Patents by Inventor L. John Otten

L. John Otten 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: 7538872
    Abstract: Determining relationships between one laser beam and an object onto which such beam is directed including: directing such beam onto the object; collecting radiation from the beam that is reflected back; spectrally discriminating the collected, reflected radiation from other collected radiation; generating an image of the collected beam radiation; and analyzing this image to determine the value of at least one parameter selected from: the diameter of the beam on the object; the position of the beam on the object; and beam quality on the object. The determined value(s) may be used to adjust parameter(s) of the beam. Additional steps include directing a second beam onto the object and collecting, spectrally discriminating, generating an image and analyzing it to determine the value of at least one parameter related to the second beam. The forgoing may also include utilizing the determined second value to adjust parameter(s) of the second beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Inventors: Eugene W. Butler, L. John Otten, III, Gavin R. G. Erry
  • Patent number: 6736507
    Abstract: An ophthalmic instrument (for obtaining high resolution, wide field of area multi-spectral retinal images) including a fundus retinal imager, (which includes optics for illuminating and imaging the retina of the eye); apparatus for generating a reference beam coupled to the fundus optics to form a reference area on the retina; a wavefront sensor optically coupled to the fundus optics for measuring the wavefront produced by optical aberrations within the eye and the imager optics; wavefront compensation optics coupled to the fundus optics for correcting large, low order aberrations in the wavefront; a high resolution detector optically coupled to the imager optics and the wavefront compensation optics; and a computer (which is connected to the wavefront sensor, the wavefront compensation optics, and the high resolution camera) including an algorithm for correcting, small, high order aberrations on the wavefront and residual low order aberrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Inventors: Alexis Kudryashov, Andrey Viktorocvich Larichev, L. John Otten
  • Patent number: 6540358
    Abstract: Apparatus for determining if a cornea (whether in vitro or in vivo) has been modified (either surgically or otherwise). The method includes the steps of: passing a beam of collimated light a (either coherent or incoherent) through the cornea to produce a distorted wavefront; determining the characteristics of the distorted wavefront; and analyzing the distorted wavefront for characteristics that identify the presence of a modification. The analysis of the distorted wavefront can be for the presence of higher order aberrations, or Gausian characteristics which are indicative of modifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Kestrel Corporation
    Inventor: L. John Otten, III
  • Publication number: 20020097377
    Abstract: An ophthalmic instrument (for obtaining high resolution, wide field of area multi-spectral retinal images) including a fundus retinal imager, (which includes optics for illuminating and imaging the retina of the eye); apparatus for generating a reference beam coupled to the fundus optics to form a reference area on the retina; a wavefront sensor optically coupled to the fundus optics for measuring the wavefront produced by optical aberrations within the eye and the imager optics; wavefront compensation optics coupled to the fundus optics for correcting large, low order aberrations in the wavefront; a high resolution detector optically coupled to the imager optics and the wavefront compensation optics; and a computer (which is connected to the wavefront sensor, the wavefront compensation optics, and the high resolution camera) including an algorithm for correcting, small, high order aberrations on the wavefront and residual low order aberrations
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: Kestrel Corporation
    Inventors: Alexis Kudryashov, Andrey Viktorocvich Larichev, L. John Otten
  • Publication number: 20020071098
    Abstract: Apparatus for determining if a cornea (whether in vitro or in vivo) has been modified (either surgically or otherwise). The method includes the steps of: passing a beam of collimated light a (either coherent or incoherent) through the cornea to produce a distorted wavefront; determining the characteristics of the distorted wavefront; and analyzing the distorted wavefront for characteristics that identify the presence of a modification. The analysis of the distorted wavefront can be for the presence of higher order aberrations, or Gausian characteristics which are indicative of modifications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventor: L. John Otten
  • Patent number: 6286959
    Abstract: Apparatus for determining if a cornea (whether in vitro or in vivo) has been modified (either surgically or otherwise). The method includes the steps of: passing a beam of collimated light a (either coherent or incoherent) through the cornea to produce a distorted wavefront; determining the characteristics of the distorted wavefront; and analyzing the distorted wavefront for characteristics that identify the presence of a modification. The analysis of the distorted wavefront can be for the presence of higher order aberrations, or Gausian characteristics which are indicative of modifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventor: L. John Otten