Patents by Inventor Michael F. Brownell

Michael F. Brownell 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: 10722400
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for interfacing a surgical laser with an eye using a patient interface device that minimizes aberrations through a combination of a contact lens surface positioning and a liquid medium between an anterior surface of the eye and the contact lens surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: AMO Development, LLC
    Inventors: Michael F. Brownell, Jim Hill
  • Publication number: 20180049917
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for interfacing a surgical laser with an eye using a patient interface device that minimizes aberrations through a combination of a contact lens surface positioning and a liquid medium between an anterior surface of the eye and the contact lens surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Michael F. Brownell, Jim Hill
  • Publication number: 20140276677
    Abstract: Embodiments of this invention relate to systems and methods for providing anatomical flap centration for an ophthalmic laser treatment system. In one embodiment, the laser surgery system, having an imaging system and a suction ring coupled with a patient interface, captures a digital image of a subject's eye and identifies an optimum treatment placement of the corneal flap using anatomical markers as reference points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Michael F. Brownell, Kimberley N. Patterson, Peter Patrick De Guzman, Victor J. Kardos, Hon M. Lee
  • Patent number: 7371230
    Abstract: An interface for coupling an eye to a surgical laser is disclosed. A lens cone includes a base ring opposite an apex ring. The base ring defines a first plane and is adapted to couple to the delivery tip of the laser such that the first plane has a predetermined position relative to the delivery tip. An applanation lens is affixed to the apex ring and has a surface disposed in a second plane such that the second plane is parallel to and has a predetermined position relative to the first plane. A gripper is engagable with the lens cone. An attachment ring is affixed to the gripper and is adapted to couple to the anterior surface of the eye. When the lens cone and gripper are engaged, the applanation lens contacts the anterior surface of the eye, placing the anterior surface in spatial registration with the delivery tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: AMO Development, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle R. Webb, Michael F. Brownell, Christopher Horvath, Tibor Juhasz, Ronald M. Kurtz, Leszlo I. Nagy, Mark W. Ross, Carlos G. Suarez
  • Patent number: 7018376
    Abstract: A method for applanating an anterior surface of a cornea and coupling the eye to a surgical laser is disclosed. A interface is provided which has a central orifice and top and bottom surfaces. A suction ring is removably coupled to the bottom surface of the interface. The interface is positioned over an operative area of an eye, such that the suction ring comes into proximate contact with the surface of the eye. A suction is applied to the suction ring to stabilize the position of the interface relative to the operative area of the eye. An applanation lens is positioned in proximate contact with the operative area of the eye. Finally, the applanation lens is coupled to the interface to stabilize the position of the lens relative to the operative area of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Intralase Corp.
    Inventors: R. Kyle Webb, Michael F. Brownell, Christopher Horvath, Tibor Juhasz, Ronald M. Kurtz, Laszlo I. Nagy, Mark W. Ross, Carlos G. Suarez
  • Patent number: 6863667
    Abstract: A disposable stabilization and applanation device for reconfiguring the cornea of an eye for ophthalmic laser surgery, includes an applanation lens that is disposed in a particular spatial position with respect to an incident laser beam. The applanation lens is inserted into the central opening of an attachment ring and applanates the eye in response to pressure from a lens cone. The attachment ring is coupled to the eye and includes a skirt which surrounds the applanation lens and extends outwardly therefrom to define a chamber. The skirt is formed with a groove which defines a suction channel between the attachment ring skirt and the corneal surface of an eye. A vacuum source is connected and fluid communication with the suction channel and is selectively activated to create a partial vacuum in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: IntraLase Corp.
    Inventors: Kyle R. Webb, Michael F. Brownell, Christopher Horvath, Tibor Juhasz, Ronald M. Kurtz, Laszlo I. Nagy, Mark W. Ross, Carlos G. Suarez
  • Publication number: 20040225284
    Abstract: A disposable stabilization and applanation device for reconfiguring the cornea of an eye for ophthalmic laser surgery, includes an applanation lens that is disposed in a particular spatial position with respect to an incident laser beam. The applanation lens is inserted into the central opening of an attachment ring and applanates the eye in response to pressure from a lens cone. The attachment ring is coupled to the eye and includes a skirt which surrounds the applanation lens and extends outwardly therefrom to define a chamber. The skirt is formed with a groove which defines a suction channel between the attachment ring skirt and the corneal surface of an eye. A vacuum source is connected and fluid communication with the suction channel and is selectively activated to create a partial vacuum in the channel. In operation, the attachment ring is coupled to the cornea by application of suction and the applanation lens lowered into contact with the cornea through the attachment ring's central opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: R. Kyle Webb, Michael F. Brownell, Christopher Horvath, Tibor Juhasz, Ronald M. Kurtz, Laszlo I. Nagy, Mark W. Ross, Carlos G. Suarez
  • Publication number: 20020103481
    Abstract: A disposable stabilization and applanation device for reconfiguring the cornea of an eye for ophthalmic laser surgery, includes an applanation lens that is disposed in a particular spatial position with respect to an incident laser beam. The applanation lens is inserted into the central opening of an attachment ring and applanates the eye in response to pressure from a lens cone. The attachment ring is coupled to the eye and includes a skirt which surrounds the applanation lens and extends outwardly therefrom to define a chamber. The skirt is formed with a groove which defines a suction channel between the attachment ring skirt and the corneal surface of an eye. A vacuum source is connected and fluid communication with the suction channel and is selectively activated to create a partial vacuum in the channel. In operation, the attachment ring is coupled to the cornea by application of suction and the applanation lens lowered into contact with the cornea through the attachment ring's central opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: R. Kyle Webb, Michael F. Brownell, Christopher Horvath, Tibor Juhasz, Ronald M. Kurtz, Laszlo I. Nagy, Mark W. Ross, Carlos G. Suarez