Patents by Inventor Stephen A. Burns

Stephen A. Burns 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: 6640124
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for separating light remitted by a target into a directly scattered light component and at least one multiply scattered light component, detecting the components at least substantially simultaneously, and forming independent sets of image information from each component. The apparatus and the method can be employed in conjunction with techniques such as scanning and tomography to attain precise imaging of biological tissue, including the retina of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: The Schepens Eye Research Institute
    Inventors: Ann E. Elsner, Stephen A. Burns, Andreas W. Dreher, Robert H. Webb
  • Patent number: 6486943
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for determining a characteristic of an optical element. The apparatus includes a spatial light pattern generator adapted to generate a beam of light at a predetermined spatial position, at least one lenslet disposed in an array of lenslets adapted to receive the beam of light from the spatial light pattern generator, and to direct the beam of light to the optical element. The apparatus further includes a detector positioned to receive the beam of light subsequent to the beam of light encountering the optical element. The detector is adapted to detect a received spatial position at which the detector receives the beam of light. The apparatus also includes a processor adapted to compare the predetermined spatial position with the received spatial position to determine the characteristic of the optical element. The invention further relates to methods and apparatus for generating a diffraction limited image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: The Schepens Eye Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Burns, Robert H. Webb
  • Publication number: 20020101566
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for separating light remitted by a target into a directly scattered light component and at least one multiply scattered light component, detecting the components at least substantially simultaneously, and forming independent sets of image information from each component. The apparatus and the method can be employed in conjunction with techniques such as scanning and tomography to attain precise imaging of biological tissue, including the retina of the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Ann E. Elsner, Stephen A. Burns, Andreas W. Dreher, Robert H. Webb
  • Patent number: 6099125
    Abstract: A refractometer provides a reference path coaxial with a measurement path and thereby simplifies construction by reducing the number of parts and simplifies maintenance by halving the number of optical axes to be aligned. The refractometer includes a reference projector for projecting a reference pattern on a reference pattern position on a detector during a reference interval, a site-selector for selecting a measurement site on an optical system, and a measurement projector for projecting a measurement pattern through this selected measurement site and onto a measurement pattern position on the detector during a measurement interval. The reference projector, the site selector, and the measurement projector are all aligned along the same optical axis. In the case in which the optical system is a human eye, the designated site in typically a site on the cornea and the detector is the retina of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Schepens Eye Research Foundation
    Inventors: Robert H. Webb, Stephen A. Burns, Carl Murray Penney
  • Patent number: 6000800
    Abstract: A refractometer provides a reference path coaxial with a measurement path and thereby simplifies construction by reducing the number of parts and simplifies maintenance by halving the number of optical axes to be aligned. The refractometer includes a reference projector for projecting a reference pattern on a reference pattern position on a detector during a reference interval, a site-selector for selecting a measurement site on an optical system, and a measurement projector for projecting a measurement pattern through this selected measurement site and onto a measurement pattern position on the detector during a measurement interval. The reference projector, the site selector, and the measurement projector are all aligned along the same optical axis. In the case in which the optical system is a human eye, the designated site in typically a site on the cornea and the detector is the retina of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Schepens Eye Research Institute
    Inventors: Robert H. Webb, Stephen A. Burns, Carl Murray Penney