Patents Examined by David Shay
  • Patent number: 9579522
    Abstract: Laser needle for performing a combined laser needle/electric acupuncture includes an optical fiber, the optical fiber being configured for transmitting a laser beam. Laser needle includes a current-conducting jacket, the current-conducting jacket being configured for surrounding the optical fiber, and the current-conducting jacket being configured for applying current-conducting stimulation current to tissue of a patient, in use, in addition to a laser beam being applied through the optical fiber, in use. A bottom end of the current-conducting jacket transitioning into a disk, the disk being configured for distributing the stimulation current on a larger area; and the disk being configured for simultaneously serving to attach the laser needle to the body of a patient, in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Weber
  • Patent number: 9427822
    Abstract: The invention relates to an adapter for coupling a laser treatment device to an object for treatment, whereby the adapter has an input side, which may be fixed relative to the laser treatment device, by a locking mechanism and which may be fixed to the object, for alignment of the object relative to the laser treatment device. A scanned laser beam is introduced on the input side, from the laser treatment device, along a beam path to the object with a reference structure. The reference structure lies on the beam path of the adapter and may be optically detected by means of the laser beam scanned over the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Mark Bischoff, Elke Ebert, Karsten Festag, Carsten Lang, Markus Sticker
  • Patent number: 9402714
    Abstract: A method of transplanting a cornea from a donor to a recipient is disclosed. An undercut is incised within stromal tissue of the donor cornea. Following formation of the undercut, the donor cornea is grafted onto a recipient. The undercut may be formed before or after the cornea is removed from the donor, and is preferably formed by photoaltering the stromal tissue using a laser. A sidecut may also be incised in the donor cornea, thereby forming a corneal flap, prior to grafting. In addition, a corneal section may be excised from the donor cornea using a trephine, a laser, or other appropriate surgical equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: AMO Development, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald M. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 9395534
    Abstract: A multi-photon fluoroscopy microscope employs an electronically controlled diffraction mask to affect correcting phase adjustments in an incident waveform to allow a precise focus of the stimulating beam of light to a focal point within tissue having a varying and inhomogeneous index of refraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventor: Andrew Sheinis
  • Patent number: 9370306
    Abstract: Catheter-based systems for in-vivo targeted light therapy include a first type of catheter configured for photo-activating photosensitive substances in tissue, and a second type of catheter configured for photo-degrading photosensitive substances in tissue. The catheters may be configured to produce light using a variety of light sources, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) and fiber optics. The light transmission is directed to tissue in such a way that only portions of tissue in a treatment area are exposed to light, depending upon whether the tissue is diseased or healthy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM INC.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ehrenreich, Kyle Klein, John Stankus
  • Patent number: 9254162
    Abstract: Medical devices, systems, and methods optionally treat dermatological and/or cosmetic defects, and/or a wide range of additional target tissues. Embodiments apply cooling with at least one small, tissue-penetrating probe, the probe often comprising a needle having a size suitable for inserting through an exposed surface of the skin of a patient without leaving a visible scar. Treatment may be applied along most or all of the insertable length of an elongate needle, optionally by introducing cryogenic cooling fluid into the needle lumen through a small, tightly-toleranced lumen of a fused silica fluid supply tube, with the supply tube lumen often metering the cooling fluid. Treatment temperature and/or time control may be enhanced using a simple pressure relief valve coupled to the needle lumen via a limited total exhaust volume space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: MyoScience, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Burger, Ronald Williams, Lisa Elkins
  • Patent number: 9155652
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of altering the refractive properties of the eye, the method including applying a substance to a cornea of an eye, the substance configured to facilitate cross linking of the cornea, irradiating the cornea so as to activate cross linkers in the cornea, and altering the cornea so as to change the refractive properties of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Inventor: Gholam A. Peyman
  • Patent number: 8915906
    Abstract: A system and method for providing treatments of electromagnetic radiation to areas of post-partum abdominal skin. The treatments provide for raising the temperature in a portion of post-partum abdominal skin to a treatment temperature, which is sufficient to reduce the laxity or redundancy of the post-partum skin. In one embodiment the treatment can provide treatment exposures to sub-areas, of an area of post-partum abdominal skin which has been identified for treatment, and bring a temperature of the tissue being treated to at 50° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Davenport, David A. Gollnick, Michael Levernier, Gregory J. R. Spooner
  • Patent number: 8870856
    Abstract: A system and method for using a light source to treat tissue with NIR light. The operation provides for generating higher temperatures in deeper layers of tissue relative to higher layers of tissue. The increased temperature in dermal layers can operate to induce collagen shrinkage, or remodeling. One of the light sources for providing a broad spectrum of NIR light is a filament light. The light from the filament lamp can be selectively filtered, and after filtering this light is applied to the skin, where the selective filtering can enhance the ability to elevate the temperature of deeper layers of tissue, relative to layers of tissue which are closer to the surface of the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Cutera, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin P. Connors, David A. Gollnick, Dean A. MacFarland, Greg Spooner
  • Patent number: 8691524
    Abstract: A film (14) with a tissue section (10) is placed with the tissue section (10) downward on a microscope slide (18) and the microscope slide (18) positioned in the object plane of an inverse microscope; where an adhesive tape (20) is arranged, with a bonding agent (22) downward, above the film (14) and therefore above the tissue section (10); wherein the next step, tissue (36) to be isolated is excised by a focused laser beam, which also divides the film (14); whereupon removal of the adhesive tape (20) from the microscope, the excised tissue pieces (36) adhere to the adhesive tape (20), and the remnant of the film (14) and of the tissue section (10) remains adhering to the microscope slide (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Molecular Machines & Industries AG
    Inventor: Norbert Leclerc
  • Patent number: 8663206
    Abstract: A segmented scleral expansion band adapted for implantation within or fastening to a segment of the sclera of an eye lying outside of and adjacent to the ciliary body of the eye, is formed from a number of arcuate segments, curved to match the curvature of the globe of the eye, and joined together at each end to form a complete scleral expansion band. The band is implanted in the sclera of the eye by forming circumferential tunnels, inserting the band segments through the tunnels, and joining the ends of the segments to form a complete scleral expansion band. The scleral expansion band is useful in treating presbyopia and other ocular disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Refocus Ocular, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald A. Schachar
  • Patent number: 8663205
    Abstract: A segmented scleral expansion band adapted for implantation within or fastening to a segment of the sclera of an eye lying outside of and adjacent to the ciliary body of the eye, is formed from a number of arcuate segments, curved to match the curvature of the globe of the eye, and joined together at each end to form a complete scleral expansion band. The band is implanted in the sclera of the eye by forming circumferential tunnels, inserting the band segments through the tunnels, and joining the ends of the segments to form a complete scleral expansion band. The scleral expansion band is useful in treating presbyopia and other ocular disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Refocus Ocular, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald A. Schachar
  • Patent number: 8597282
    Abstract: Computer systems, programs, and methods can advantageously be used to process optical data. These approaches often involve modifying a first format data to a second format data, and are useful in simplifying the complications due to data from different wavefront systems, different aberrometer devices and aberrometer software versions, different clinical studies and different measurement conditions. A centralized database system can be used effectively in a clinical research setting, which can be a medical center, a college, or a research department in a company, or in other diagnosis or treatment facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: AMO Manufacturing USA, LLC
    Inventors: Guangming Dai, Kingman Yee, Dimitri Chernyak
  • Patent number: 8585707
    Abstract: Systems and methods are providing for treating a patient with continuous low irradiance photodynamic therapy. A disclosed method includes applying a photosensitizer to the patient; applying a conformable skin facing light applicator to the patient; and providing continuous low irradiance photodynamic therapy through the light applicator. A disclosed system includes a light applicator having a fiber optic cloth. The light applicator is conformable so that it can be worn against a patient's skin and the fiber optic cloth has a two dimensional surface that emits light in a direction toward a patient's skin. In this aspect, the power of the light emitted from the two dimensional surface in a direction toward a patient's skin is less than or equal to about 5 mW/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Inventor: Gary S. Rogers
  • Patent number: 8571648
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to apply substances to a biological tissue are described. The tissue having an target below a surface is stretched to provide openings in a surface. Stretching forces a material from the target onto the surface. A first substance may be applied while stretching to promote cleaning the tissue. A second substance may be applied to the surface. Energy may be applied to the tissue. Then the tissue is relaxed to draw the second substance through the openings into the tissue. The tissue may be stretched by applying a negative pressure, and relaxed by removing the negative pressure. The first substance may be an abrasive material. The second substance is a medicine, a moisturizer, a lotion, or any combination thereof. The second substance may be applied to the biological tissue using a positive pressure. The apparatus to apply substances may be a handheld device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Aesthera
    Inventors: Robert S. Anderson, Steve Young
  • Patent number: 8535905
    Abstract: A film (14) with a tissue section (10) is placed with the tissue section (10) downward on a microscope slide (18) and the microscope slide (18) positioned in the object plane of an inverse microscope; where an adhesive tape (20) is arranged, with a bonding agent (22) downward, above the film (14) and therefore above the tissue section (10); wherein the next step, tissue (36) to be isolated is excised by a focused laser beam, which also divides the film (14); whereupon removal of the adhesive tape (20) from the microscope, the excised tissue pieces (36) adhere to the adhesive tape (20), and the remnant of the film (14) and of the tissue section (10) remains adhering/to the microscope slide (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Molecular Machines and Industries AG
    Inventor: Norbert Leclerc
  • Patent number: 8486065
    Abstract: Efficient ablation with multiple electrodes is obtained by rapidly switching electric power to the electrodes. In this way, shielding effects caused by the field around each electrode which would otherwise create cool spots, are avoided. Complex inter-electrode current flows are also avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Fred T. Lee, Dieter Haemmerich, John G. Webster, Andrew S. Wright, Chris D. Johnson, David M. Mahvi
  • Patent number: 8267924
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including a housing, an endoscopic portion, a shaft portion and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the housing and defines a longitudinal axis. The shaft portion is selectively connectable to a distal end of the endoscopic portion. The end effector is selectively connectable to a distal end of the shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Michael A. Zemlok, David C. Racenet, Adam J. Ross
  • Patent number: 8267982
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of photoeradication of cellular and acellular organisms including the steps of providing a surface acting agent in association with a cellular or acellular organism, the surface acting agent disorienting a membrane structure so that said membrane no longer functions as an effective osmotic barrier; providing a photosensitive material in association with the cellular or acellular organism; and applying light in association with the cellular or acellular organism to cause a disruption of the organism. The method according to the present invention may be utilized in invitro and invivo treatment protocols for infections, sterilization procedures, cancer cell eradication, virus and fungus eradication, spore eradication, and biofilm organism eradication. Additional aspects of the invention include particular combinations of photosensitive materials and surfactants for use in photodynamic therapies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Photodynamic Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Merrill A. Biel
  • Patent number: 8241271
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a robotic surgical instrument is provided for the control of flows of one or more fluids into and out of a surgical site. The robotic surgical instrument may include a housing, a flow control system, a hollow tube, and one or more hose fittings. The housing to couple the instrument to a robotic arm. The flow control system mounted in the housing includes one or more controlled valves to control the flow of one or more fluids. The hollow tube has a first end mounted in the housing coupled to the flow control system. A second end of the hollow tube has one or more openings to allow the flow of fluids into and out of the surgical site. The hose fittings have a first end coupled to the flow control system and a second end to couple to hoses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Millman, David Bailey, Dean Hoornaert, David Stephen Mintz, David Q Larkin