Patents by Inventor Mark Alan Hopkins
Mark Alan Hopkins 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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Patent number: 11701256Abstract: A gas mixing system for providing mixed gas for intraocular injection. In some embodiments, a first fixed-volume chamber is automatically purged and filled with gas from a first gas supply input, to a first predetermined pressure. A second fixed-volume chamber is purged and filled with gas from a second gas supply input, to a second predetermined pressure. The first and second predetermined pressures are determined based on a desired concentration of gases in the final mix, and the respective volumes of the first and second fixed-volume chambers and of a third fixed-volume chamber. Gas from the first fixed-volume chamber is then allowed to mix with gas in the third fixed-volume chamber, which was previously purged. Next, gas from the second fixed-volume chamber is allowed to mix with gas in the third fixed-volume chamber. Finally, the mixture of gases in the third fixed-volume chamber is expressed into an intraocular syringe.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2019Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventor: Mark Alan Hopkins
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Publication number: 20230181266Abstract: Systems are provided for automatically configuring devices and systems in an operating environment, e.g., an ophthalmic operating environment, to a user's desired settings. The system includes a controller configured to identify a user, e.g., a surgeon, via the utilization of a user-identifying identifier, e.g., a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device, which may communicate with a receiver operably coupled to the controller. The controller may further be configured to identify a surgical device, e.g., an ophthalmic probe, being used by the user during a surgical procedure via a device-associated identifier, e.g., a device-specific RFID device. Upon identification of the user and the surgical device, the controller may map the user and surgical device to one or more sets of predefined and user-input parameters/settings, and further configure the surgical device based on the mapped one or more sets of previously-determined parameters/settings.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2022Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventors: Paul R. Hallen, Mark Alan Hopkins
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Publication number: 20230181367Abstract: Certain embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and devices for coupling optical fibers with laser surgical systems. In particular, certain aspects provide a push-pull connector and adapter for releasably coupling an optical fiber with a port of a laser surgical system. The connector and adapter facilitate mechanical lateral and rotational guidance of the optical fiber during insertion into the port to ensure proper alignment (e.g., clocking) of the optical fiber’s cores with a laser beam pattern propagated by the laser surgical system. Accordingly, the connector and adaptor enable improved coupling efficiency between the laser beam pattern and one or more cores of the optical fiber, and therefore improved power uniformity between multiple laser beams transmitted through the cores.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2022Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventors: Mark Harrison Farley, Chenguang Diao, Mark Alan Hopkins, Alireza Mirsepassi, Timothy C. Ryan, Ronald T. Smith, Dennis Martin Terenzio
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Patent number: 11116878Abstract: A system and method for a diaphragm-based fluidics aspiration system is disclosed. The aspiration system includes a waste reservoir configured to hold a vacuum pressure; an aspiration connection; a vacuum pinch valve including a first outlet fluidically coupled to the waste reservoir; a second outlet fluidically coupled to the aspiration connection; a fluid channel; and an actuator configured to alter a cross-sectional area of the fluid channel.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2018Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Gerry Brundage, Mark Alan Hopkins, Pooria Sharif Kashani, Connor Meehan
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Patent number: 10729582Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods of and for an ophthalmic surgical system are disclosed. An ophthalmic surgical system may include a vitreous probe having a housing sized and shaped for grasping by a user. The vitreous probe may also include a cutter extending from the housing and being sized to penetrate and treat a patient eye. The cutter may include an outer cutting tube coupled to the housing. The outer cutting tube may have an outer port formed at a distal end wall of the outer cutting tube and configured to receive tissue. The cutter may include a rotatable inner cutting member disposed within the outer cutting tube. The inner cutting member may include a first cutting surface that rotates across the outer port to cut the tissue when the inner cutting member is rotated.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Philip John Biancalana, Paul R. Hallen, Mark Alan Hopkins, Michael J. Papac, Robert Joseph Sanchez, Jr., Salomon Valencia
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Publication number: 20200108198Abstract: A microsurgical system with an integrated substance chamber is provided herein for delivering substance (e.g., a drug, retina patch, dye, etc.) to a surgical site through a tool component of the microsurgical instrument, such as a tissue removal component. The system may include a tissue removal handpiece having a tissue cutter disposed at a distal end. The system may further include a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit. The first fluid conduit may couple a fluidics subsystem to the tissue removal handpiece to permit removal of cut tissue. The second fluid conduit may couple a substance chamber to the tissue removal handpiece. The system may additionally include a control system that enables or facilitates selective control of fluid through the tissue removal handpiece to introduce substance from the substance chamber to a surgical site through a port in the tissue cutter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventors: Philip John Biancalana, Mark Alan Hopkins, Michael James Papac, Robert Joseph Sanchez, JR.
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Publication number: 20190254870Abstract: A gas mixing system for providing mixed gas for intraocular injection. In some embodiments, a first fixed-volume chamber is automatically purged and filled with gas from a first gas supply input, to a first predetermined pressure. A second fixed-volume chamber is purged and filled with gas from a second gas supply input, to a second predetermined pressure. The first and second predetermined pressures are determined based on a desired concentration of gases in the final mix, and the respective volumes of the first and second fixed-volume chambers and of a third fixed-volume chamber. Gas from the first fixed-volume chamber is then allowed to mix with gas in the third fixed-volume chamber, which was previously purged. Next, gas from the second fixed-volume chamber is allowed to mix with gas in the third fixed-volume chamber. Finally, the mixture of gases in the third fixed-volume chamber is expressed into an intraocular syringe.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventor: Mark Alan Hopkins
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Publication number: 20190143008Abstract: A system and method for a diaphragm-based fluidics aspiration system is disclosed. The aspiration system includes a waste reservoir configured to hold a vacuum pressure; an aspiration connection; a vacuum pinch valve including a first outlet fluidically coupled to the waste reservoir; a second outlet fluidically coupled to the aspiration connection; a fluid channel; and an actuator configured to alter a cross-sectional area of the fluid channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Gerry Brundage, Mark Alan Hopkins, Pooria Sharif Kashani, Connor Meehan
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Patent number: 10088083Abstract: A multi-lumen surgical utility connector is configured to receive two or more utilities from a surgical utility supplying device. The multi-lumen surgical utility connector may be connected to a utility port of the surgical utility supplying device which supplies two or more utilities. The multi-lumen surgical utility connector may include a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag which identifies the type or model of multi-lumen surgical utility connector. The surgical utility supplying device may determine the type and parameters of utilities to be supplied through the multi-lumen surgical utility connector based on information read from the RFID tag.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2014Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: James Foster, Mark Alan Hopkins
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Publication number: 20170333252Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods of and for an ophthalmic surgical system are disclosed. An ophthalmic surgical system may include a vitreous probe having a housing sized and shaped for grasping by a user. The vitreous probe may also include a cutter extending from the housing and being sized to penetrate and treat a patient eye. The cutter may include an outer cutting tube coupled to the housing. The outer cutting tube may have an outer port formed at a distal end wall of the outer cutting tube and configured to receive tissue. The cutter may include a rotatable inner cutting member disposed within the outer cutting tube. The inner cutting member may include a first cutting surface that rotates across the outer port to cut the tissue when the inner cutting member is rotated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Inventors: Philip John Biancalana, Paul R. Hallen, Mark Alan Hopkins, Michael J. Papac, Robert Joseph Sanchez, JR., Salomon Valencia
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Publication number: 20170172796Abstract: A microsurgical system with an integrated substance chamber is provided herein for delivering substance (e.g., a drug, retina patch, dye, etc.) to a surgical site through a tool component of the microsurgical instrument, such as a tissue removal component. The system may include a tissue removal handpiece having a tissue cutter disposed at a distal end. The system may further include a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit. The first fluid conduit may couple a fluidics subsystem to the tissue removal handpiece to permit removal of cut tissue. The second fluid conduit may couple a substance chamber to the tissue removal handpiece. The system may additionally include a control system that enables or facilitates selective control of fluid through the tissue removal handpiece to introduce substance from the substance chamber to a surgical site through a port in the tissue cutter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2016Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Philip John Biancalana, Mark Alan Hopkins, Michael James Papac, Robert Joseph Sanchez, JR.
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Publication number: 20170083666Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for generating presurgical planning material, annotating the presurgical planning material, and using that generated presurgical planning materials during a surgical procedure are disclosed. The presurgical planning material may be annotated at a location outside of a sterile surgical environment. The annotated presurgical planning material may be displayed on a display device within a sterile surgical environment during a surgical procedure to assist a user, such as a surgeon or other medical professional, in performing the surgical procedure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: PHILIP BIANCALANA, PAUL R. HALLEN, MARK ALAN HOPKINS, ARGELIO MICHAEL OLIVERA, MICHAEL JAMES PAPAC, ROBERT JOSEPH SANCHEZ, JR.
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Publication number: 20160045365Abstract: A multi-lumen surgical utility connector is configured to receive two or more utilities from a surgical utility supplying device. The multi-lumen surgical utility connector may be connected to a utility port of the surgical utility supplying device which supplies two or more utilities. The multi-lumen surgical utility connector may include a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag which identifies the type or model of multi-lumen surgical utility connector. The surgical utility supplying device may determine the type and parameters of utilities to be supplied through the multi-lumen surgical utility connector based on information read from the RFID tag.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2014Publication date: February 18, 2016Inventors: James Foster, Mark Alan Hopkins
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Patent number: 8728108Abstract: In various embodiments, a pneumatic system valve for a surgical console may be controlled by a controller configured to adjust a valve duty cycle (VDC) of the valve to reduce a difference between the valve's differential pressure and a desired differential pressure. In some embodiments, average differential pressures may be detected and relayed from a pressure sensor, coupled to one or more ports of the valve, to the controller. The controller may compare the measured average differential pressure against the desired average differential pressure (e.g., received from the user). The controller may then determine a modified VDC to reduce a difference between the desired average differential pressure and the measured average differential pressure. In some embodiments, the desired average differential pressure may be determined based on input received from a user of the surgical console.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2010Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.Inventors: Shawn X. Gao, Mark Alan Hopkins
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Publication number: 20110144675Abstract: In various embodiments, a pneumatic system valve for a surgical console may be controlled by a controller configured to adjust a valve duty cycle (VDC) of the valve to reduce a difference between the valve's differential pressure and a desired differential pressure. In some embodiments, average differential pressures may be detected and relayed from a pressure sensor, coupled to one or more ports of the valve, to the controller. The controller may compare the measured average differential pressure against the desired average differential pressure (e.g., received from the user). The controller may then determine a modified VDC to reduce a difference between the desired average differential pressure and the measured average differential pressure. In some embodiments, the desired average differential pressure may be determined based on input received from a user of the surgical console.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Inventors: Shawn X. Gao, Mark Alan Hopkins
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Publication number: 20080147023Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and method controlling the flow of aspiration fluid in an aspiration chamber of a surgical cassette. One embodiment of the present invention provides an aspiration chamber having an aspiration port positioned at or close to the bottom of the chamber. When the aspiration fluid enters the aspiration chamber from below the fluid surface (e.g., from a port located at the bottom or on a sidewall close to the bottom), it does not create disturbance at the liquid/air interface and thus does not disturb the continuous level sensing. Also, since the aspiration port is placed at or very close to the bottom of the aspiration chamber, the liquid inside the chamber can be fully used for sustained reflux and push priming.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2006Publication date: June 19, 2008Inventors: Mark Alan Hopkins, Shawn X. Gao
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Publication number: 20080015515Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide top and bottom clamping of a surgical cassette. One embodiment of the present invention includes a surgical cassette adapted for use in a surgical system having a first side (e.g., an inner side) and second side (e.g., an outer side). The surgical cassette, according to one embodiment, comprises a body portion configured to interface on its first side with a surgical console during use, a first clamping portion projecting from the top of the body portion configured to contact a first clamp rail on the cassette's second side during use and a second clamping portion projecting from the bottom of the body portion configured to contact a second clamp rail on the cassette's second side during use.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2006Publication date: January 17, 2008Inventors: Mark Alan Hopkins, David Lloyd Williams, Nicolei R. King