Patents by Inventor James H. Burkhalter
James H. Burkhalter 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: 20040130677Abstract: An apparatus for measuring vision characteristics of an eye includes a laser for providing an optical beam and a focusing element for focusing the optical beam behind a retina of the eye for providing a finite source of secondary radiation on the retina of the eye. The secondary radiation is emitted from the retina as a reflected wavefront of radiation that passes outward from the eye. A polarizer is placed within a path of the optical beam for transmitting a polarized wavefront therethrough. A wavefront analyzer receives the polarized wavefront for measuring distortions associated therewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2003Publication date: July 8, 2004Applicant: Alcon, Inc.Inventors: Junzhong Liang, James H. Burkhalter
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Patent number: 6626894Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Alcon, Inc.Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
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Patent number: 6626893Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Alcon, Inc.Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
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Patent number: 6626898Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Alcon, Inc.Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
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Patent number: 6626895Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Alcon, Inc.Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
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Patent number: 6626897Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Alcon, Inc.Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
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Patent number: 6626896Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Alcon, Inc.Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
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Patent number: 6598975Abstract: Optical characteristics, including vision defects, of optical systems, such as the eye, are measured using a collimated beam from a diode laser focused at a position relative to the eye other than the retina for providing a finite source of secondary radiation on the retina of the eye, the image of which is close to a desired diffraction-limited spot. The secondary radiation is reflected back from the retina as a reflected wavefront of radiation that passes through the eye and is directed onto a wavefront analyzer where distortions associated with the reflected wavefront are measured. By focusing on the cornea through a long-focal-length lens and thus converging the beam through a small angle, as opposed to focusing a collimated light onto the retina, the need for lenses or lens combinations and the time required to adjust such to accommodate the different visual characteristics of each patient is eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2001Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Alcon, Inc.Inventors: Junzhong Liang, James H. Burkhalter
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Patent number: 6585726Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Alcon, Inc.Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
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Publication number: 20030020872Abstract: Optical characteristics, including vision defects, of optical systems, such as the eye, are measured using a collimated beam from a diode laser focused at a position relative to the eye other than the retina for providing a finite source of secondary radiation on the retina of the eye, the image of which is close to a desired diffraction-limited spot. The secondary radiation is reflected back from the retina as a reflected wavefront of radiation that passes through the eye and is directed onto a wavefront analyzer where distortions associated with the reflected wavefront are measured. By focusing on the cornea through a long-focal-length lens and thus converging the beam through a small angle, as opposed to focusing a collimated light onto the retina, the need for lenses or lens combinations and the time required to adjust such to accommodate the different visual characteristics of each patient is eliminated.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2001Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Junzhong Liang, James H. Burkhalter
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Patent number: 6497483Abstract: An apparatus for determining aberrations of an eye includes a patient head rest allowing for positioning adjustment. The patient head rest is operable with an optical table having a base. The base includes a probe beam generating apparatus, probe beam directing optics which itself comprises a beam splitter; a mirror; and a lens. The probe beam directing optics is capable of directing a probe beam toward an eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest. Video image components are provided and comprise a light source, a mirror; and a video camera. The video image components are capable of generating an image of an eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest. Eye fixation components generate a target that the eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest can view. The eye fixation components comprise a fixation target, a light source, a lens, and a mirror.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2002Date of Patent: December 24, 2002Assignee: Alcon, Inc.Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Neil Zepkin, Edward Poppeliers, John Alfred Campin
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Publication number: 20020159030Abstract: An apparatus for determining aberrations of an eye includes a patient head rest allowing for positioning adjustment. The patient head rest is operable with an optical table having a base. The base includes a probe beam generating apparatus, probe beam directing optics which itself comprises a beam splitter; a mirror; and a lens. The probe beam directing optics is capable of directing a probe beam toward an eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest. Video image components are provided and comprise a light source, a mirror; and a video camera. The video image components are capable of generating an image of an eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest. Eye fixation components generate a target that the eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest can view. The eye fixation components comprise a fixation target, a light source, a lens, and a mirror.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2002Publication date: October 31, 2002Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Neil Zepkin, Edward Poppeliers, John Alfred Campin
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Patent number: 6460997Abstract: An apparatus for determining aberrations of an eye includes a patient head rest allowing for positioning adjustment. The patient head rest is operable with an optical table having a base. The base includes a probe beam generating apparatus, probe beam directing optics which itself comprises a beam splitter; a mirror; and a lens. The probe beam directing optics is capable of directing a probe beam toward an eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest. Video image components are provided and comprise a light source, a mirror; and a video camera. The video image components are capable of generating an image of an eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest. Eye fixation components generate a target that the eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest can view. The eye fixation components comprise a fixation target, a light source, a lens, and a mirror.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2000Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Alcon Universal Ltd.Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Neil Zepkin, Edward Poppeliers, John Alfred Campin
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Patent number: 6451008Abstract: A surface treatment laser beam delivery and tracking system is provided. The laser generates laser light along a original beam path at an energy level suitable for treating (e.g., eroding) a surface. An optical translator shifts the original beam path onto a resulting beam path. An optical angle adjuster changes the angle of the resulting beam path relative to the original beam path such that the laser light is incident on, and spatially distributed, the surface to be treated. A motion sensor transmits light energy to the surface and receives reflected light energy from the surface via the optical angle adjuster. The light energy transmitted by the motion sensor travels on a path that is parallel to the shifted beam as they travel through the optical angle adjuster. The reflected light energy is used by the motion sensor to detect movement of the surface relative to the original beam path and generate error control signals indicative of the movement.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 1999Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Alcon, Inc.Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
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Publication number: 20020013577Abstract: A surface treatment laser beam delivery and tracking system is provided. The laser generates laser light along a original beam path at an energy level suitable for treating (e.g., eroding) a surface. An optical translator shifts the original beam path onto a resulting beam path. An optical angle adjuster changes the angle of the resulting beam path relative to the original beam path such that the laser light is incident on, and spatially distributed, the surface to be treated. A motion sensor transmits light energy to the surface and receives reflected light energy from the surface via the optical angle adjuster. The light energy transmitted by the motion sensor travels on a path that is parallel to the shifted beam as they travel through the optical angle adjuster. The reflected light energy is used by the motion sensor to detect movement of the surface relative to the original beam path and generate error control signals indicative of the movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2001Publication date: January 31, 2002Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, John E. McWhirter
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Publication number: 20010041884Abstract: A method for enhancing vision of an eye includes a laser delivery system having a laser beam for ablating corneal material from the cornea of the eye. Measurements are made to determine an optical path difference between a plane wave and a wavefront emanating from the retina of the eye for a location at a surface of the cornea. An optical correction is provided to the laser delivery system for the location based on the optical path difference and refractive indices of media through which the wavefront passes. The optical correction includes dividing the optical path difference by a difference between an index of refraction of corneal material and an index of refraction of air. The laser beam is directed to the location on the surface of the cornea and corneal material ablated at the location in response to the optical correction to cause the wavefront to approximate the shape of the plane wave at that location.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: November 15, 2001Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Neil Zepkin, Edward Poppeliers, John Alfred Campin
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Publication number: 20010031958Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: October 18, 2001Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, John E. McWhirter
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Patent number: 6302879Abstract: A surface treatment laser beam delivery and tracking system is provided. The laser generates laser light along a original beam path at an energy level suitable for treating (e.g., eroding) a surface. An optical translator shifts the original beam path onto a resulting beam path. An optical angle adjuster changes the angle of the resulting beam path relative to the original beam path such that the laser light is incident on, and spatially distributed, the surface to be treated. A motion sensor transmits light energy to the surface and receives reflected light energy from the surface via the optical angle adjuster. The light energy transmitted by the motion sensor travels on a path that is parallel to the shifted beam as they travel through the optical angle adjuster. The reflected light energy is used by the motion sensor to detect movement of the surface relative to the original beam path and generate error control signals indicative of the movement.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1998Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: Autonomous Technologies Corp.Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
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Publication number: 20010025172Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: September 27, 2001Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, John E. McWhirter
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Publication number: 20010021846Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: September 13, 2001Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, John E. McWhirter