Measuring Force Required To Produce Standard Or Measured Eye Flattening (applanation) Patents (Class 600/405)
  • Patent number: 11957413
    Abstract: Apparatus include a particle array configured to propagate an incident solitary wave to an eye, a housing configured to support the particle array, and a sensor coupled to the particle array and configured to detect a return solitary wave propagating along the particle array from the eye. Methods include directing an incident solitary wave along a solitary wave particle array coupled to an eye and detecting a return solitary wave propagating along the solitary wave particle array from the eye. Methods also include estimating intraocular pressure for the eye by comparing solitary wave data to a relationship between a time of return solitary wave time of flight and an intraocular pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Piervincenzo Rizzo, Amir Nasrollahi, Samuel Dickerson, Ritesh Misra
  • Patent number: 11717162
    Abstract: A rebound tonometer is improved by providing a tilt signal from a tilt sensor of the rebound tonometer to a signal processor of the rebound tonometer, and configuring the signal processor to apply a tilt correction factor to a basic IOP measurement value calculated by the signal processor to provide a final IOP measurement value, wherein the tilt correction factor depends on a tilt direction and a degree of tilt indicated by the tilt signal. The final reported IOP measurement value takes into account gravitational effects on the probe due to tilt. As a result, measurements made at relatively small tilt angles are now usable, thereby improving efficiency. A corresponding rebound tonometry measurement method, and a method of calibrating a rebound tonometer for tilt correction, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Reichert, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel Norberto Martin
  • Patent number: 11659994
    Abstract: An intraocular pressure measurement arrangement is disclosed for measuring pressure of an eye of a patient. The arrangement can include at least one source for producing mechanical waves of several frequencies from a distance to the eye of the patient to generate at least one surface wave to the eye, a detector for detecting at least one surface wave from a distance from the eye to extract surface wave information, and a device for determining pressure information of the eye based on the surface wave information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: PHOTONO OY
    Inventors: Antti Kontiola, Edward Häggström, Ari Salmi, Heikki Nieminen
  • Patent number: 11412929
    Abstract: A combined intraocular pressure (IOP) measuring and eye medication dispensing device may include a first micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) sensor to generate IOP measurements of a living organism's eye; a medication dispensing device to dispense medication into the living organism's eye; a second MEMS micro-dispenser to interface with the medication dispensing device and to control the dispensing of the medication into the living organism's eye; and an analog-to-digital (A-to-D) converter to receive control signals. The A-to-D converter may communicate the control signals to the first MEMS sensor or the second MEMS micro-dispenser; receive the generated IOP measurements from the first MEMS sensor; receive medication dispensing parameters from the second MEMS micro-dispenser or medication dispensing device, and communicate the generated IOP measurements or the medication dispensing parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Inventor: David A Wallace
  • Patent number: 11291391
    Abstract: Monitoring glucose concentration in aqueous humor can include inserting an implantable device into an eye and determining glucose concentration as a function of glucose sensed at the implantable device. In some implantable device embodiments, the device includes a polymer layer comprising a material that changes volume in response to varying glucose concentrations of the aqueous humor. A pressure sensor in the device can detect the changes in volume. In some implantable device embodiments, the device includes electrodes for determining the glucose concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: MicroOptx Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Aaron Cohen, Roy Christian Martin
  • Patent number: 11079328
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an optical sensor having a light source that emits light on a sensor layer, wherein the sensor layer can be brought into contact with a medium, wherein the first sensor layer emits emission light as a function of the incident light and a concentration of a measured value of the medium; a receiver, which receives the emission light; a first light guide, which conducts light from the light source onto a first region of the sensor layer and conducts emission light from the first region of the sensor layer to the receiver; and a second light guide independent of the first light guide which conducts light from the light source onto a second region of the first sensor layer and conducts emission light from the second region of the sensor layer to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Hörig, Ronny Michael
  • Patent number: 11026577
    Abstract: Viscoelastic properties of the cornea are derived from an ophthalmic measurement signal representing velocity as a function of time of a contact probe rebounded by the eye. The viscoelastic properties include a “Lost Energy Ratio” (LER), a “Time Shift” (TS), a damping parameter (?), and an elastic parameter (?). An improved method for determining intra-ocular pressure from the measurement signal is also disclosed, wherein a first derivative of the measurement signal at a moment in time when velocity of the probe is zero due to contact of the probe with the cornea is calculated and correlated to an intra-ocular pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Reichert, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel N. Martin
  • Patent number: 11026576
    Abstract: A device including a contact tonometer tip having a bi-curved cornea-contacting surface structured to reduce, during the tonometric measurement, at least the measurement error caused by the presence of a fluid film between the tip and the cornea and/or the intra-corneal stress formed during the applanation deformation and occurring at a location of the tip-to-cornea contact area. Method for using such device for measurement of intraocular pressure while procuring values IOP with increased accuracy as compared to those obtained with the use of a conventional flat-surface tonometer tip. The cornea-contacting surface includes a first central portion and a second portion that encircles and adjoins the first central portion. The curvatures of the first and second portions have opposite signs. In one case, the first central portion has a curvature with the same sign as that of the cornea and/or is rotationally-symmetric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: CATS TONOMETER, LLC
    Inventor: Sean J. McCafferty
  • Patent number: 10986993
    Abstract: The subject matter of the disclosure relates generally to a MEMS-based position-sensing system and lenses, for example, contact lenses and intra-ocular lenses, manufactured with the position-sensing system employing one or more angular and/or linear accelerometers and/or pressure transducers and methods for detecting position and motion of an eyeball and/or head utilizing the position-sensing contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventors: Cedric Francois, Mark Salman Humayun
  • Patent number: 10673414
    Abstract: An augmented reality system including a source and a contact lens display can be used to project information from the contact lens display onto the retina of the wearer's eye. The source provides energy to the contact lens display and operates at a source frequency. The source includes a source circuit including a conductive coil. The contact lens display includes a resonant circuit including another conductive coil and a capacitive circuit. The resonant circuit receives energy from the conductive coil of the source via a magnetic field inductively coupling the conductive coils. The contact lens display additionally includes a feedback circuit to adjust the capacitance of the capacitive circuit to control a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit. The feedback circuit can control the capacitive circuit to maintain the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit near the source frequency as the wearer's eye blinks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Tectus Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Elliot Lemoff, Gregory David Miller, Ion Opris, Hawk Yin Pang
  • Patent number: 10463251
    Abstract: Ophthalmological device including an applanation tonometer tip having a bi-curved cornea-contacting surface and method of using such device for measurement of intraocular pressure. The cornea-contacting surface includes a first rotationally symmetric portion a curvature of which is substantially adapted to that of a typical cornea and a second rotationally symmetric portion that is peripheral to and adjoining the first portion. In operation, the applanation of the cornea in an area corresponding to the first portion of the cornea-contacting surface is substantially negligible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: CATS TONOMETER, LLC
    Inventor: Sean J. McCafferty
  • Patent number: 10405763
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for noninvasively assessing intracranial pressure by controllably osculating at least a portion of a subject's ocular globe while applying a force sufficient to collapse an intraocular blood vessel and correlating the collapse pressure to intracranial pressure. Also provided are ophthalmic components useful in ophthalmic imaging applications, such as retinal, corneal, and pupil imaging. The components may include an optical contact surface that has a radius of curvature that is greater than the radius of curvature of a subject's cornea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Third Eye Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry A. Fuller, William Lai, Anthony Bellezza
  • Patent number: 10159461
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an ophthalmic device with a retinal vascularization monitoring system and associated methods. In some embodiments, the ophthalmic device can be a contact lens with a retinal vascularization monitoring system that can be used to monitor temporal changes of a pulsating vessel forming part of the retinal vascularization. Further, the retinal vascularization monitoring system may include elements for delivering a signal, including an audible and/or visual message, to the user that can be useful for identifying abnormal conditions such as a cardiac failure without delay. The audible and/or visual messages can be signals communicated to the user using one or both of the ophthalmic device and a wireless device in communication with the ophthalmic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall Braxton Pugh
  • Patent number: 9901322
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an ophthalmic device with a retinal vascularization monitoring system and associated methods. In some embodiments, the ophthalmic device can be a contact lens with a retinal vascularization monitoring system that can be used to monitor temporal changes of a pulsating vessel forming part of the retinal vascularization. Further, the retinal vascularization monitoring system may include elements for delivering a signal, including an audible and/or visual message, to the user that can be useful for identifying abnormal conditions such as a cardiac failure without delay. The audible and/or visual messages can be signals communicated to the user using one or both of the ophthalmic device and a wireless device in communication with the ophthalmic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall Braxton Pugh
  • Patent number: 9636015
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for examination and removal of polyps. Using methods and systems of the present disclosure, one can determine whether a polyp is benign or cancerous in situ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Ahmad R. Hadba, Russell Heinrich
  • Patent number: 9596988
    Abstract: Certain pressure sensor devices are much smaller than prior art devices, yet are at least as sensitive as the prior art devices. A capacitive pressure sensor can include a flexible substrate that permits bending of a pressure sensing region without significantly affecting operation thereof. The pressure sensor can include a flexible membrane in which an electrode is sandwiched between two layers of polymeric material. The sandwiched electrode can be extremely close to a reference electrode so as to provide for highly sensitive capacitance readings, yet the membrane can be restricted from contacting the reference electrode under high pressure conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: Purdue Research Foundation, The Jackson Laboratory
    Inventors: Pedro P. Irazoqui, Dohyuk Ha, William J. Chappell, Simon W. M. John
  • Patent number: 9332935
    Abstract: Body-mountable devices and methods for embedding a structure in a body-mountable device are described. A body-mountable device includes a transparent polymer and a structure embedded in the transparent polymer. The transparent polymer defines a posterior side and an anterior side of the body-mountable device. The structure has an outer diameter and an inner diameter and includes a sensor configured to detect an analyte and an antenna. The antenna includes a plurality of conductive loops spaced apart from each other between the outer diameter and the inner diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Stephen O'Driscoll
  • Patent number: 9289124
    Abstract: A tool for calibrating a non-contact tonometer (NCT) comprises a body having a mating feature configured for removably mounting the body on the nosepiece or on the measurement head of the NCT, a pressure sensor carried by the body and arranged to receive an air pulse discharged by the NCT to provide a pressure signal in response to the air pulse, and a radiation emitter carried by the body, wherein the radiation emitter provides a pseudo-applanation event when the pressure signal reaches a predetermined level that is detectable by the NCT as though an actual corneal applanation had taken place. In one embodiment, the mating feature includes a mounting orifice for receiving a portion of the nosepiece. In another embodiment, the mating feature includes a pair of mounting pins sized for receipt by a corresponding pair of mounting holes in the measurement head of the NCT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: REICHERT, INC.
    Inventors: Russell Bonaventura, David G. Kelkenberg, David L. Beverly, Donald E. Miller, David A. Luce
  • Patent number: 9268154
    Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and apparatus for providing a variable optic insert into an ophthalmic lens. The variable optic insert may have surfaces within that have differing radii of curvature. A liquid crystal layer may be used to provide a variable optic function and in some embodiments, an alignment layer for the liquid crystal layer may be patterned in a hybrid manner. The patterning may allow for the lowering of the minimum electrical potential required to cause a shift in orientation of liquid crystal molecules within the ophthalmic device. An energy source is capable of powering the variable optic insert included within the ophthalmic lens. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic lens is cast-molded from a silicone hydrogel. The various ophthalmic lens entities may include electroactive liquid crystal layers to electrically control optical characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall Braxton Pugh, Frederick A. Flitsch, Adam Toner, James Daniel Riall, Praveen Pandojirao-S, Nelson V. Tabirian, Svetlana Serak, Olena Uskova, Luciano De Sio
  • Patent number: 9225375
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, apparatus, and devices associated with an ophthalmic lens system wherein the lenses may communicate with multiple external devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to an ophthalmic lens system that may communicate with a secondary and a tertiary device, wherein the wireless communication with the secondary and the tertiary electronic external devices may reduce power, communication, and processing requirements within the ophthalmic lenses and may broaden the range of possible functionalities of the ophthalmic lens system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall Braxton Pugh, Adam Toner, Karson S. Putt, Camille A. Higham, Sharika Snook
  • Patent number: 9192312
    Abstract: As placement of a physiological monitoring sensor is typically at a sensor site located at an extremity of the body, the state of microcirculation, such as whether vessels are blocked or open, can have a significant effect on the readings at the sensor site. It is therefore desirable to provide a patient monitor and/or physiological monitoring sensor capable of distinguishing the microcirculation state of blood vessels. In some embodiments, the patient monitor and/or sensor provide a warning and/or compensates a measurement based on the microcirculation state. In some embodiments, a microcirculation determination process implementable by the patient monitor and/or sensor is used to determine the state of microcirculation of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: MASIMO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ammar Al-Ali
  • Patent number: 9155467
    Abstract: A system for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) of an eye, comprising a plurality of force sensors that are adapted to contact a surface of an eye, measuring the forces exerted on the force sensors when in contact with the eye surface, and processing the measured forces to determine the 10P of the eye as a function of the measured forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: THE ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
    Inventor: Eniko Todorov Enikov
  • Publication number: 20150121997
    Abstract: Systems and methods that facilitate the determination of mechanical properties of an ellipsoidal shell are provided in this disclosure. The ellipsoidal shell is contacted with an indenter device. The indenter device indents the ellipsoidal shell and creates an indentation in an indentation region on the ellipsoidal shell. Indentation data is recorded at the indentation region. Mechanical properties of the ellipsoid shell can be determined based on the indentation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: David Chuen Chun Lam, Wai Lun Ko, Ka Kit Leung
  • Patent number: 9005125
    Abstract: A tonometer includes a pair of arms pivotally connected at proximal ends thereof, one arm having a contact member at a distal end. Mounted to the one arm and in contact with the contact member is a pressure transducer providing an electrical signal corresponding to the pressure applied to the contact member. A control circuit responds to the signal to indicate on a visual display the intraocular pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: A. Mateen Ahmed
  • Patent number: 8939907
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ophthalmic analysis system for measuring the intraocular pressure in an eye comprising an actuating device for contact-free deformation of the cornea, an observation system with which the deformation of the cornea can be observed and recorded, an analysis device with which the intraocular pressure can be deduced from the image information of the observation system, wherein split images of at least parts of the undeformed and/or deformed cornea can be recorded using the observation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Oculus Optikgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Gert Koest
  • Publication number: 20140371569
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a substance selected from the group consisting of riboflavin, its esters, salts and hydrates thereof, for use in an ophthalmic diagnostic method. In preferred aspects of the invention, the riboflavin is applied into the eye as part of a solution having a concentration from about 0.01 and 0.5% riboflavin or acceptable salt, ester, hydrate thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Ciro CARUSO, Salvatore TROISI
  • Publication number: 20140296688
    Abstract: A surface deformation sensor that includes a resonance circuit is described herein. The resonance circuit includes a sensing capacitor and inductive coil. The resonance circuit receives an external signal, which causes the resonance circuit to resonate at a resonance frequency. A surface deformation of an object can be determined based on the resonance frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: David Chuen Chun Lam, Guozhen Chen, Ion Seng Chan
  • Patent number: 8834368
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for subjecting a patient to an slit lamp microscopy and/or Goldmann tonometry eye examination are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the patient is in a side-lying down position at a time of the examination. In some embodiments, it is possible to examine an upper and/or lower eye—for example, a lower eye slightly above a supporting surface. Related apparatus are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a bed and/or a headrest and/or a face immobilization assembly are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventors: Yosef Glovinsky, Vadim Shmukler, Ilia Piven
  • Patent number: 8721580
    Abstract: A glaucoma drainage device has an active valve configured to be located between an anterior chamber of an eye and a drainage location, a power source coupled to the active valve, and a controller coupled to the power source. A first pressure sensor is located in fluid communication with the anterior chamber, a second pressure sensor is located in the drainage location, and a third pressure sensor located remotely from the first and second pressure sensors. The controller reads the first, second, and third pressure sensors once during a period of time and adjusts the active valve to control intraocular pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthew J. A. Rickard, Robert Joseph Sanchez, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140073897
    Abstract: Ophthalmological device including an applanation tonometer tip having a bi-curved cornea-contacting surface and method of using such device for measurement of intraocular pressure. The cornea-contacting surface includes a first rotationally symmetric portion a curvature of which is substantially adapted to that of a typical cornea and a second rotationally symmetric portion that is peripheral to and adjoining the first portion. In operation, the applanation of the cornea in an area corresponding to the first portion of the cornea-contacting surface is substantially negligible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventor: Sean J. McCafferty
  • Publication number: 20130317335
    Abstract: A case for transportation and use of an applanation tonometry apparatus includes a housing including a base and a wall structure extending upwardly therefrom, the housing sized to receive the applanation tonometry apparatus therein. A lid is pivotally connected to an upper rim of the wall structure, the lid having a closed position overlying the housing and an open position rotated away from the housing, the lid supporting the applanation tonometry apparatus in the open position. A handle is pivotally connected to the lid and has a stored position within the lid and a use position rotated away from the lid, the handle supporting the lid in the open position by engagement with a support surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: EYELAB GROUP, LLC
    Inventor: EYELAB GROUP, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130296681
    Abstract: An optical intraocular pressure measuring apparatus includes a light source, an optical module, a pressure providing module, a deformation measuring module, and a processing module. The light source provides an incident light. The optical module divides the incident light into a first incident light and a second incident light and emits them to a reference object and an object to be detected through a first light path and a second light path, and receives a first reflected light signal from reference object and a second reflected light signal from the object to be detected respectively. The pressure providing module coupled with second light path provides a pressure to deform the object to be detected. The deformation measuring module measures the deformation of the object to be detected. The processing module processes the first reflected light signal and second reflected light signal to generate an intraocular pressure measurement result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Crystalvue Medical Corporation
    Inventors: William WANG, Chung-Ping CHUANG, Meng-Shin YEN, Chung-Cheng CHOU, Wen-Wei HUANG, Chun-Nan LIN
  • Patent number: 8556823
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ophthalmological analysis method for measuring an intraocular pressure in an eye with an analysis system consisting of an actuating device, wherein the actuating device causes a puff of air to be applied to the eye in such manner that the cornea is deformed, an observation system with which the deformation of the cornea is observed and recorded, wherein sectional images of the cornea when it is deformed and not deformed are created with the observation device, and an analysis device with which the intraocular pressure is derived from the sectional images of the cornea, wherein a structural characteristic and/or material characteristic of the cornea is derived from the sectional images of the cornea in the analysis device, wherein a stress of the cornea is derived as a structural characteristic and/or material characteristic, wherein stresses in the corneal material are rendered visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Oculus Optikgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Gert Koest, Andreas Steinmueller
  • Patent number: 8551014
    Abstract: The invention relates to an opthalmological analysis method for measuring an intraocular pressure in an eye with an analysis system consisting of an actuating device, wherein the actuating device causes a puff of air to be applied to the eye in such manner that the cornea is deformed, an observation system with which the deformation of the cornea is observed and recorded, wherein sectional images of the cornea when it is deformed and not deformed are created with the observation device, and an analysis device with which the intraocular pressure is derived from the sectional images of the cornea, wherein a material characteristic of the cornea is derived from the sectional images of the cornea in the analysis device, wherein a diameter d1 of a first applanation area of the cornea and a diameter dn of a deformation area of the cornea is derived as a material characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Oculus Optikgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Gert Koest, Andreas Steinmueller
  • Patent number: 8551013
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ophthalmological analysis method for measuring an intraocular pressure in an eye with an analysis system consisting of an actuating device with which a cornea of the eye is deformed in contactless manner, wherein the actuating device causes a puff of air to be applied to the eye in such manner that the cornea is deformed, an observation system with which the deformation of the cornea is observed and recorded, wherein sectional images of the cornea when it is deformed and not deformed are created with the observation device, and an analysis device with which the intraocular pressure is derived from the sectional images of the cornea, wherein a material characteristic of the cornea is derived from the sectional images of the cornea in the analysis device, wherein a stiffness of the cornea is derived as a material characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Oculus Optikgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Steinmueller
  • Patent number: 8323196
    Abstract: The invention relates to medicine. The inventive device for measuring intraocular tension through an eyelid comprises a body, a movable sleeve provided with a support and placed in the body in such a way that it is reciprocally displaceable for producing a static load applicable to the eyebulb through the eyelid, a rod which is provided with a flat base and is arranged in the sleeve cavity in such a way that it is displaceable with respect to the support and produces an impact action for deforming the eyebulb through the eyelid and at least one measuring coil placed in the movable sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventors: Gennadiy Konstantinovich Piletskiy, Konstantin Vasilyevich Ivanischev, Nikolai Gennadyevich Piletskiy, Alexandr Nikolaevich Chervyakov
  • Patent number: 8317701
    Abstract: A device and method are presented for use in non-invasive measurement of a patient's intra-ocular pressure (IOP). The device comprises a probe unit comprising a flexible membrane which is to be brought into contact with a patient's eyelid thereby enabling a contacting region of the membrane to match a shape of the eyelid defined by the shape of the patient's cornea. The device is configured to enable controllably varying application of force to the membrane against the eyelid and to enable illumination of the membrane at least within the contacting region thereof, the deformation of the illuminated membrane affecting detected light returned from the membrane, thereby enabling identification of a condition of applanation of a desired area of the membrane by identifying desired data indicative of the detected light and allowing the IOP measurement upon identifying said condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: A.T.I.- Advanced Medical Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Abraham Livne, Ilan Ron
  • Patent number: 8303501
    Abstract: A device (2) for determining an intraocular pressure of an eye comprises a measurement arrangement with a measurement body (44), attached to a measurement arm (40), for applanation of the eye and a rotary knob (10) which is attached to a shaft (6). The measurement arm (40) is attached radially to a pivot axis (32) and the measurement arrangement comprises a mechanical coupling between the rotary knob (10) and the pivot axis (32), with a rotation of the rotary knob (10) being able to generate an applanation force required for applanation of the eye. The mechanical coupling comprises tension transmission means (12) attached to the pivot axis (32) via a first lever arm (34), and to the rotational axis (8) of the shaft (6) via a second lever arm (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Haag-Streit AG
    Inventor: Fritz Siegenthaler
  • Publication number: 20120265047
    Abstract: An intraocular pressure detecting device includes an optical module and a data processing unit. The light module transmits a light beam to an eyeball and acquires at least one light interference signal of a reflected light beam reflected from a cornea and a reference light beam. The light module electrically couples with the data processing unit, which determines an intraocular pressure detection area according to the at least one light interference signal. The data processing unit utilizes the at least one light interference signal acquired by the light module to calculate the intraocular pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: MENG-SHIN YEN, William Wang, Chung-Cheng Chou
  • Patent number: 8226235
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measuring a dynamic deformation characteristic of a deformable target surface during a deformation interval. The measurement principles may be applied to a large variety of organic and inorganic materials having a surface that can be deformed by an applied non-contact force. The surface may be light diffusing and non-transparent or non-diffusing and transparent. A device for measuring a dynamic deformation characteristic of an in-vivo cornea during a deformation interval includes a corneal topographer and an air puff generator that are operationally integrated. Use of the inventive device enables a method for making a measurement of a deformation characteristic of the in-vivo cornea during a deformation interval, further allowing a determination of spatially-resolved in-vivo corneal biomechanical and biodynamic properties such as corneal elasticity and corneal viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Vision Optimization, LLC
    Inventors: Cynthia J. Roberts, James Richard Marous, Ashraf Mostafa Mahmoud
  • Publication number: 20120108941
    Abstract: An applanation tonometer for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) so that the health of a human or animal eye can be determined. The applanation tonometer includes a prism having a contact tip at one end to be moved into contact with and lightly touched against the cornea or the eye. Incident laser light is transmitted inwardly through the prism to the contact tip at which some of the light is decoupled and lost though the contact tip depending upon the area of contact between the contact tip and the cornea. The remaining light is reflected by the contact tip outwardly through the prism. A photo defector which is responsive to the light reflected by the contact tip of the prism and a force detector which is responsive to the pressure at the area of contact between the contact tip and the cornea generate paired force and area data pairs that are processed to measure IOP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: John M. Maggiano, Steven E. Maurath, Michael Moewe
  • Patent number: 7948380
    Abstract: A remote sensing device includes a plurality of components arranged to form a resonant electrical circuit. The plurality of components includes at least one sensing component having sensing elements distributed among regions of an area of interest. The sensing elements are arranged so that a resonant characteristic of the resonant circuit is modifiable by an external event affecting an element associated with a region. The sensing component may be a capacitor having spatially distributed capacitive elements or an inductor having spatially distributed inductive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David W. Kuhns, M. Benton Free
  • Patent number: 7935058
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for characterizing biomechanical properties of tissue within an eye. A perturbation component introduces a stress to the eye tissue. An imaging component is operative to obtain an image of the eye tissue. A first image of the tissue can be obtained prior to the introduction of the stress and a second image of the tissue can be obtained after the introduction of the stress. An image analysis component compares the first image and the second image as to determine at least one biomechanical property of the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    Inventors: William J. Dupps, Jr., Andrew M. Rollins, Matthew Ford
  • Patent number: 7909765
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring intraocular pressure of an eye use an empirically derived function wherein an inward applanation pressure P1 and an outward applanation pressure P2 obtained during a corneal deformation cycle caused by a fluid pulse are separately weighted so as to minimize cornea-related influence on the intraocular pressure value calculated by the function. In one embodiment, the function is optimized, at least in part, to minimize change in calculated IOP between measurements made before surgical alteration of the cornea and measurements made after surgical alteration of the cornea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Reichert, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Luce
  • Publication number: 20110054291
    Abstract: A system for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) of an eye, comprising a plurality of force sensors that are adapted to contact a surface of an eye, means for measuring the forces exerted on the force sensors when in contact with the eye surface, and processing means that is adapted to receive the measured forces and determine IOP of the eye as a function of the measured forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Eniko Todorov Enikov, Gholam Peyman
  • Patent number: 7798962
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring corneal resistance to deformation use an empirically derived function wherein an inward applanation pressure P1 and an outward applanation pressure P2 obtained during a corneal deformation cycle caused by a fluid pulse are separately weighted so as to minimize dependence of the calculated corneal resistance factor (CRF) on intraocular pressure. In one embodiment, the function is optimized, at least in part, to maximize statistical correlation between the calculated corneal resistance factor (CRF) and central corneal thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Reichert, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Luce
  • Publication number: 20100152565
    Abstract: Tonometers are disclosed for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) and having an ocular probe movable a predetermined distance in a linear manner by a motor against the closed eyelid of a patient's test eye, a distance sensor configured to monitor the probe position as the probe is moved against the eyelid and provide a distance measurement, a mechanism for aligning the probe with the center of the cornea underneath the closed eyelid, and a force sensor configured to measure force on the ocular probe as it is moved against the closed eyelid by the motor and provide a force measurement, wherein a value indicative of IOP of the test eye is determined from the force and distance measurements. Methods for measuring IOP using the inventive tonometers are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Gordon A. Thomas, Tara L. Alvarez, Robert Fechtner, Stephanie M. Milczarski
  • Publication number: 20090234215
    Abstract: The invention relates to medicine. The inventive device for measuring intraocular tension through an eyelid comprises a body, a movable sleeve provided with a support and placed in the body in such a way that it is reciprocally displaceable for producing a static load applicable to the eyebulb through the eyelid, a rod which is provided with a flat base and is arranged in the sleeve cavity in such a way that it is displaceable with respect to the support and produces an impact action for deforming the eyebulb through the eyelid and at least one measuring coil placed in the movable sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Gennadiy Konstantinovich Piletskiy, Konstantin Vasilyevich Ivanischev, Nikolai Gennadyevich Piletskiy, Alexandr Nikolaevich Chervyakov
  • Patent number: 7553282
    Abstract: A non-contact tonometer changes a reference signal used for determining reliability of a signal indicating deformation of a cornea based on the reflectance of the cornea of an eye to be examined. Thus, the non-contact tonometer can perform stable measurement irrespective of the reflectance of the cornea of the eye to be examined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshifumi Masaki
  • Publication number: 20090131779
    Abstract: A device (2) for determining an intraocular pressure of an eye comprises a measurement arrangement with a measurement body (44), attached to a measurement arm (40), for applanation of the eye and a rotary knob (10) which is attached to a shaft (6) and can rotate about a rotational axis (8) of the shaft (6). The measurement arm (40) is attached radially to a pivot axis (32) and the measurement arrangement comprises a mechanical coupling between the rotary knob (10) and the pivot axis (32), with a rotation of the rotary knob (10) around the rotational axis (8) being able to generate an applanation force required for applanation of the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: HAAG-STREIT AG
    Inventor: Fritz SIEGENTHALER