Patents by Inventor Andreas W. Dreher

Andreas W. Dreher 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: 7695134
    Abstract: The wavefront aberrator is applicable to correct aberrations of the human eye. In one embodiment, the aberrator device comprises a pair of transparent lenses separated by a layer of curable resin comprising monomers and polymerization initiators. By controlling the extent of its curing, this monomer layer provides an adjustable index of refraction profile across the layer. Curing of the resin may be made by exposure to light, such as ultraviolet light. By controlling the extent of light exposure across the surface of the curable resin, for example, a particular and unique refractive index profile can be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Ophthonix, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas W. Dreher, Shui T. Lai, Donald G. Bruns
  • Patent number: 7697212
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the optimization of human visual function by correcting and/or optimizing high-order optical aberrations in high performance optical devices. The optimization is particularly useful for high performance devices used under low light conditions such as binoculars, rifle scopes, telescopes, microscopes, night vision goggles and laser eye protection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Ophthonix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jagdish M. Jethmalani, Andreas W. Dreher, Lawrence H. Sverdrup
  • Patent number: 7659971
    Abstract: Wavefront measuring systems and methods are disclosed which may be employed, for example, in detecting phase aberrations in a spectacle lens and in an eye. Various embodiments include disposing a modulation pattern in the path of a return beam from the spectacle lens or the eye, and imaging a diffraction pattern at a self-imaging plane relative to the modulation pattern with a detector. The diffraction pattern is analyzed and the results are used to produce a representation of the wavefront phase characteristics that describe aberrations in the lens or eye being measured. Illumination and processing techniques for improving the measurement results are disclosed. Various embodiments comprise systems adaptable to both measure aberrations in lenses in spectacles as well as in a patient's eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ophthonix, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence Warden, John Ferro, Andreas W. Dreher, William G. Foote
  • Publication number: 20090279046
    Abstract: In a particular embodiment, an eyeglass device is disclosed that includes a first frame member including a first frame member front that will often hold at least one corrective first lens and including a first end portion adapted to couple to a first temple. The eyeglass device further includes a second frame member having a second frame member front to hold at least one corrective second lens. The second frame member is adapted to associate with the first frame member via a magnetic coupling associated with the first end portion to secure a position of the at least one second corrective lens relative to the at least one first corrective lens to achieve a desired focal power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Andreas W. Dreher, Brett Spivey
  • Publication number: 20090262304
    Abstract: A method of making corrective eyeglasses is disclosed. One embodiment is a method of making corrective eyeglasses. The method includes obtaining vision parameters of a patient's eyes, obtaining an eyeglass frame comprising at least one mounted optical element, and programming the optical element to define a pattern of refraction that is associated with the vision parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Andreas W. DREHER, Jagdish M. Jethmalani, Laurence Warden, Shui T. Lai
  • Publication number: 20090251663
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing an optical lens that is configured to correct optical aberrations, including, e.g., high order aberrations such as described by Zernike polynomials. The system can include a measurement system configured to measure optical aberrations in a patient's eye and to create measured optical aberration data. A calculation system is configured to receive the measured optical aberration data and to determine a lens definition based on the measured optical aberration data. A fabrication system is configured to produce a correcting lens based on the lens definition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Laurence WARDEN, Andreas W. Dreher, John Ferro, Jagdish M. Jethmalani, Shui T. Lai
  • Publication number: 20090231541
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens and manufacturing method using epoxy aberrator includes two lenses with a variable index material, such as epoxy, sandwiched in between. The epoxy is then cured to different indexes of refraction that provide precise corrections for the patient's wavefront aberrations. The present invention further provides a method to produce an eyeglass that corrects higher order aberrations, such as those that occur when retinal tissue is damaged due to glaucoma or macular degeneration. The manufacturing method allows for many different applications including, but not limited to, supervision and transition lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventor: Andreas W. DREHER
  • Patent number: 7588333
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens and manufacturing method using a variable refractive index material, such as epoxy. In one embodiment, a method of making an eyeglass lens includes: imaging a patient's eye to determine a wavefront prescription for the patient; and curing the lens based on the wavefront prescription such that the wavefront guided lens corrects for aberrations over the lens for a plurality of gazing angles of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Ophthonix, Inc.
    Inventor: Andreas W. Dreher
  • Patent number: 7568799
    Abstract: A method of making corrective eyeglasses is disclosed. One embodiment is a method of making corrective eyeglasses. The method includes obtaining vision parameters of a patient's eyes, obtaining an eyeglass frame comprising at least one mounted optical element, and programming the optical element to define a pattern of refraction that is associated with the vision parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Ophthonix, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas W. Dreher, Jagdish M. Jethmalani, Laurence Warden, Shui T. Lai
  • Publication number: 20090161070
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining the objective refraction of a patient's eye includes a transparent window and a wavefront measurement device that determines aberrations in a return beam from the patient's eye after the beam passes through a corrective test lens in the apparatus. The wavefront measurement device outputs an instant display representative of the quality of vision afforded the patient through the test lens. The display can be a representation of a Snellen chart, convoluted with the optical characteristics of the patient's vision, an overall quality of vision scale or the optical contrast function, all based on the wavefront measurements of the patient's eye. The examiner may use the display information to conduct a refraction examination and other vision tests without the subjective response from the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Ophthonix, Inc.
    Inventors: Shui T. LAI, Andreas W. Dreher
  • Publication number: 20090161071
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention pertain to a method for producing a spectacle lens with optimal correction across the entire lens taking into account the patient's complete measured wavefront. Specific embodiments can also take into account one or more additional factors such as vertex distance, SEG height, pantoscopic tilt, and use conditions. The lens wavefront can be achieved by optimizing a corrected wavefront, where the corrected wavefront is the combined effect of the patient's measured wavefront and the lens wavefront. The optimization of the corrected wavefront can involve representing the measured wavefront and the lens wavefront on a grid. In an embodiment, the grid can lie in a plane. During the optimization, a subset of the grid can be used for the representation of the measured wavefront at a point on the grid so as to take into account the portions of the measured wavefront that contribute to the corrected wavefront at that point on the grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Andreas W. Dreher, Bill Foote, Dave Sandler, Laurence Warden
  • Publication number: 20090073384
    Abstract: Diagnostic instruments, systems and methods for performing measurements on eyes are disclosed. In one embodiment of the instrument, a left ocular is disposed in a portion of a left visual path for the left eye, the left ocular positioned to permit the left eye to view a target, a right ocular is disposed in a portion of a right visual path for the right eye, the right ocular positioned to permit the right eye to view a target. The instrument can also include a wavefront sensor disposed on a translation stage, the wavefront sensor having an optical path to an imaging sensor, the translation stage being movable to position the optical path of the wavefront sensor in alignment with the portion of the left visual path in a first state and in alignment with the portion of the right visual path in a second state. One or more light sources are optionally provided for propagating light along a least part of the left and right visual paths to illuminate the left and right eyes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Laurence WARDEN, Andreas W. DREHER, Gary D. MILLS, Shui T. LAI, William G. FOOTE, David G. SANDLER, Keith J. DILLON
  • Patent number: 7503651
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens and manufacturing method using a variable refractive index material, such as epoxy. In one embodiment, a method of making an eyeglass lens includes: imaging a patient's eye to determine a wavefront prescription for the patient; and curing the lens based on the wavefront prescription such that the wavefront guided lens corrects for aberrations over the lens for a plurality of gazing angles of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ophthonix, Inc.
    Inventor: Andreas W. Dreher
  • Patent number: 7497573
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing an optical lens that is configured to correct optical aberrations, including, e.g., high order aberrations such as described by Zemike polynomials. The system can include a measurement system configured to measure optical aberrations in a patient's eye and to create measured optical aberration data. A calculation system is configured to receive the measured optical aberration data and to determine a lens definition based on the measured optical aberration data. A fabrication system is configured to produce a correcting lens based on the lens definition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ophthonix, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence Warden, Andreas W. Dreher, John Ferro, Jagdish M. Jethmalani, Shui T. Lai
  • Publication number: 20090051871
    Abstract: Two or more images captured from digital cameras record an image of spectacle frames on a subject. The image is analyzed using automated image-processing techniques to identify the relation of specific points of interest on the frame to the location of each of the subject's eyes allowing the optical center of the lens to be placed in the correct location in the frames.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Laurence WARDEN, Andreas W. Dreher, Tro Murphey
  • Patent number: 7490940
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining the objective refraction of a patient's eye includes a transparent window and a wavefront measurement device that determines aberrations in a return beam from the patient's eye after the beam passes through a corrective test lens in the apparatus. The wavefront measurement device outputs an instant display representative of the quality of vision afforded the patient through the test lens. The display can be a representation of a Snellen chart, convoluted with the optical characteristics of the patient's vision, an overall quality of vision scale or the optical contrast function, all based on the wavefront measurements of the patient's eye. The examiner may use the display information to conduct a refraction examination and other vision tests without the subjective response from the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ophthonix, Inc.
    Inventors: Shui T. Lai, Andreas W. Dreher
  • Publication number: 20080252845
    Abstract: The wavefront aberrator is applicable to correct aberrations of the human eye. In one embodiment, the aberrator device comprises a pair of transparent lenses separated by a layer of curable resin comprising monomers and polymerization initiators. By controlling the extent of its curing, this monomer layer provides an adjustable index of refraction profile across the layer. Curing of the resin may be made by exposure to light, such as ultraviolet light. By controlling the extent of light exposure across the surface of the curable resin, for example, a particular and unique refractive index profile can be produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Andreas W. DREHER, Shui T. LAI, Donald G. BRUNS
  • Patent number: 7434931
    Abstract: Two or more images captured from digital cameras record an image of spectacle frames on a subject. The image is analyzed using automated image-processing techniques to identify the relation of specific points of interest on the frame to the location of each of the subject's eyes allowing the optical center of the lens to be placed in the correct location in the frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Ophthonix
    Inventors: Laurence Warden, Andreas W. Dreher, Tro Murphey
  • Patent number: 7425067
    Abstract: Diagnostic instruments, systems and methods for performing measurements on eyes are disclosed. In one embodiment of the instrument, a left ocular is disposed in a portion of a left visual path for the left eye, the left ocular positioned to permit the left eye to view a target, a right ocular is disposed in a portion of a right visual path for the right eye, the right ocular positioned to permit the right eye to view a target. The instrument can also include a wavefront sensor disposed on a translation stage, the wavefront sensor having an optical path to an imaging sensor, the translation stage being movable to position the optical path of the wavefront sensor in alignment with the portion of the left visual path in a first state and in alignment with the portion of the right visual path in a second state. One or more light sources are optionally provided for propagating light along a least part of the left and right visual paths to illuminate the left and right eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Ophthonix, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence Warden, Andreas W. Dreher, Gary D. Mills, Shui T. Lai, William G. Foote, David G. Sandler
  • Publication number: 20080218688
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens and manufacturing method using a variable refractive index material, such as epoxy. In one embodiment, a method of making an eyeglass lens includes: imaging a patient's eye to determine a wavefront prescription for the patient; and curing the lens based on the wavefront prescription such that the wavefront guided lens corrects for aberrations over the lens for a plurality of gazing angles of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventor: Andreas W. Dreher