Patents by Inventor David A. Thoe

David A. Thoe 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: 20180310998
    Abstract: A surgical system includes a control device, a touch screen display, and a GUI displayed on the touch screen display. A parameter icon has a parameter area, a first set point, a second set point, a parameter line extending from the first set point to the second set point, and a value orb located on the parameter line. The location of the value orb on the parameter line corresponds to a control position of the control device. A parameter value area is located under the parameter line and extends from the first set point to the value orb. A numerical parameter value is located in the parameter area. The parameter line represents a range of parameter values from the first set point to the second set point, and when the control device is a foot pedal, a range of travel of the foot pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: MIKHAIL BOUKHNY, KEVIN KING, TIFFANY SUTLIFF, DAVID A. THOE, CRAIG WOOLDRIDGE, MARK YOUNG
  • Patent number: 9545335
    Abstract: A graphical user interface for use in phacoemulsification surgical systems that allows a user to select different pulse modes by touching portions of the display screen. The user interface includes first and second display elements. One display element includes a representation of the on-time of the pulses, and the other display element includes a representation of the off-time. The representations show how the on-time and off-time change relative to a position of a controller, such as a foot pedal. The representation show a constant time, or that a time increases or decreases as the foot pedal is pressed. To select a pulse mode, a user can scroll through different pulse representations by touching the screen at the display elements. The selected pulse mode can be continuous, pulse, burst, or a combination or derivation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Mikhail Boukhny, David A. Thoe
  • Patent number: 9089367
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a surgical console may include a sensor strip with sensor strip sensors (e.g., field effect or capacitive sensors) offset vertically and configured to receive an input from a user corresponding to a vertical height of a patient's eyes relative to the surgical console. The surgical console may use the input from the sensor strip to determine a patient eye level (PEL) relative to a surgical console component and then use the PEL and the at least one component in controlling operation of at least one of a source of irrigation or a source of aspiration during an ophthalmic procedure. The surgical console may further include a plurality of visual indicators positioned relative to at least two of the plurality of sensor strip sensors and configured to be illuminated to correspond to a sensor detecting the touch input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: David A. Thoe, John Koontz, Mikhail Boukhny
  • Publication number: 20150057774
    Abstract: A surgical system includes a control device, a touch screen display, and a GUI displayed on the touch screen display. A parameter icon has a parameter area, a first set point, a second set point, a parameter line extending from the first set point to the second set point, and a value orb located on the parameter line. The location of the value orb on the parameter line corresponds to a control position of the control device. A parameter value area is located under the parameter line and extends from the first set point to the value orb. A numerical parameter value is located in the parameter area. The parameter line represents a range of parameter values from the first set point to the second set point, and when the control device is a foot pedal, a range of travel of the foot pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: MIKHAIL BOUKHNY, KEVIN KING, TIFFANY SUTLIFF, DAVID A. THOE, CRAIG WOOLDRIDGE, MARK YOUNG
  • Patent number: 8684145
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a braking system may include an actuator, a pawl gear coupled to the actuator, and a wheel gear plate. The braking system may further include a brake pad, an outer wheel coupled to the brake pad, and a spring washer plate configured to press the wheel gear plate against the brake pad such that the wheel gear plate is configured to inhibit rotation of the outer wheel through friction between the wheel gear plate and the brake pad when the pawl gear inhibits rotation of the wheel gear plate. In some embodiments, the braking system may further include a sensor and the actuator may be triggered to actuate the pawl gear in response to signals from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikhail Boukhny, David A. Thoe, John Koontz, Long Q. Nguyen, Scott B. Newton, Daniel Bauen, Cassilyn Bair, Lawrence E. Davis
  • Publication number: 20110288470
    Abstract: A graphical user interface for use in phacoemulsification surgical systems that allows a user to select different pulse modes by touching portions of the display screen. The user interface includes first and second display elements. One display element includes a representation of the on-time of the pulses, and the other display element includes a representation of the off-time. The representations show how the on-time and off-time change relative to a position of a controller, such as a foot pedal. The representation show a constant time, or that a time increases or decreases as the foot pedal is pressed. To select a pulse mode, a user can scroll through different pulse representations by touching the screen at the display elements. The selected pulse mode can be continuous, pulse, burst, or a combination or derivation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Mikhail Boukhny, David A. Thoe
  • Publication number: 20110251548
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a surgical console may include a sensor strip with sensor strip sensors (e.g., field effect or capacitive sensors) offset vertically and configured to receive an input from a user corresponding to a vertical height of a patient's eyes relative to the surgical console. The surgical console may use the input from the sensor strip to determine a patient eye level (PEL) relative to a surgical console component and then use the PEL and the at least one component in controlling operation of at least one of a source of irrigation or a source of aspiration during an ophthalmic procedure. The surgical console may further include a plurality of visual indicators positioned relative to at least two of the plurality of sensor strip sensors and configured to be illuminated to correspond to a sensor detecting the touch input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: David A. Thoe, John Koontz, Mikhail Boukhny
  • Publication number: 20110247903
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a braking system may include an actuator, a pawl gear coupled to the actuator, and a wheel gear plate. The braking system may further include a brake pad, an outer wheel coupled to the brake pad, and a spring washer plate configured to press the wheel gear plate against the brake pad such that the wheel gear plate is configured to inhibit rotation of the outer wheel through friction between the wheel gear plate and the brake pad when the pawl gear inhibits rotation of the wheel gear plate. In some embodiments, the braking system may further include a sensor and the actuator may be triggered to actuate the pawl gear in response to signals from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Mikhail Boukhny, David A. Thoe, John Koontz, Long Q. Nguyen, Scott B. Newton, Daniel Bauen, Cassilyn Bair, Lawrence E. Davis
  • Patent number: 7870505
    Abstract: A graphical user interface for use in phacoemulsification surgical systems that allows a user to select different pulse modes by touching portions of the display screen. The user interface includes first and second display elements. One display element includes a representation of the on-time of the pulses, and the other display element includes a representation of the off-time. The representations show how the on-time and off-time change relative to a position of a controller, such as a foot pedal. The representation show a constant time, or that a time increases or decreases as the foot pedal is pressed. To select a pulse mode, a user can scroll through different pulse representations by touching the screen at the display elements. The selected pulse mode can be continuous, pulse, burst, or a combination or derivation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail Boukhny, David A. Thoe
  • Patent number: 6962581
    Abstract: An improved foot controller of a microsurgical system, and a method of operating the foot controller, are disclosed. The method involves using a computer to modulate a detent of the foot controller from the beginning of the detent to the end of the detent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Thoe
  • Publication number: 20040106915
    Abstract: An improved foot controller of a microsurgical system, and a method of operating the foot controller, are disclosed. The method involves using a computer to modulate a detent of the foot controller from the beginning of the detent to the end of the detent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventor: David A. Thoe
  • Patent number: D721814
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Creed, John Koontz, David A. Thoe, David Weston, Patrick K. Hassett, William Monteleone, Marc Nestor
  • Patent number: D727498
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Creed, John Koontz, David A. Thoe, Jeremy Robert Roth, David Weston, Patrick K. Hassett, William Monteleone