US6554424B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for increasing the depth of focus of the human eye
Assignee: HEALTHCARE ROYALTY PARTNERS II LP
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Filing: 2000-02-29
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Granted: 2003-04-29
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Expires: 2020-02-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for increasing the depth of focus of the human eye is comprised of a lens body, an optic in the lens body configured to produce light interference, and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic. The optic may be configured to produce light scattering or composed of a light reflective material. Alternatively, the optic may increase the depth of focus via a combination of light interference, light scattering, light reflection and/or light absorption. The optic may also be configured as a series of concentric circles, a weave, a pattern of particles, or a pattern of curvatures. One method involves screening a patient for an ophthalmic lens using a pinhole screening device in the lens to increase the patient's depth of focus. Another method comprises surgically implanting a mask in the patient's eye to increase the depth of focus.
Inventors
- 👤 David Miller
- 👤 Ernesto Blanco
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:47
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02C; G02C7/00; G02C7/16; A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/14; A61F2/145; A61F2/15; A61F2/16; A61F2/1613; A61F2/1659; G02C7/02; G02C7/04; G02C7/041; G02C7/042; G02C7/044; G02C7/046; G02C7/12; G02C7/165; A61F2002/16965; A61F2002/1699; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0058; A61F2250/0096; A61F2250/0098; B; B01; B01D; B01D2323/00; B01D2323/34; G02C2202/00; G02C2202/20; G02C2202/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
An ophthalmic lens comprising: a lens body; an optic located in the lens body, the optic configured to produce light interference, and further configured to positively interfere with parallel light reaching the optic and negatively interfere with diverging light reaching the optic; and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
An ophthalmic lens comprising: a lens body; an optic located in the lens body, the optic configured to produce light interference, and further configured to positively interfere with parallel light reaching the optic and negatively interfere with diverging light reaching the optic; and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 wherein some of the diverging light passes through the optic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 2 wherein the optic is configured to spread out the diverging light passing through the optic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 wherein the pinhole-like aperture includes an optical power for vision correction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 wherein the pinhole-like aperture has a diameter in the range of substantially 0.05 mm to substantially 5.0 mm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 wherein the optic has an outer diameter in the range of substantially 1.0 mm to substantially 8.0 mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 wherein the optic is composed of a material having varying degrees of opacity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 wherein the ophthalmic lens is composed of a bio-compatible, non-dissolving material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 wherein the optic is composed of a bio-compatible, non-dissolving material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the bio-compatible, non-dissolving material is polymethyl methacrylate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the bio-compatible, non-dissolving material is a medical polymer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 wherein the light interference is produced, at least in part, by light scattering.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 wherein the light interference is produced, at least in part, by light reflection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 wherein the optic is configured to affect the chromatic aberration of the human eye.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 wherein the optic is configured as a series of concentric circles.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 wherein the optic is configured as a weave.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 wherein the optic is configured as a set of particles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
An ophthalmic lens comprising: a lens body; an optic located in the lens body, the optic configured to produce light interference from a series of opaque concentric circles; and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
An ophthalmic lens comprising: a lens body; an optic located in the lens body, the optic configured to produce light interference from a series of opaque concentric circles; and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
An ophthalmic lens comprising: a lens body; an optic located in the lens body, the optic configured to produced light interference and further configured as a weave; and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
An ophthalmic lens comprising: a lens body; an optic located in the lens body, the optic configured to produced light interference and further configured as a weave; and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
52 words
An ophthalmic lens comprising: a lens body; an optic located in the lens body, the optic configured as a set of particles which particles are configured to produce light interference and increase the depth of focus of a human eye; and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
An ophthalmic lens comprising: a lens body; an optic located in the lens body, the optic configured as a set of particles which particles are configured to produce light interference and increase the depth of focus of a human eye; and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for increasing the depth of focus of the human eye, the method comprising: providing an ophthalmic lens, the ophthalmic lens comprising a lens body; an optic located in the lens body, the optic configured to produce light interference, and further configured to positively interfere with parallel light reaching the optic and negatively interfere with diverging light reaching the optic, and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic; and fitting the ophthalmic lens.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for increasing the depth of focus of the human eye, the method comprising: providing an ophthalmic lens, the ophthalmic lens comprising a lens body; an optic located in the lens body, the optic configured to produce light interference, and further configured to positively interfere with parallel light reaching the optic and negatively interfere with diverging light reaching the optic, and a pinhole-like optical aperture substantially in the center of the optic; and fitting the ophthalmic lens.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 21 wherein some of the diverging light passes through the optic.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ophthalmic lens according to claim 22 wherein the optic is configured to spread out the diverging light passing through the optic.
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