds at least a portion of the aperture. This portion can be configured to switch from one level of opacity to another level of opacity through the use of a controllably variable absorbance feature such as a switchable photochromic chromophore within a polymer matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Silvestrini
  • Patent number: 9138142
    Abstract: An ophthalmic device that includes a mask configured to be implanted posterior of the cornea. The mask is configured to increase the depth of focus of the patient. The mask includes an aperture configured to transmit along an optical axis substantially all incident light and a substantially opaque portion surrounding at least a portion of the aperture. The ophthalmic device can further include a plurality of light transmission structures configured to allow some light to pass through the substantially opaque portion. The light transmission structures are configured to minimize generation of visible artifacts due to the transmission of light through the light transmission structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Christie, Thomas A. Silvestrini, Kevin F. Hahnen
  • Patent number: 9005281
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Christie, Alexei N. Kosmynine
  • Patent number: 8864824
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Silvestrini, Bruce A. Christie, Kevin F. Hahnen
  • Patent number: 8858624
    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 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Christie, Thomas A. Silvestrini, Kevin F. Hahnen
  • 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: 20130103147
    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: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: ACUFOCUS, INC.
    Inventor: AcuFocus, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130053953
    Abstract: Disclosed are ophthalmic devices configured to be implanted in an eye of a patient. In one embodiment, the ophthalmic device includes a mask configured to increase the depth of focus of the patient and comprising a highly fluorinated polymeric material in which the number of carbon-fluorine bonds equals or exceeds the number of carbon-hydrogen bonds in the highly fluorinated polymeric material. The highly fluorinated polymeric material can be resistant to degradation upon exposure to ultraviolet light. The mask further includes an aperture configured to transmit light and a portion configured to be substantially opaque to visible light and to surround at least a portion of the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: ACUFOCUS, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Silvestrini
  • Patent number: 8343215
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the depth of focus of the human eye is comprised of a lens body, an optic in the lens body configured to produce light interference, and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic. The optic may be configured to produce light scattering or composed of a light reflective material. Alternatively, the optic may increase the depth of focus via a combination of light interference, light scattering, light reflection and/or light absorption. The optic may also be configured as a series of concentric circles, a weave, a pattern of particles, or a pattern of curvatures. One method involves screening a patient for an ophthalmic lens using a pinhole screening device in the lens to increase the patient's depth of focus. Another method comprises surgically implanting a mask in the patient's eye to increase the depth of focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventors: David Miller, Ernesto Blanco
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8287592
    Abstract: Disclosed are ophthalmic devices configured to be implanted in an eye of a patient. In one embodiment, the ophthalmic device includes a mask configured to increase the depth of focus of the patient and comprising a highly fluorinated polymeric material in which the number of carbon-fluorine bonds equals or exceeds the number of carbon-hydrogen bonds in the highly fluorinated polymeric material. The highly fluorinated polymeric material can be resistant to degradation upon exposure to ultraviolet light. The mask further includes an aperture configured to transmit light and a portion configured to be substantially opaque to visible light and to surround at least a portion of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Silvestrini
  • 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