Innovations
Over the course of his career, Dr. Brown has invented numerous ophthalmic instruments for cataract and refractive surgery. As an ophthalmologist, he strives to give his patients the best vision possible. As an inventor, he aims to design state-of-the-art instruments to improve surgical processes and improve patient outcomes. Please view Dr. Brown’s inventions below.
Apparatus For Illuminating An Eye Related Application
Eye Marker Device
Eye Marker Device With Electronic Positional Detection System And Tip Associated Therewith
Eye Marker Tip
Corneal Marking Ink
RoboMarker® Corneal Marking System
The RoboMarker® Corneal Marking System is the only self-leveling corneal marking handle with an internal dual-weight pendular system. The integrated fixation light means that the patient is more comfortable because they can be marked the same way that they were measured in the office. The proprietary dry ink formula means that the patients are marked once and can even receive an additional numbing drop before the procedure. Made by Surgilūm.
Surgilūm Speculum™ and iLight™
The Surgilūm Speculum™ and iLight™ creates slit lamp technology right on the speculum, revealing previously unseen anatomical details, while also eliminating reflected microscope glare. Made by Surgilūm.
Registered Patents by Alan W. Brown, M.D. F.A.C.S.
Alan W. Brown, M.D., F.A.C.S. Patents Certificate
Applanation Tonometer, Patent Number 4,987,899
Eye Surgery Fixation Ring Instrument, Patent Number 373,634
Lamellar Illumination Apparatus For Eye Surgery, Patent Number 5,582,608
Lamellar Illumination Apparatus For Eye Surgery, Patent Number 5,695,492
Nucleus Splitter, Patent Number 5,147,368
Surgical Staple, Patent Number 5,007,921
Surgical Staple, Patent Number 5,026,390
Brown Intacs Forceps
This forceps was designed specifically to insert the Intacs micro insert. Unlike the original forceps which required awkward hand and wrist movements, this forceps was been designed to permit insertion with simple finger rotation. Made by Rhein Medical.
Brown Intacs Pocket Starter
The Brown Intacs Pocket Starter is used to initiate a quick dual pocket by placement at the base of the incision with simple rotation. It effectively eliminates three steps of the original procedure and helps protect the epithelium from damage. Many surgeons have found that it has other uses in procedures such as LASEK. Made by Rhein Medical.
Brown Lasek Butterfly Trephine
The Brown LASEK Butterfly Trephine was designed to simplify the butterfly technique. Instead of the surgeon having to score the corneal epithelium, the butterfly trephine provides a scoring mark that spares the visual axis. This allows the creation of two hemi-flaps instead of one larger flap, simplifying the procedure and reducing epithelial manipulation. Made by Rhein Medical.
Brown Lasek Cannula
The LASEK Cannula was designed to combine the epithelial rehydration step with the epithelial repositor step. Now both steps can be done at once with the repositor having a cannula design permitting irrigation while repositing the epithelium. Made by Rhein Medical.
Brown Lasek Nested Trephine
The Nested Trephine was designed to combine two steps of the original LASEK procedure into one. Instead of trephining the epithelium and then having to line up the alcohol well as a separate step, the well and trephine are nested together. This allows them to be placed on the cornea as one unit. Once the trephination is done, the trephine is simply lifted out of the preplaced alcohol well which is already in perfect position for alcohol placement. Made by Rhein Medical.
Brown Limbal Relaxing Incision Guide
The LRI Guide provides a fixation ring to hold the eye with an angled internal surface to be used as a guide for the diamond knife. This allows beautiful arcuate limbal relaxing incisions. The ring is opened in the Thorton fashion and comes with axis markings to allow for planning the axis of astigmatic treatment. Made by Rhein Medical.
Brown Modular Adjustable Speculum
The Modular Speculum is the surgeon’s equivalent of an “erector set” for speculum design. Instead of having to obtain multiple different speculum devices for different surgeries, the surgeon can now combine whatever retractors are desired in tremendously varying combinations to satisfy any surgical need. Made by Rhein Medical.
Brown Swivel Toric Marker
Using the weighted Gimbal principle, the Swivel Marker allows from one to eight arcurate registration marks to be placed on the cornea prior to LASIK, LASEK, or other refractive surgery procedures. The marks also allow precise replacement of the LASIK or LASEK flap. The Swivel Toric Marker combines the benefits of the Swivel and Toric Marker in a weighted Gimbal mechanism. Made by Rhein Medical Inc.
Brown-Grabow Capsular Rhexis Forceps
This is the original “in the wound cross-action capsularrhexis forceps”. This was designed by Dr. Brown four years before similar designs were available by other companies. Like the Nucleus Cracker, it prevents loss of viscoelastic and thereby maintains anterior chamber stability. Made by Rhein Medical.
A.W. Brown Nucleus Cracker
Reverse action instrument designed to insert in the groove cut into the nucleus by the phacoemulsification tip. The paddle tips provide a firm purchase on the nucleus halves. Squeezing the handle spreads the tips to crack the nucleus. During the cracking procedure, the pivot is in the incision providing increased flexibility in positioning the instrument tips and reduces the possibility of anterior chamber collapse. Blue titanium finish for reduced glare. Overall length 90mm.
Brown Seton Inserter
Designed for insertion of the seton into the anterior chamber during placement of several popular glaucoma devices. The forceps is calibrated in millimeters for ease of gauging the depth of seton placement. Angulated tip provides comfortable hand positioning during implantation.