US5309187A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High magnification ophthalmic lens
Assignee: OCULAR INSTRUMENTS Inc A CORP OF WASHINGTON
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Filing: 1992-03-18
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Granted: 1994-05-03
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Expires: 2012-03-18
Abstract
Abstract An ophthalmic lens having two elements, a contact lens and an entry lens. The lens produces a magnified aerial image of the fundus of the eye, and can also be used for laser delivery to the fundus. The lens is particularly useful because it provides high magnification and detail of the fundus as well as excellent steroscopic field.
Inventors
- 👤 Janet L. Crossman
- 👤 Phillip J. Erickson
- 👤 Gregory L. Heacock
- 👤 Martin A. Mainster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 00:30
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02C; G02C7/00; G02C7/02; G02C7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
290 words
A magnifying ophthalmic lens for observing the fundus of the eye and for delivering laser energy thereto comprising: a contact lens having a posterior surface and an anterior surface, said posterior surface having a curvature compatible with the anterior surface of a cornea, the anterior surface of the contact lens having a predetermined curvature wherein the indices of refraction of said contact lens can range from 1.47 to 1.85, and the axial thickness of the contact lens (T C ) can range from 1 mm to 12 mm, and an entry lens positioned anterior to the contact lens, the entry lens being aspheric, the surfaces of the entry lens being defined by the formula: ##EQU3## wherein C=(1/R), E=b+1, and K 2 =X 2 +Y 2 , wherein for the anterior surface of the lens, R 2EL ranges from 20 mm to 90 mm and b 2EL ranges from 7.0 to -4.0, and wherein for the posterior surface of said lens, R 1EL ranges from 10 mm to 50 mm, and b 1EL ranges from 0 to -4.0, said entry lens having a thickness (T EL ) ranging from 6 mm to 14 mm, wherein said entry lens has an index of refraction ranging from 1.47 to 1.85, the optical axes of the contact lens and the aspheric lens being substantially coincident, the entry lens collecting the light rays emerging from the contact lens and producing an aerial image anterior to the entry lens, the contact lens and the entry lens element being positioned relative to each other and having their curvatures chosen such that light rays originating on the fundus of the eye are magnified in the aerial image produced by the entry lens, at a magnification greater than 1.0×.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
290 words
A magnifying ophthalmic lens for observing the fundus of the eye and for delivering laser energy thereto comprising: a contact lens having a posterior surface and an anterior surface, said posterior surface having a curvature compatible with the anterior surface of a cornea, the anterior surface of the contact lens having a predetermined curvature wherein the indices of refraction of said contact lens can range from 1.47 to 1.85, and the axial thickness of the contact lens (T C ) can range from 1 mm to 12 mm, and an entry lens positioned anterior to the contact lens, the entry lens being aspheric, the surfaces of the entry lens being defined by the formula: ##EQU3## wherein C=(1/R), E=b+1, and K 2 =X 2 +Y 2 , wherein for the anterior surface of the lens, R 2EL ranges from 20 mm to 90 mm and b 2EL ranges from 7.0 to -4.0, and wherein for the posterior surface of said lens, R 1EL ranges from 10 mm to 50 mm, and b 1EL ranges from 0 to -4.0, said entry lens having a thickness (T EL ) ranging from 6 mm to 14 mm, wherein said entry lens has an index of refraction ranging from 1.47 to 1.85, the optical axes of the contact lens and the aspheric lens being substantially coincident, the entry lens collecting the light rays emerging from the contact lens and producing an aerial image anterior to the entry lens, the contact lens and the entry lens element being positioned relative to each other and having their curvatures chosen such that light rays originating on the fundus of the eye are magnified in the aerial image produced by the entry lens, at a magnification greater than 1.0×.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ophthalmic lens of claim 1, wherein said aerial image is flat or slightly concave when viewed from the anterior direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ophthalmic lens of claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature (R 2C ) of the anterior surface of the contact lens ranges from 6.0 mm to 15 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ophthalmic lens of claim 3, wherein the index of refraction of the contact lens is 1.50±0.03, R 1C is -7.45 mm±5%, R 2C is 11.5 mm±5%, and T C is 4.25 mm±5%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The ophthalmic lens of claim 4, wherein the index of refraction of the entry lens is 1.50±0.03, and wherein R 1EL is 12.76 mm±5% and R 2EL is 48.80 mm±5%, b 1EL for the posterior surface is about -1.73±5%, b 2EL for the anterior surface is about 3.35±5%, and the thickness is about 8.0±5%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ophthalmic lens of claim 5, wherein the aerial image is positioned from 3 mm to 30 mm from the anterior surface of the entry lens, as measured using the average emmetropic human eye.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ophthalmic lens of claim 4, wherein the index of refraction of the entry lens is 1.50±0.03, wherein R 1EL is 14.16 mm±5%, and R 2EL is 31.00 mm±5%, b 1EL is about -2.11±5%, b 2EL is -0.59±5%, and the thickness (T EL ) is about 8.0 mm±5%.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The opthalmic lens of claim 7 wherein the aerial image is positioned from 3 mm to 30 mm from the anterior surface of the entry lens, as measured using the average emmetropic human eye.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ophthalmic lens of claim 1, wherein the aerial image is positioned greater than 3 mm and less than 30 mm from the anterior surface of the entry lens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ophthalmic lens of claim 1, wherein the magnification ranges from 1.15× to 1.30×.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
An ophthalmic lens for viewing the fundus comprising: (a) a contact lens having a posterior surface with a curvature compatible with the cornea of an eye and being positionable in mutually opposing contact relationship with said cornea, and an entry lens, said lenses being aligned along their respective optical axes, said lenses being constructed when said contact lens is in contact with the cornea to gather light rays from the fundus and focus them in a magnified aerial image anterior to said entry lens, the magnification being in the range of 1.0× to 1.5×.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
An ophthalmic lens for viewing the fundus comprising: (a) a contact lens having a posterior surface with a curvature compatible with the cornea of an eye and being positionable in mutually opposing contact relationship with said cornea, and an entry lens, said lenses being aligned along their respective optical axes, said lenses being constructed when said contact lens is in contact with the cornea to gather light rays from the fundus and focus them in a magnified aerial image anterior to said entry lens, the magnification being in the range of 1.0× to 1.5×.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The lens of claim 11 having a magnification greater than 1.1×.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The lens of claim 11 having a magnification in the aerial image ranging from 1.15× to 1.30×.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The lens of claim 11, wherein said aerial image is flat or slightly concave when viewed from the anterior direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The lens of claim 11, wherein said entry lens is aspheric.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The lens of claim 11, wherein said aerial image is positioned less than 55 mm from the anterior surface of the cornea.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
122 words
An othalmic lens for viewing the fundus comprising: (a) a contact lens having a curvature compatible with the cornea of an eye and being positionalbe in mutually opposing contact relationship with said cornea, and an entry lens, said lenses being aligned along their respective optical axes, said lenses being constructed when said contact lens is in contact with the cornea to gather light rays from the fundus and focus them in a magnified aerial image anterior to said entry lens, said lens being constructed so that the aerial image is formed less than 55 mm from the anterior surface of the cornea when said contact lens is in contact with the cornea, the magnification being in the range of 1.0× to 1.5×.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
122 words
An othalmic lens for viewing the fundus comprising: (a) a contact lens having a curvature compatible with the cornea of an eye and being positionalbe in mutually opposing contact relationship with said cornea, and an entry lens, said lenses being aligned along their respective optical axes, said lenses being constructed when said contact lens is in contact with the cornea to gather light rays from the fundus and focus them in a magnified aerial image anterior to said entry lens, said lens being constructed so that the aerial image is formed less than 55 mm from the anterior surface of the cornea when said contact lens is in contact with the cornea, the magnification being in the range of 1.0× to 1.5×.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The lens of claim 17, wherein said aerial image is positioned less than 40 mm from the anterior surface of the cornea.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
116 words
An ophthalmic lens for viewing the fundus comprising: (a) a contact lens having a curvature compatible with the cornea of an eye and being positionable in mutually opposing contact relationship with said cornea, and an entry lens, said lenses being aligned along their respective optical axes, said lenses being constructed when said contact lens is in contact with the cornea to gather light rays from the fundus and focus them in a magnified aerial image anterior to said entry lens, the magnification being in the range of 1.1× to 1.5×, and having a binocular field of view on the order of±37.5° and a stereoscopic field of view on the order of±21.5°, measured from the optical axes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
116 words
An ophthalmic lens for viewing the fundus comprising: (a) a contact lens having a curvature compatible with the cornea of an eye and being positionable in mutually opposing contact relationship with said cornea, and an entry lens, said lenses being aligned along their respective optical axes, said lenses being constructed when said contact lens is in contact with the cornea to gather light rays from the fundus and focus them in a magnified aerial image anterior to said entry lens, the magnification being in the range of 1.1× to 1.5×, and having a binocular field of view on the order of±37.5° and a stereoscopic field of view on the order of±21.5°, measured from the optical axes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-05-02 | 1997-11-01 | 1998-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-02 | 2001-11-01 | 2002-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-02 | 2005-11-01 | 2006-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |