Patents by Inventor Roger F. Etherington

Roger F. Etherington 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: 6506176
    Abstract: A system for removing the lens from an eye of a mammal, including a lens-removal device having a probe for penetrating the lens capsule. The probe includes a sheath that shields a rotating impeller at all times, with the impeller being pneumatically actuated to advance to a lens removal position within the sheath. The impeller is pneumatically rotated using a turbine mechanism within a handle for the probe. Irrigation and aspiration are provided to facilitate removal of the lens tissue. The turbine is driven with pulsed air to prevent stiction. A purge/protection cap helps remove air bubbles from the system prior to use and protects the delicate impeller during transport. An operating system is also provided with a foot pedal actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Mittelstein, John T. Sorensen, Soheila Mirhashemi, James B. Gerg, John I. Muri, Roger F. Etherington, John A. Ripley
  • Patent number: 5554112
    Abstract: An irrigator/aspirator surgical probe for laparoscopic surgery includes a rotatable handle assembly and a probe assembly having an electrosurgical electrode. The handle assembly has two valves, one for controlling the flow of irrigation fluid and one for controlling the flow of aspiration fluid. One of the valves can be locked at any selected setting with a locking lever. Fine adjustment of the valve is achieved in the locked position. The handle assembly further includes a valve body and valve members which are easily removable and disposable. The valve members in the valve body are made of an elastomeric material to provide effective sealing and inherent self return. The probe assembly can be rotated relative to the handle assembly as needed to reduce operator fatigue. The probe can be rotated in the probe assembly to position the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Birtcher Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold J. Walbrink, Roger F. Etherington, Charles E. Beuchat, Vincent J. Burgess, Kent D. Richards
  • Patent number: 5514089
    Abstract: An irrigator/aspirator surgical probe for laparoscopic surgery includes a rotatable handle assembly and a probe assembly having an electrosurgical electrode. The handle assembly has two valves, one for controlling the flow of irrigation fluid and one for controlling the flow of aspiration fluid. One of the valves can be locked at any selected setting with a locking lever. Fine adjustment of the valve is achieved in the locked position. The handle assembly further includes a valve body and valve members which are easily removable and disposable. The valve members in the valve body are made of an elastomeric material to provide effective sealing and inherent self return. The probe assembly can be rotated relative to the handle assembly as needed to reduce operator fatigue. The probe can be rotated in the probe assembly to position the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Birtcher Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold J. Walbrink, Roger F. Etherington, Charles E. Beuchat, Vincent J. Burgess, Kent D. Richards
  • Patent number: 4660569
    Abstract: The present invention is a syringe plunger stem with band-like sealing means on one end and fingergrip means on the opposite end and being slidably and sealably insertable into the body of a syringe to variate the volume capacity of the chamber of said syringe. In the plunger there is a capillary action view-tube, positioned in constant sealing contact with the said band-like sealing means and extending longitudinally towards said fingergrip end of said plunger. Further, an air-permeable, liquid impervious porous material is positioned in the said capillary action view-tube that is nearest the said fingergrip end of the plunger. The said capillary action view-tube communicating with and positioned between the said chamber of said syringe and the said air-permeable, liquid impervious porous material. The present invention may also provide a secondary chamber area in the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: Sealsyringe Corporation
    Inventor: Roger F. Etherington
  • Patent number: 4552155
    Abstract: A device for taking specimens for laboratory analysis, specimens being of a fluid type such as body liquids or may be liquids of a different source. The device comprises a hollow body member with a closed end and an open end. The closed end has orifice therethrough which orifice is eccentric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body member. A plunger having a plunger tip means is inserted into the body member for the purpose of accurately varying the internal volume of the device. The closed end is provided with an exteriorly mounted closure which may be of a rotatable type or a sliding plate type. The closure contains an orifice which may be aligned with the orifice in the closed end to take specimens into the device and then the closure may be moved with reference to the body member to misalign the orifices so that the orifice in the body member is closed and the specimen cannot be ejected from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: Transmed Corporation
    Inventors: Roger F. Etherington, Clayton L. Ester
  • Patent number: 4320770
    Abstract: A device for taking specimens for laboratory analysis, specimens being of a fluid type such as body liquids or may be liquids of a different source. The device comprises a hollow body member with a closed end and an open end. The closed end has orifice therethrough which orifice is eccentric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body member. A plunger having a plunger tip means is inserted into the body member for the purpose of accurately varying the internal volume of the device. The closed end is provided with an exteriorly mounted closure which may be of a rotatable type or a sliding plate type. The closure contains an orifice which may be aligned with the orifice in the closed end to take specimens into the device and then the closure may be moved with reference to the body member to misalign the orifices so that the orifice in the body member is closed and the specimen cannot be ejected from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1982
    Assignee: Trans-Med Corporation
    Inventors: Roger F. Etherington, Clayton L. Estep
  • Patent number: 3978586
    Abstract: A hand held motor driven dental prophylaxis device constructed primarily of plastic or other thin walled material is disclosed. The device includes a radially adjusting bearing circumscribing and supporting its drive shaft to minimize the imposition of side loads on the electric motor. The device also includes a switch which will operate reliably even if the apparatus is flexed or distorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1976
    Assignee: The Denticator Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger F. Etherington
  • Patent number: D557803
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: John I. Muri, Roger F. Etherington
  • Patent number: D557804
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: John I. Muri, Roger F. Etherington