Patents by Inventor Christopher McCollam

Christopher McCollam 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: 11771593
    Abstract: A gas mixture apparatus includes a measurement control system, an activation system, a pressurized chamber with one or more gases, and a mixing chamber. A filter can be preattached to an outlet of the mixture apparatus, allowing excess gas to be discharged therethrough and then atmospheric air to be drawn into the mixture apparatus through the filter for creating a therapeutic gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Robert Auld, James Lescoulie, John Christopher Huculak, Marcus Antonio Souza, Christopher McCollam
  • Patent number: 11622885
    Abstract: A vitrector that includes an adjustable illumination aperture is described. The vitrector may include a probe and a light sleeve assembly extending along and substantially surrounding the probe. The light sleeve assembly may include a plurality of optical fibers. At least a portion of the optical fibers are operable to provide illumination so as to define an illumination aperture about the vitrectomy probe. A portion of the optical fibers may be encapsulated. The light sleeve assembly may be adjustable along a length of the probe, providing adjustment of the illumination aperture to increase or decrease an area of illumination provided thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Jon-Peter Meckel, Matthew Edward Bazydlo, Christopher McCollam
  • Publication number: 20220087861
    Abstract: A gas mixture apparatus includes a measurement control system, an activation system, a pressurized chamber with one or more gases, and a mixing chamber. A filter can be preattached to the outlet of the mixture apparatus, allowing excess gas to be discharged therethrough and then atmospheric air to be drawn into the mixture apparatus through the filter for creating a therapeutic gas mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Jack Robert Auld, James Lescoulie, John Christopher Huculak, Marcus Antonio Souza, Christopher McCollam
  • Patent number: 11224537
    Abstract: A gas mixture apparatus includes a measurement control system, an activation system, a pressurized chamber with one or more gases, and a mixing chamber. A filter can be preattached to the outlet of the mixture apparatus, allowing excess gas to be discharged therethrough and then atmospheric air to be drawn into the mixture apparatus through the filter for creating a therapeutic gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Robert Auld, John Christopher Huculak, James Lescoulie, Christopher McCollam, Marcus Antonio Souza
  • Publication number: 20200121499
    Abstract: A gas mixture apparatus includes a measurement control system, an activation system, a pressurized chamber with one or more gases, and a mixing chamber. A filter can be preattached to the outlet of the mixture apparatus, allowing excess gas to be discharged therethrough and then atmospheric air to be drawn into the mixture apparatus through the filter for creating a therapeutic gas mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Jack Robert Auld, John Christopher Huculak, James Lescoulie, Christopher McCollam, Marcus Antonio Souza
  • Publication number: 20190269556
    Abstract: A vitrector that includes an adjustable illumination aperture is described. The vitrector may include a probe and a light sleeve assembly extending along and substantially surrounding the probe. The light sleeve assembly may include a plurality of optical fibers. At least a portion of the optical fibers are operable to provide illumination so as to define an illumination aperture about the vitrectomy probe. A portion of the optical fibers may be encapsulated. The light sleeve assembly may be adjustable along a length of the probe, providing adjustment of the illumination aperture to increase or decrease an area of illumination provided thereby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Jon-Peter Meckel, Matthew Edward Bazydlo, Christopher McCollam
  • Patent number: 10085883
    Abstract: An articulating optical surgical probe includes a handle sized to fit in a single hand and a single rigid cannula extending from the handle having a diameter of 20 Ga or less. The probe further includes a slotted tip at a distal end of the cannula and at least one optical fiber extending through the handle, the single rigid cannula and the slotted tip, and a pull-wire secured to the slotted tip. When the pull-wire exerts tension on the slotted tip, the slotted tip will deviate from straight to a bend angle controlled by the tension in the pull-wire. The slotted tip is formed from a resilient material that will restore to the straight position when the tension exerted by the pull-wire is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jack Robert Auld, Christopher McCollam, Xiaoyu Yu
  • Publication number: 20180049919
    Abstract: An articulating optical surgical probe includes a handle sized to fit in a single hand and a single rigid cannula extending from the handle having a diameter of 20 Ga or less. The probe further includes a slotted tip at a distal end of the cannula and at least one optical fiber extending through the handle, the single rigid cannula and the slotted tip, and a pull-wire secured to the slotted tip. When the pull-wire exerts tension on the slotted tip, the slotted tip will deviate from straight to a bend angle controlled by the tension in the pull-wire. The slotted tip is formed from a resilient material that will restore to the straight position when the tension exerted by the pull-wire is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Jack Robert Auld, Christopher McCollam, Xiaoyu Yu
  • Patent number: 9795505
    Abstract: An articulating optical surgical probe includes a handle sized to fit in a single hand and a single rigid cannula extending from the handle having a diameter of 20 Ga or less. The probe further includes a slotted tip at a distal end of the cannula and at least one optical fiber extending through the handle, the single rigid cannula and the slotted tip, and a pull-wire secured to the slotted tip. When the pull-wire exerts tension on the slotted tip, the slotted tip will deviate from straight to a bend angle controlled by the tension in the pull-wire. The slotted tip is formed from a resilient material that will restore to the straight position when the tension exerted by the pull-wire is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaoyu Yu, Christopher McCollam, Jack Auld
  • Publication number: 20140121469
    Abstract: A vitrector that includes an adjustable illumination aperture is described. The vitrector may include a probe and a light sleeve assembly extending along and substantially surrounding the probe. The light sleeve assembly may include a plurality of optical fibers. At least a portion of the optical fibers are operable to provide illumination so as to define an illumination aperture about the vitrectomy probe. A portion of the optical fibers may be encapsulated. The light sleeve assembly may be adjustable along a length of the probe, providing adjustment of the illumination aperture to increase or decrease an area of illumination provided thereby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jon-Peter Meckel, Matthew Edward Bazydlo, Christopher McCollam
  • Publication number: 20130035551
    Abstract: An articulating optical surgical probe includes a handle sized to fit in a single hand and a single rigid cannula extending from the handle having a diameter of 20 Ga or less. The probe further includes a slotted tip at a distal end of the cannula and at least one optical fiber extending through the handle, the single rigid cannula and the slotted tip, and a pull-wire secured to the slotted tip. When the pull-wire exerts tension on the slotted tip, the slotted tip will deviate from straight to a bend angle controlled by the tension in the pull-wire. The slotted tip is formed from a resilient material that will restore to the straight position when the tension exerted by the pull-wire is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Xiaoyu Yu, Christopher McCollam, Jack Auld
  • Patent number: 7783346
    Abstract: A transparent illuminated infusion cannula is provided for illuminating an area during eye surgery. An optical fiber may be spaced a certain distance away from the cannula such that fluid flow around the distal end of the fiber and into the transparent cannula may occur with a much higher flow rate than what had previously been possible. The fiber cannula airspace may be optimized so that the cross-sectional area of the fluid conduit remains substantially constant in order to achieve a best compromise between high light transmittance and high fluid flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald T. Smith, Jack R. Auld, Christopher McCollam, Dean Y. Lin, Dyson Hickingbotham
  • Publication number: 20070179430
    Abstract: A transparent illuminated infusion cannula is provided for illuminating an area during eye surgery. An optical fiber may be spaced a certain distance away from the cannula such that fluid flow around the distal end of the fiber and into the transparent cannula may occur with a much higher flow rate than what had previously been possible. The fiber cannula airspace may be optimized so that the cross-sectional area of the fluid conduit remains substantially constant in order to achieve a best compromise between high light transmittance and high fluid flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Ronald Smith, Jack Auld, Christopher McCollam, Dean Lin, Dyson Hickingbotham