Patents by Inventor Stephen L. Trokel

Stephen L. Trokel 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: 20120289886
    Abstract: Devices and approaches for activating cross-linking within at least one eye component of an eye to stabilize and strengthen corneal tissue or other tissues of the eye. Cross-linking is activated within the at least one eye component by conveying a cross-linking agent to regions of the at least one eye component and then activating the cross-linking agent by delivering an initiating element to the at least one eye component. Approaches disclosed herein allow for precisely controlling the three dimensional region of strengthened tissue by conveying the cross-linking agent to regions of the at least one eye component. Approaches allow for conveying the cross-linking agent to a depth below the corneal surface such that cross-linking is activated below the corneal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: Avedro, Inc.
    Inventors: David Muller, John Marshall, Stephen L. Trokel, Peter Hersh, Pavel Kamaev
  • Publication number: 20110288466
    Abstract: Devices and approaches for activating cross-linking within at least one eye component of an eye to stabilize and strengthen corneal tissue or other tissues of the eye. Cross-linking is activated within the at least one eye component by conveying a cross-linking agent to regions of the at least one eye component and then activating the cross-linking agent by delivering an initiating element to the at least one eye component. Approaches disclosed herein allow for precisely controlling the three dimensional region of strengthened tissue by conveying the cross-linking agent to regions of the at least one eye component. Approaches allow for conveying the cross-linking agent to a depth below the corneal surface such that cross-linking is activated below the corneal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: AVEDRO, INC.
    Inventors: David Muller, John Marshall, Stephen L. Trokel, Peter Hersh, Pavel Kamaev
  • Publication number: 20110280763
    Abstract: The present invention relates to ultraviolet light-activated disinfectants, and more particularly to a light-activated disinfection system for contact lens disinfection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: Abbott Medical Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen L. Trokel, Leonard Borrmann, Chris A. Muller, Nicole Bradley
  • Patent number: 5592247
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring visual function under simulated nighttime conditions where the pupil is large by maintaining extremely low ambient illumination when the test is performed in a darkened room, the apparatus including a test field defining a plurality of recognizable indicia of variable irradiance which appear on a black background having zero irradiance or which indicia are completely black and surrounded by a bright background of variable irradiance, the test field being either illuminated by projection or transilluminated, and a field stop having a plurality of apertures of progressive sizes which are placed in front of the eye of the person being tested to ascertain the true functional optical zone of the cornea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: Stephen L. Trokel
  • Patent number: 5471262
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring visual function under simulated nighttime conditions where the pupil is large by maintaining extremely low ambient illumination when the test is performed in a darkened room, the apparatus including a test field defining a plurality of recognizable indicia of variable irradiance which appear on a black background having zero irradiance, the test field being either transilluminated or illuminated by projection, and a field stop having a plurality of apertures of progressive sizes which are placed in front of the eye of the person being tested to ascertain the true functional optical zone of the cornea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Inventor: Stephen L. Trokel
  • Patent number: 5279611
    Abstract: A method for modification of the corneal surface, in which a gel is applied to the cornea and molded in situ to create an ablation mask. This ablation mask has a posterior surface substantially identical to that of the surface to be treated. A shaping means (such as a contact lens) having a posterior curvature corresponding to the desired final profile of the cornea is superimposed on the gel prior to the setting of the gel; the anterior curvature of the ablation mask is equal to that of the posterior curvature of the shaping means. The gel has essentially the identical ablation properties of the cornea, which is generally not the case when other non-biological materials (such as plastics materials) are used. A preferred gel for use in forming the ablation mask is collagen gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Inventors: Peter J. McDonnell, Stephen L. Trokel
  • Patent number: 5108388
    Abstract: An argon-flouride excimer laser or other laser source capable of generating far-ultraviolet radiation at 193 nm is pulsed with energy densities of greater than 20 mj per cm.sup.2 at a repetition rate up to 25 pulses per second to direct its radiation through a mask and onto corneal tissue, or other biological matter, to form a groove therein of predetermined configuration and depth by a process of ablative photodecomposition. The masks are formed with a slit, circular, crescent or other openings of widths between 30 and 800 microns, and may even be formed to provide a graded intensity center to edge. The mask is reflective or composed of or faced with an organic polymer to prevent heat build-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Visx, Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen L. Trokel
  • Patent number: 4638801
    Abstract: An ophthalmic slit lamp is modified by adding a laser to it to be used for microsurgery. The laser is mounted on the lamp so its beam is projected into the eye along one axis while the normal viewing image generated by the lamp is focused into the eye from another angle. An aiming image is focused into the eye coincidentally with the laser beam so that the distance between the two images and their relative position may be determined by their apparent positions as seen from the viewing binoculars of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Lasers for Medicine
    Inventors: Richard T. Daly, Stephen L. Trokel
  • Patent number: 4052985
    Abstract: An apparatus for administering a fine mist of an ophthalmic solution to the eyeball of a human. The apparatus is a spray applicator which features the provision of a baffle in the lower portion of an eyecup. The baffle is spaced from the inner surface of the eyecup, with the lateral ends or the entire lower periphery of the baffle being attached to the inner surface of the eyecup. A container such as an aerosol can or plastic squeeze bottle holding the ophthalmic solution is provided, together with ancillary elements to transmit the solution, so that the ophthalmic solution can be projected at will, i.e. when the eyecup is emplaced over an eyeball, into the lower portion of the eyecup opposite the baffle, so that the solution impinges on the baffle rather than directly impinging on the eyeball, the solution thus being effectively dispersed into a mist of small droplets within the eyecup, which mist thus uniformly and gently coats the outer surface of the eyeball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1977
    Inventors: D. Jackson Coleman, Stephen L. Trokel