Patents by Inventor Alan R. Kirschbaum

Alan R. Kirschbaum 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: 6293674
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide method and apparatus for diagnosing and monitoring eye disease such as, for example, glaucoma. In particular, embodiments of the present invention analyze OCT scans of a retina to determine one or more of the following measures for diagnosing and monitoring glaucomatous retinal nerve fiber layer (“NFL”) change: an NFL thickness; a ratio of NFL thickness in a vertical quadrant (superior and inferior quadrants in an OCT scan are combined in a vertical average) and a horizontal quadrant (nasal and temporal quadrants in the OCT scan are combined in a horizontal average); and an NFL signal ratio (“NSR”) of a sum of signal strengths in a predetermined portion of the NFL and a sum of signal strengths in a predetermined region below a retina-pigment epithelium (“RPE”) interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss, Inc.
    Inventors: David Huang, Alan R. Kirschbaum, Jay Wei
  • Patent number: 5805271
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a refractively corrected, wavelength selective, transparent visual field test occluder for a non-tested eye used in a visual field testing apparatus which uses a stimulus that produces light in a first color spectral range and a background illumination that produces light in a second color spectral range, the visual field test occluder comprising: (a) a base; (b) a fastener configured to fasten the base over a subject's eye; (c) a mounting affixed to the base configured to hold a filter and a refractive lens; and (d) a filter held in the mounting; wherein the filter substantially prevents transmission of light in the first color spectral range and substantially transmits light in the second color spectral range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R. Kirschbaum, Christopher L. Petersen
  • Patent number: 5790235
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are method and apparatus for measuring the size and position of an eye's pupil, and for doing so rapidly. In particular, embodiments of the present invention are methods and apparatus for determining pupil size and position without measuring the fall pupil and for doing so rapidly, in real time, as data are being collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan R. Kirschbaum
  • Patent number: 5644642
    Abstract: Apparatus for gaze tracking an eye utilizing short coherence length interferometry, also known as optical coherence tomography ("OCT"). An embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for gaze tracking an eye which includes: (a) an optical coherence tomography (OCT) apparatus; (b) a scanning apparatus for scanning across a predetermined portion of the eye with optical output from the OCT apparatus; (c) an analysis apparatus for analyzing detection signals output from the OCT apparatus to determine a location of a feature of the eye; (d) an illumination apparatus for producing a reflection of radiation from a cornea of the eye (corneal reflex); (e) a detection apparatus for determining a location of the corneal reflex; and (f) the analysis apparatus further includes an apparatus which is responsive to the location of the feature and to the location of the corneal reflex for gaze tracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan R. Kirschbaum
  • Patent number: 5491757
    Abstract: A field test apparatus and method is disclosed in which gradual movement of the head supporting chin cup is used to maintain a centered relation between the eye being tested and the trial lens frame holding the required prescription for optimum vision of the patient. During the test, alternating illumination is provided in the infrared between a central corneal reflection and an iris illuminating source which imparts a high contrast bright circular iris image surrounding a central dark pupil. Content addressable memories are used to delineate areas of contrast change for rapid and abbreviated microprocessor analysis of conventional RAM images. Both the corneal reflection image--which is a brightly illuminated spot on an otherwise dark background--and the pupillary image--which is a dark pupil surrounded by a brightly illuminated high contrast image of the iris are approximately located at their boundaries using content addressable memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Humphrey Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Lehmer, Alan R. Kirschbaum
  • Patent number: 5220361
    Abstract: A field test apparatus is disclosed which is interactive both in the automated positioning of trial lenses (used to correct the patient's focal distance to the tester hemispherical projection screen) as well as providing automatic gaze direction determination through automated video surveillance of the patient's eye. A moveable trial lens holder is provided. This trial lens holder is remotely moveable horizontally and vertically and carries light sources for illuminating the eye preferably in the infrared spectrum at oblique angles preferably towards the center of the eye from the periphery of the trial lens holder. In the gaze direction determination system, a gaze direction determination infrared source--preferably on the surface of the screen near the center of the screen--generates a gaze direction determination reflection on the cornea of the eye--this reflection being near the apex of a normal spherical cornea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Allergan Humphrey
    Inventors: Donald E. Lehmer, Alan R. Kirschbaum