Patents by Inventor John A. Painter

John A. Painter 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).

  • Patent number: 6055458
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of ophthalmic microsurgical instruments connected thereto. The microsurgical instruments are for use by a user such as a surgeon in performing ophthalmic surgical procedures. The system includes a data communications bus and a user interface connected to the data communications bus. The user interface provides information to the user and receives information from the user which is representative of operating parameters of the microsurgical instruments. The system also includes surgical modules connected to and controlling the microsurgical instruments as a function of at least one of the operating parameters. The surgical modules are also connected to the data communications bus. The data communications bus provides communication of data representative of the operating parameters between the user interface and the surgical modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Robert Cochran, Christopher Michael Eberhardt, John A. Painter
  • Patent number: 5979494
    Abstract: A pneumatic control system for providing pressurized air and vacuum to ophthalmic microsurgical instruments. The pneumatic system is constructed in a drawer assembly to allow it to be readily inserted into or removed from a modularly constructed cabinet of a microsurgical control console.In addition, the pneumatic system improves upon existing pneumatic control systems by providing a third mode of microscissors operation from a single pneumatic port. The third mode is made possible by a high speed three-way solenoid control valve which provides rapid pulses of air to the pneumatic port.A second improvement involves the use of a pneumatic pressure transducer to monitor pneumatic pressure being supplied to the pneumatic system in order to recognize non-hazardous transient drops in air pressure which can occur under certain normal operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Perkins, Peter F. Applebaum, John A. Painter
  • Patent number: 5910139
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of ophthalmic microsurgical instruments connected thereto. The microsurgical instruments are for use by a user such as a surgeon in performing ophthalmic surgical procedures. The system includes a data communications bus and a user interface connected to the data communications bus. The user interface provides information to the user and receives information from the user which is representative of operating parameters of the microsurgical instruments. The system also includes surgical modules connected to and controlling the microsurgical instruments as a function of at least one of the operating parameters. The surgical modules are also connected to the data communications bus. The data communications bus provides communication of data representative of the operating parameters between the user interface and the surgical modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Storz Instrument Co.
    Inventors: Bruce Robert Cochran, Christopher Michael Eberhardt, John A. Painter
  • Patent number: 5857485
    Abstract: A pneumatic control system for providing pressurized air and vacuum to ophthalmic microsurgical instruments. The pneumatic system is constructed in a drawer assembly to allow it to be readily inserted into or removed from a modularly constructed cabinet of a microsurgical control console.In addition, the pneumatic system improves upon existing pneumatic control systems by providing a third mode of microscissors operation from a single pneumatic port. The third mode is made possible by a high speed three-way solenoid control valve which provides rapid pulses of air to the pneumatic port.A second improvement involves the use of a pneumatic pressure transducer to monitor pneumatic pressure being supplied to the pneumatic system in order to recognize non-hazardous transient drops in air pressure which can occur under certain normal operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Inventors: James T. Perkins, Peter F. Applebaum, John A. Painter
  • Patent number: 5549139
    Abstract: A pneumatic control system for providing pressurized air and vacuum to ophthalmic microsurgical instruments. The pneumatic system is constructed in a drawer assembly to allow it to be readily inserted into or removed from a modularly construct ed cabinet of a microsurgical control console.In addition, the pneumatic system improves upon existing pneumatic control systems by providing a third mode of microscissors operation from a single pneumatic port. The third mode is made possible by a high speed three-way solenoid control valve which provides rapid pulses of air to the pneumatic port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Storz Instrument Company
    Inventors: James T. Perkins, Peter F. Appelbaum, John A. Painter
  • Patent number: 5417246
    Abstract: A pneumatic control system for providing pressurized air and vacuum to ophthalmic microsurgical instruments. The pneumatic system is constructed in a drawer assembly to allow it to be readily inserted into or removed from a modularly constructed cabinet of a microsurgical control console. In addition, the pneumatic system improves upon existing pneumatic control systems by providing a third mode of microscissors operation from a single-pneumatic port. The third mode is made possible by a high speed three-way solenoid control valve which provides rapid pulses of air to the pneumatic port. A second improvement involves the use of a pneumatic pressure transducer to monitor pneumatic pressure being supplied to the pneumatic system in order to recognize non-hazardous transient drops in air pressure which can occur under certain normal operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventors: James T. Perkins, Peter F. Appelbaum, John A. Painter
  • Patent number: 5406503
    Abstract: An electronic control system for determining the resonant frequency of and driving ultrasonic transducers in a phacoemulsification probe used for ophthalmic surgery. The control system includes a voltage control led oscillator, power amplifier, power monitor, and automatic gain control circuit operating under the direction of command signals received from a microprocessor-based control console. The control system operates in a constant apparent power, direct drive mode with closed loop feedback maintaining the electrical power provided to the primary of a RLC transformer at the constant level requested by the command signals from the console. The frequency of the drive signal is held at the dominant resonant frequency of the ultrasonic transducer which is being driven by the control system. This resonant frequency is determined via a calibration procedure performed when the probe is first attached to the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventors: Daniel L. Williams, Jr., Kevin P. Kepley, John A. Painter