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).
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Publication number: 20010041884Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: November 15, 2001Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Neil Zepkin, Edward Poppeliers, John Alfred Campin
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Patent number: 6315773Abstract: A method and system are provided for sensing eye motion, such as saccadic eye motion, in a non-intrusive fashion. An optical delivery arrangement converts a laser beam pulse into a plurality of light spots. The light spots are focused such that they are incident on a corresponding plurality of positions located on a boundary whose movement is coincident with that of eye motion. The boundary can be defined by two visually adjoining surfaces having different coefficients of reflection. Energy is reflected from each of the positions located on the boundary receiving the light spots. An optical receiving arrangement detects the reflected energy from each of the positions. Changes in reflected energy at one or more of the positions is indicative of eye motion.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1997Date of Patent: November 13, 2001Assignee: Autonomous Technologies CorporationInventors: Rudolph W. Frey, John E. McWhirter, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr.
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Publication number: 20010031958Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: October 18, 2001Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, John E. McWhirter
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Patent number: 6302879Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 6, 1998Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Assignee: Autonomous Technologies Corp.Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
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Publication number: 20010025172Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: September 27, 2001Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, John E. McWhirter
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Publication number: 20010021846Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: September 13, 2001Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, John E. McWhirter
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Publication number: 20010016734Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: August 23, 2001Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, John E. McWhirter
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Publication number: 20010016733Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: August 23, 2001Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, John E. McWhirter
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Publication number: 20010016735Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: August 23, 2001Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, John E. McWhirter
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Publication number: 20010016737Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: August 23, 2001Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, John E. McWhirter
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Patent number: 6271914Abstract: Vision in an eye is corrected using an energy source for generating a beam of optical radiation and focusing optics disposed in the path of the beam for directing the beam through the eye, where the beam is reflected back from the retina of the eye as a wavefront of radiation to be measured. An optical correction based on an optical path difference between the measured wavefront and a desired plane wave, and refractive indices of the media through which the wavefront passes is provided to a laser delivery system with a laser beam sufficient for ablating corneal material from the cornea of the eye. The laser beam is directed at selected locations on the cornea for ablating the corneal material in response to the optical correction to cause the measured wavefront to approximate the desired plane wave, and thus provide an optical correction.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2000Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: Autonomous Technologies CorporationInventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Neil Zepkin, Edward Poppeliers, John A. Campin
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Patent number: 6271915Abstract: Vision in an eye is corrected using an energy source for generating a beam of optical radiation and focusing optics disposed in the path of the beam for directing the beam through the eye, where the beam is reflected back from the retina of the eye as a wavefront of radiation to be measured. An optical correction based on an optical path difference between the measured wavefront and a desired plane wave, and refractive indices of the media through which the wavefront passes is provided to a laser delivery system with a laser beam sufficient for ablating corneal material from the cornea of the eye. The laser beam is directed at selected locations on the cornea for ablating the corneal material in response to the optical correction to cause the measured wavefront to approximate the desired plane wave, and thus provide an optical correction.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2000Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: Autonomous Technologies CorporationInventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Neil Zepkin, Edward Poppeliers, John A. Campin
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Patent number: 6261220Abstract: A method and system are provided for eroding or ablating a shaped volume of an eye's corneal tissue in accordance with the treatment of a specified eye condition. To determine the laser beam shot pattern, a plurality of laser beam shots of uniform intensity are first selected to form a uniform shot pattern of uniform shot density. The laser beam shots applied in accordance with the uniform shot pattern of uniform shot density would be capable of eroding a volume of the corneal tissue of uniform height. The volume of uniform height is approximately equivalent to that of the shaped volume. The laser beam shots are applied to the corneal tissue in a spatially distributed pattern spread over an area approximately equivalent to the surface area of the shaped volume to be eroded. The spatially distributed pattern extends the uniform shot pattern in fixed angles from a reference position on the shaped volume representative of the shaped volume's axis of symmetry.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1998Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: Autonomous Technologies CorporationInventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray
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Patent number: 6190375Abstract: A system and method for performing a reshaping of a cornea of an eye for improved vision is presented. The system comprises a first appartus for determining dark adapted pupil size of an eye and a second apparatus for reshaping a cornea of the eye in an area approximately equal to the dark adapted pupil size as determined by the first apparatus. The method of the present invention involves dilating the pupil of an eye to its dark adapted size, determining the diameter of the dilated pupil, and ablating the cornea of the eye to match the dilated pupil size. The advantage to using such a system and method when reshaping a cornea of an eye is reduced halo effect or improved night vision.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1999Date of Patent: February 20, 2001Assignee: Autonomous Technologies CorporationInventor: Rudolph W. Frey
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Patent number: 6055259Abstract: A new cartridge excimer laser system and method for generating an excimer laser beam using the system are provided. The system utilizes a cartridge (10) which contains a halogen-noble gas mixture (19), electrodes (50, 60) having external electrical connections (30, 40), and assembly (20) for transmitting a laser beam output (400), and an external gas port (90). The cartridge (10) fits onto a receptacle (100) located within a receiving compartment (200) of the laser base (300) of the new system. The cartridge (10) is easily replaced by the system operator and is refurbished by the manufacturer when the gas mixture (19) therein is exhausted.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1998Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: Autonomous Technologies CorporationInventors: Rudolph W. Frey, Philip D. Bolen
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Patent number: 6027494Abstract: A system and method for performing a reshaping of a cornea of an eye for improved vision is presented. The system comprises a first appartus for determining dark adapted pupil size of an eye and a second apparatus for reshaping a cornea of the eye in an area approximately equal to the dark adapted pupil size as determined by the first apparatus. The method of the present invention involves dilating the pupil of an eye to its dark adapted size, determining the diameter of the dilated pupil, and ablating the cornea of the eye to match the dilated pupil size. The advantage to using such a system and method when reshaping a cornea of an eye is reduced halo effect or improved night vision.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1997Date of Patent: February 22, 2000Assignee: Autonomous Technologies CorporationInventor: Rudolph W. Frey
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Patent number: 5980513Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 25, 1994Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Assignee: Autonomous Technologies Corp.Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr., John E. McWhirter
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Patent number: 5849006Abstract: A method and system are provided for eroding or ablating a shaped volume of an eye's corneal tissue in accordance with the treatment of a specified eye condition. To determine the laser beam shot pattern, a plurality of laser beam shots of uniform intensity are first selected to form a uniform shot pattern of uniform shot density. The laser beam shots applied in accordance with the uniform shot pattern of uniform shot density would be capable of eroding a volume of the corneal tissue of uniform height. The volume of uniform height is approximately equivalent to that of the shaped volume. The laser beam shots are applied to the corneal tissue in a spatially distributed pattern spread over an area approximately equivalent to the surface area of the shaped volume to be eroded. The spatially distributed pattern extends the uniform shot pattern in fixed angles from a reference position on the shaped volume representative of the shaped volume's axis of symmetry.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1994Date of Patent: December 15, 1998Assignee: Autonomous Technologies CorporationInventors: Rudolph W. Frey, James H. Burkhalter, Gary P. Gray
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Patent number: 5828686Abstract: A new cartridge excimer laser system and method for generating an excimer laser beam using the system are provided. The system utilizes a cartridge (10) which contains a halogen-noble gas mixture (19), electrodes (50, 60) having external electrical connections (30, 40), and assembly (20) for transmitting a laser beam output (400), and an external gas port (90). The cartridge (10) fits onto a receptacle (100) located within a receiving compartment (200) of the laser base (300) of the new system. The cartridge (10) is easily replaced by the system operator and is refurbished by the manufacturer when the gas mixture (19) therein is exhausted.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1997Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Assignee: Autonomous Technologies Inc.Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, Philip D. Bolen
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Patent number: 5752950Abstract: A system is provided for use with an ophthalmic treatment laser that produces a treatment laser beam. The system automatically inhibits transmission of the treatment laser beam when a threshold amount of eye movement is detected. An eye movement sensor determines measurable amounts of eye movement such as saccadic eye movement. The eye movement sensor generates light energy that is eye safe, focuses the light energy on the eye, and detects energy reflected from the eye due to the incident light energy. The eye movement sensor determines the measurable amount of eye movement based on changes in the reflected energy. A dichroic beamsplitter is optically disposed between the ophthalmic treatment laser and the eye to direct the treatment laser beam to the eye. The beamsplitter is also optically disposed between the eye movement sensor and the eye to direct the sensor's light energy to the eye and the resulting reflected energy back to the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1995Date of Patent: May 19, 1998Assignee: Autonomous Technologies Corp.Inventors: Rudolph W. Frey, Neil Zepkin, George Richard Downes, Jr.