Patents by Inventor Roderick S. Van

Roderick S. Van 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).

  • Publication number: 20250135088
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical cassette including pump assemblies with improved contact between a displacement sensor disposed within a surgical console and a diaphragm disposed within the surgical cassette. Each pump assembly includes a diaphragm retainer ring that provides a sufficient creepage and clearance margin, acts as a lead-in for the displacement sensor, assists in preventing misalignment, and provides robustness for the ultrasonic welding process which couples the diaphragm retainer ring to the surgical console. The diaphragm retainer ring is impregnated with a lubricant so to facilitate seating of the displacement sensor with the cassette. A cantilever portion of the diaphragm retainer ring increases a creepage and clearance margin, as well as increases overall part strength in the event of a collision with the displacement sensor and during ultrasonic welding. An insulator is also provided that further increases the creepage and clearance margin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2024
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventors: Steven Benjamin ROLL, Behzad HASHEMI, Dienhung Dao PHAN, Brad Hua CHEN, Brian William MCDONELL, Jiansheng ZHOU, Roderick S. VAN, Vincent A. BAXTER
  • Patent number: 12070417
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for measuring fluid pressure in an ophthalmic surgical system. An example system comprises a fluid flow path and a pressure sensor system for measuring pressure in the fluid flow path. The pressure sensor system comprises a conductive, movable diaphragm having a first side and a second side, the first side of the diaphragm facing the fluid flow path, and an eddy current position sensor positioned on the second side of the diaphragm without contacting the diaphragm. The eddy current position sensor comprises a position sensor coil activatable by high frequency alternating current and signal conditioning electronics capable of sensing inductance or impedance or resonant frequency variation in the position sensor coil as a gap between the diaphragm and the position sensor coil changes and of translating that variation into a displacement signal correlated to fluid pressure. A method of measuring fluid pressure may be performed using one or more of the systems described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn X. Gao, Ivan Milutinovic, Roderick S. Van, Vincent A Baxter, Raphael Gordon
  • Publication number: 20200353133
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for measuring fluid pressure in an ophthalmic surgical system. An example system comprises a fluid flow path and a pressure sensor system for measuring pressure in the fluid flow path. The pressure sensor system comprises a conductive, movable diaphragm having a first side and a second side, the first side of the diaphragm facing the fluid flow path, and an eddy current position sensor positioned on the second side of the diaphragm without contacting the diaphragm. The eddy current position sensor comprises a position sensor coil activatable by high frequency alternating current and signal conditioning electronics capable of sensing inductance or impedance or resonant frequency variation in the position sensor coil as a gap between the diaphragm and the position sensor coil changes and of translating that variation into a displacement signal correlated to fluid pressure. A method of measuring fluid pressure may be performed using one or more of the systems described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Shawn X. Gao, Ivan Milutinovic, Roderick S. Van, Vincent A. Baxter, Raphael Gordon
  • Patent number: 9132229
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates in general to an apparatus and method for priming a liquid or surgical cassette. In one embodiment, an infusion system within the liquid cassette is primed using a forward flow of a liquid and a backward flow of the liquid. The forward flow of the liquid creates a first volume of liquid stored within an infusion conduit, which is connected to an infusion chamber via a first valve. The infusion conduit has an infusion port exposed to a non-liquid environment having a first pressure. A second pressure is created in the infusion chamber that is lower than the first pressure. Opening the first valve causes a second volume of liquid within the infusion conduit to flow over the first valve and towards the infusion chamber. The second volume of liquid is less than or equal to the first volume of liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shawn X. Gao, Roderick S. Van
  • Patent number: 9089398
    Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure provide an apparatus and method for gas and debris management. The apparatus comprises a surgical cassette, wherein the surgical cassette is at least partially formed of a cassette material defining a chamber. The surgical cassette has a floor and a plurality of walls. The apparatus also has a drain conduit with a drain entry and a drain exit. The drain entry is connected to the chamber near the floor. The drain conduit has a top portion and a bottom portion. The apparatus also has an aspiration conduit. The aspiration conduit has an aspiration port and an aspiration exit. The aspiration conduit is in liquid communication with the chamber and the drain conduit. At least a portion of the top portion of the drain conduit is positioned above at least a portion of the aspiration exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shawn X. Gao, Roderick S. Van
  • Publication number: 20140081224
    Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure provide an apparatus and method for gas and debris management. The apparatus comprises a surgical cassette, wherein the surgical cassette is at least partially formed of a cassette material defining a chamber. The surgical cassette has a floor and a plurality of walls. The apparatus also has a drain conduit with a drain entry and a drain exit. The drain entry is connected to the chamber near the floor. The drain conduit has a top portion and a bottom portion. The apparatus also has an aspiration conduit. The aspiration conduit has an aspiration port and an aspiration exit. The aspiration conduit is in liquid communication with the chamber and the drain conduit. At least a portion of the top portion of the drain conduit is positioned above at least a portion of the aspiration exit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
    Inventors: Shawn X. Gao, Roderick S. Van
  • Publication number: 20140074017
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates in general to an apparatus and method for priming a liquid or surgical cassette. In one embodiment, an infusion system within the liquid cassette is primed using a forward flow of a liquid and a backward flow of the liquid. The forward flow of the liquid creates a first volume of liquid stored within an infusion conduit, which is connected to an infusion chamber via a first valve. The infusion conduit has an infusion port exposed to a non-liquid environment having a first pressure. A second pressure is created in the infusion chamber that is lower than the first pressure. Opening the first valve causes a second volume of liquid within the infusion conduit to flow over the first valve and towards the infusion chamber. The second volume of liquid is less than or equal to the first volume of liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
    Inventors: Shawn X. Gao, Roderick S. Van