Alcon Laboratories, Inc.

Alcon, Inc.

Novartis Ag

Alcon Universal Ltd.

Verseye, Inc.

Christopher C Jung

John Christopher Huculak

Russell L Finlay

Nader Nazarifar

Kirk Wellington Todd

Paul J Essex

William W Furniss

Douglas Elmer Wallace, Jr

Richard A Buck

Certain embodiments provide a self-checking photoelectric sensor that is configured to determine a characteristic (e.g., an amount of blockage and/or wellness/decay) of an optical pathway (e.g., an electro-optical pathway). An example method generally includes increasing, over a time period that starts at a first time, a current input to a light emitting element (LEE). The method generally includes receiving, by a light detection element, an output of the LEE via the optical pathway during the time period. The method generally includes converting, during the time period, the LEE output to a voltage output. The method generally includes determining a second time in the time period when the voltage output crosses a threshold. The method generally includes determining the characteristic of the optical pathway between the LEE and the light detection element based on a difference between the second time and the first time.

Self-checking photoelectric sensor and method of operation

A microsurgical system, and a foot controller for the improved operation of a microsurgical system, are disclosed. A surgeon may use the foot controller to simultaneously control multiple surgical parameters based upon movement of a foot pedal of the foot controller in a single plane of motion.

Simultaneous proportional control of surgical parameters in a microsurgical system

A hand-held, portable apparatus has been disclosed to facilitate the viewing of an object by the human eye. The apparatus provides an electronic camera unit disposed on a holder mechanism and in electrical communication with an image processor module to capture the image of an object and format the image for display on a display device also disposed on the holder mechanism. At least one user-interfaced control mechanism is also disposed on the holder mechanism and in electrical communication with the image processor module for controlling the operations of the module to regulate display of the image by the display device. In this way the viewing of an object by the human eye is facilitated by the use of camera and the image enhancing features of the image processor module.

Apparatus for facilitating viewing by human eye

A method of operating a microsurgical instrument, such as a vitrectomy probe, is disclosed. The probe includes a port for receiving tissue and an inner cutting member. A flow of tissue is induced into the port with a vacuum source, and the member is actuated in a cyclic manner to open and close the port over a plurality of cut rates. A duty cycle of the member is varied with the cut rate to vary the flow of the tissue into the port. The method yields the ability to adjust flow rate into the probe and aperture of the probe for a given cut rate so as to effectively perform a wide variety of vitreoretinal surgical objectives.

Method of operating microsurgical instruments

A cassette having, in a first embodiment, a series of break-off, prismatic tabs integrally formed in the cassette that can be optically sensed by the surgical instrument.

Identification system for a surgical cassette

Indentification system for a surgical cassette

An array of four infrared LEDs and an array of four phototransistor receivers with each LED and phototransistor mounted inside a light baffle. The LEDs are positioned in a substantially vertical array just outside one side wall of the cassette. The vertical line on which the LEDs are arranged is substantially parallel to the direction in which the fluid/air interface moves within the cassette. The LEDs are aimed upwardly at an angle of approximately 20.degree. from horizontal. A corresponding substantially vertical array of four phototransistor receivers is mounted outside the cassette opposite the LEDs such that each of the receivers is aimed at its corresponding LED.

Apparatus and method for sensing fluid level

A process control system according to the present invention uses analog control circuitry in which a differential amplifier stage is incorporated into the feedback path rather that the feedforward path to enable the control of highly non-linear processes that may also exhibit high levels of hysteresis. Such processes often have superior performance characteristics that conventional control circuitry cannot exploit. The present invention additionally incorporates an automatic control circuit which varies the gain of various stages the control circuitry when the output of the process is within a predetermined range. An embodiment of the present invention is used to control a nonlinear proportional valve with severe hysteresis. The valve regulates the pressure within pressure-driven ophthalmic surgical instruments, which must be controlled extremely precisely to enable successful eye surgery.

Growing community of inventors

Mission Viejo, CA, United States of America

Christopher C Jung