Patents by Inventor Benjamin T. Gravely
Benjamin T. Gravely 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).
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Publication number: 20120088980Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for imaging a portion of a mammalian eyelid has an eye contact lenspiece configured to direct the light through an eyelid from posterior to anterior surface to thereby trans-illuminate the eyelid, when the light source illuminates the contact lens. An imaging device receives an image of the eyelid as it is trans-illuminated. Other methods and apparatus are presented in various embodiments, hence this abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2011Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicant: TearScience, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin T. Gravely, Stephen M. Grenon, Timothy R. Willis, John M. Jans, Donald R. Korb
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Publication number: 20120016275Abstract: An apparatus for treating meibomian gland dysfunction caused by meibomian gland obstruction in order to restore the natural flow of secretion from the meibomian gland comprises the application of a combination of energy, suction, vibration, heat, aspiration, chemical agents and pharmacological agents to loosen and thereafter remove the obstructive material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2011Publication date: January 19, 2012Applicant: TearScience, Inc.Inventors: Donald R. Korb, Timothy R. Willis, Benjamin T. Gravely
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Patent number: 8092023Abstract: Ocular surface interferometry (OSI) devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for measuring a tear film layer thickness (TFLT) of the ocular tear film, including lipid layer thickness (LLT) and/or aqueous layer thickness (ALT). The measured TFLT can be used to diagnosis dry eye syndrome (DES). An imaging device can be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture optical wave interference interactions of specularly reflected light from the tear film combined with a background signal(s) in a first image. The imaging device can also be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture a second image containing the background signal(s) present in the first image. The second image can be subtracted from the first image to reduce and/or eliminate the background signal(s) in the first image to produce a resulting image. The resulting image can be processed and analyzed to measure a TFLT.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2010Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: TearScience, Inc.Inventors: Donald R. Korb, William L. Weber, Randal B. Chinnock, Benjamin T. Gravely, Stephen M. Grenon, Michael Zelina
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Patent number: 8083787Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating gland dysfunction caused by gland obstruction in order to restore the natural flow of secretion from the gland comprises the application of a combination of energy, suction, vibration, heat, aspiration, chemical agents and pharmacological agents to loosen and thereafter remove the obstructive material.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2006Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: TearScience, Inc.Inventors: Donald R. Korb, Timothy R. Willis, Benjamin T. Gravely
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Publication number: 20110285961Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus for measuring the relative thickness of the lipid layer component of the precorneal tear film on the surface of an eye after distribution of the lipid layer subsequent to blinking is disclosed. An illuminator directs light to the lipid layer of a patient's eye. The illuminator is a broad spectrum light source covering the visible region and is a lambertion light emitter such that the light source is specularly reflected from the lipid layer and undergoes constructive and destructive interference in the lipid layer. A collector collects and focuses the specularly reflected light such that the interference patterns on the tear film lipid layer are observable. The collector also produces an output signal representative of the specularly reflected light which is suitable for further analysis, such as projection on to a high resolution video monitor or analysis by or storage in a computer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: TEARSCIENCE, INC.Inventors: Donald R. Korb, Benjamin T. Gravely
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Patent number: 8025689Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating gland dysfunction caused by gland obstruction in order to restore the natural flow of secretion from the gland comprises the application of a combination of energy, suction, vibration, heat, aspiration, chemical agents and pharmacological agents to loosen and thereafter remove the obstructive material.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2010Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: TearScience, Inc.Inventors: Donald R. Korb, Timothy R. Willis, Benjamin T. Gravely
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Patent number: 7988294Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus for measuring the relative thickness of the lipid layer component of the precorneal tear film on the surface of an eye after distribution of the lipid layer subsequent to blinking is disclosed. An illuminator directs light to the lipid layer of a patient's eye. The illuminator is a broad spectrum light source covering the visible region and is a lambertion light emitter such that the light source is specularly reflected from the lipid layer and undergoes constructive and destructive interference in the lipid layer. A collector collects and focuses the specularly reflected light such that the interference patterns on the tear film lipid layer are observable. The collector also produces an output signal representative of the specularly reflected light which is suitable for further analysis, such as projection on to a high resolution video monitor or analysis by or storage in a computer.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2009Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: TearScience, Inc.Inventors: Donald R. Korb, Benjamin T. Gravely
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Publication number: 20110137214Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating gland dysfunction caused by gland obstruction in order to restore the natural flow of secretion from the gland comprises the application of a combination of energy, suction, vibration, heat, aspiration, chemical agents and pharmacological agents to loosen and thereafter remove the obstructive material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2011Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: TEARSCIENCE, INC.Inventors: Donald R. Korb, Timothy R. Willis, Benjamin T. Gravely, Stephen M. Grenon
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Publication number: 20110130729Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating gland dysfunction caused by gland obstruction in order to restore the natural flow of secretion from the gland comprises the application of a combination of energy, suction, vibration, heat, aspiration, chemical agents and pharmacological agents to loosen and thereafter remove the obstructive material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2011Publication date: June 2, 2011Applicant: TEARSCIENCE, INC.Inventors: Donald R. Korb, Timothy R. Willis, Benjamin T. Gravely, Stephen M. Grenon
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Publication number: 20100259722Abstract: Ocular surface interferometry (OSI) devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for measuring a tear film layer thickness (TFLT) of the ocular tear film, including lipid layer thickness (LLT) and/or aqueous layer thickness (ALT). The measured TFLT can be used to diagnosis dry eye syndrome (DES). In certain disclosed embodiments, a multi-wavelength light source can be controlled to illuminate the ocular tear film. Light emitted from the multi-wavelength light source undergoes optical wave interference interactions in the tear film. An imaging device can be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture optical wave interference interactions of specularly reflected light from the tear film combined with a background signal(s) in a first image. The imaging device can also be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture a second image containing the background signal(s) present in the first image.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: TearScience, Inc.Inventors: Donald R. Korb, William L. Weber, Randal B. Chinnock, Benjamin T. Gravely, Stephen M. Grenon
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Publication number: 20100259723Abstract: Ocular surface interferometry (OSI) devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for measuring a tear film layer thickness (TFLT) of the ocular tear film, including lipid layer thickness (LLT) and/or aqueous layer thickness (ALT). The measured TFLT can be used to diagnosis dry eye syndrome (DES). In certain disclosed embodiments, a multi-wavelength light source can be controlled to illuminate the ocular tear film. Light emitted from the multi-wavelength light source undergoes optical wave interference interactions in the tear film. An imaging device can be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture optical wave interference interactions of specularly reflected light from the tear film combined with a background signal(s) in a first image. The imaging device can also be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture a second image containing the background signal(s) present in the first image.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: TearScience, Inc.Inventors: Donald R. Korb, William L. Weber, Randal B. Chinnock, Benjamin T. Gravely, Stephen M. Grenon, Michael Zelina
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Publication number: 20100259721Abstract: Ocular surface interferometry (OSI) devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for measuring a tear film layer thickness (TFLT) of the ocular tear film, including lipid layer thickness (LLT) and/or aqueous layer thickness (ALT). The measured TFLT can be used to diagnosis dry eye syndrome (DES). In certain disclosed embodiments, a multi-wavelength light source can be controlled to illuminate the ocular tear film. Light emitted from the multi-wavelength light source undergoes optical wave interference interactions in the tear film. An imaging device can be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture optical wave interference interactions of specularly reflected light from the tear film combined with a background signal(s) in a first image. The imaging device can also be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture a second image containing the background signal(s) present in the first image.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: TearScience, Inc.Inventors: Donald R. Korb, William L. Weber, Randal B. Chinnock, Benjamin T. Gravely, Stephen M. Grenon, Michael Zelina
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Publication number: 20100256552Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating gland dysfunction caused by gland obstruction in order to restore the natural flow of secretion from the gland comprises the application of a combination of energy, suction, vibration, heat, aspiration, chemical agents and pharmacological agents to loosen and thereafter remove the obstructive material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: TEARSCIENCE, INC.Inventors: Donald R. Korb, Timothy R. Willis, Benjamin T. Gravely
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Publication number: 20100253907Abstract: Ocular surface interferometry (OSI) devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for measuring a tear film layer thickness (TFLT) of the ocular tear film, including lipid layer thickness (LLT) and/or aqueous layer thickness (ALT). The measured TFLT can be used to diagnosis dry eye syndrome (DES). In certain disclosed embodiments, a multi-wavelength light source can be controlled to illuminate the ocular tear film. Light emitted from the multi-wavelength light source undergoes optical wave interference interactions in the tear film. An imaging device can be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture optical wave interference interactions of specularly reflected light from the tear film combined with a background signal(s) in a first image. The imaging device can also be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture a second image containing the background signal(s) present in the first image.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: TearScience, Inc.Inventors: Donald R. Korb, William L. Weber, Randal B. Chinnock, Benjamin T. Gravely, Stephen M. Grenon
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Patent number: 7758190Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus for measuring the relative thickness of the lipid layer component of the precorneal tear film on the surface of an eye after distribution of the lipid layer subsequent to blinking is disclosed. An illuminator directs light to the lipid layer of a patient's eye. The illuminator is a broad spectrum light source covering the visible region and is a lambertion light emitter such that the light source is specularly reflected from the lipid layer and undergoes constructive and destructive interference in the lipid layer. A collector collects and focuses the specularly reflected light such that the interference patterns on the tear film lipid layer are observable. The collector also produces an output signal representative of the specularly reflected light which is suitable for further analysis, such as projection on to a high resolution video monitor or analysis by or storage in a computer.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2007Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: TearScience, Inc.Inventors: Donald R. Korb, Benjamin T. Gravely
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Publication number: 20100085540Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus for measuring the relative thickness of the lipid layer component of the precorneal tear film on the surface of an eye after distribution of the lipid layer subsequent to blinking is disclosed. An illuminator directs light to the lipid layer of a patient's eye. The illuminator is a broad spectrum light source covering the visible region and is a lambertion light emitter such that the light source is specularly reflected from the lipid layer and undergoes constructive and destructive interference in the lipid layer. A collector collects and focuses the specularly reflected light such that the interference patterns on the tear film lipid layer are observable. The collector also produces an output signal representative of the specularly reflected light which is suitable for further analysis, such as projection on to a high resolution video monitor or analysis by or storage in a computer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2009Publication date: April 8, 2010Applicant: TearScience, Inc.Inventors: Donald R. Korb, Benjamin T. Gravely
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Publication number: 20080319323Abstract: The invention comprises a method for measuring the relative thickness of the lipid layer component of the precorneal tear film on the surface of an eye after distribution of the lipid layer subsequent to blinking. Light is directed to the lipid layer of a patient's eye with an illuminator. The illuminator is a broad spectrum light source covering the visible region and is a lambertion light emitter such that the light source is specularly reflected from the lipid layer and undergoes constructive and destructive interference in the lipid layer. The specularly reflected light is collected and focused using a collector such that the interference patterns on the tear film lipid layer are observable. The collector also produces an output signal representative of the specularly reflected light which is suitable for further analysis, such as projection on to a high resolution video monitor or analysis by or storage in a computer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2007Publication date: December 25, 2008Inventors: Benjamin T. Gravely, Donald R. Korb
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Publication number: 20080316499Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus for measuring the relative thickness of the lipid layer component of the precorneal tear film on the surface of an eye after distribution of the lipid layer subsequent to blinking is disclosed. An illuminator directs light to the lipid layer of a patient's eye. The illuminator is a broad spectrum light source covering the visible region and is a lambertion light emitter such that the light source is specularly reflected from the lipid layer and undergoes constructive and destructive interference in the lipid layer. A collector collects and focuses the specularly reflected light such that the interference patterns on the tear film lipid layer are observable. The collector also produces an output signal representative of the specularly reflected light which is suitable for further analysis, such as projection on to a high resolution video monitor or analysis by or storage in a computer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2007Publication date: December 25, 2008Inventors: Donald R. Korb, Benjamin T. Gravely
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Publication number: 20080081999Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus for imaging a portion of a mammalian eyelid has an eye contact lenspiece configured to direct the light through an eyelid from posterior to anterior surface to thereby trans-illuminate the eyelid, when the light source illuminates the contact lens. An imaging device receives an image of the eyelid as it is trans-illuminated. Other methods and apparatus are presented in various embodiments, hence this abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2007Publication date: April 3, 2008Inventors: Benjamin T. Gravely, Stephen M. Grenon, Timothy R. Willis, John M. Jans, Donald R. Korb
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Publication number: 20080081996Abstract: A method of evaluating dry eye in humans wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion to the eye is reduced or stopped due to the presence of an obstruction of a meibomian gland in the eyelid involves applying a pressure to the eyelid that mimics pressure applied during blinking; and simultaneously imaging the glands to diagnose the condition of the meibomian gland. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2006Publication date: April 3, 2008Inventors: Stephen M. Grenon, Timothy R. Willis, Benjamin T. Gravely, Donald R. Korb