The field of the invention relates generally to corneal implants, and more particularly, to intracorneal inlays.
As is well known, abnormalities in the human eye can lead to vision impairment. Some typical abnormalities include variations in the shape of the eye, which can lead to myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and astigmatism as well as variations in the tissue present throughout the eye, such as a reduction in the elasticity of the lens, which can lead to presbyopia. A variety of technologies have been developed to try and address these abnormalities, including corneal implants.
Corneal implants can correct vision impairment by altering the shape of the cornea. Corneal implants can be classified as an onlay or an inlay. An onlay is an implant that is placed over the cornea such that the outer layer of the cornea, e.g., the epithelium, can grow over and encompass the implant. An inlay is an implant that is surgically implanted into the cornea beneath a portion of the corneal tissue by, for example, cutting a flap in the cornea and inserting the inlay beneath the flap. Both inlays and outlays can alter the refractive power of the cornea by changing the shape of the anterior cornea, by having a different index of refraction than the cornea, or both. Since the cornea is the strongest refracting optical element in the human ocular system, altering the cornea's anterior surface is a particularly useful method for correcting vision impairments caused by refractive errors. Inlays are also useful for correcting other visual impairments including presbyopia.
Provided herein are small diameter inlays for correcting vision impairments by altering the shape of the anterior corneal surface.
In one embodiment, inlays having diameters smaller than the diameter of the pupil are provided for correcting presbyopia. To provide near vision, an inlay is implanted centrally in the cornea to induce an “effect” zone on the anterior corneal surface that is smaller than the optical zone of the cornea, wherein the “effect” zone is the area of the anterior corneal surface affected by the inlay. The implanted inlay increases the curvature of the anterior corneal surface within the “effect” zone, thereby increasing the diopter power of the cornea within the “effect” zone. Because the inlay is smaller than the diameter of the pupil, light rays from distance objects by-pass the inlay and refract using the region of the cornea peripheral to the “effect” zone to create an image of the distant objects on the retina.
The small diameter inlays may be used alone or in conjunction with other refractive procedures. In an embodiment, a small diameter inlay is used in conjunction with LASIK for correcting myopia or hyperopia. In this embodiment, a LASIK procedure is used to correct for distance refractive error and the small diameter inlay is used to provide near vision for presbyopic subjects.
In another embodiment, small diameter inlays are provided that induce effective optical zones on the anterior corneal surface that are much larger in diameter than the inlays. The increase in the effective optical zone allows an inlay to produce a much larger clinical effect on a patient's vision than the diameter of the inlay.
In one embodiment, the effective optical zone induced by the inlay is increased by increasing the draping effect of the inlay. The draping effect extends the area of the anterior corneal surface affected by the inlay, and thereby the effective optical zone induced by the inlay. In an embodiment, the draping effect is increased by increasing the finite edge thickness of the inlay for a given inlay diameter and center thickness.
In another embodiment, inlays having effective optical zones much larger than the inlay diameter are used to correct hyperopia. In this embodiment, the draping effect extends the area of the anterior corneal surface where the curvature is increased, thereby extending the effective optical zone of the inlay and providing increased diopter power over a wider diameter than the inlay diameter. This increase in the effective optical zone allows for the correction of hyperopia using smaller diameter inlays.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. It is also intended that the invention not be limited to the details of the example embodiments.
The inlay 10 changes the refractive power of the cornea by altering the shape of the anterior corneal surface. In
The inlay may have properties similar to those of the cornea (e.g., index of refraction around 1.376, water content of 78%, etc.), and may be made of hydrogel or other clear bio-compatible material. To increase the optical power of the inlay, the inlay may be made of a material with a higher index of refraction than the cornea, e.g., >1.376. Materials that can be used for the inlay include, but are not limited to, Lidofilcon A, Poly-HEMA, poly sulfone, silicone hydrogel, and the like. The index of refraction may be in the range of 1.33 to 1.55.
Presbyopic Inlays
This section discusses the use of small intracorneal inlays having diameters that are small in comparison with the pupil for correcting presbyopia. In the preferred embodiment, a small inlay (e.g., 1 to 2 mm in diameter) is implanted centrally in the cornea to induce an “effect” zone on the anterior corneal surface that is smaller than the optical zone of the cornea for providing near vision. Here, “effect” zone is the area of the anterior corneal surface affected by the inlay. The implanted inlay increases the curvature of the anterior corneal surface within the “effect” zone, thereby increasing the diopter power of the cornea within the “effect” zone. Distance vision is provided by the region of the cornea peripheral to the “effect” zone.
Presbyopia is characterized by a decrease in the ability of the eye to increase its power to focus on nearby objects due to a loss of elasticity in the crystalline lens with age. Typically, a person suffering from Presbyopia requires reading glasses to provide near vision.
To increase the diopter power within the “effect” zone 130, the small inlay has a higher curvature than the pre-implant anterior corneal surface to increase the curvature of the anterior corneal surface within the “effect” zone 130. The inlay may further increase the diopter power within the “effect” zone 130 by having an index of refraction that is higher than the index of refraction of the cornea (ncornea=1.376). Thus, the increase in the diopter power within the “effect” zone 130 may be due to the change in the anterior corneal surface induced by the inlay or a combination of the change in the anterior cornea surface and the index of refraction of the inlay. For early presbyopes (e.g., about 45 to 55 years of age), at least 1 diopter is typically required for near vision. For complete presbyopes (e.g., about 60 years of age or older), between 2 and 3 diopters of additional power is required.
An advantage of the small intracorneal inlay is that when concentrating on nearby objects 140, the pupil naturally becomes smaller (e.g., near point miosis) making the inlay effect even more effective. Further increases in the inlay effect can be achieved by simply increasing the illumination of a nearby object (e.g., turning up a reading light).
Because the inlay is smaller than the diameter of the pupil 115, light rays 150 from distant objects 145 by-pass the inlay and refract using the region of the cornea peripheral to the “effect” zone to create an image of the distant objects on the retina 125, as shown in
A subject's natural distance vision is in focus only if the subject is emmetropic (i.e., does not require glasses for distance vision). Many subjects are ammetropic, requiring either myopic or hyperopic refractive correction. Especially for myopes, distance vision correction can be provided by myopic Laser in Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK), Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis (LASEK), Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) or other similar corneal refractive procedures. After the distance corrective procedure is completed, the small inlay can be implanted in the cornea to provide near vision. Since LASIK requires the creation of a flap, the inlay may be inserted concurrently with the LASIK procedure. The inlay may also be inserted into the cornea after the LASIK procedure since the flap can be re-opened. Therefore, the small inlay may be used in conjunction with other refractive procedures, such as LASIK for correcting myopia or hyperopia.
A method for designing a small inlay to provide near vision will now be described.
The inlay 210 has a finite edge thickness 250. The edge thickness 250 can not be made zero due to the finite material properties of the inlay. The finite edge thickness 250 of the inlay produces a draping effect, as described further below. To minimize the draping effect, the edge thickness 250 of the inlay 210 can be made as small as possible, e.g., less than about 20 microns. In addition to a finite edge thickness 250, the inlay may have a tapered region (not shown) that tapers downward from the anterior surface 215 of the inlay to the edge 250 of the inlay. The tapered region may be 10-30 μm in length.
In
It is useful to define the optical zone diameter (dz) corresponding to the size of the anterior corneal surface affected by the inlay 210, as shown in
A method for designing a small inlay to provide near vision according to an embodiment will now be given.
(1) The first step is to determine the maximum optical zone (dz) that is an acceptable tradeoff between the near vision improvement and the loss of distance vision. Considerations include the pupil size of the specific subject or a group of characteristic subjects (e.g., subjects within a particular age range) while reading nearby objects and the pupil size for distance viewing, especially at night. In an exemplary application, the inlay is placed in one eye to provide near vision and distance correction by other means is performed on the fellow eye. In this example, both eyes contribute to distance vision, with the non-inlay eye providing the sharpest distance vision. The eye with the inlay provides near vision.
(2) Given the empirically derived or theoretically derived relationship between the optical zone (dz) and the inlay diameter (dI), approximate the inlay diameter that achieves the optical zone.
(3) Design the inlay using the method outlined in detail below. This methods is similar to the design methods described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/293,644, titled “Design Of Intracorneal Inlays,” filed on Dec. 1, 2005, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
(4) Finally, use optical ray-trace methods to assess the image quality of distance and near images with the inlay using the entire corneal surface (i.e., the corneal surface within the inlay diameter (dI), between the inlay diameter and the optical zone (dz), and the peripheral to the optical zone). Make small adjustments to the inlay design to optimize the distance and near image quality based on the inlay design method outlined below and the predicted drape shape given by the methods described above.
The design method of step three will now be given.
A first step in the design of an inlay in the central region is determining a thickness profile that the inlay must induce on the anterior corneal surface to produce a desired anterior corneal curvature. The desired ADD power needed to provide near focus dictates the desired anterior corneal curvature in the central region (
A first step in determining the thickness profile of the inlay is to determine an anterior radius of curvature, r′a, that provides the desired refractive change, ΔRx=Rxdist−ADD, where ADD is the desired ADD power prescribed for near vision and Rxdist is the distance refraction prior to inlay implant. Rxdist is approximately zero diopters for emmetropic individuals, or is equal to the achieved or targeted post-operative distance refraction after a surgical procedure to correct the distance ammetropia. The equivalent change in the cornea's refractive power, ΔKequiv, at the anterior surface is given by:
where V is a spectacle vertex distance, e.g., 0.012 meters, from a spectacle to the cornea's anterior surface. The spectacle vertex distance, V, takes into account that measurements of the cornea's refractive power are typically taken with a spectacle located a distance from the cornea's anterior surface, and translates these power measurements to the equivalent power at cornea's anterior surface.
The pre-implant refractive power at the anterior corneal surface may be approximated by Kavg−Kpost, where Kavg is the average corneal refractive power within approximately the optical zone created by the inlay and Kpost is a posterior corneal refractive power. The desired radius of curvature, r′a, of the anterior surface may be given by:
For purposes of design and analysis, Kpost may be approximated as −6 diopters. The pre-implant radius of curvature, rpreimplant, may be approximated by:
rpreimplant=(1.376−1)/(Kavg−Kpost) Equation 3
The two radius of curvatures need not originate from the same origin.
The thickness L(r) of the thickness profile may be given by:
L(r)=Lc+Zpreimplant(r;rpreimplant)−Zanew(r;r′a) and
Lc=Zanew(dI/2)−Zpreimplant(dI/2) Equation 4
where Lc is the center thickness of the thickness profile, Zimplant(r) is the pre-operative anterior corneal surface as a function of r, Zanew (r) is the desired anterior corneal surface as a function of r, and dI is the diameter of the inlay. In the example above, the anterior surfaces Zanew and Zpreimplant were assumed to be spherical. This need not be the case. The anterior surfaces may also be aspheric. More generally, the desired anterior surface Zanew may be a function of desired ADD and also more complex design parameters, e.g., an aspheric surface for higher-order aberration correction. Also, the pre-implant anterior surface Zpreimplant is generally aspheric. For designs requiring aspheric surfaces, the surface function Z(r) may be given by the general aspheric form:
where:
The above expressions for the thickness profile are intended to be exemplary only. Other mathematical expressions or parameters may be used to describe similar or other thickness profiles. Therefore, the invention is not limited to particular mathematical expressions or parameters for describing the thickness profile.
After the required thickness profile L(r) is determined, the inlay is dimensioned to have substantially the same thickness profile. The profiles should have the same thickness to within about one micron, which would cause a diopter difference of about one eight of a diopter if the center thickness differs by one micron. An eight of a diopter is half the accuracy with which ophthalmic refractive errors are manually recorded. Next, the thickness profile of the inlay is increased by the finite edge thickness (hedge) by the manufacturing process. This finite edge thickness is one factor inducing the drape as illustrated in
The design method above assumed that the index of refractive of the inlay is the same as the cornea, in which case changes in refractive power of the cornea is due solely to the change in the anterior corneal surface induced by the inlay. An inlay with intrinsic power (e.g., a higher index of refraction than the cornea) may also be used, in which changes in the refractive power is provided by a combination of the physical inlay shape and the intrinsic power (i.e., index of refraction) of the inlay. Design methods for inlays with intrinsic power is described in application Ser. No. 11/381,056, titled “Design Of Inlays With Intrinsic Diopter Power,” filed on May 1, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Inlays With Increased Effective Optical Zones
For some applications, it is desirable for an inlay to induce an effective optical zone on the anterior corneal surface that is much larger than the inlay diameter. The increase in the effective optical zone allows the inlay to produce a much larger clinical effect on the patient's vision than the actual inlay diameter. In one example, a 1.5 mm-2 mm range diameter inlay has an increased effective optical zone of 4 mm-5 mm, in which the optical effect of the inlay is 2× to 3× greater than its diameter. The increased effective optical zone can also be achieved with inlay diameters outside the above range. For example, the diameter of the inlay may go down to 1 mm or less for some designs, while achieving the desired optical effect.
The increase in the effective optical zone (i.e., “effect” zone) of the inlay can be achieved by increasing the draping effect of the inlay. Increasing the draping effect extends the drape region, and therefore the effective optical zone (i.e., the area of the anterior corneal surface affected by the inlay). The draping effect may be increased, e.g., by increasing the finite edge thickness of the inlay so that the anterior corneal surface returns to its pre-implant surface at a larger radius.
Small diameter inlays inducing effective optical zones much larger than the inlay diameter may be used to correct hyperopia. For example, an inlay with a diameter of 2 mm can provide increased diopter power over an effective optical zone having a diameter of 4 mm. The curvature of the anterior corneal surface in the drape region is greater than the pre-implant anterior corneal surface. Therefore, the draping effect extends the area of the anterior corneal surface where the curvature is increased, thereby extending the effective optical zone of the inlay and providing increased diopter power over a wider diameter than the inlay diameter. This increase in the effective optical zone allows for the correction of hyperopia using smaller diameter inlays.
An inlay with increased effective optical zone may also be used to correct various vision impairments including presbyopia, hyperopia, myopia, and higher order aberrations. In the case of presbyopia, a sufficient “effect” zone may be achieved with an even smaller diameter inlay. For example, a 1 mm diameter inlay may be used to produce a 2 mm diameter “effect” zone.
Clinical data will now be presented in which the effective optical zone induced by an inlay is larger than the inlay diameter. In general, topographic instruments can be used to measure the change in the anterior surface elevation induced by an inlay, calculate the change in the anterior surface curvature and deduce the change in the diopter power.
Diopter power=(nc−1)/sagittal curvature
where nc is the index of refraction of the cornea. Again, the effective optical zone of the inlay was greater than the diameter of the inlay.
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. As another example, each feature of one embodiment can be mixed and matched with other features shown in other embodiments. As yet another example, the order of steps of method embodiments may be changed. Features and processes known to those of ordinary skill may similarly be incorporated as desired. Additionally and obviously, features may be added or subtracted as desired. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/776,458, filed on Feb. 24, 2006.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2714721 | Stone, Jr. | Aug 1955 | A |
3168100 | Rich | Feb 1965 | A |
3343657 | Speshyock | Sep 1967 | A |
3379200 | Pennell | Apr 1968 | A |
3482906 | Volk | Dec 1969 | A |
3743337 | Crary | Jul 1973 | A |
3770113 | Thomas | Nov 1973 | A |
3879076 | Barnett | Apr 1975 | A |
3950315 | Cleaver | Apr 1976 | A |
3996627 | Deeg et al. | Dec 1976 | A |
4030480 | Meyer | Jun 1977 | A |
4037604 | Newkirk | Jul 1977 | A |
4039827 | Zdrok et al. | Aug 1977 | A |
4065816 | Sawyer | Jan 1978 | A |
4071272 | Drdlik | Jan 1978 | A |
4136406 | Norris | Jan 1979 | A |
4157718 | Baehr | Jun 1979 | A |
4184491 | McGannon | Jan 1980 | A |
4194814 | Fischer et al. | Mar 1980 | A |
4238524 | LaLiberte et al. | Dec 1980 | A |
4257521 | Poler | Mar 1981 | A |
4268133 | Fischer et al. | May 1981 | A |
4326306 | Poler | Apr 1982 | A |
4357940 | Muller | Nov 1982 | A |
4392569 | Shoup | Jul 1983 | A |
4418991 | Breger | Dec 1983 | A |
4423809 | Mazzocco | Jan 1984 | A |
4428746 | Mendez | Jan 1984 | A |
4452235 | Reynolds | Jun 1984 | A |
4466705 | Michelson | Aug 1984 | A |
4490860 | Rainin | Jan 1985 | A |
4504982 | Burk | Mar 1985 | A |
4521210 | Wong | Jun 1985 | A |
4525044 | Bauman | Jun 1985 | A |
4545478 | Waldman | Oct 1985 | A |
4554115 | Neefe | Nov 1985 | A |
4554918 | White | Nov 1985 | A |
4565198 | Koeniger | Jan 1986 | A |
4580882 | Nuchman et al. | Apr 1986 | A |
4586929 | Binder | May 1986 | A |
4604087 | Joseph | Aug 1986 | A |
4607617 | Choyce | Aug 1986 | A |
4616910 | Klein | Oct 1986 | A |
4618227 | Bayshore | Oct 1986 | A |
4619256 | Horn | Oct 1986 | A |
4624664 | Peluso et al. | Nov 1986 | A |
4624669 | Grendahl | Nov 1986 | A |
4640595 | Volk | Feb 1987 | A |
4646720 | Peyman et al. | Mar 1987 | A |
4655774 | Choyce | Apr 1987 | A |
4662370 | Hoffmann et al. | May 1987 | A |
4663358 | Hyon et al. | May 1987 | A |
4671276 | Reynolds | Jun 1987 | A |
4676792 | Praeger | Jun 1987 | A |
4697697 | Graham et al. | Oct 1987 | A |
4702244 | Mazzocco | Oct 1987 | A |
4709697 | Muller | Dec 1987 | A |
4726367 | Shoemaker | Feb 1988 | A |
4750901 | Molteno | Jun 1988 | A |
4762496 | Maloney et al. | Aug 1988 | A |
4766895 | Reynolds | Aug 1988 | A |
4769033 | Nordan | Sep 1988 | A |
4772283 | White | Sep 1988 | A |
4778462 | Grendahl | Oct 1988 | A |
4798609 | Grendahl | Jan 1989 | A |
4806382 | Goldberg et al. | Feb 1989 | A |
4836201 | Patton et al. | Jun 1989 | A |
4840175 | Peyman | Jun 1989 | A |
4842599 | Bronstein | Jun 1989 | A |
4844242 | Chen et al. | Jul 1989 | A |
4851003 | Lindstrom | Jul 1989 | A |
4860885 | Kaufman et al. | Aug 1989 | A |
4886488 | White | Dec 1989 | A |
4888016 | Langerman | Dec 1989 | A |
4897981 | Beck | Feb 1990 | A |
4911715 | Kelman | Mar 1990 | A |
4919130 | Stoy et al. | Apr 1990 | A |
4923467 | Thompson | May 1990 | A |
4934363 | Smith et al. | Jun 1990 | A |
4936825 | Ungerleider | Jun 1990 | A |
4946436 | Smith | Aug 1990 | A |
4955903 | Sulc et al. | Sep 1990 | A |
4968296 | Ritch et al. | Nov 1990 | A |
4971732 | Wichterle | Nov 1990 | A |
4976719 | Siepser | Dec 1990 | A |
5019084 | Aysta et al. | May 1991 | A |
5019098 | Mercier | May 1991 | A |
5022414 | Muller | Jun 1991 | A |
5030230 | White | Jul 1991 | A |
5041081 | Odrich | Aug 1991 | A |
5063942 | Kilmer et al. | Nov 1991 | A |
5071276 | Nielsen et al. | Dec 1991 | A |
5073163 | Lippman | Dec 1991 | A |
5092837 | Ritch et al. | Mar 1992 | A |
5098444 | Feaster | Mar 1992 | A |
5108428 | Capecchi et al. | Apr 1992 | A |
5112350 | Civerchia et al. | May 1992 | A |
5123905 | Kelman | Jun 1992 | A |
5123921 | Werblin et al. | Jun 1992 | A |
5139518 | White | Aug 1992 | A |
5171213 | Price, Jr. | Dec 1992 | A |
5173723 | Volk | Dec 1992 | A |
5178604 | Baerveldt et al. | Jan 1993 | A |
5180362 | Worst | Jan 1993 | A |
5181053 | Brown | Jan 1993 | A |
5188125 | Kilmer et al. | Feb 1993 | A |
5190552 | Kelman | Mar 1993 | A |
5192317 | Kalb | Mar 1993 | A |
5196026 | Barrett et al. | Mar 1993 | A |
5211660 | Grasso | May 1993 | A |
5225858 | Portney | Jul 1993 | A |
5229797 | Futhey et al. | Jul 1993 | A |
5244799 | Anderson | Sep 1993 | A |
5258042 | Mehta | Nov 1993 | A |
5270744 | Portney | Dec 1993 | A |
5273750 | Homiger et al. | Dec 1993 | A |
5282851 | Jacob-LaBarre | Feb 1994 | A |
5300020 | L'Esperance, Jr. | Apr 1994 | A |
5300116 | Chirila et al. | Apr 1994 | A |
5312413 | Eaton et al. | May 1994 | A |
5318044 | Kilmer et al. | Jun 1994 | A |
5318046 | Rozakis | Jun 1994 | A |
5318047 | Davenport et al. | Jun 1994 | A |
5336261 | Barrett et al. | Aug 1994 | A |
5338291 | Speckman et al. | Aug 1994 | A |
5344448 | Schneider et al. | Sep 1994 | A |
5346464 | Camras | Sep 1994 | A |
5370607 | Memmen | Dec 1994 | A |
5372577 | Ungerleider | Dec 1994 | A |
5385582 | Ommaya | Jan 1995 | A |
5391201 | Barrett et al. | Feb 1995 | A |
5397300 | Baerveldt et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
5405384 | Silvestrini | Apr 1995 | A |
5428412 | Stoyan | Jun 1995 | A |
5433701 | Rubinstein | Jul 1995 | A |
5454796 | Krupin | Oct 1995 | A |
5458819 | Chirila et al. | Oct 1995 | A |
5467149 | Morrison et al. | Nov 1995 | A |
5474562 | Orchowski et al. | Dec 1995 | A |
5476445 | Baerveldt et al. | Dec 1995 | A |
5489301 | Barber | Feb 1996 | A |
5493350 | Seidner | Feb 1996 | A |
5502518 | Lieberman | Mar 1996 | A |
5512220 | Roffman et al. | Apr 1996 | A |
5520631 | Nordquist et al. | May 1996 | A |
5521656 | Portney | May 1996 | A |
5530491 | Baude et al. | Jun 1996 | A |
5533997 | Ruiz | Jul 1996 | A |
5570142 | Lieberman | Oct 1996 | A |
5591185 | Kilmer et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
5598234 | Blum et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
5616148 | Eagles et al. | Apr 1997 | A |
5620450 | Eagles et al. | Apr 1997 | A |
5628794 | Lindstrom | May 1997 | A |
5630810 | Machat | May 1997 | A |
5634943 | Villain et al. | Jun 1997 | A |
5643276 | Zaleski | Jul 1997 | A |
5657108 | Portney | Aug 1997 | A |
5682223 | Menezes et al. | Oct 1997 | A |
5684560 | Roffman et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
5715031 | Roffman et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
5716633 | Civerchia | Feb 1998 | A |
5722948 | Gross | Mar 1998 | A |
5722971 | Peyman | Mar 1998 | A |
5728155 | Anello et al. | Mar 1998 | A |
5752928 | de Roulhac et al. | May 1998 | A |
5755785 | Rowsey et al. | May 1998 | A |
5766181 | Chambers et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
5772667 | Blake | Jun 1998 | A |
5785674 | Mateen | Jul 1998 | A |
5800442 | Wolf et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
5800529 | Brauker et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
5805260 | Roffman et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
5810833 | Brady et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
5817115 | Nigam | Oct 1998 | A |
5824086 | Silvestrini | Oct 1998 | A |
5847802 | Menezes et al. | Dec 1998 | A |
5855604 | Lee | Jan 1999 | A |
5860984 | Chambers et al. | Jan 1999 | A |
5872613 | Blum et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
5873889 | Chin | Feb 1999 | A |
5876439 | Lee | Mar 1999 | A |
5888243 | Silverstrini | Mar 1999 | A |
5913898 | Feingold | Jun 1999 | A |
5919185 | Peyman | Jul 1999 | A |
5928245 | Wolf et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
5929968 | Cotie et al. | Jul 1999 | A |
5929969 | Roffman | Jul 1999 | A |
5941583 | Raimondi | Aug 1999 | A |
5944752 | Silvestrini | Aug 1999 | A |
5945498 | Hopken et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
5964748 | Peyman | Oct 1999 | A |
5964776 | Peyman | Oct 1999 | A |
5968065 | Chin | Oct 1999 | A |
5976150 | Copeland | Nov 1999 | A |
5976168 | Chin | Nov 1999 | A |
5980549 | Chin | Nov 1999 | A |
6007510 | Nigam | Dec 1999 | A |
6010510 | Brown et al. | Jan 2000 | A |
6024448 | Wu et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
6033395 | Peyman | Mar 2000 | A |
6036714 | Chin | Mar 2000 | A |
6050999 | Paraschac et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6055990 | Thompson | May 2000 | A |
6066170 | Lee | May 2000 | A |
6068642 | Johnson et al. | May 2000 | A |
6079826 | Appleton et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
6083231 | Van Noy et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
6086202 | Chateau et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
6090141 | Lindstrom | Jul 2000 | A |
6102946 | Nigam | Aug 2000 | A |
6110166 | Juhasz et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6120148 | Fiala et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
6125294 | Scholl et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
6129733 | Brady et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
6139560 | Kremer | Oct 2000 | A |
6142969 | Nigam | Nov 2000 | A |
6143001 | Brown et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6159241 | Lee et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
6171324 | Cote et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6175754 | Scholl et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
RE37071 | Gabrielian et al. | Feb 2001 | E |
6183513 | Guenthner et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6197019 | Peyman | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6197057 | Peyman et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6197058 | Portney | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6203538 | Peyman | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6203549 | Waldock | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6203557 | Chin | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6206919 | Lee | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6210005 | Portney | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6214015 | Reich et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6214044 | Silverstrini | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6217571 | Peyman | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6221067 | Peyman | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6228114 | Lee | May 2001 | B1 |
6248111 | Glick et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6250757 | Roffman et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6251114 | Farmer et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6264648 | Peyman | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6264670 | Chin | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6264692 | Woffinden et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6267768 | Deacon et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6271281 | Liao et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6277137 | Chin | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6280449 | Blake | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6280470 | Peyman | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6283595 | Breger | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6302877 | Ruiz | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6325509 | Hodur et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6325792 | Swinger et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6361560 | Nigam | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6364483 | Grossinger et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6371960 | Heyman et al. | Apr 2002 | B2 |
6391230 | Sarbadhikari | May 2002 | B1 |
6398277 | McDonald | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6398789 | Capetan | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6428572 | Nagai | Aug 2002 | B2 |
6435681 | Portney | Aug 2002 | B2 |
6436092 | Peyman | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6447519 | Brady et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6447520 | Ott et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6458141 | Peyman | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6461384 | Hoffmann et al. | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6471708 | Green | Oct 2002 | B2 |
6474814 | Griffin | Nov 2002 | B1 |
6506200 | Chin | Jan 2003 | B1 |
6511178 | Roffman et al. | Jan 2003 | B1 |
6527389 | Portney | Mar 2003 | B2 |
6537283 | Van Noy | Mar 2003 | B2 |
6543610 | Nigam | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6544286 | Perez | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6551307 | Peyman | Apr 2003 | B2 |
6554424 | Miller et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6554425 | Roffman et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6557998 | Portney | May 2003 | B2 |
6581993 | Nigam | Jun 2003 | B2 |
6582076 | Roffman et al. | Jun 2003 | B1 |
6589203 | Mitrev | Jul 2003 | B1 |
6589280 | Koziol | Jul 2003 | B1 |
6592591 | Polla et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
6596000 | Chan et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
6605093 | Blake | Aug 2003 | B1 |
6607537 | Binder | Aug 2003 | B1 |
6607556 | Nigam | Aug 2003 | B1 |
6623522 | Nigam | Sep 2003 | B2 |
6626941 | Nigam | Sep 2003 | B2 |
6629979 | Feingold et al. | Oct 2003 | B1 |
6632244 | Nigam | Oct 2003 | B1 |
6645246 | Weinschenk, III et al. | Nov 2003 | B1 |
6648877 | Juhasz et al. | Nov 2003 | B1 |
6657029 | Vanderbilt | Dec 2003 | B2 |
6666887 | Callahan et al. | Dec 2003 | B1 |
6673112 | Nigam | Jan 2004 | B2 |
6709103 | Roffman et al. | Mar 2004 | B1 |
6712848 | Wolf et al. | Mar 2004 | B1 |
6723104 | Ott | Apr 2004 | B2 |
6733507 | McNicholas et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
6733526 | Paul et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
6808262 | Chapoy et al. | Oct 2004 | B2 |
6824178 | Nigam | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6855163 | Peyman | Feb 2005 | B2 |
6875232 | Nigam | Apr 2005 | B2 |
6879402 | Küchel | Apr 2005 | B2 |
6881197 | Nigam | Apr 2005 | B1 |
6893461 | Nigam | May 2005 | B2 |
6949093 | Peyman | Sep 2005 | B1 |
7128351 | Nigam | Oct 2006 | B2 |
20010027314 | Peyman | Oct 2001 | A1 |
20010051826 | Bogaert et al. | Dec 2001 | A1 |
20020055753 | Silvestrini | May 2002 | A1 |
20020101563 | Miyamura et al. | Aug 2002 | A1 |
20020103538 | Hughes et al. | Aug 2002 | A1 |
20030014042 | Juhasz et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
20030033010 | Hicks et al. | Feb 2003 | A1 |
20030069637 | Lynch et al. | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20030078487 | Jeffries et al. | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20030229303 | Haffner et al. | Dec 2003 | A1 |
20040019379 | Glick et al. | Jan 2004 | A1 |
20040034413 | Christensen | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20040049267 | Nigam | Mar 2004 | A1 |
20040054408 | Glick et al. | Mar 2004 | A1 |
20040073303 | Schanzlin | Apr 2004 | A1 |
20050080484 | Marmo et al. | Apr 2005 | A1 |
20050080485 | Nigam | Apr 2005 | A1 |
20050113844 | Nigam | May 2005 | A1 |
20050119738 | Nigam | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20050143717 | Peyman | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20050178394 | Slade | Aug 2005 | A1 |
20050182350 | Nigam | Aug 2005 | A1 |
20050203494 | Holliday | Sep 2005 | A1 |
20050246015 | Miller | Nov 2005 | A1 |
20050246016 | Miller et al. | Nov 2005 | A1 |
20060020267 | Marmo | Jan 2006 | A1 |
20060116762 | Hong et al. | Jun 2006 | A1 |
20060142780 | Pynson et al. | Jun 2006 | A1 |
20060142781 | Pynson et al. | Jun 2006 | A1 |
20060212041 | Nigam | Sep 2006 | A1 |
20060235430 | Le et al. | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20070027538 | Aharoni et al. | Feb 2007 | A1 |
20070129797 | Lang et al. | Jun 2007 | A1 |
20070255401 | Lang | Nov 2007 | A1 |
20070280994 | Cunanan | Dec 2007 | A1 |
20080262610 | Lang et al. | Oct 2008 | A1 |
20090198325 | Holliday et al. | Aug 2009 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
3208729 | Sep 1983 | DE |
0308077 | Mar 1989 | EP |
0420549 | Apr 1991 | EP |
01-195853 | Aug 1989 | JP |
02-211119 | Aug 1990 | JP |
5502811 | May 1993 | JP |
08-501009 | Feb 1996 | JP |
9-504706 | May 1997 | JP |
2000506056 | May 2000 | JP |
03-508135 | Mar 2003 | JP |
WO 9626690 | Sep 1996 | WO |
WO 9808549 | Mar 1998 | WO |
WO 9848715 | Nov 1998 | WO |
WO 9917691 | Apr 1999 | WO |
WO 9921513 | May 1999 | WO |
WO 9930645 | Jun 1999 | WO |
WO 0038594 | Jul 2000 | WO |
WO 03041616 | May 2003 | WO |
WO 03061518 | Jul 2003 | WO |
WO 03101341 | Dec 2003 | WO |
WO 2006029316 | Apr 2006 | WO |
WO 2006060363 | Jun 2006 | WO |
WO 2007101016 | Sep 2007 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20070203577 A1 | Aug 2007 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60776458 | Feb 2006 | US |