Patents by Inventor Daniel R. Neal

Daniel R. Neal 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: 20240069361
    Abstract: A method for correcting aberrations of a patient's eye with a customized contact lens, including determining an optimal XY location and an optimal angular orientation, a, for placing correction optics on the customized contact lens by using an optical instrument to measure XY offsets (?X, ?Y) and X, Y, Z tilt angles, (?x, ?y, ?), respectively, of a predicate contact lens while disposed on the patient's eye is disclosed. The predicate contact lens and the customized contact lens can be a scleral contact lens or a normal contact lens. The optical instrument can comprise a wavefront aberrometer and/or a corneal topographer. The correction optics include a wavefront-customized contact lens with a built-in, optimized wavefront-guided correction patch. The predicate contact lens can include three or more fiducial marks inside of the pupil, which can be used to determine the XY center of the predicate contact lens when placed on the patient's eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Wavefront Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Neal, Xifeng Xiao
  • Publication number: 20230391029
    Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing a wavefront-customized contact lens. The systems include: (1) an optical instrument for measuring ocular imperfections of a patient's eye; (2) a computer for designing a mold and pin design used for manufacturing a wavefront-customized contact lens that corrects the ocular imperfections; (3) a fabrication machine for fabricating a wavefront-customized mold that includes corrections for the ocular imperfections; and (4) a manufacturing equipment for manufacturing a wavefront-customized contact lenses that uses the wavefront-customized mold; wherein the wavefront-customized mold design and wavefront-guided contact lens manufacturing are uniquely customized for each patient's eye. The optical means can be a wavefront aberrometer with, or without, a profilometer and/or an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) module. The wavefront-customized contact lens can be a soft contact lens or a rigid, gas permeable contact lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: Wavefront Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Neal, Jeff Kolberg, Jason Marsack, Raymond Alan Applegate
  • Publication number: 20230148857
    Abstract: A method for optimizing an ophthalmic treatment, comprising: measuring a patient's eye with an ophthalmic measurement instrument, fabricating a trial correction lens and testing it on the patient's eye, determining a score or success criteria for the trial correction, using the score or success criteria to provide training information to a machine-learning algorithm, and using the machine-learning algorithm to determine an optimal ophthalmic correction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel R. Neal, Xifeng Zhao, Jeff Kolberg, Ron Rammage
  • Publication number: 20230133703
    Abstract: This invention comprises a combined optical wavefront aberrometer and topographer system that is used in conjunction with a contact lens that has a plurality of fiducial marks disposed on the lens. The fiducial marks are located radially inside of the undilated pupil's diameter. The optical imaging capacity of the aberrometer is used to measure and monitor any misalignments of the contact lens's position (XY decentration) and/or rotation. Image analysis algorithms are used to track the positions of the fiducial marks, and, hence, the amount of geometric misalignment of the contact lens can be calculated. The fiducial marks can comprise micro ink spots, or depressions in the surface of the contact lens (e.g., divots, dimples, pits), or other small surface features, including raised bumps, which can help to stabilize motions of the contact lens on the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Xifeng Xiao, Daniel R. Neal, Jeff Kolberg, Ron Rammage, Phillip Riera, R. James Copland, Matt Haugo
  • Publication number: 20220370243
    Abstract: Method steps for correcting vision in an eye that uses a customized phakic IOL composing: (1) measuring one or more wavefront aberrations of the eye: (2) designing a wavefront-customized correction profile for an Intraocular Lens (IOL); (3) creating a customized IOL with the customized correction profile; and (4) implanting the customized IOL in the eye. Alternatively, an uncorrected IOL is first implanted and aligned in the eye, followed by in-situ scanning a femtosecond laser spot across the implanted IOL to locally change the Index of Refraction of the IOL material and create an in-situ customized IOL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel R. Neal, R. James Copland, Jeff Kolberg
  • Publication number: 20220369922
    Abstract: A system for correcting vision in an eye that uses a premium, customized IOL, the system comprising: (1) optical aberrometer means for measuring wavefront aberrations of the eye; (2) computer means for designing a wavefront-customized correction profile for the IOL; (3) manufacturing means for creating a customized IOL with the wavefront-corrected profile; and (4) surgical means for implanting the customized IOL in the eye. Alternatively an uncorrected IOL is first implanted and aligned in the eye, followed by in-situ scanning a femtosecond laser spot across the implanted IOL to locally change an index of Refraction of the IOL material in-situ.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel R. Neal, R. James Copland, Jeff Kolberg
  • Publication number: 20220330813
    Abstract: An apparatus and method: project a plurality of light spots onto a cornea of an eye having a tear film disposed thereon, wherein the light spots are broadband light spots or are narrowband light spots whose bandwidth is tuned in time across a broad bandwidth; image the light spots from the cornea onto at least one two-dimensional detector array; spectrally resolve each of the plurality of imaged light spots; perform interferometry on the spectrally resolved imaged light spots to identify an anterior interface and a posterior interface of the tear film of the eye; and determine a thickness of the tear film as a distance between the anterior interface and the posterior interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas D. Raymond, Daniel R. Neal, Richard J. Copland
  • Publication number: 20220225875
    Abstract: A method and device: pass a probe beam to the retina of an eye through a refractive region of a combined diffractive-refractive intraocular lens (IOL) which is implanted into the eye; provide light returned from the retina to a wavefront sensor which includes a detector array and images the returned light onto the detector array to produce a first set of light spots which returned from the retina through the refractive region of the combined diffractive-refractive IOL and a second set of light spots which returned from the retina through a diffractive region of the combined diffractive-refractive IOL; select a first region of the detector array which includes at least some of the first set of light spots and excludes the second set of light spots; and determines a refraction of the eye with the combined diffractive-refractive IOL implanted therein using only data from the first set of light spots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Richard J. Copland, Daniel R. Neal, Thomas D. Raymond
  • Patent number: 11311187
    Abstract: A system includes: a group of first light sources arranged around a central axis, the group being separated from the axis by a radial distance defining an aperture in the group; a plurality of second light sources; a detector array; and an optical system adapted to provide light from the second light sources through the aperture to a cornea of an eye, and to provide images of the first light sources and images of the second light sources from the cornea, through the aperture, to the detector array. The optical system includes a field flattener such that a shape of a surface of best focus on the detector array curves away from detector array in generally a same direction as the eye and a sclera of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: AMO Development, LLC
    Inventors: Richard J. Copland, Daniel R. Neal
  • Publication number: 20210315452
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods that facilitate optical analysis, particularly for the diagnosis and treatment of refractive errors of the eye. An optical diagnostic method for an eye includes obtaining a sequence of aberration measurements of the eye, identifying an outlier aberration measurement of the sequence of aberration measurements, and excluding the outlier aberration measurement from the sequence of aberration measurements to produce a qualified sequence of aberration measurements. The sequence of aberrations measurements can be obtained by using a wavefront sensor. An optical correction for the eye can be formulated in response to the qualified sequence of aberration measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel R. Neal, Thomas D. Raymond, Leander Zickler
  • Publication number: 20210267799
    Abstract: A method and system for correcting vision in an eye that uses a wavefront-customized phakic or pseudophakic Intraocular Lens (IOL), the method comprising: (1) measuring wavefront aberrations of the eye; (2) designing a wavefront-customized correction profile for an IOL; (3) creating a customized IOL with the customized correction profile; and (4) implanting the customized IOL in the eye, without having to remove the natural lens. Alternatively, an uncorrected IOL is implanted first, followed by scanning a femtosecond laser spot across the implanted IOL to locally change the Index of Refraction of the IOL material and create an in-situ customized IOL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel R. Neal, James Copland, Xifeng Xiao, Alan Blair
  • Publication number: 20210263338
    Abstract: This invention relates to optical methods and optical systems for making both on-axis and wide-field, peripheral off-axis wavefront measurements of an eye; and for designing and manufacturing wavefront-guided customized contact lens useful for myopia control. The wide-field optical instrument can comprise either (1) a multi-axis optical configuration using multiple off-axis beamlets, or (2) an instrument comprising a rotatable scanning mirror that generates off-axis probe beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: James Copland, Daniel R. Neal, Lyle Kordonowy
  • Publication number: 20210263497
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and devices for designing customized contact lenses, by initially making dynamic wavefront sensor measurements through a trial contact lens that is fitted on an eye, and then calculating a WaveFront Guided (WFG) correction to be applied to the trial contact lens that reduces the RMS level of aberrations as much as practically possible. The output of the wavefront correction program is a customized lathe file that the manufacturer can use to make customized contact lenses on a lathe. The method works best for soft contact lenses and scleral lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel R. Neal, James Copland, Xifeng Xiao, Alan Blair, Lyle Kordonowy, Paul Pulaski
  • Publication number: 20210212601
    Abstract: This invention, a Purkinjenatorâ„¢ optical system, is an eye-tracker and methodology for tracking Purkinje reflection images from a human eye in real-time, which allows for the XYZ position and tip/tilt of structures inside the eye to be determined in real-time. When used in combination with programmable groups of IR LED light sources, unique patterns of Purkinje reflections from internal surfaces (and corneal surfaces) can be identified. Thus, XYZ positioning and tip/tilt of internal structures can be accurately and rapidly determined. An Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) optical system can be combined with the Purkinjenatorâ„¢ optical system to provide Z-axis distance information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel R. Neal, R James Copland
  • Patent number: 11051688
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods that facilitate optical analysis, particularly for the diagnosis and treatment of refractive errors of the eye. An optical diagnostic method for an eye includes obtaining a sequence of aberration measurements of the eye, identifying an outlier aberration measurement of the sequence of aberration measurements, and excluding the outlier aberration measurement from the sequence of aberration measurements to produce a qualified sequence of aberration measurements. The sequence of aberrations measurements can be obtained by using a wavefront sensor. An optical correction for the eye can be formulated in response to the qualified sequence of aberration measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: AMO Development, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Neal, Thomas D. Raymond, Leander Zickler
  • Patent number: 10849495
    Abstract: An optical coherence tomography (OCT) system includes: a light source; a multi-focal delay line; and a light detector. The multi-focal delay line includes: a positive lens; and an optical switch configured to: receive a light from the light source; selectively direct the sample light to the positive lens via a selected one of a plurality of light interfaces each located a different distance from the focal plane of the positive lens; and direct the sample light to an object to be measured. The light detector is configured to receive return light returned from the object to be measured in response to the sample light, and to receive a reference light produced from the light from the light source, and in response thereto to detect at least one interference signal. An associated OCT method may be performed with the OCT system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: AMO Development, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Pulaski, Daniel R. Neal, Thomas D. Raymond, Stephen W. Farrer, Daniel R. Hamrick, Richard J. Copland
  • Patent number: 10813550
    Abstract: An optical measurement system method for measuring a characteristic of a subject's eye use a probe beam having an infrared wavelength in the infrared spectrum to measure a refraction of the subject's eye at the infrared wavelength; capture at least two different Purkinje images at two different corresponding wavelengths from at least one surface of the lens of the subject's eye; determine from the at least two different Purkinje images a value for at least one parameter of the subject's eye; use the value of the at least one parameter to determine a customized chromatic adjustment factor for the subject's eye; and correct the measured refraction of the subject's eye at the infrared wavelength with the customized chromatic adjustment factor to determine a refraction of the subject's eye at a visible wavelength in the visible spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: AMO DEVELOPMENT, LLC
    Inventors: Richard J. Copland, Daniel R. Neal, Thomas D. Raymond, Stephen W. Farrer
  • Patent number: 10682056
    Abstract: An optical measurement system: passes a probe light beam through a variable focal length lens to the retina of an eye, and returns light from the retina through the variable focal length lens to a wavefront sensor; adjusts the focal length of the variable focal length lens to provide a desired characteristic to at least one of: the probe light beam, and the light returned by the retina to the wavefront sensor; passes a calibration light through the variable focal length lens to the wavefront sensor while the variable focal length lens is at the adjusted focal length to ascertain the adjusted focal length; and makes a wavefront measurement of the eye from the light returned from the retina of the eye through the variable focal length lens to the wavefront sensor, and from the adjusted focal length ascertained from the calibration light received by the wavefront sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: AMO Development, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Neal, Richard J. Copland
  • Patent number: 10631724
    Abstract: An optical measurement instrument performs a series of wavefront measurements to obtain a plurality of sets of wavefront aberrometry data for an eye, and performs a series of corneal topography measurements to obtain a plurality of sets of corneal topography data for the eye. Each set of wavefront aberrometry data is obtained at a corresponding different point in time, and each set of corneal topography data is obtained at a corresponding different point in time. The wavefront aberrometry data and the corneal topography data are processed to produce combined tear film breakup data as a function of time. The combined tear film breakup data may be employed as a metric for evaluating a level of tear film breakup of the eye as a function of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: AMO Development, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Neal, Richard J. Copland, Jason Hoy, Wei Xiong
  • Patent number: 10583039
    Abstract: Improved devices, systems, and methods for planning cataract surgery on an eye of a patient incorporate results of prior corrective surgeries into a planned cataract surgery of a particular patient by driving an effective surgery vector function based on data from the prior corrective surgeries. The exemplary effective surgery vector employs an influence matrix which may allow improved refractive corrections to be generated so as to increase the overall efficacy of a cataract surgery by specifying one or more parameters of an intraocular lens (IOL) to be implanted during the cataract surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: AMO WaveFront Sciences, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Raymond, Daniel R. Neal, Richard J. Copland, Wei Xiong, Paul Pulaski, Stephen W. Farrer, Carmen Canovas Vidal, Daniel R. Hamrick