Patent US5548352A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5548352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Anti-astigmatic ophthalmic contact lens for use in performing laser surgery
Assignee: ESC MEDICAL SYSTEMS Inc
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Filing: 1994-01-19
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Granted: 1996-08-20
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Expires: 2014-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A contact lens for viewing the interior of a patient's eye during an argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) procedure and for delivering laser energy to desired regions of the trabecular meshwork of the eye. The contact lens is fabricated from a hollow plastic body which is filled with a medium having an index of refraction which is substantially the same as that of the aqueous humor within a patient's eye. Visible and laser light enter the lens by means of a thin window of substantially uniform thickness and exit the lens (thereby entering the eye) at a front face of substantially uniform thickness whose outer curvature is approximately the same as that of the patient's eye. The degree of astigmatic focusing which normally occurs as the visible light and laser beam pass through the contact lens and cornea and into the aqueous humor is substantially reduced. This assists the surgeon performing the procedure to better view the interior of the eye and to place a better defined laser spot on the desired regions of the trabecular meshwork.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Dewey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:01
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B3/00; G02B3/12; A; A61; A61B; A61B3/00; A61B3/10; A61B3/12; A61B3/125; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61F9/00821; A61F9/009; G02C; G02C7/00; G02C7/02; G02C7/04; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00863; A61F2009/00868; A61F2009/00885; A61F2009/00891
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A contact lens for use in delivering laser light to a region of a patient's eye and for viewing the interior of the eye during a surgical procedure, the contact lens comprising: a hollow lens body having an entrance and an opposite exit; a front face sealed to the exit of the lens body, the front face allowing the transmission of visible and laser light into the patient's eye and having a curvature substantially the same as the patient's eye and affixed to the lens body so that the front face can be fitted over the eye; a window sealed to the entrance of the lens body, the window allowing the transmission of visible and laser light into the lens; a mirrored surface on the interior of the lens body positioned so that light entering the lens from the window reflects off of the mirrored surface and exits the lens at the front face at a sufficiently steep angle to illuminate a desired region of the patient's eye; and a medium filling the lens body, the medium having an index of refraction in the range of 1.25 to 1.45.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
A contact lens for use in delivering laser light to a region of a patient's eye and for viewing the interior of the eye during a surgical procedure, the contact lens comprising: a hollow lens body having an entrance and an opposite exit; a front face sealed to the exit of the lens body, the front face allowing the transmission of visible and laser light into the patient's eye and having a curvature substantially the same as the patient's eye and affixed to the lens body so that the front face can be fitted over the eye; a window sealed to the entrance of the lens body, the window allowing the transmission of visible and laser light into the lens; a mirrored surface on the interior of the lens body positioned so that light entering the lens from the window reflects off of the mirrored surface and exits the lens at the front face at a sufficiently steep angle to illuminate a desired region of the patient's eye; and a medium filling the lens body, the medium having an index of refraction in the range of 1.25 to 1.45.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the front face and window have thin walls and are each of substantially uniform thickness.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the lens body is fabricated from plastic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the lens body is fabricated from metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the medium has an index of refraction in the range of 1.32 to 1.35.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the medium has an index of refraction substantially the same as the aqueous humor of a patient's eye.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the medium is a fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The contact lens of claim 7, wherein the fluid is water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the medium is a hydrophilic material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The contact lens of claim 1, further comprising: a magnifying lens positioned on the window and outside of the lens body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the mirrored surface is fabricated from a multi-layered dielectric coating which is deposited on a glass substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the mirrored surface is fabricated from a multi-layered dielectric coating which is deposited on an interior surface of the lens body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the portions of the window external to the lens body are coated with an anti-reflection coating.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The contact lens of claim 10, wherein the portions of the magnifying lens not in contact with the window are coated with an anti-reflection coating.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
179 words
A contact lens for use in delivering laser light to a region of a patient's eye and for viewing the interior of the eye during a surgical procedure, the contact lens comprising: a hollow lens body having a front face at an exit of the lens body and a window at an opposite, entrance of the lens body, the front face allowing the transmission of visible and laser light into the patient's eye and having a curvature substantially the same as the patient's eye and oriented so that the front face can be fitted over the eye, the window allowing the transmission of visible and laser light into the lens; a mirrored surface on the interior of the lens body positioned so that light entering the lens from the window reflects off of the mirrored surface and exits the lens at the front face at a sufficiently steep angle to illuminate a desired region of the patient's eye; and a medium filling the lens body, the medium having an index of refraction in the range of 1.25 to 1.45.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
179 words
A contact lens for use in delivering laser light to a region of a patient's eye and for viewing the interior of the eye during a surgical procedure, the contact lens comprising: a hollow lens body having a front face at an exit of the lens body and a window at an opposite, entrance of the lens body, the front face allowing the transmission of visible and laser light into the patient's eye and having a curvature substantially the same as the patient's eye and oriented so that the front face can be fitted over the eye, the window allowing the transmission of visible and laser light into the lens; a mirrored surface on the interior of the lens body positioned so that light entering the lens from the window reflects off of the mirrored surface and exits the lens at the front face at a sufficiently steep angle to illuminate a desired region of the patient's eye; and a medium filling the lens body, the medium having an index of refraction in the range of 1.25 to 1.45.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The contact lens of claim 15, wherein the front face and window have thin walls and are each of substantially uniform thickness.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The contact lens of claim 15, wherein the lens body is fabricated from plastic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The contact lens of claim 15, wherein the lens body is fabricated from metal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The contact lens of claim 15, wherein the medium has an index of refraction in the range of 1.32 to 1.35.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The contact lens of claim 15, wherein the medium has an index of refraction substantially the same as the aqueous humor of a patient's eye.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The contact lens of claim 15, wherein the medium is a fluid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The contact lens of claim 21, wherein the fluid is water.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The contact lens of claim 15, wherein the medium is a hydrophilic material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The contact lens of claim 15, further comprising: a magnifying lens positioned on the window and outside of the lens body.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The contact lens of claim 15, wherein the mirrored surface is fabricated from a multi-layered dielectric material which is deposited on a glass substrate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The contact lens of claim 15, wherein the mirrored surface is fabricated from a multi-layered dielectric coating which is deposited on an interior surface of the lens body.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The contact lens of claim 15, wherein the portions of the window external to the lens body are coated with an anti-reflection coating.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The contact lens of claim 24, wherein the portions of the magnifying lens not in contact with the window are coated with an anti-reflection coating.
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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) | 1999-08-20 | 2000-02-19 | 2000-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-20 | 2004-02-19 | 2004-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-20 | 2008-02-19 | 2008-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |