James Aaron Freeman

US Patent:

6394999, May 28, 2002

Filed:

Mar 13, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/524312

Inventors:

Roy E. Williams - Collierville TN
James F. Freeman - Memphis TN
Jerre M. Freeman - Memphis TN

Assignee:

Memphis Eye Cataract Associates Ambulatory Surgery Center - Memphis TN

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 5, 606 4, 356 2, 351212, 128898

Abstract:

A system and method for performing corneal ablation or reshaping with a laser in order to correct aberrations in the optical system of the eye utilizes a wavefront sensor which defines a wavefront correction for the eye and then, based upon that defined wavefront correction, drives a digital micromirror device (DMD) which modulates a laser beam to the eye to perform the correction. As the DMD is a 2-D array of individually controlled mirrors, and the wavefront sensor analysis can provide a sequence of two dimensional arrays of values which together define the wavefront correction for the eye, the combination of the two produces a method for correcting the corneal surface. The system may be operated in either of two manners to achieve optimum refractive corrections: (1) off-line measurement of the eye optical system via the wavefront sensor followed by DMD-based laser refractive surgery, or (2) real-time measurement of the eye optical system via the wavefront sensor which directs a DMD-based laser refractive surgery system.

US Patent:

6508812, Jan 21, 2003

Filed:

May 9, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/567264

Inventors:

Roy E. Williams - Collierville TN
Jerre M. Freeman - Memphis TN
James F. Freeman - Memphis TN

Assignee:

Memphis Eye Cataract Associates Ambulatory Surgery Center - Memphis TN

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 5, 606 4, 606 10, 606 17

Abstract:

A laser eye surgery system includes a laser for producing a laser beam capable of making refractive corrections, an optical system for shaping and conditioning the laser beam, a digital micromirror device (DMD) for reflecting the shaped and conditioned beam toward the eye, a computer system for controlling the mirrors of the DMD, and an eye tracking system which tracks the position of the eye and provides feedback to the computer system. The computer system includes software which permits the DMD to emulate the patterns and laser beam control provided in all prior art broadbeam systems and scanning spot systems. All that is required is a selection in the software to operate thereunder. Moreover, the laser surgery system can be coupled to or adapted to receive data from corneal topographers or wavefront sensor systems and utilize such data to increase the quality of correction above and beyond prior approaches. Furthermore, the laser surgery system can provide much greater resolution than prior art systems.

US Patent:

6766042, Jul 20, 2004

Filed:

Apr 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/842539

Inventors:

James F. Freeman - Memphis TN
Roy E. Williams - Collierville TN

Assignee:

Memphis Eye Contact Associates - Memphis TN

International Classification:

G06K 900

US Classification:

382128, 348 78

Abstract:

An automated eye corneal striae detection system for use with a refractive laser system includes a cornea illuminator, a video camera interface, a computer, and a video display for showing possible eye corneal striae to the surgeon. The computer includes an interface to control the corneal illuminator, a video frame grabber which extracts images of the eye cornea from the video camera, and is programmed to detect and recognize eye corneal striae. The striae detection algorithm finds possible cornea striae, determines their location, or position, on the cornea and analyzes their shape. After all possible eye corneal striae are detected and analyzed, they are displayed for the surgeon on an external video display. The surgeon can then make a determination as to whether the corneal LASIK flap should be refloated, adjusted or smoothed again.

US Patent:

20020159619, Oct 31, 2002

Filed:

Nov 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/008883

Inventors:

Brian Callies - Cordova TN, US
Roy Williams - Collierville TN, US
James Freeman - Memphis TN, US

Assignee:

Memphis Eye & Cataract Associates Ambulatory Surgery Center (dba MECA Laser & Surgery Center)

International Classification:

G06K009/00

US Classification:

382/128000

Abstract:

An automated eye corneal striae detection system for use with a refractive laser system includes a cornea illuminator, a video camera interface, a computer, and a video display for showing possible eye corneal striae to the surgeon. The computer includes an interface to control the corneal illuminator, a video frame grabber that extracts images of the eye cornea from the video camera, and is programmed to detect and recognize eye corneal striae. The striae detection algorithm finds possible cornea striae, determines their location, or position, on the cornea and analyzes their shape. After all possible eye corneal striae are detected and analyzed, they are displayed for the surgeon on an external video display. The surgeon can then make a determination as to whether the corneal LASIK flap should be refloated, adjusted or smoothed again.

US Patent:

20020159620, Oct 31, 2002

Filed:

Nov 8, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/008884

Inventors:

Roy Williams - Collierville TN, US
James Freeman - Memphis TN, US

Assignee:

Memphis Eye & Cataract Associates Ambulatory Surgery Center (dba MECA Laser and Surgery Center)

International Classification:

G06K009/00

US Classification:

382/128000, 382/203000

Abstract:

An automated eye corneal striae detection system for use with a refractive laser system includes a cornea illuminator, a video camera interface, a computer, and a video display for showing possible eye corneal striae to the surgeon. The computer includes an interface to control the corneal illuminator, a video frame grabber that extracts images of the eye cornea from the video camera, and is programmed to detect and recognize eye corneal striae. The striae detection algorithm finds possible cornea striae, determines their location, or position, on the cornea and analyzes their shape. After all possible eye corneal striae are detected and analyzed, they are displayed for the surgeon on an external video display. The surgeon can then make a determination as to whether the corneal LASIK flap should be refloated, adjusted or smoothed again.

US Patent:

20020159621, Oct 31, 2002

Filed:

Mar 6, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/091621

Inventors:

Brian Callies - Cordova TN, US
Roy Williams - Collierville TN, US
James Freeman - Memphis TN, US

Assignee:

Memphis Eye & Cataract Associates Ambulatory Surgery Center (dba MECA Laser and Surgery Center)

International Classification:

G06K009/00

US Classification:

382/128000

Abstract:

An automated eye corneal striae detection system for use with a refractive laser system includes a cornea illuminator, a video camera interface, a computer, and a video display for showing possible eye corneal striae to the surgeon. The computer includes an interface to control the corneal illuminator, a video frame grabber that extracts images of the eye cornea from the video camera, and is programmed to detect and recognize eye corneal striae. The striae detection algorithm finds possible cornea striae, determines their location, or position, on the cornea and analyzes their shape. After all possible eye corneal striae are detected and analyzed, they are displayed for the surgeon on an external video display. The surgeon can then make a determination as to whether the corneal LASIK flap should be refloated, adjusted or smoothed again.

US Patent:

62804367, Aug 28, 2001

Filed:

Aug 10, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/371195

Inventors:

Jerre M. Freeman - Memphis TN
James F. Freeman - Memphis TN
Roy E. Williams - Collierville TN

Assignee:

Memphis Eye & Cataract Associates Ambulatory Surgery Center - Memphis TN

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 5

Abstract:

An eye tracking and positioning system for use with a refractive laser system includes a camera interface, a computer, and a system for moving the patient relative to the laser beam. The computer includes a video frame grabber which extracts images of the eye from the camera, and is programmed to perform an eye tracking algorithm. The eye tracking algorithm calculates the exact center of the eye pupil, and compares the center with the desired location of the laser beam, as determined by a surgeon, with an image processing algorithm. If the relative location of the eye center and the laser beam fall outside a predetermined value, the patient chair, and thereby the patient, is repositioned relative to the laser beam, as opposed to the laser beam being repositioned relative to the patient. The repositioning counters the movement of the eye.