Patents by Inventor Vincent A. Baxter

Vincent A. Baxter 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: 20250135083
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for sensing fluid pressure in a surgical cassette is provided. The sensor assembly includes a tubing having a first portion and a second portion, a follower assembly operable to engage with a retaining ring of the surgical cassette coupled to the first portion, a collar on the second portion of the tubing operable to fit into a bearing of a pump head of a fluid pump assembly within a surgical console operable to receive the surgical cassette, and a biasing element between the follower assembly and the collar operable to apply a biasing force to the follower assembly to engage the follower with the surgical cassette. The follower assembly includes a follower coupled to a cup and a sensor component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2024
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventor: Vincent A. BAXTER
  • Publication number: 20250135088
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical cassette including pump assemblies with improved contact between a displacement sensor disposed within a surgical console and a diaphragm disposed within the surgical cassette. Each pump assembly includes a diaphragm retainer ring that provides a sufficient creepage and clearance margin, acts as a lead-in for the displacement sensor, assists in preventing misalignment, and provides robustness for the ultrasonic welding process which couples the diaphragm retainer ring to the surgical console. The diaphragm retainer ring is impregnated with a lubricant so to facilitate seating of the displacement sensor with the cassette. A cantilever portion of the diaphragm retainer ring increases a creepage and clearance margin, as well as increases overall part strength in the event of a collision with the displacement sensor and during ultrasonic welding. An insulator is also provided that further increases the creepage and clearance margin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2024
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventors: Steven Benjamin ROLL, Behzad HASHEMI, Dienhung Dao PHAN, Brad Hua CHEN, Brian William MCDONELL, Jiansheng ZHOU, Roderick S. VAN, Vincent A. BAXTER
  • Publication number: 20250135095
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a compression system including a squeeze plate, a linkage assembly, and a drive assembly. The squeeze plate is configured to engage with a fluid bag. The linkage assembly comprises a plurality of brackets each coupled to a plurality of linkage sets, where actuation of the linkage assembly causes lateral translation of the squeeze plate. The drive assembly comprises a lead screw disposed through each of the plurality of brackets, an actuator configured to rotate the lead screw to actuate the drive assembly, and a nut assembly coupled to the lead screw and at least one of the plurality of brackets, where the nut assembly is configured to provide a biasing force to maintain a target range of pressure on the fluid bag if the actuator fails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2024
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventors: Vincent A. BAXTER, Justin PRATT
  • Publication number: 20250135086
    Abstract: Certain embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical cassette including a housing, one or more retaining rings coupled to the housing, and one or more valve assemblies coupled to the housing by the one or more retaining rings. The one or more valve assemblies configured to control fluid communication between one or more channels within the housing. Each valve assembly includes a valve body having a first end with a first shoulder, a second end with a second shoulder, a cylindrical surface connecting the first shoulder and second shoulder, and an upper valve elastomer. The upper valve elastomer includes a first side configured to engage with the first shoulder of the valve body and a second side configured to engage with the retaining ring to facilitate a fluidic seal at a base of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2024
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventors: Behzad HASHEMI, Ali NIKKHAH, Steven Benjamin ROLL, Ming LU, Vincent A. BAXTER
  • Publication number: 20250135089
    Abstract: A back-up infusion pressure sensor module for use in an ophthalmic surgical console includes a squeeze plate configured to engage with a fluid bag. The back-up infusion pressure sensor module further includes a pressure sensor assembly, having a sensor door and a sensor frame, wherein the sensor door pivots relative to a pin coupled to a top portion of the pressure sensor assembly, configured to cause the sensor door to be biased towards the fluid bag. The pressure sensor assembly comprises a base mounted to the back side of the sensor frame of the pressure sensor assembly, one or more springs, a spring bracket coupled to the one or more springs, and a force sensor in contact with the spring bracket, configured to determine a pressure force against the fluid bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2024
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventor: Vincent A. BAXTER
  • Publication number: 20250135085
    Abstract: Certain embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical cassette including a housing, one or more retaining rings coupled to the housing, and one or more valve assemblies coupled to the housing by the one or more retaining rings. The one or more valve assemblies configured to control fluid communication between one or more channels within the housing. Each valve assembly includes a valve body having a first end, a second end, a cylindrical surface connecting the first end and second end, and a valve elastomer. The valve elastomer includes a first side configured to couple the valve elastomer to the second end of the valve body and a second side having a recessed surface configured to engage with the housing to form a seal with a base of the housing and reduce mechanical stress across the valve elastomer during rotation of the valve assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2024
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventors: Behzad HASHEMI, Ming LU, Brad Hua CHEN, Steven Benjamin ROLL, Vincent A. BAXTER
  • Patent number: 12275632
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing fluids is introduced. A preferred embodiment comprises a sealed tank, a bag containing fluid inside the sealed tank, an outlet for dispensing the liquid in the bag, and a pressure generating device to create pressure in the sealed tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: fairlife, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Peter Doelman, Vincent A. Baxter
  • Publication number: 20250114512
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a clamp assembly for engaging a surgical cassette with an ophthalmic surgical console. The clamp assembly includes a motion plate and a plurality of clamp mechanisms coupled to the motion plate. A plurality of bases which remain in a fixed position are also coupled to each of the plurality of clamp mechanisms and to a face plate portion of a fluidics subsystem of the ophthalmic surgical console. A motion plate motor is provided which serves to move the motion plate in a vertical direction relative to the face plate. As the motion plate is vertically displaced, the clamp mechanisms coupled thereto are opened and expanded into the surgical cassette, thereby pressing it against the face plate and ensuring any connections and seals between the face plate and the surgical cassette are established and maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2024
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventor: Vincent A. Baxter
  • Publication number: 20250025618
    Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a surgical cassette for an ophthalmic surgical system comprises an irrigation conduit that is in fluid communication with a handpiece and carries fluid toward a surgical site. An aspiration conduit is in fluid communication with the handpiece and carries fluid away from the surgical site. An aspiration pump creates a vacuum pressure in the aspiration conduit to draw fluid through the aspiration conduit towards a drain reservoir. A reservoir couples with a pressure-vacuum source to manage the reservoir pressure. A valve is in fluid communication with the aspiration conduit and the reservoir, and provides one or more channels between the aspiration conduit and the reservoir. Each sensor detects a pressure associated with the surgical site. A computer controls the valve in response to the pressure detected by the one or more pressure sensors to mitigate a pressure or volume change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Vincent A. Baxter, David Dyk, Satish Yalamanchili, Raphael Gordon
  • Publication number: 20250025623
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical cassette that functions as an interface between a patient and a surgical console used to perform a variety of different ophthalmic surgeries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Vincent A. BAXTER, Brad Hua CHEN, Satish YALAMANCHILI, Brian William MCDONELL
  • Publication number: 20250025616
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical cassette including a housing having a base and a cover coupled to the base, wherein the cover and the base each at least partially define one or more channels. The housing further includes a plurality of ports formed in the base and in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more channels, a plurality of bores formed in the base and configured to receive one of a plurality of valve assemblies, and at least one pump landing formed in the base and configured to receive at least one pump assembly. A plurality of valve assemblies is disposed within the plurality of bores and configured to control fluid flow in the one or more channels of the housing. At least one pump assembly is disposed within the at least one pump landing and configured to provide a source of pressure or vacuum to the one or more channels of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Vincent A. BAXTER, Satish YALAMANCHILI, David DYK, Brian William MCDONELL, Shawn X. GAO, Brad Hua CHEN, Behzad HASHEMI
  • Patent number: 12173703
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a surgical cassette configured to engage a first plurality of rollers of a first roller head. The cassette comprises a face coupled to a first substrate, the face being at a first angle with respect to the first roller head's axis of rotation and a wall of first substrate being at a second angle with respect to the axis of rotation, wherein the first angle is different from the second angle. The cassette also comprises a first sheet positioned on the wall's surface, wherein the first sheet and the wall form first one or more pump segments configured to engage the first plurality of rollers in a position where force applied by each one of the first plurality of rollers on the first one or more pump segments has a direction that is not parallel to the first roller head's axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Yin Chen, Eric Lee, Gary P. Sorensen, Vincent A. Baxter
  • Patent number: 12144920
    Abstract: A surgical cassette for an ophthalmic surgical system includes an irrigation conduit that is in fluid communication with a handpiece and carries fluid toward a surgical site. An aspiration conduit is in fluid communication with the handpiece and carries fluid away from the surgical site. An aspiration pump creates a vacuum pressure in the aspiration conduit to draw fluid through the aspiration conduit towards a drain reservoir. A reservoir couples with a pressure-vacuum source to manage the reservoir pressure. A valve is in fluid communication with the aspiration conduit and the reservoir and provides one or more channels between the aspiration conduit and the reservoir. One or more pressure sensors detect a pressure associated with the surgical site. A computer controls the valve in response to the pressure detected by the one or more pressure sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent A. Baxter, David Dyk, Satish Yalamanchili, Raphael Gordon
  • Patent number: 12070417
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for measuring fluid pressure in an ophthalmic surgical system. An example system comprises a fluid flow path and a pressure sensor system for measuring pressure in the fluid flow path. The pressure sensor system comprises a conductive, movable diaphragm having a first side and a second side, the first side of the diaphragm facing the fluid flow path, and an eddy current position sensor positioned on the second side of the diaphragm without contacting the diaphragm. The eddy current position sensor comprises a position sensor coil activatable by high frequency alternating current and signal conditioning electronics capable of sensing inductance or impedance or resonant frequency variation in the position sensor coil as a gap between the diaphragm and the position sensor coil changes and of translating that variation into a displacement signal correlated to fluid pressure. A method of measuring fluid pressure may be performed using one or more of the systems described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn X. Gao, Ivan Milutinovic, Roderick S. Van, Vincent A Baxter, Raphael Gordon
  • Patent number: 12060256
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing fluids is introduced. A preferred embodiment comprises a sealed tank, a bag containing fluid inside the sealed tank, an outlet for dispensing the liquid in the bag, and a pressure generating device to create pressure in the sealed tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: fairlife, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Peter Doelman, Vincent A. Baxter
  • Publication number: 20240100237
    Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a surgical cassette for an ophthalmic surgical system comprises an irrigation conduit that is in fluid communication with a handpiece and carries fluid toward a surgical site. An aspiration conduit is in fluid communication with the handpiece and carries fluid away from the surgical site. An aspiration pump creates a vacuum pressure in the aspiration conduit to draw fluid through the aspiration conduit towards a drain reservoir. A reservoir couples with a pressure-vacuum source to manage the reservoir pressure. A valve is in fluid communication with the aspiration conduit and the reservoir, and provides one or more channels between the aspiration conduit and the reservoir. Each sensor detects a pressure associated with the surgical site. A computer controls the valve in response to the pressure detected by the one or more pressure sensors to mitigate a pressure or volume change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Vincent A. Baxter, David Dyk, Satish Yalamanchili, Raphael Gordon
  • Publication number: 20240068465
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a surgical cassette configured to engage a first plurality of rollers of a first roller head. The cassette comprises a face coupled to a first substrate, the face being at a first angle with respect to the first roller head's axis of rotation and a wall of first substrate being at a second angle with respect to the axis of rotation, wherein the first angle is different from the second angle. The cassette also comprises a first sheet positioned on the wall's surface, wherein the first sheet and the wall form first one or more pump segments configured to engage the first plurality of rollers in a position where force applied by each one of the first plurality of rollers on the first one or more pump segments has a direction that is not parallel to the first roller head's axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Brad Yin CHEN, Eric LEE, Gary P. SORENSON, Vincent A. BAXTER
  • Patent number: 11878105
    Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a surgical cassette for an ophthalmic surgical system comprises an irrigation conduit that is in fluid communication with a handpiece and carries fluid toward a surgical site. An aspiration conduit is in fluid communication with the handpiece and carries fluid away from the surgical site. An aspiration pump creates a vacuum pressure in the aspiration conduit to draw fluid through the aspiration conduit towards a drain reservoir. A reservoir couples with a pressure-vacuum source to manage the reservoir pressure. A valve is in fluid communication with the aspiration conduit and the reservoir, and provides one or more channels between the aspiration conduit and the reservoir. Each sensor detects a pressure associated with the surgical site. A computer controls the valve in response to the pressure detected by the one or more pressure sensors to mitigate a pressure or volume change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent A Baxter, David Dyk, Satish Yalamanchili, Raphael Gordon
  • Publication number: 20230391603
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing fluids is introduced. A preferred embodiment comprises a sealed tank, a bag containing fluid inside the sealed tank, an outlet for dispensing the liquid in the bag, and a pressure generating device to create pressure in the sealed tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy Peter Doelman, Vincent A. Baxter
  • Publication number: 20230391604
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing fluids is introduced. A preferred embodiment comprises a sealed tank, a bag containing fluid inside the sealed tank, an outlet for dispensing the liquid in the bag, and a pressure generating device to create pressure in the sealed tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy Peter Doelman, Vincent A. Baxter