Patents by Inventor David R. Williams
David R. Williams 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: 20080259273Abstract: A method of and apparatus for improving vision and the resolution of retinal images is described in which a point source produced on the retina of a living eye by a laser beam is reflected from the retina and received at a lenslet array of a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor such that each of the lenslets in the lenslet array forms an aerial image of the retinal point source on a CCD camera located adjacent to the lenslet array. The output signal from the CCD camera is acquired by a computer which processes the signal and produces a correction signal which may be used to control a compensating optical or wavefront compensation device such as a deformable mirror. It may also be used to fabricate a contact lens or intraocular lens, or to guide a surgical procedure to correct the aberrations of the eye. Any of these methods could correct aberrations beyond defocus and astigmatism, allowing improved vision and improved imaging of the inside of the eye.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2008Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicant: University of RochesterInventors: David R. WILLIAMS, Junzhong Liang
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Publication number: 20080251955Abstract: A method of and apparatus for improving vision and the resolution of retinal images is described in which a point source produced on the retina of a living eye by a laser beam is reflected from the retina and received at a lenslet array of a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor such that each of the lenslets in the lenslet array forms an aerial image of the retinal point source on a CCD camera located adjacent to the lenslet array. The output signal from the CCD camera is acquired by a computer which processes the signal and produces a correction signal which may be used to control a compensating optical or wavefront compensation device such as a deformable mirror. It may also be used to fabricate a contact lens or intraocular lens, or to guide a surgical procedure to correct the aberrations of the eye. Any of these methods could correct aberrations beyond defocus and astigmatism, allowing improved vision and improved imaging of the inside of the eye.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2008Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: University of RochesterInventors: David R. Williams, Junzhong Liang
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Patent number: 7416305Abstract: A method of and apparatus for improving vision and the resolution of retinal images is described in which a point source produced on the retina of a living eye by a laser beam is reflected from the retina and received at a lenslet array of a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor such that each of the lenslets in the lenslet array forms an aerial image of the retinal point source on a CCD camera located adjacent to the lenslet array. The output signal from the CCD camera is acquired by a computer which processes the signal and produces a correction signal which may be used to control a compensating optical or wavefront compensation device such as a deformable mirror. It may also be used to fabricate a contact lens or intraocular lens, or to guide a surgical procedure to correct the aberrations of the eye. Any of these methods could correct aberrations beyond defocus and astigmatism, allowing improved vision and improved imaging of the inside of the eye.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2005Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: University of RochesterInventors: David R. Williams, Junzhong Liang
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Patent number: 7357509Abstract: Several metrics to predict the subjective impact of the eye's wavefront aberrations are presented. The metrics can be based on RMS wavefront errors or slopes, the area of the critical pupil, a curvature parameter, the point spread function, the optical transfer function, or the like. Other techniques include the fitting of a sphero-cylindrical surface, the use of multivariate metrics, and customization of the metric for patient characteristics such as age.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2004Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignees: University of Rochester, University of Houston, Indiana UniversityInventors: David R. Williams, Raymond A. Applegate, Larry N. Thibos
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Patent number: 7164793Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved system and method in which a pen-sized and shaped device detects, recognizes and stores handwriting as it is written by the device. The invention employs both an active feedback network and a character recognition methodology of partitioning detected input into character components. The active feedback network continually monitors device output to determine the sufficiency of the data input. If the data input is insufficient, the device modifies its detection methodology to obtain data the device readily recognizes. Data recognition is performed in multiple asynchronous processes. Elements of individual characters are sampled by the detector. Character elements are processed and recognized on this elemental level. Recognized character elements are stored for subsequent assembly and recognition on a character level. Thus, preferably two recognition sub-processes take place, one on a character element level and another on a character level.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2005Date of Patent: January 16, 2007Inventors: David R. Williams, Kathie S. Richter
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Patent number: 7123989Abstract: A method of dispensing a prescription drug to a customer includes receiving a prescription for a particular customer from an authorized medical professional, choosing from an inventory of drugs a prescription drug to fill the prescription, creating a finished prescription by filling the prescription with the chosen prescription drug, and placing the finished prescription in a dispenser. The dispenser is connected to a computer, which identifies the finished prescription and controls the dispenser to dispense the finished prescription to the particular customer.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2004Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Asteres, Inc.Inventors: Linda J. Pinney, John A. Beane, Angus R. Colson, David R. Williams, Keith Kopitzke
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Patent number: 7094208Abstract: A spirometer for measuring fluid flow, particularly associated with exhalation of respiratory patients. The spirometer of this invention preferably has a fluidic oscillator wherein the fluid oscillates within a chamber of the fluidic oscillator. An oscillation frequency of the fluid flow within the chamber is correlated to a flow rate. A computer is used to process input data, such as data representing frequency of the oscillatory flow within the chamber, to a flow rate passing through the spirometer. The spirometer of this invention may have no moving parts, which results in the need for only a design calibration and no periodic calibrations throughout use of the spirometer.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2002Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Illinois Institute of TechnologyInventors: David R. Williams, Nicole April Wilson, Kevin Philip Meade, Hansen A. Mansy
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Patent number: 7077522Abstract: A vision metric, called the sharpness metric, indicates the subjective sharpness of a patient's vision by taking into account both the wavefront aberration and the retinal response to the image. A retinal image quality function such as the point spread function is convolved by a neural quality function, and the maximum of the convolution over the retinal plane provides the sharpness metric. The sharpness metric can be used to control eye surgery or the fabrication of a lens.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2003Date of Patent: July 18, 2006Assignee: University of RochesterInventor: David R. Williams
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Patent number: 6968083Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved system and method in which a pen-sized and shaped device detects, recognizes and stores handwriting as it is written by the device. The invention employs both an active feedback network and a character recognition methodology of partitioning detected input into character components. The active feedback network continually monitors device output to determine the sufficiency of the data input. If the data input is insufficient, the device modifies its detection methodology to obtain data the device readily recognizes. Data recognition is performed in multiple asynchronous processes. Elements of individual characters are sampled by the detector. Character elements are processed and recognized on this elemental level. Recognized character elements are stored for subsequent assembly and recognition on a character level. Thus, preferably two recognition sub-processes take place, one on a character element level and another on a character level.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2001Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Zen Optical Technology, LLCInventors: David R. Williams, Kathie S. Richter
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Patent number: 6948818Abstract: A method of and apparatus for improving vision and the resolution of retinal images is described in which a point source produced on the retina of a living eye by a laser beam is reflected from the retina and received at a lenslet array of a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor such that each of the lenslets in the lenslet array forms an aerial image of the retinal point source on a CCD camera located adjacent to the lenslet array. The output signal from the CCD camera is acquired by a computer which processes the signal and produces a correction signal which may be used to control a compensating optical or wavefront compensation device such as a deformable mirror. It may also be used to fabricate a contact lens or intraocular lens, or to guide a surgical procedure to correct the aberrations of the eye. Any of these methods could correct aberrations beyond defocus and astigmatism, allowing improved vision and improved imaging of the inside of the eye.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2002Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: University of RochesterInventors: David R. Williams, Junzhong Liang
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Publication number: 20040263786Abstract: Several metrics to predict the subjective impact of the eye's wavefront aberrations are presented. The metrics can be based on RMS wavefront errors or slopes, the area of the critical pupil, a curvature parameter, the point spread function, the optical transfer function, or the like. Other techniques include the fitting of a sphero-cylindrical surface, the use of multivariate metrics, and customization of the metric for patient characteristics such as age.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Inventors: David R. Williams, Raymond A. Applegate, Larry N. Thibos
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Patent number: 6827444Abstract: A wavefront aberration of an eye is determined, e.g., in real time. The eye is illuminated, and the light reflected from the retina is converted into spots with a device such as a Hartmann-Shack detector. The displacement of each spot from where it would be in the absence of aberration allows calculation of the aberration. Each spot is located by an iterative technique in which a corresponding centroid is located in a box drawn on the image data, a smaller box is defined around the centroid, the centroid is located in the smaller box, and so on. The wavefront aberration is calculated from the centroid locations by using a matrix in which unusable data can be eliminated simply by eliminating rows of the matrix. Aberrations for different pupil sizes are handled in data taken for a single pupil size by renormalization.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2002Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: University of RochesterInventors: David R. Williams, William J. Vaughn, Benjamin D. Singer, Heidi Hofer, Geun-Young Yoon, Pablo Artal, Juan Luis Arag{dot over (o)}n, Pedro Prieto, Fernando Vargas
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Publication number: 20040207224Abstract: A generally square cross section support is configured to be received within the receptacle of a conventional trailer hitch of a vehicle. A step plate having a generally planar shape is pivotally secured to the outer end of the support and is pivotable between a raised or vertical orientation and a lowered or horizontal step providing orientation. An over-center spring mechanism is operative upon the step plate to provide stable step plate positioning in either of its two positions. In an alternate embodiment, a source of illumination which is operative in the lowered step providing position of the step plate is utilized.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2003Publication date: October 21, 2004Inventors: Charles W. Miller, David R. Williams
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Patent number: 6692695Abstract: This invention relates to barrier methods for preserving sensitive biological materials as a porous foam, subsequently crushing the foam to form a powder, and optionally formulating mixtures of preserved powdered biological materials. The invention also encompasses an apparatus for integrating the methods of foam formation and subsequent crushing of the preserved biological materials using barrier technology.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2000Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Quadrant Drug Delivery LimitedInventors: Victor Bronshtein, Kevin R. Bracken, Ronnie K. Livers, David R. Williams
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Publication number: 20040008323Abstract: A vision metric, called the sharpness metric, indicates the subjective sharpness of a patient's vision by taking into account both the wavefront aberration and the retinal response to the image. A retinal image quality function such as the point spread function is convolved by a neural quality function, and the maximum of the convolution over the retinal plane provides the sharpness metric. The sharpness metric can be used to control eye surgery or the fabrication of a lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2003Publication date: January 15, 2004Applicant: University of RochesterInventor: David R. Williams
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Publication number: 20040007319Abstract: A polymeric film structure having a cavitated skin layer with a cold seal adhesive applied thereto. The cold seal adhesive may be applied to the cavitated layer in the absence of pretreatment or precoating. When used in packaging applications, the film structure provides a tamper evident seal. This same film structure may also be used in pressure sensitive labeling applications without a releasable liner.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2002Publication date: January 15, 2004Inventors: JoAnn H. Squier, David R Williams
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Publication number: 20030191407Abstract: A spirometer for measuring fluid flow, particularly associated with exhalation of respiratory patients. The spirometer of this invention preferably has a fluidic oscillator wherein the fluid oscillates within a chamber of the fluidic oscillator. An oscillation frequency of the fluid flow within the chamber is correlated to a flow rate. A computer is used to process input data, such as data representing frequency of the oscillatory flow within the chamber, to a flow rate passing through the spirometer. The spirometer of this invention may have no moving parts, which results in the need for only a design calibration and no periodic calibrations throughout use of the spirometer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2002Publication date: October 9, 2003Inventors: David R. Williams, Nicole April Wilson, Kevin Philip Meade, Hansen A. Mansy
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Publication number: 20030086063Abstract: A wavefront aberration of an eye is determined, e.g., in real time. The eye is illuminated, and the light reflected from the retina is converted into spots with a device such as a Hartmann-Shack detector. The displacement of each spot from where it would be in the absence of aberration allows calculation of the aberration. Each spot is located by an iterative technique in which a corresponding centroid is located in a box drawn on the image data, a smaller box is defined around the centroid, the centroid is located in the smaller box, and so on. The wavefront aberration is calculated from the centroid locations by using a matrix in which unusable data can be eliminated simply by eliminating rows of the matrix. Aberrations for different pupil sizes are handled in data taken for a single pupil size by renormalization.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2002Publication date: May 8, 2003Inventors: David R. Williams, William J. Vaughn, Benjamin D. Singer, Heidi Hofer, Geun-Young Yoon, Pablo Artal, Juan Luis Aragon, Pedro Prieto, Fernando Vargas
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Publication number: 20030025874Abstract: A method of and apparatus for improving vision and the resolution of retinal images is described in which a point source produced on the retina of a living eye by a laser beam is reflected from the retina and received at a lenslet array of a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor such that each of the lenslets in the lenslet array forms an aerial image of the retinal point source on a CCD camera located adjacent to the lenslet array. The output signal from the CCD camera is acquired by a computer which processes the signal and produces a correction signal which may be used to control a compensating optical or wavefront compensation device such as a deformable mirror. It may also be used to fabricate a contact lens or intraocular lens, or to guide a surgical procedure to correct the aberrations of the eye. Any of these methods could correct aberrations beyond defocus and astigmatism, allowing improved vision and improved imaging of the inside of the eye.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2002Publication date: February 6, 2003Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTERInventors: David R. Williams, Junzhong Liang
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Patent number: 6511180Abstract: Ocular refraction is determined from wavefront aberration data, and an optimum customized correction is designed. The eye's wave aberration is measured by using a detector such as a Shack-Hartmann detector. From the aberration, an image metric is calculated, and the second-order aberrations which optimize that metric are determined. From that optimization, the refractive correction required for the eye is determined. The image metric is one of several metrics indicating the quality of the image on the retinal plane or a proxy for such a metric. The required refractive correction can be used to form a lens or to control eye surgery. If it is possible to detect more aberrations than can be corrected, those aberrations are corrected which most affect vision, or for which the eye's error tolerance is lowest.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2001Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignee: University of RochesterInventors: Antonio Guirao, David R. Williams