Patents by Inventor Dirk Mühlhoff

Dirk Mühlhoff 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: 20230029999
    Abstract: A method of refraction-correcting ophthalmic surgery in tissue of an eye after at least one previous ophthalmic surgery in the tissue, comprising accessing information on a pre-operative cut and defining a cut surface on the basis of the information on the pre-operative cut of the at least one previous ophthalmic surgery of the tissue of the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Mark BISCHOFF, Dirk MUEHLHOFF, Gregor STOBRAWA
  • Patent number: 11471327
    Abstract: A planning device generating control data for a treatment apparatus for refraction-correcting ophthalmic surgery is provided, said apparatus using a laser device to separate a corneal volume, which is to be removed for correction, from the surrounding cornea by at least one cut surface in the cornea of an eye, said planning device comprising an interface for receiving corneal data including information on pre-operative cuts which were generated in a previous ophthalmic operation, and computing means for defining a corneal cut surface which confines the corneal volume to be removed, said computing means defining the corneal cut surface on the basis of the corneal data and generating a control dataset for the corneal cut surface for control of the laser device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Mark Bischoff, Dirk Muehlhoff, Gregor Stobrawa
  • Patent number: 11369517
    Abstract: A device for machining an object by laser radiation, by photodisruption. The device includes an observation device for imaging the object and a laser scanning device by which the laser radiation is passed over a predetermined sector of the object for scanning the sector. The device includes the observation device with a first lens for imaging the object; the laser scanning device with a second lens, through which the laser radiation is guided, in which both lenses with regard to the dimension of the regions to be produced in the images and/or with regard to their focal intercept are different from each other. The device alternately images the respective region of the object in a first operating mode by the first lens and in a second operating mode by the second lens. It is thus possible to use in both operating modes a lens adapted to the intended imaging purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Marco Hanft, Dirk Muehlhoff, Mario Gerlach, Elke Ebert
  • Patent number: 11071648
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming curved cuts in a transparent material, in particular in the cornea, by the creation of optical perforations in said material using laser radiation that is focused in the material. The focal point is displaced three-dimensionally to form the cut by lining up the optical perforations. The focal point is displaced in a first spatial direction by a displaceable lens and said focal directions, in such a way that it follows the contours of the cut, which lie on a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first spatial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Dirk Muehlhoff, Mario Gerlach, Markus Sticker, Carsten Lang, Mark Bischoff, Michael Bergt
  • Patent number: 11058585
    Abstract: A scanning device for focusing a beam of rays in defined regions of a defined volume, comprising an input optics wherein the beam of rays penetrates first, having at least one first optical element; a focusing optics for focusing the beam of rays exiting from the input optics; and a deflecting device arranged between the first optical element and the focusing optics, for deflecting the beam of rays after it has passed through the first optical element, based on a position of the focus to be adjusted in lateral direction. In order to adjust the position of the focus of the beam of rays in the direction of the beam of rays, and optical element of the input optics can be displaced relative to the deflecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Marco Hanft, Dirk Muehlhoff, Mark Bischoff, Mario Gerlach
  • Patent number: 11033980
    Abstract: A device for material processing by laser radiation, including a source of laser radiation emitting pulsed laser radiation for interaction with the material, optics focusing the pulsed processing laser radiation to a center of interaction in the material, and a scanning unit shifting the positions of the center of interaction within the material. Each processing laser pulse interacting with the material in a zone surrounding the center of interaction assigned to the laser pulse so that material is separated in the zones of interaction. A control unit controls the scanning unit and the source of laser radiation such that a cut surface is produced in the material by sequential arrangement of zones of interaction. The control unit controls the source of laser radiation and the scanning unit such that adjacent centers of interaction are located at a spatial distance a ?10 ?m from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Mark Bischoff, Dirk Muehlhoff, Gregor Stobrawa
  • Patent number: 10973684
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to machine a material by application of non-linear radiation. The aim is achieved by modifying the laser radiation emitted by a laser beam source with the aid of a polarization modulator in such a way that laser radiation focused into the material is polarized in a linear fashion, the direction of polarization varying across the cross section of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Mark Bischoff, Dirk Muehlhoff, Gregor Stobrawa
  • Patent number: 10925770
    Abstract: A laser treatment unit for performing eye surgery, including a contact glass which can be placed onto the eye and through which a treatment laser beam (2) passes. A safety mechanism displaceably holds the contact glass such that the contact glass retreats when the contact glass is subjected to the action of a force contrary to the direction of incidence of the laser beam. The safety mechanism enables this retreating when a force is greater than a force limit value (Fmin) and holds the contact glass in a fixed manner when the force is less than the force limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Dirk Muehlhoff, Carsten Lang, Karsten Festag
  • Patent number: 10898381
    Abstract: A method for precise working of material, particularly organic tissue, comprises the step of providing laser pulses with a pulse length between 50 fs and 1 ps and with a pulse frequency from 50 kHz to 1 MHz and with a wavelength between 600 and 2000 nm for acting on the material to be worked. Apparatus, in accordance with the invention, for precise working of material, particularly organic tissue comprising a pulsed laser, wherein the laser has a pulse length between 50 fs and 1 ps and with a pulse frequency of from 50 kHz to 1 MHz is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Mark Bendett, Mark Bischoff, Mario Gerlach, Dirk Mühlhoff
  • Publication number: 20200222239
    Abstract: A planning device generating control data for a treatment apparatus for refraction-correcting ophthalmic surgery is provided, said apparatus using a laser device to separate a corneal volume, which is to be removed for correction, from the surrounding cornea by at least one cut surface in the cornea of an eye, said planning device comprising an interface for receiving corneal data including information on pre-operative cuts which were generated in a previous ophthalmic operation, and computing means for defining a corneal cut surface which confines the corneal volume to be removed, said computing means defining the corneal cut surface on the basis of the corneal data and generating a control dataset for the corneal cut surface for control of the laser device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Mark BISCHOFF, Dirk MUEHLHOFF, Gregor STOBRAWA
  • Patent number: 10646376
    Abstract: A planning device generating control data for a treatment apparatus for refraction-correcting ophthalmic surgery is provided, said apparatus using a laser device to separate a corneal volume, which is to be removed for correction, from the surrounding cornea by at least one cut surface in the cornea of an eye, said planning device comprising an interface for receiving corneal data including information on pre-operative cuts which were generated in a previous ophthalmic operation, and computing means for defining a corneal cut surface which confines the corneal volume to be removed, said computing means defining the corneal cut surface on the basis of the corneal data and generating a control dataset for the corneal cut surface for control of the laser device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Mark Bischoff, Dirk Muehlhoff, Gregor Stobrawa
  • Publication number: 20200129329
    Abstract: A device for machining an object by laser radiation, by photodisruption. The device includes an observation device for imaging the object and a laser scanning device by which the laser radiation is passed over a predetermined sector of the object for scanning the sector. The device includes the observation device with a first lens for imaging the object; the laser scanning device with a second lens, through which the laser radiation is guided, in which both lenses with regard to the dimension of the regions to be produced in the images and/or with regard to their focal intercept are different from each other. The device alternately images the respective region of the object in a first operating mode by the first lens and in a second operating mode by the second lens. It is thus possible to use in both operating modes a lens adapted to the intended imaging purpose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Marco HANFT, Dirk MUEHLHOFF, Mario GERLACH, Elke EBERT
  • Publication number: 20200113734
    Abstract: A scanning device for focusing a beam of rays in defined regions of a defined volume, comprising an input optics wherein the beam of rays penetrates first, having at least one first optical element; a focusing optics for focusing the beam of rays exiting from the input optics; and a deflecting device arranged between the first optical element and the focusing optics, for deflecting the beam of rays after it has passed through the first optical element, based on a position of the focus to be adjusted in lateral direction. In order to adjust the position of the focus of the beam of rays in the direction of the beam of rays, and optical element of the input optics can be displaced relative to the deflecting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Marco Hanft, Dirk Muehlhoff, Mark Bischoff, Mario Gerlach
  • Patent number: 10531985
    Abstract: A device for machining an object by laser radiation, by photodisruption. The device includes an observation device for imaging the object and a laser scanning device by which the laser radiation is passed over a predetermined sector of the object for scanning the sector. The device includes the observation device with a first lens for imaging the object; the laser scanning device with a second lens, through which the laser radiation is guided, in which both lenses with regard to the dimension of the regions to be produced in the images and/or with regard to their focal intercept are different from each other. The device alternately images the respective region of the object in a first operating mode by the first lens and in a second operating mode by the second lens. It is thus possible to use in both operating modes a lens adapted to the intended imaging purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Marco Hanft, Dirk Muehlhoff, Mario Gerlach, Elke Ebert
  • Patent number: 10517762
    Abstract: A scanning device for focusing a beam of rays in defined regions of a defined volume, comprising an input optics wherein the beam of rays penetrates first, having at least one first optical element; a focusing optics for focusing the beam of rays exiting from the input optics; and a deflecting device arranged between the first optical element and the focusing optics, for deflecting the beam of rays after it has passed through the first optical element, based on a position of the focus to be adjusted in lateral direction. In order to adjust the position of the focus of the beam of rays in the direction of the beam of rays, and optical element of the input optics can be displaced relative to the deflecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Marco Hanft, Dirk Muehlhoff, Mark Bischoff, Mario Gerlach
  • Publication number: 20190247226
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming curved cuts in a transparent material, in particular in the cornea, by the creation of optical perforations in said material using laser radiation that is focused in the material. The focal point is displaced three-dimensionally to form the cut by lining up the optical perforations. The focal point is displaced in a first spatial direction by a displaceable lens and said focal directions, in such a way that it follows the contours of the cut, which lie on a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first spatial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Dirk Muehlhoff, Mario Gerlach, Markus Sticker, Carsten Lang, Mark Bischoff, Michael Bergt
  • Publication number: 20190201237
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to machine a material by application of non-linear radiation. The aim is achieved by modifying the laser radiation emitted by a laser beam source with the aid of a polarization modulator in such a way that laser radiation focused into the material is polarized in a linear fashion, the direction of polarization varying across the cross section of the beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Mark Bischoff, Dirk Muehlhoff, Gregor Stobrawa
  • Patent number: 10213339
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming curved cuts in a transparent material, in particular in the cornea, by the creation of optical perforations in said material using laser radiation that is focused in the material. The focal point is displaced three-dimensionally to form the cut by lining up the optical perforations. The focal point is displaced in a first spatial direction by a displaceable lens and said focal directions in such a way that it follows the contours of the cut, which lie on a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first spatial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Dirk Muehlhoff, Mario Gerlach, Markus Sticker, Carsten Lang, Mark Bischoff, Michael Bergt
  • Patent number: 10195082
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to machine a material by application of non-linear radiation. The aim is achieved by modifying the laser radiation emitted by a laser beam source with the aid of a polarization modulator in such a way that laser radiation focused into the material is polarized in a linear fashion, the direction of polarization varying across the cross section of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Mark Bischoff, Dirk Muehlhoff, Gregor Stobrawa
  • Publication number: 20190029883
    Abstract: A scanning device for focusing a beam of rays in defined regions of a defined volume, comprising an input optics wherein the beam of rays penetrates first, having at least one first optical element; a focusing optics for focusing the beam of rays exiting from the input optics; and a deflecting device arranged between the first optical element and the focusing optics, for deflecting the beam of rays after it has passed through the first optical element, based on a position of the focus to be adjusted in lateral direction. In order to adjust the position of the focus of the beam of rays in the direction of the beam of rays, and optical element of the input optics can be displaced relative to the deflecting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Marco Hanft, Dirk Muehlhoff, Mark Bischoff, Mario Gerlach