Patents by Inventor Barry Lynn Wheatley

Barry Lynn Wheatley 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: 9668645
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods that utilize at least one charged electrode to impart motion to an optical fiber positioned within an imaging probe by an electrostatic force are provided. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic imaging probe can include a handle; a cannula coupled to the handle; an optical fiber positioned at least partially within the handle and the cannula, the optical fiber configured to receive an imaging light from an imaging light source and guide the imaging light to an optical element positioned within the cannula; and an actuator system configured to impart motion to the optical fiber, the actuator system including an electrode positioned within the cannula and configured to impart motion to the optical fiber by selectively imparting an electric charge to the electrode and/or the electrically conductive layer of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: NOVARTIS AG
    Inventor: Barry Lynn Wheatley
  • Patent number: 9655524
    Abstract: An OCT probe includes a cannula and includes a selectively displaceable light-carrying optical fiber disposed within the cannula. The optical fiber may be arranged to emit light from a distal end thereof. A flexor may be bent to divide the flexor into a first segment and a second segment extending along a lumen of the cannula. The first segment may be coupled to the optical fiber. A driver may be configured to push or pull the second segment in the axial direction to elastically bow the second segment and laterally displace the optical fiber to perform an OCT scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Barry Lynn Wheatley
  • Patent number: 9592337
    Abstract: Micro-volume devices, systems, and associated methods that facilitate the injection or aspiration of precisely controlled volumes of materials at precisely controlled rates are provided. In one embodiment, a micro-volume device includes a syringe and a lead screw connected to a plunger of the syringe. A mechanical interface is connected to the lead screw and includes a first set of cams adjacent a proximal portion and a second set of cams adjacent a distal portion. A mechanism is configured to oscillate a structure in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the lead screw such that one or more projections of the structure to alternatively engage cams of the first and second sets of cams in a manner that results in rotation of the mechanical interface in a single direction for highly controlled linear displacement of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Barry Lynn Wheatley, Brian William McDonell
  • Patent number: 9517014
    Abstract: An OCT probe for imaging patient tissue may include an actuation system arranged to displace an optical fiber within a cannula. The actuation system may include a driver actuatable to displace a portion of the optical fiber, with the driver acting in an angled direction relative to the axis of the cannula. The actuation system also may include a pivot feature operably engaged with the optical fiber in a manner permitting the optical fiber to pivot on the pivot feature when the driver actuates to displace the portion of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Barry Lynn Wheatley, Kambiz Parto
  • Patent number: 9295385
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods that utilize a speaker to impart motion to an optical fiber positioned within an imaging probe are provided. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic imaging apparatus comprises an optical probe having a handle sized and shaped for handheld grasping by a user; and a cannula coupled to the handle, the cannula sized and shaped for insertion into an eye to be treated; an optical fiber positioned at least partially within the optical probe, the optical fiber configured to receive an imaging light from an imaging light source and guide the imaging light to an optical element positioned within the cannula of the optical probe; and an actuator system configured to impart motion to the optical fiber, the actuator system including a speaker positioned within the optical probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Barry Lynn Wheatley, Vinh Vu
  • Publication number: 20150351629
    Abstract: An OCT probe for imaging patient tissue includes a probe housing, and includes a cannula extending from the probe housing and arranged to penetrate patient tissue. The cannula may include a main body segment and a distal segment. The main body segment may have a lumen defining a first central axis, and the distal segment may have a lumen defining a second central axis that is angled from the first central axis. A lens is disposed in the distal segment. The lens may have a proximal side and a distal side and an optical axis. The optical axis may be substantially parallel to the second central axis and may be angled relative to the first central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Barry Lynn Wheatley, Kambiz Parto, Edouard G. Schmidtlin
  • Publication number: 20150327760
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods that utilize a speaker to impart motion to an optical fiber positioned within an imaging probe are provided. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic imaging apparatus comprises an optical probe having a handle sized and shaped for handheld grasping by a user; and a cannula coupled to the handle, the cannula sized and shaped for insertion into an eye to be treated; an optical fiber positioned at least partially within the optical probe, the optical fiber configured to receive an imaging light from an imaging light source and guide the imaging light to an optical element positioned within the cannula of the optical probe; and an actuator system configured to impart motion to the optical fiber, the actuator system including a speaker positioned within the optical probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: NOVARTIS AG
    Inventors: Barry Lynn Wheatley, Vinh Vu
  • Publication number: 20150320307
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods that utilize at least one charged electrode to impart motion to an optical fiber positioned within an imaging probe by an electrostatic force are provided. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic imaging probe can include a handle; a cannula coupled to the handle; an optical fiber positioned at least partially within the handle and the cannula, the optical fiber configured to receive an imaging light from an imaging light source and guide the imaging light to an optical element positioned within the cannula; and an actuator system configured to impart motion to the optical fiber, the actuator system including an electrode positioned within the cannula and configured to impart motion to the optical fiber by selectively imparting an electric charge to the electrode and/or the electrically conductive layer of the optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Barry Lynn Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20150080718
    Abstract: An OCT probe for imaging patient tissue may include an actuation system arranged to displace an optical fiber within a cannula. The actuation system may include a driver actuatable to displace a portion of the optical fiber, with the driver acting in an angled direction relative to the axis of the cannula. The actuation system also may include a pivot feature operably engaged with the optical fiber in a manner permitting the optical fiber to pivot on the pivot feature when the driver actuates to displace the portion of the optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Barry Lynn Wheatley, Kambiz Parto
  • Publication number: 20150080719
    Abstract: An OCT probe includes a cannula and includes a selectively displaceable light-carrying optical fiber disposed within the cannula. The optical fiber may be arranged to emit light from a distal end thereof. A flexor may be bent to divide the flexor into a first segment and a second segment extending along a lumen of the cannula. The first segment may be coupled to the optical fiber. A driver may be configured to push or pull the second segment in the axial direction to elastically bow the second segment and laterally displace the optical fiber to perform an OCT scan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: NOVARTIS AG
    Inventor: Barry Lynn Wheatley
  • Patent number: 8535268
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and associated methods that facilitate the injection and/or aspiration of precisely controlled volumes of fluids at precisely controlled rates are provided. In some implementations, an apparatus may include a syringe and a lead screw connected to a plunger of the syringe. A ratchet gear may be connected to the lead screw. A mechanism may also be included to oscillate a frame in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the lead screw such that one or more pawls of the frame engage the teeth of the ratchet gear in a manner that results in rotation of the ratchet gear in a single direction for controlled linear displacement of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jack Robert Auld, Brian William McDonell, Barry Lynn Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20120165734
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and associated methods that facilitate the injection and/or aspiration of precisely controlled volumes of fluids at precisely controlled rates are provided. In some implementations, an apparatus may include a syringe and a lead screw connected to a plunger of the syringe. A ratchet gear may be connected to the lead screw. A mechanism may also be included to oscillate a frame in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the lead screw such that one or more pawls of the frame engage the teeth of the ratchet gear in a manner that results in rotation of the ratchet gear in a single direction for controlled linear displacement of the plunger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Jack Robert Auld, Brian William McDonnell, Barry Lynn Wheatley
  • Publication number: 20120165783
    Abstract: Micro-volume devices, systems, and associated methods that facilitate the injection or aspiration of precisely controlled volumes of materials at precisely controlled rates are provided. In one embodiment, a micro-volume device includes a syringe and a lead screw connected to a plunger of the syringe. A mechanical interface is connected to the lead screw and includes a first set of cams adjacent a proximal portion and a second set of cams adjacent a distal portion. A mechanism is configured to oscillate a structure in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the lead screw such that one or more projections of the structure to alternatively engage cams of the first and second sets of cams in a manner that results in rotation of the mechanical interface in a single direction for highly controlled linear displacement of the plunger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Barry Lynn Wheatley, Brian William McDonell