Patents by Inventor Tammo Heeren

Tammo Heeren 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: 10460457
    Abstract: Image parameters of an overlay image may be adjusted based on image parameters of an optical image displayed in a surgical microscope. The overlay image may then be displayed with the optical image to a user of the surgical microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Tammo Heeren
  • Publication number: 20190307523
    Abstract: A surgical probe system comprising a surgical probe having an instrument tip, and at least one motion sensor located within the surgical probe that measures movement and orientation data. The system further includes a processor that is configured to determine movement and orientation of the instrument tip based on the movement and orientation data, and adjust at least one surgical parameter of the surgical probe based on the movement and orientation of the instrument tip to affect a predetermined surgical outcome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Steven T. Charles, Tammo Heeren
  • Patent number: 10409051
    Abstract: A method and system for extracting the zoom level of a microscope is disclosed. The method includes capturing a reference image; recording a first zoom level corresponding to a first magnification at which the reference image is captured; capturing a second image; determining a second zoom level by comparing the second image and the reference image, the second zoom level corresponding to a second magnification at which the second image is captured; and recording the second zoom level at a location accessible by a microscope application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Hugang Ren, Lingfeng Yu, Tammo Heeren
  • Patent number: 10376328
    Abstract: A surgical probe system comprising a surgical probe having an instrument tip, and at least one motion sensor located within the surgical probe that measures movement and orientation data. The system further includes a processor that is configured to determine movement and orientation of the instrument tip based on the movement and orientation data, and adjust at least one surgical parameter of the surgical probe based on the movement and orientation of the instrument tip to affect a predetermined surgical outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Steven T. Charles, Tammo Heeren
  • Publication number: 20190212533
    Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical microscope includes a beam coupler positioned along an optical path of the surgical microscope between a first eyepiece and magnifying/focusing optics, the beam coupler operable to direct the OCT imaging beam along a first portion of the optical path of the surgical microscope between the beam coupler and a patient's eye (an OCT image being generated based on a reflected portion of the OCT imaging beam). The surgical microscope additionally includes a real-time data projection unit operable to project the OCT image generated by the OCT system and a beam splitter positioned along the optical path of the surgical microscope between a second eyepiece and the magnifying/focusing optics. The beam splitter is operable to direct the projected OCT image along a second portion of the optical path of the surgical microscope between the beam splitter and the second eyepiece such that the projected OCT image is viewable through the second eyepiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: TAMMO HEEREN, HUGANG REN, VADIM SHOFMAN, LINGFENG YU
  • Patent number: 10285588
    Abstract: An indirect contact lens is mechanically coupled to a surgical microscope during ophthalmic surgery, such as vitreoretinal surgery. The indirect contact lens rests on a cornea of an eye of a patient during the surgery but is supported by a surgical microscope attachment having multiple degrees of freedom to accommodate small movements of the eye while remaining aligned to an optical axis of the surgical microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Ron Smith, Tammo Heeren, Steve Charles
  • Publication number: 20190125182
    Abstract: OCT-display for vitreoretinal surgery may be foot pedal controlled. Specifically, the tissue layers displayed in an en face image generated from OCT scanning may be navigated downward or upward based on user input supplied by a foot pedal device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: STEVEN T. CHARLES, TAMMO HEEREN
  • Patent number: 10137034
    Abstract: A vitrectomy surgical system is disclosed herein. The surgical system includes a vitrectomy probe having a cutting portion comprising an inner cutting tube, an outer cutting tube, and an outer port. The inner cutting tube is movable relative to the outer cutting tube to cut vitreous humor during a vitrectomy procedure. The surgical system further includes a motor configured to move the inner cutting tube relative to the outer cutting tube and one or more pressure sensors coupled to the vitrectomy probe to measure a pressure proximate to a distal portion of the vitrectomy probe and provide pressure feedback. Related systems and methods are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Tammo Heeren
  • Publication number: 20180311074
    Abstract: A surgical probe (e.g., for treating an eye of a patient) includes a body, a cutting element extending distally from the body including a sleeve member comprising a port at an end, and an inner member disposed within the sleeve member, the inner member being movable (e.g., axially) with respect to the sleeve member to open and close the port. The probe further includes an illumination element disposed within the sleeve member, the illumination element configured to project light out of the port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventor: Tammo Heeren
  • Patent number: 10070988
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visualizing moving tissue with strobed light are provided. A surgical system includes a surgical device configured to operate on anatomy at a first frequency such that the anatomy moves at the first frequency when the surgical device is in contact therewith; and a light source configured to provide pulses of light at a second frequency to illuminate the moving anatomy; wherein the second frequency is different than the first frequency. A method of treating an ophthalmic condition includes operating a surgical device at a first frequency such that anatomy moves at the first frequency when the surgical device is contacted therewith; and controlling a light source to provide pulses of light at a second frequency to illuminate the moving anatomy; wherein the second frequency is different than the first frequency. An ophthalmic surgical system includes a cutting probe, a strobed light source, and a computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Brian William McDonell, Tammo Heeren
  • Patent number: 10039669
    Abstract: A surgical probe (e.g., for treating an eye of a patient) includes a body, a cutting element extending distally from the body including a sleeve member comprising a port at an end, and an inner member disposed within the sleeve member, the inner member being movable (e.g., axially) with respect to the sleeve member to open and close the port. The probe further includes an illumination element disposed within the sleeve member, the illumination element configured to project light out of the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Tammo Heeren
  • Patent number: 10022187
    Abstract: An optical light scanning probe is presented, the probe comprising a handle, shaped for grasping by a user; a cannula, protruding from a distal portion of the handle with an outer diameter smaller than 20 gauge; an optical fiber with a distal fiber-portion off a probe-axis, configured to receive a light from a light-source at a proximal fiber-portion, and to emit the received light at the distal fiber-portion; a fixed beam forming unit, disposed at a distal portion of the cannula, configured to receive the light from the distal fiber-portion, and to deflect the received light toward a target region; and a fiber actuator, housed at least partially in the handle, configured to move the distal fiber-portion to scan the deflected light along a scanning curve in the target region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Kambiz Parto, Barry Wheatley, Edouard Schmidtlin, Tammo Heeren, Mauricio Jochinsen, Lingfeng Yu
  • Patent number: 9999350
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for glare reduction in surgical microscopy are provided. A method of operating a surgical microscope may include: receiving light reflected from the surgical field at an image sensor; processing the received light to generate image data; identifying portions of the image data representative of glare; and controlling an optical element to limit the transmission of light associated with the glare. A surgical microscope may include: an image sensor configured to receive light reflected from the surgical field, a computing device, and an optical element. The computing device may be configured to: identify portions of the light received at the image sensor associated with glare and generate a control signal to limit the transmission of the light associated with the glare. The optical element may be configured to selectively limit the transmission of the light associated with the glare in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Tammo Heeren
  • Publication number: 20180103844
    Abstract: An indirect contact lens is mechanically coupled to a surgical microscope during ophthalmic surgery, such as vitreoretinal surgery. The indirect contact lens rests on a cornea of an eye of a patient during the surgery but is supported by a surgical microscope attachment having multiple degrees of freedom to accommodate small movements of the eye while remaining aligned to an optical axis of the surgical microscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Ron Smith, Tammo Heeren, Steve Charles
  • Publication number: 20180055592
    Abstract: A surgical probe system comprising a surgical probe having an instrument tip, and at least one motion sensor located within the surgical probe that measures movement and orientation data. The system further includes a processor that is configured to determine movement and orientation of the instrument tip based on the movement and orientation data, and adjust at least one surgical parameter of the surgical probe based on the movement and orientation of the instrument tip to affect a predetermined surgical outcome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Steven T. Charles, Tammo Heeren
  • Publication number: 20180045927
    Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical microscope includes a beam coupler positioned along an optical path of the surgical microscope between a first eyepiece and magnifying/focusing optics, the beam coupler operable to direct the OCT imaging beam along a first portion of the optical path of the surgical microscope between the beam coupler and a patient's eye (an OCT image being generated based on a reflected portion of the OCT imaging beam). The surgical microscope additionally includes a real-time data projection unit operable to project the OCT image generated by the OCT system and a beam splitter positioned along the optical path of the surgical microscope between a second eyepiece and the magnifying/focusing optics. The beam splitter is operable to direct the projected OCT image along a second portion of the optical path of the surgical microscope between the beam splitter and the second eyepiece such that the projected OCT image is viewable through the second eyepiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: TAMMO HEEREN, HUGANG REN, VADIM SHOFMAN, LINGFENG YU
  • Publication number: 20180039060
    Abstract: A method and system for extracting the zoom level of a microscope is disclosed. The method includes capturing a reference image; recording a first zoom level corresponding to a first magnification at which the reference image is captured; capturing a second image; determining a second zoom level by comparing the second image and the reference image, the second zoom level corresponding to a second magnification at which the second image is captured; and recording the second zoom level at a location accessible by a microscope application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Hugang Ren, Lingfeng Yu, Tammo Heeren
  • Publication number: 20180028354
    Abstract: A method and system perform an ophthalmic procedure on an eye having an optical path from the lens to the retina. An image of at least part of the eye is received in a data processing unit. The image includes the optical path. The data processing unit determines keep out zone(s) and identifies undesirable feature(s) based on the image. The keep out zone(s) include the retina. The data processing unit also selects one of the undesirable feature(s) for removal. At least part of the undesirable feature is outside of the keep out zone(s). Confirmation for removal of the undesirable feature is received in the data processing unit. In response to receiving the confirmation, a control unit controls a laser to perform laser removal the at least the portion of the undesirable feature without targeting any portion of the keep out zone(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: TAMMO HEEREN
  • Publication number: 20180018780
    Abstract: Image parameters of an overlay image may be adjusted based on image parameters of an optical image displayed in a surgical microscope. The overlay image may then be displayed with the optical image to a user of the surgical microscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventor: Tammo Heeren
  • Patent number: 9854969
    Abstract: An indirect contact lens is mechanically coupled to a surgical microscope during ophthalmic surgery, such as vitreoretinal surgery. The indirect contact lens rests on a cornea of an eye of a patient during the surgery but is supported by a surgical microscope attachment having multiple degrees of freedom to accommodate small movements of the eye while remaining aligned to an optical axis of the surgical microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: NOVARTIS AG
    Inventors: Ron Smith, Tammo Heeren, Steve Charles