Patents by Inventor Michael J. Yadlowsky

Michael J. Yadlowsky 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: 9849034
    Abstract: Various systems, processes, and computer program products may be used to perform retinal laser surgery. In particular implementations, systems, processes, and computer program products may include the ability to identify retina blood vessels from a retina image and determine a retina location needing therapy and not substantially intersecting a retina blood vessel. The systems, processes, and computer program products may also include the ability to generate a command to activate a retinal laser when a beam from the retinal laser will be aligned with the therapeutic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Artsyukhovich, Mikhail Boukhny, Bruno Dacquay, Michael J. Yadlowsky
  • Patent number: 9730576
    Abstract: An endoilluminator system includes an endoilluminator probe and an illumination source. The endoilluminator probe includes a nano-scale optical fiber and a probe fiber connector, and the illumination source includes a source fiber connector. The illumination source is configured to produce an illumination spot at the source fiber connector having a diameter smaller than a diameter of a fiber core of the nano-scale optical fiber. The probe fiber connector and the source connector are configured when connected to align the illumination spot off-center relative to the nano-scale optical fiber such that the angular distribution of light emitted by the nano-scale optical fiber is increased relative to aligning the illumination spot at a center of the nano-scale optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael J. Yadlowsky, Michael Papac
  • Publication number: 20170172802
    Abstract: An ophthalmic endoprobe system comprises an optical fiber configured to transmit light energy along an optical axis. The system further comprises a first scanning element rotatable relative to the optical fiber and arranged to receive at least a portion of the transmitted light energy. The first scanning element includes a diffractive optical element. The system also comprises a second scanning element rotatable relative to the first scanning element and arranged to receive at least a portion of the transmitted light energy from the first scanning element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Papac, Michael J. Yadlowsky, John Christopher Huculak
  • Patent number: 9561085
    Abstract: An illuminated microsurgical instrument includes a microsurgical instrument having a distal tip and an optical fiber for delivering a beam of light to a surgical site. The optical fiber includes a proximal end for receiving a light beam from a light source, and a distal end proximate to the distal tip of the microsurgical instrument for emitting the light beam. The distal end includes a beveled end face either oriented toward or oriented opposite from the distal tip of the microsurgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Alcon Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael J. Yadlowsky, Michael James Papac, Bruno Lassalas
  • Patent number: 9526588
    Abstract: An illuminated microsurgical instrument includes a microsurgical instrument having a distal tip and an optical fiber for delivering a beam of light to a surgical site. The optical fiber includes a proximal end for receiving a light beam from a light source, and a distal end proximate to the distal tip of the microsurgical instrument for emitting the light beam. The distal end includes a beveled end face either oriented toward or oriented opposite from the distal tip of the microsurgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Alcon Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael J. Yadlowsky, Michael James Papac, Bruno Lassalas
  • Publication number: 20160228207
    Abstract: An illuminated microsurgical instrument includes a microsurgical instrument having a distal tip and an optical fiber for delivering a beam of light to a surgical site. The optical fiber includes a proximal end for receiving a light beam from a light source, and a distal end proximate to the distal tip of the microsurgical instrument for emitting the light beam. The distal end includes a beveled end face either oriented toward or oriented opposite from the distal tip of the microsurgical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Michael J. Yadlowsky, Michael James Papac, Bruno Lassalas
  • Patent number: 9192515
    Abstract: An ophthalmic endoprobe including a hand-piece and a cannula assembly having a longitudinal axis is provided. The cannula assembly including an inner tube concentric with an outer tube; wherein the hand-piece may further include a motor powered by a pneumatic energy source, the motor providing motion to a transmission shaft; and a transmission system to couple the shaft motion to the cannula assembly; wherein the transmission system provides a counter-rotating motion to the inner tube and the outer tube about the longitudinal axis of the cannula. A fluid console for use in endoscopic ophthalmic microsurgery including a pneumatics module to obtain a pneumatic force from an external source and provide an adjustable pneumatic force; a scanning module coupled to the pneumatics module; and an endoprobe coupled to the scanning module is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
    Inventors: Michael James Papac, Michael J. Yadlowsky, John Christopher Huculak
  • Patent number: 9107730
    Abstract: A light source for a surgical system includes a broadband light source operable to produce broadband light. The light source further includes a wavelength splitter adapted to split the broadband light into illumination light having a spectral range covering at least a majority of the visible spectrum and surgical light having a spectral range outside of the spectral range of the illumination light. The light source then includes at least one surgical module adapted to control application of the surgical light. The light source also includes first and second coupling optics. The first coupling optics are configured to optically couple the illumination light to an illumination light guide for delivery to a first surgical probe. The second coupling optics are configured to optically couple the surgical light to a surgical light guide for delivery to a second surgical probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
    Inventors: John Christopher Huculak, Michael J. Yadlowsky, Michael Papac
  • Patent number: 9066678
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of an endoilluminator may include a cannula, an intermediate material, and an optical fiber. The cannula has a substantially cylindrical shape that defines an interior region and has a cylindrical axis. The intermediate material is disposed within the interior region. The optical fiber is disposed within the intermediate material and has a fiber optical axis and a distal end configured to emit light. The emitted light has an illumination pattern with an illumination axis that is not parallel to the cylindrical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
    Inventors: Jack R. Auld, Michael M. Martin, Michael J. Papac, Ronald T. Smith, Michael J. Yadlowsky
  • Patent number: 9055885
    Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary surgical illumination system that includes a first laser configured to emit a first light beam having a first spectral range, and an illumination probe optically connectable to the first laser. The first laser may be configured as a supercontinuum laser. The surgical illumination system may include a second laser configured to emit a second light beam having a second spectral range, and a beam combiner for combing the first and second laser beams to form a third laser beam having a spectral range of the first and second lasers. The illumination probe includes a fiber optic cable for delivering at least a portion of the first light beam to a surgical site. The fiber optic cable includes a fiber optic core having a diameter of 100 microns or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
    Inventors: Christopher Horvath, Michael J. Papac, Laszlo Romoda, Ronald T. Smith, Michael J. Yadlowsky
  • Patent number: 9028400
    Abstract: An endoprobe for ophthalmic microsurgical procedures including a hand-piece including a motor, a cannula assembly coupled to the hand-piece, and a transmission system coupling the motor to the cannula assembly is provided. The cannula assembly having an outer tube and an inner tube concentric with the outer tube, each able to rotate about the longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end. The transmission system rotates the outer tube in a first direction and the inner tube in a second, opposing direction about the longitudinal axis. A method for scanning a light beam along a linear trajectory using a cannula assembly as above is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Michael J. Yadlowsky, Michael James Papac, John Christopher Huculak
  • Patent number: 8900139
    Abstract: An illuminated microsurgical instrument includes a microsurgical instrument having a distal tip and an optical fiber for delivering a beam of light to a surgical site. The optical fiber includes a proximal end for receiving a light beam from a light source, and a distal end proximate to the distal tip of the microsurgical instrument for emitting the light beam. The distal end includes a beveled end face either oriented toward or oriented opposite from the distal tip of the microsurgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael J. Yadlowsky, Michael James Papac, Bruno Lassalas
  • Patent number: 8837883
    Abstract: Certain embodiments may include a laser system configured to emit collimated laser light, a beam diverging element configured to diverge the laser light to yield a range of propagation angles with a maximum angle greater than zero, and fiber coupling optics configured to direct the diverged laser light towards a spot of a cross-section of a fiber core of an optical fiber. As another example, certain embodiments may include a laser system configured to emit collimated laser light, a beam shaping element configured to shape the laser light into a beam with an elliptical cross-section, and fiber coupling optics configured to direct the diverged laser light towards a spot of a cross-section of a fiber core of an optical fiber, where the spot's center point is located at a distance from the cross-section's center point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Bruno Lassalas, Michael J. Papac, Michael J. Yadlowsky
  • Publication number: 20140066723
    Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary surgical illumination system that includes a first laser configured to emit a first light beam having a first spectral range, and an illumination probe optically connectable to the first laser. The first laser may be configured as a supercontinuum laser. The surgical illumination system may include a second laser configured to emit a second light beam having a second spectral range, and a beam combiner for combing the first and second laser beams to form a third laser beam having a spectral range of the first and second lasers. The illumination probe includes a fiber optic cable for delivering at least a portion of the first light beam to a surgical site. The fiber optic cable includes a fiber optic core having a diameter of 100 microns or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
    Inventors: Christopher Horvath, Michael J. Papac, Laszlo Romoda, Ronald T. Smith, Michael J. Yadlowsky
  • Patent number: 8662670
    Abstract: An ophthalmic illuminator includes a one or more light combining stages arranged in series to augment a white light source with various color spectral bands. A first stage combines white light from a white light source with colored light from a first color source. Each subsequent stage in the series adds its own respective colored light. The color sources may be selectively turned on/off or driven with variable amounts of power. In this fashion, a combined light is produced by the final stage that represents a desired chromaticity and brightness as desired for a particular ophthalmic therapeutic procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Papac, Ronald T. Smith, Michael J. Yadlowsky, Alexander N. Artsyukhovich
  • Patent number: 8488930
    Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary wavelength converting illumination probe having an illumination probe that can be selectively connected to a light source configured to generate light at a first wavelength range. The illumination probe including a lumen defining an aperture in a distal end of the illumination probe for emitting light. The wavelength converting illumination probe further including a wavelength converting element disposed within the lumen of the illumination probe. The wavelength converting element operable for receiving light from the light source at the first wavelength range, and converting the light to a second wavelength range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael James Papac, Ronald T. Smith, Michael J. Yadlowsky, Michael McCulloch Martin, Christopher Horvath
  • Publication number: 20130158393
    Abstract: An endoprobe for microsurgical procedures is provided, including a hand-piece having a concentric drive having a proximal coupling and a distal coupling and a cannula assembly coupled to the hand-piece. The cannula assembly may include an outer tube having a longitudinal axis and an inner tube positioned within the outer tube, the distal coupling providing a first rotation to the outer tube about the longitudinal axis and the proximal coupling providing a second rotation to the inner tube within the outer tube. According to embodiments disclosed herein a method for scanning a light beam using a cannula assembly as described above is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Papac, John Christopher Huculak, Michael J. Yadlowsky
  • Publication number: 20130158392
    Abstract: A microsurgical endoprobe and method for use are provided. The microsurgical endoprobe may have a cannula assembly with a proximal element and a distal element coupled to a mechanical actuator. The microsurgical endoprobe may be configured to rotate at least one of the proximal element and the distal element in a first direction for an arc period, perform a microsurgical procedure on the tissue, and rotate the at least one of the proximal element and the distal element in a second direction opposite to the first direction for the arc period. The microsurgical endoprobe may include a hand-piece having a motor with a cannula assembly coupled to the hand-piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Papac, John Christopher Huculak, Michael J. Yadlowsky
  • Publication number: 20130144278
    Abstract: An ophthalmic endoprobe system comprises an optical fiber configured to transmit light energy along an optical axis. The system further comprises a first scanning element rotatable relative to the optical fiber and arranged to receive at least a portion of the transmitted light energy. The first scanning element includes a diffractive optical element. The system also comprises a second scanning element rotatable relative to the first scanning element and arranged to receive at least a portion of the transmitted light energy from the first scanning element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Papac, Michael J. Yadlowsky, John Christopher Huculak
  • Patent number: 8449147
    Abstract: An illuminator configured to deliver white light into an optical fiber includes a pump light source and a white phosphor. The pump light source configured to emit short-wavelength light. The white phosphor is disposed to receive the short-wavelength light from the pump light source and to output white light in response to the pumping light. The white phosphor is thermally isolated from the pump light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael James Papac, Christopher Horvath, Ronald T. Smith, Michael J. Yadlowsky