Patents by Inventor David R. Hardten
David R. Hardten 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: 20210361478Abstract: A method for delivering fluids, drugs, or medications to a patient's eye, and a system or apparatus for implementing the method, is disclosed. The system and method comprises the use of a corneal sponge to be deposited onto the cornea of the patient's eye while the patient's eyelids are maintained in open positions, and a scleral contact lens is disposed onto the sponge. The scleral lens has an irrigation fluid supply tube fluidically connected thereto for supplying a fluid, drug, or medication to the sponge which is saturated with the fluid, drug, or medication. Once the sponge and lens are inserted onto the corneal region of the eye, the patient's eyelids are closed thereby trapping and maintaining the sponge and lens upon the corneal region of the eye so as to permit the fluid, drug, or medication to be continuously supplied and applied to the corneal region of the eye.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Inventors: DAVID R. HARDTEN, RICHARD L. LINDSTROM
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Publication number: 20190133821Abstract: A method for delivering fluids, drugs, or medications to a patient's eye, and a system or apparatus for implementing the method, is disclosed. The system and method comprises the use of a corneal sponge to be deposited onto the cornea of the patient's eye while the patient's eyelids are maintained in open positions, and a scleral contact lens is disposed onto the sponge. The scleral lens has an irrigation fluid supply tube fluidically connected thereto for supplying a fluid, drug, or medication to the sponge which is saturated with the fluid, drug, or medication. Once the sponge and lens are inserted onto the corneal region of the eye, the patient's eyelids are closed thereby trapping and maintaining the sponge and lens upon the corneal region of the eye so as to permit the fluid, drug, or medication to be continuously supplied and applied to the corneal region of the eye.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: DAVID R. HARDTEN, RICHARD L. LINDSTROM
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Patent number: 10231968Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a medicinal solution, and more particularly to a medicinal solution which is to be continuously or pulse-delivered for the purpose of treating various ocular diseases, conditions, or maladies, such as keratoconus, infectious keratitis, severe inflammatory conditions, and ocular surface neoplasia. In particular, the medicinal solution comprises the combination of a medication for treating one of the aforenoted or similar diseases, conditions, or maladies, and an anesthetic for rendering the patient comfortable during the treatment procedure.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2016Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Inventors: David R. Hardten, Richard L. Lindstrom
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Patent number: 10206814Abstract: A method for delivering fluids, drugs, or medications to a patient's eye, and a system or apparatus for implementing the method, is disclosed. The system and method comprises the use of a corneal sponge to be deposited onto the cornea of the patient's eye while the patient's eyelids are maintained in open positions, and a scleral contact lens is disposed onto the sponge. The scleral lens has an irrigation fluid supply tube fluidically connected thereto for supplying a fluid, drug, or medication to the sponge which is saturated with the fluid, drug, or medication. Once the sponge and lens are inserted onto the corneal region of the eye, the patient's eyelids are closed thereby trapping and maintaining the sponge and lens upon the corneal region of the eye so as to permit the fluid, drug, or medication to be continuously supplied and applied to the corneal region of the eye.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2016Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Inventors: David R. Hardten, Richard L. Lindstrom
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Publication number: 20180028533Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a medicinal solution, and more particularly to a medicinal solution which is to be continuously or pulse-delivered for the purpose of treating various ocular diseases, conditions, or maladies, such as keratoconus, infectious keratitis, severe inflammatory conditions, and ocular surface neoplasia. In particular, the medicinal solution comprises the combination of a medication for treating one of the aforenoted or similar diseases, conditions, or maladies, and an anesthetic for rendering the patient comfortable during the treatment procedure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2016Publication date: February 1, 2018Inventors: DAVID R. HARDTEN, Richard L. Lindstrom
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Publication number: 20170189229Abstract: A method for delivering fluids, drugs, or medications to a patient's eye, and a system or apparatus for implementing the method, is disclosed. The system and method comprises the use of a corneal sponge to be deposited onto the cornea of the patient's eye while the patient's eyelids are maintained in open positions, and a scleral contact lens is disposed onto the sponge. The scleral lens has an irrigation fluid supply tube fluidically connected thereto for supplying a fluid, drug, or medication to the sponge which is saturated with the fluid, drug, or medication. Once the sponge and lens are inserted onto the corneal region of the eye, the patient's eyelids are closed thereby trapping and maintaining the sponge and lens upon the corneal region of the eye so as to permit the fluid, drug, or medication to be continuously supplied and applied to the corneal region of the eye.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2016Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventors: DAVID R. HARDTEN, RICHARD L. LINDSTROM
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Patent number: 8967810Abstract: A method of determining the location of the scleral spur, to allow measurements of the anterior chamber of the eye to facilitate diagnosis or treatment of the eye. The method utilizes ultrasonic biomicroscopy apparatus to image the anterior chamber and several millimeters of sclera and align indicators, or along the scleral-uveal interface and the corneal-aqueous interface. These indicators can be lines, dots or any shape or colors. The intersection of these indicators is used as an estimated location of the scleral spur for measuring anterior chamber angle, angle opening distance, or other aspects of the eye. The disclosure includes methods of locating the scleral spur, software for locating the scleral spur using computerized imaging apparatus, and systems including computerized imaging apparatus and software for locating the scleral spur.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Inventors: Thomas C. Prager, Thomas A. Burba, David R. Hardten
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Patent number: 8062225Abstract: An immersion bag system for use with an ultrasound probe to overcome near field artifact including a flexible thin wall thickness immersion bag with an attached flexible collar having an integral internal seal. The immersion bag contains a gel or other ultrasound transmission medium and is sealingly and removably attached by a mutually formed probe/seal valve to the tip end of an ultrasound probe. The immersion bag is able to conform to a cornea, as well as to other surfaces, whether flat or irregular, thereby enabling an ultrasound probe to be used easily on such surfaces. An ultrasound probe, in use with the immersion bag system, is maintained at a distance above the contact surface of the immersion bag and is positionable about the vertical axis while the immersion bag maintains stationary conformal contact with the structure against which it is in contact.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2011Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: ESI, Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prager, Thomas A. Burba, David R. Hardten, William T. Ryder
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Patent number: 8012095Abstract: An immersion bag system for use with an ultrasound probe to overcome near field artifact includes a flexible thin wall thickness immersion bag with an attached flexible collar having an integral internal seal. The immersion bag contains a gel or other ultrasound transmission medium and is sealingly and removably attached by a mutually formed probe/seal valve to the tip end of an ultrasound probe. The immersion bag is able to conform to a cornea, as well as to other surfaces, whether flat or irregular, thereby enabling an ultrasound probe to be used easily on such surfaces. An ultrasound probe in use with the immersion bag system is maintained at a distance above the contact surface of the immersion bag and is positionable about the vertical axis while the immersion bag maintains stationary conformal contact with the structure against which it is in contact.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2007Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: ESI, Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prager, Thomas A. Burba, David R. Hardten, William T. Ryder
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Patent number: 8012094Abstract: An immersion bag system for use with an ultrasound probe to overcome near field artifact includes a flexible thin wall thickness immersion bag with an attached flexible collar having an integral internal seal. The immersion bag contains a gel or other ultrasound transmission medium and is sealingly and removably attached to the tip end of an ultrasound probe by use of the flexible collar having the integral internal seal. The immersion bag is able to conform to a cornea as well as to other surfaces whether flat or irregular, thereby enabling an ultrasound probe to be used easily on such surfaces. An ultrasound probe in use with the immersion bag system is maintained at a distance above the contact surface of the immersion bag and is positionable about the vertical axis while the immersion bag maintains stationary conformal contact with the structure against which it is in contact.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2006Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: ESI, Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Prager, Thomas A. Burba, David R. Hardten
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Patent number: 7927344Abstract: Self-contained eye positioner having an annular vacuum ring composed of a channeled support ring and an overmolded flexible sealing ring having an attached rigid hollow tube secured to a syringe by use of an attachment fixture. The syringe, which also functions as a handle, provides a vacuum source, the vacuum of which is communicated to the annular vacuum ring to suctionally adhere the annular vacuum ring to the eyeball for maneuvering thereof. Accompanying closely associated auxiliary devices are provided for use with the eye positioner. No external vacuum source is required.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2006Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Inventors: Thomas A. Burba, David R. Hardten
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Publication number: 20080161693Abstract: An immersion bag system for use with an ultrasound probe to overcome near field artifact includes a flexible thin wall thickness immersion bag with an attached flexible collar having an integral internal seal. The immersion bag contains a gel or other ultrasound transmission medium and is sealingly and removably attached by a mutually formed probe/seal valve to the tip end of an ultrasound probe. The immersion bag is able to conform to a cornea, as well as to other surfaces, whether flat or irregular, thereby enabling an ultrasound probe to be used easily on such surfaces. An ultrasound probe in use with the immersion bag system is maintained at a distance above the contact surface of the immersion bag and is positionable about the vertical axis while the immersion bag maintains stationary conformal contact with the structure against which it is in contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2007Publication date: July 3, 2008Inventors: Thomas C. Prager, Thomas A. Burba, David R. Hardten, William T. Ryder
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Publication number: 20080103367Abstract: Self-contained eye positioner having an annular vacuum ring composed of a channeled support ring and an overmolded flexible sealing ring having an attached rigid hollow tube secured to a syringe by use of an attachment fixture. The syringe, which also functions as a handle, provides a vacuum source, the vacuum of which is communicated to the annular vacuum ring to suctionally adhere the annular vacuum ring to the eyeball for maneuvering thereof. Accompanying closely associated auxiliary devices are provided for use with the eye positioner. No external vacuum source is required.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2006Publication date: May 1, 2008Inventors: Thomas A. Burba, David R. Hardten
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Patent number: 7285096Abstract: An ophthalmologic appliance being an ultrasound probe positioning immersion shell for use in ultrasonic measurement of axial length of the eye ophthalmology and other procedures. Support members in an upper chamber and a lower chamber each provides accommodating support along and about a central axis of the ultrasound probe positioning immersion shell and about vertically spaced regions of ultrasound probes to provide for perpendicular alignment of ultrasound probes to the corneal plane. Vents in the chamber structure allow for introduction of fluid medium and for the expelling of air from the chambers to inhibit bubble formation.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2003Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: ESI, Inc.Inventors: Thomas A. Burba, David R. Hardten, Thomas C. Prager
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Patent number: 6436113Abstract: Self-contained eye positioner having an annular vacuum ring which is attached by a rigid hollow tube to a syringe. The syringe, which also functions as a handle, provides a vacuum source, the vacuum of which is communicated to the annular vacuum ring to suctionally adhere the annular vacuum ring to the eyeball. No external vacuum source is required.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2000Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Inventors: Thomas A. Burba, David R. Hardten, Neal A. Sher
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Patent number: 5928140Abstract: The illuminated iris retractor probe system is a medical device for use in ophthalmic surgery, particularly anterior segment and posterior segment surgery where visualization of ocular structures is required. The device utilizes a handpiece to support a 23-gauge sheathed fiber optic element that transmits the illumination. The 23-gauge dimension of the sheathed fiber optic element allows it to be inserted through self-sealing incisions of 1.5-2.0 mm in size in the peripheral cornea, thereby allowing the incision to be self-sealing and thus avoiding the operative intervention and postoperative complications of sutures. The tip of the illuminated iris retractor probe has a backward bend or hook whose peripheral end is flush with the illumination end of a fiber optic element which is surrounded by a metal sheath. The specific angle of the hook and its location allows the probe to retract the iris during anterior segment procedures.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 1997Date of Patent: July 27, 1999Inventor: David R. Hardten