Patents by Inventor Brian William McDonell
Brian William McDonell 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).
-
Publication number: 20240110558Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for reducing pulsations in peristaltic pumps. In some examples, a cassette comprises a cassette body and a flexible sheet joined to the cassette body, wherein a transition region of the flexible sheet comprises at least one ridge that has a maximum height at a position that is offset from a center line of a cassette body transition channel. In some examples, a cassette body transition channel comprises side walls that taper toward an active region of the fluid path and/or toward a bottom of the transition channel. An example method of operating a peristaltic pump comprises operating rollers at a higher speed during portions of a revolution that otherwise would result in a lower than average flow rate and at a lower speed during portions of the revolution that otherwise would result in a higher than average flow rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2023Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventor: Brian William McDonell
-
Patent number: 11873806Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for reducing pulsations in peristaltic pumps. In some examples, a cassette comprises a cassette body and a flexible sheet joined to the cassette body, wherein a transition region of the flexible sheet comprises at least one ridge that has a maximum height at a position that is offset from a center line of a cassette body transition channel. In some examples, a cassette body transition channel comprises side walls that taper toward an active region of the fluid path and/or toward a bottom of the transition channel. An example method of operating a peristaltic pump comprises operating rollers at a higher speed during portions of a revolution that otherwise would result in a lower than average flow rate and at a lower speed during portions of the revolution that otherwise would result in a higher than average flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventor: Brian William McDonell
-
Publication number: 20230233377Abstract: In one exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a system. The system includes a pneumatic surgical instrument and a surgical console operable to provide compressed gas to the pneumatic surgical instrument. Additionally, the system includes a pneumatic drive line coupling the pneumatic surgical instrument to the surgical console. The pneumatic drive line has an internal bore configured to deliver the compressed gas to the pneumatic surgical instrument. The internal bore has a non-uniform cross-section along a length of the pneumatic drive line.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventors: Brian William McDonell, Filip Finodeyev
-
Publication number: 20230157873Abstract: In some embodiments, a vitrectomy probe may include an inner cutting tube reciprocating in an outer tube. The outer tube includes a side port and the inner tube includes a distal cutting port, and, in some embodiments, an additional side port. In some embodiments, the inner tube may also include a flat upper edge that cuts across the outer tube side port. In some embodiments, a diaphragm drives the inner tube and may have an open-stroke side with a lower hardness material than a closed-stroke side. In some embodiments, an aspiration tube coupled to the vitrectomy probe may include a first aspiration tubing and a second aspiration tubing with a lower hardness than the first aspiration tubing. In some embodiments, the vitrectomy probe may be coupled to pneumatic tubing that is stepped or tapered.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2023Publication date: May 25, 2023Inventors: Jose Luis Lopez, Matthew Douglas McCawley, Brian William McDonell, Timothy C. Ryan, John R. Underwood, Salomon Valencia, Jack Robert Auld
-
Patent number: 11583441Abstract: In some embodiments, a vitrectomy probe may include an inner cutting tube reciprocating in an outer tube. The outer tube includes a side port and the inner tube includes a distal cutting port, and, in some embodiments, an additional side port. In some embodiments, the inner tube may also include a flat upper edge that cuts across the outer tube side port. In some embodiments, a diaphragm drives the inner tube and may have an open-stroke side with a lower hardness material than a closed-stroke side. In some embodiments, an aspiration tube coupled to the vitrectomy probe may include a first aspiration tubing and a second aspiration tubing with a lower hardness than the first aspiration tubing. In some embodiments, the vitrectomy probe may be coupled to pneumatic tubing that is stepped or tapered.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Jose Luis Lopez, Matthew Douglas McCawley, Brian William McDonell, Timothy C. Ryan, John R. Underwood, Salomon Valencia, Jack Robert Auld
-
Patent number: 11504273Abstract: Provided herein are vitrectomy instruments and related systems and methods in which the vitrectomy instruments may include a forward needle stop and a cutter stop to reduce dimensional variation of a cutter of the vitrectomy instruments, allowing for a location of the port formed in a needle of the cutter to be positioned closer to a distal tip of the cutter. With the port located closer to a distal end of the cutter, the port is able to be positioned closer to the retina of an eye.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Brian William McDonell, Salomon Valencia
-
Patent number: 11166845Abstract: An ultrasonic cutting tip has a hollow shaft with a proximal and distal end. The proximal end is configured to be attached to an ultrasonic hand piece, and the distal end has a smooth continuous surface. An opening is located near the distal end of the hollow shaft. The opening is configured to cut vitreous when the cutting tip is vibrated ultrasonically in a torsional manner.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Brian William McDonell, Mikhail Ovchinnikov, Yen-Cheng Chen, David Dyk, Guangyao Jia, Mauricio Jochinsen, Omeed Paydar, Satish Yalamanchili
-
Patent number: 11110005Abstract: In some embodiments, an illuminated microsurgical instrument system includes a microsurgical instrument having a distally projecting tubular member arranged to perform a medical procedure. The tubular member has a distal tip and an outer surface, the outer surface having a flat surface formed therein. The instrument includes a sheath member surrounding a portion of the tubular member and extending toward the distal tip of the tubular member and an optical fiber extending along a length of the flat surface between the tubular member and the sheath member. The instrument may include an opening such as a slot in the distal end of the sheath member to direct exiting air away from the tip of the optical fiber. The instrument may further include a slack chamber, collar structure, and fiber guard member to support and guide the optical fiber to the distal tip.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2017Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Chenguang Diao, Mark Harrison Farley, Brian William McDonell, Alireza Mirsepassi, Michael J. Papac, Kambiz Parto, Ronald T. Smith, Barry L. Wheatley
-
Publication number: 20210100938Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for reducing pulsations in peristaltic pumps. In some examples, a cassette comprises a cassette body and a flexible sheet joined to the cassette body, wherein a transition region of the flexible sheet comprises at least one ridge that has a maximum height at a position that is offset from a center line of a cassette body transition channel. In some examples, a cassette body transition channel comprises side walls that taper toward an active region of the fluid path and/or toward a bottom of the transition channel. An example method of operating a peristaltic pump comprises operating rollers at a higher speed during portions of a revolution that otherwise would result in a lower than average flow rate and at a lower speed during portions of the revolution that otherwise would result in a higher than average flow rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2020Publication date: April 8, 2021Inventor: Brian William McDonell
-
Patent number: 10918411Abstract: A vitrectomy apparatus for performing an ocular surgery may include a vitrectomy probe body graspable by a user and a cutter extending from the body and comprising an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner tube may be moveable relative to the outer tube. The apparatus also may include an actuator within the body and configured to actuate the inner tube relative to the outer tube. A valve may be carried by the body and may be configured to selectively direct a pressurized fluid to the actuator to actuate the inner tube relative to the outer tube.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventor: Brian William McDonell
-
Patent number: 10918522Abstract: In a general aspect, a vitrectomy system is adapted to use photodisruption to rupture eye tissue. In some aspects, a photodisruption-based vitrectomy system includes a laser source configured to generate optical pulses having a pulse energy greater than a threshold energy for causing photodisruption in vitreous humor. The system also includes an optical switching device arranged to receive an output of the laser source, and an optical fiber with multiple cores that is arranged to receive an output of the optical switching device. The optical switching device is configured to select a core of the optical fiber and direct optical pulses received from the laser source into the selected core.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Gerald David Bacher, Brian William McDonell, Michael J. Papac
-
Patent number: 10869735Abstract: Provided herein is an illuminated microsurgical instrument system and an illuminated microsurgical instrument. In one implementation, the system includes a microsurgical instrument having a distally projecting tubular member arranged to perform a medical procedure at an interventional site. The tubular member has a distal tip and an outer surface, the outer surface having a flat surface formed therein. The instrument includes a sheath member surrounding a portion of the tubular member and extending toward the distal tip of the tubular member and an optical fiber extending along a length of the flat surface between the tubular member and the sheath member. The instrument may further include a slack chamber, collar structure, and fiber guard member to support and guide the optical fiber to the distal tip.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2017Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Chenguang Diao, Mark Harrison Farley, Brian William McDonell, Alireza Mirsepassi, Michael J. Papac, Kambiz Parto, Ronald T. Smith, Barry L. Wheatley
-
Publication number: 20200281769Abstract: In some embodiments, a vitrectomy probe may include an inner cutting tube reciprocating in an outer tube. The outer tube includes a side port and the inner tube includes a distal cutting port, and, in some embodiments, an additional side port. In some embodiments, the inner tube may also include a flat upper edge that cuts across the outer tube side port. In some embodiments, a diaphragm drives the inner tube and may have an open-stroke side with a lower hardness material than a closed-stroke side. In some embodiments, an aspiration tube coupled to the vitrectomy probe may include a first aspiration tubing and a second aspiration tubing with a lower hardness than the first aspiration tubing. In some embodiments, the vitrectomy probe may be coupled to pneumatic tubing that is stepped or tapered.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Inventors: Jose Luis Lopez, Matthew Douglas McCawley, Brian William McDonell, Timothy C. Ryan, John R. Underwood, Salomon Valencia, Jack Robert Auld
-
Patent number: 10722618Abstract: A method and system assist a physician in controlling pressure in a line during a surgery. The method includes filtering a vacuum signal such that portions of the vacuum signal having a frequency greater than a threshold frequency (e.g., ten Hz) are not passed. Thus a filtered vacuum signal is provided. The method also includes providing a control signal to a vacuum source. The control signal is selected from the vacuum signal and the filtered vacuum signal. The vacuum source provides a vacuum having a level based on the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2017Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Andrew Mason Hahn, Andrew David Johnson, Brian William McDonell
-
Patent number: 10639197Abstract: In some embodiments, a vitrectomy probe may include an inner cutting tube reciprocating in an outer tube. The outer tube includes a side port and the inner tube includes a distal cutting port, and, in some embodiments, an additional side port. In some embodiments, the inner tube may also include a flat upper edge that cuts across the outer tube side port. In some embodiments, a diaphragm drives the inner tube and may have an open-stroke side with a lower hardness material than a closed-stroke side. In some embodiments, an aspiration tube coupled to the vitrectomy probe may include a first aspiration tubing and a second aspiration tubing with a lower hardness than the first aspiration tubing. In some embodiments, the vitrectomy probe may be coupled to pneumatic tubing that is stepped or tapered.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Jose Luis Lopez, Matthew Douglas McCawley, Brian William McDonell, Timothy C. Ryan, John R. Underwood, Salomon Valencia, Jack Robert Auld
-
Publication number: 20200016001Abstract: Provided herein are vitrectomy instruments and related systems and methods in which the vitrectomy instruments may include a forward needle stop and a cutter stop to reduce dimensional variation of a cutter of the vitrectomy instruments, allowing for a location of the port formed in a needle of the cutter to be positioned closer to a distal tip of the cutter. With the port located closer to a distal end of the cutter, the port is able to be positioned closer to the retina of an eye.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2019Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: Brian William McDonell, Salomon Valencia
-
Publication number: 20190298571Abstract: An ultrasonic cutting tip has a hollow shaft with a proximal and distal end. The proximal end is configured to be attached to an ultrasonic hand piece, and the distal end has a smooth continuous surface. An opening is located near the distal end of the hollow shaft. The opening is configured to cut vitreous when the cutting tip is vibrated ultrasonically in a torsional manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2019Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Brian William McDonell, Mikhail Ovchinnikov, Yen-Cheng Chen, David Dyk, Guangyao Jia, Mauricio Jochinsen, Omeed Paydar, Satish Yalamanchili
-
Publication number: 20190105197Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for injection of a therapeutic agent into an area beneath eye tissue, such as a sub-retinal area or a suprachoroidal area. Example devices comprise an injector housing, a tubular element (needle or microcatheter), a first area within the injector housing configured to be selectively in fluid communication with the tubular element for delivery of a bleb-formation fluid, and a second area within the injector housing configured to be selectively in fluid communication with the tubular element for delivery of a therapeutic agent into the area beneath eye tissue. In some embodiments, the first area is a chamber within the injector housing, and the second area is an internal area of a tube within the chamber. The devices and methods allow, with a single needle (or microcatheter) insertion, high pressure bleb formation and low pressure delivery of fragile therapeutic agent compositions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Inventors: Mark David LaBelle, Brian William McDonell
-
Publication number: 20190000672Abstract: The present disclosure discloses systems and methods for actuating a cutter of a vitrectomy probe. The systems and methods involve applying fluidic pressure to a fluidic amplifier or a fluidic oscillator of the vitrectomy probe to cause oscillatory movement of a component of the cutter to perform a cutting action.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventor: Brian William McDonell
-
Publication number: 20180360660Abstract: In some embodiments, a vitrectomy probe may include an inner cutting tube reciprocating in an outer tube. The outer tube includes a side port and the inner tube includes a distal cutting port, and, in some embodiments, an additional side port. In some embodiments, the inner tube may also include a flat upper edge that cuts across the outer tube side port. In some embodiments, a diaphragm drives the inner tube and may have an open-stroke side with a lower hardness material than a closed-stroke side. In some embodiments, an aspiration tube coupled to the vitrectomy probe may include a first aspiration tubing and a second aspiration tubing with a lower hardness than the first aspiration tubing. In some embodiments, the vitrectomy probe may be coupled to pneumatic tubing that is stepped or tapered.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2017Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Jose Luis Lopez, Matthew Douglas McCawley, Brian William McDonell, Timothy C. Ryan, John R. Underwood, Salomon Valencia, Jack Robert Auld