Patents by Inventor Rudolph W. Frey

Rudolph W. Frey 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: 20100292678
    Abstract: There is provided a system, apparatus and methods for developing laser systems that can create precise predetermined shot patterns for providing areas of varying softness in the lens of an eye. These areas of varying softness may have shapes that correspond to instruments used to remove material from the lens of the eye. There is further provided a multiplicity of spheres pattern, which may provide for bubble formation which in turn lubricates the lens material for removal after sectioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, Steven E. Bott, Gary P. Gray
  • Publication number: 20100042079
    Abstract: There is provided a system, apparatus and methods for developing laser systems that can create a precise predetermined capsulotomy. The systems, apparatus and methods further provide laser systems that reduce the patient-to-patient variability and doctor-to-doctor variability associated with hand held apparatus for performing capsulorhexis and capsulotomies. There is further provided a precise predetermined shot pattern and shaped capsulotomy that is based at least in part on the shape of an IOL and in particular an accommodating IOL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, Gary P. Gray
  • Publication number: 20100022994
    Abstract: There is provided a device for use as an interface between a laser surgery device and the eye of a patient. The device is filled with a liquid that matches the index of refraction of the eye. The device further has a curved lens that follows the curvature of the outer surface of the patient's eye. In this manner the interface device, through which the laser beam must travel, has essentially the same index of refraction as the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, Steven E. Bott, Gerrit N. Porter
  • Publication number: 20100022996
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for creating a layer of bubbles in the posterior portion of the lens of the eye. This layer of bubbles in the posterior portion of the lens functions as a shield protection structures of the eye that are located posteriorly from the lens from being damaged or injured by the use of the laser in subsequent activities upon the lens, such as the performance of a laser assisted capsulotomy. Thus, the bubble shield reduces the risk to posterior structures during laser procedures on the lens of the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, Steven E. Bott
  • Publication number: 20100022995
    Abstract: There is provided a system, apparatus and methods for developing laser systems that can create a precise predetermined capsulotomy. The systems, apparatus and methods further provide laser systems that reduce the patient-to-patient variability and doctor-to-doctor variability associated with hand held apparatus for performing capsulorhexis and capsulotomies. There is further provided a precise predetermined shot pattern and shaped capsulotomy that is based at least in part on the shape of an IOL and in particular an accommodating IOL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, Gary P. Gray
  • Publication number: 20100004641
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for increasing the amplitude of accommodation and/or changing the refractive power and/or enabling the removal of the clear or cataractous lens material of a natural crystalline lens is provided. Generally, the system comprises a laser, optics for delivering the laser beam and a control system for delivering the laser beam to the lens in a particular pattern. There is further provided a range determining system for determining the shape and position of the lens with respect to the laser. There is yet further provided a method and system for delivering a laser beam in the lens of the eye in a predetermined shot pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George R. Downes, JR., Jorge A. De Castro, Jerome R. Kuszak, Richard Ty Olmstead
  • Publication number: 20100004643
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing the amplitude of accommodation and/or changing the refractive power of lens material of a natural crystalline lens is provided. Generally, there is provided methods and systems for delivering a laser beam to a lens of an eye in a plurality of patterns results in the increased accommodative amplitude and/or refractive power of the lens. There is further provided a system and method of treating presbyopia by increasing both the flexibility of the human lens and the depth of field of the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, Gary P. Gray, Jerome R. Kuszak
  • Patent number: 6626898
    Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
  • Patent number: 6626896
    Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
  • Patent number: 6626897
    Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
  • Patent number: 6626893
    Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
  • Patent number: 6626894
    Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
  • Patent number: 6626895
    Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
  • Patent number: 6585726
    Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser beam delivery system and an eye tracker responsive to movement of the eye operable with a laser beam delivery system for ablating corneal material of the eye through placement of laser beam shot on a selected area of the cornea of the eye. The shots are fired in a sequence and pattern such that no laser shots are fired at consecutive locations and no consecutive shots overlap. The pattern is moved in response to the movement of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
  • Patent number: 6497483
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining aberrations of an eye includes a patient head rest allowing for positioning adjustment. The patient head rest is operable with an optical table having a base. The base includes a probe beam generating apparatus, probe beam directing optics which itself comprises a beam splitter; a mirror; and a lens. The probe beam directing optics is capable of directing a probe beam toward an eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest. Video image components are provided and comprise a light source, a mirror; and a video camera. The video image components are capable of generating an image of an eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest. Eye fixation components generate a target that the eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest can view. The eye fixation components comprise a fixation target, a light source, a lens, and a mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Neil Zepkin, Edward Poppeliers, John Alfred Campin
  • Publication number: 20020159030
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining aberrations of an eye includes a patient head rest allowing for positioning adjustment. The patient head rest is operable with an optical table having a base. The base includes a probe beam generating apparatus, probe beam directing optics which itself comprises a beam splitter; a mirror; and a lens. The probe beam directing optics is capable of directing a probe beam toward an eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest. Video image components are provided and comprise a light source, a mirror; and a video camera. The video image components are capable of generating an image of an eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest. Eye fixation components generate a target that the eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest can view. The eye fixation components comprise a fixation target, a light source, a lens, and a mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Neil Zepkin, Edward Poppeliers, John Alfred Campin
  • Patent number: 6460997
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining aberrations of an eye includes a patient head rest allowing for positioning adjustment. The patient head rest is operable with an optical table having a base. The base includes a probe beam generating apparatus, probe beam directing optics which itself comprises a beam splitter; a mirror; and a lens. The probe beam directing optics is capable of directing a probe beam toward an eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest. Video image components are provided and comprise a light source, a mirror; and a video camera. The video image components are capable of generating an image of an eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest. Eye fixation components generate a target that the eye of a patient positioned on the patient head rest can view. The eye fixation components comprise a fixation target, a light source, a lens, and a mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Alcon Universal Ltd.
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Neil Zepkin, Edward Poppeliers, John Alfred Campin
  • Patent number: 6451008
    Abstract: A surface treatment laser beam delivery and tracking system is provided. The laser generates laser light along a original beam path at an energy level suitable for treating (e.g., eroding) a surface. An optical translator shifts the original beam path onto a resulting beam path. An optical angle adjuster changes the angle of the resulting beam path relative to the original beam path such that the laser light is incident on, and spatially distributed, the surface to be treated. A motion sensor transmits light energy to the surface and receives reflected light energy from the surface via the optical angle adjuster. The light energy transmitted by the motion sensor travels on a path that is parallel to the shifted beam as they travel through the optical angle adjuster. The reflected light energy is used by the motion sensor to detect movement of the surface relative to the original beam path and generate error control signals indicative of the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
  • Publication number: 20020013577
    Abstract: A surface treatment laser beam delivery and tracking system is provided. The laser generates laser light along a original beam path at an energy level suitable for treating (e.g., eroding) a surface. An optical translator shifts the original beam path onto a resulting beam path. An optical angle adjuster changes the angle of the resulting beam path relative to the original beam path such that the laser light is incident on, and spatially distributed, the surface to be treated. A motion sensor transmits light energy to the surface and receives reflected light energy from the surface via the optical angle adjuster. The light energy transmitted by the motion sensor travels on a path that is parallel to the shifted beam as they travel through the optical angle adjuster. The reflected light energy is used by the motion sensor to detect movement of the surface relative to the original beam path and generate error control signals indicative of the movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, John E. McWhirter
  • Publication number: 20010041884
    Abstract: A method for enhancing vision of an eye includes a laser delivery system having a laser beam for ablating corneal material from the cornea of the eye. Measurements are made to determine an optical path difference between a plane wave and a wavefront emanating from the retina of the eye for a location at a surface of the cornea. An optical correction is provided to the laser delivery system for the location based on the optical path difference and refractive indices of media through which the wavefront passes. The optical correction includes dividing the optical path difference by a difference between an index of refraction of corneal material and an index of refraction of air. The laser beam is directed to the location on the surface of the cornea and corneal material ablated at the location in response to the optical correction to cause the wavefront to approximate the shape of the plane wave at that location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Neil Zepkin, Edward Poppeliers, John Alfred Campin