The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 08, 1991
Filed:
Dec. 22, 1989
H Alfred Sklar, San Francisco, CA (US);
Alan M Frank, Livermore, CA (US);
Charles McMillan, Livermore, CA (US);
Olga M Ferrer, Miami, FL (US);
Phoenix Laser Systems, Inc., San Francisco, CA (US);
Abstract
An ophthalmic diagnostic instrument determines the shape of the cornea through projection of an image onto the cornea through the optics of the diagnostic instrument. The instrument and the method of the invention involve folding a projected pattern of discrete separated point light sources so that the pattern is projected toward the eye coaxially with return collected light reflected off the cornea. The instrument avoids any need for a pattern light source directly adjacent to the eye, and provides the surgeon or other eye care specialist with a real time image accurately displaying the shape of the cornea. The surgeon is thus able to monitor the corneal shape prior to surgery, to monitor its changes during the course of the surgery, and to further monitor the cornea in post operative stages. In a specific embodiment of the invention, a real image of the pattern of point light sources is formed inside or very closely in front of the objective lens of the system so that the objective lens becomes a field lens and the angle of view of the system is enlarged.