Patents Assigned to Alcon, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20240148554
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for adjusting an intraocular lens (IOL) with optical coherence tomography (OCT) guidance. The IOL can comprise an optic portion and a plurality of haptics. In one embodiment, a method can comprise directing a laser beam generated by a laser system at a composite material making up part of the IOL. At least part of the composite material can expand in volume in response to the laser beam directed at the composite material. The method can also comprise measuring a volume change of the composite material or a change in at least part of the IOL by analyzing OCT images produced by an OCT imaging apparatus and determining a change in a base power of the IOL based on the measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Sumit PALIWAL, Zsolt BOR
  • Patent number: 11975881
    Abstract: A carrier (1) for the simultaneous measurement of sealing temperature, sealing time and sealing force in a primary packaging line for ophthalmic lenses comprises a temperature sensing plate (2), a force sensing plate (3), and a supporting plate (4). Temperature sensing plate (2) is arranged atop force sensing plate (3), which is arranged atop supporting plate (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Jens Wolfstädter, Alfred Fischer, Felix Brinckmann, Nils Schweizer
  • Patent number: 11975499
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for producing photochromic contact lenses, in particular, photochromic silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The method comprises a step of cast molding of a lens-forming composition including a vinylic monomer having a primary amino or thiolactone group to form an unprocessed contact lens having the polymer matrix of which have pendant primary amino or thiolactone groups, a step of one-pot multistep reactions based on thiolactone chemistry (aminolysis and thiol-induced graft polymerization of a photochromic vinylic monomer to the polymer matrix) which are carried out only in its central region which is circular and concentric with the central axis of the unprocessed contact lens. The obtained photochromic contact lens has a central pupillary region that only can undergo a reversible color change upon exposure to UV/HEVL-radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan Chang, Junhao Ge, Steve Yun Zhang
  • Patent number: 11974642
    Abstract: A lens care container (1), in particular for contact lenses such as hard or soft contact lenses, comprises: a receptacle (2) for receiving a lens and a lens care liquid, a cap (3) configured to be attached to the receptacle (2) to close the receptacle (2), a sensor (5) configured to indicate an actual loading of the container (1) with germs or configured to indicate a pH value of the lens care liquid in the receptacle (2). The sensor (5) is arranged in the receptacle (2) when the cap (3) is attached to the receptacle (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Biel, Matthias Schwab, Justyna Justynska-Reimann
  • Publication number: 20240138675
    Abstract: A visualization system for dynamically visualizing an eye includes a laser module operable for outputting a primary laser beam along a beam axis, a beam splitter positioned in the beam axis and configured to direct a first beam portion along the beam axis and a second beam portion along a detection axis that is orthogonal to the beam axis. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) scanner is arranged on the beam axis and configured, in response to the first beam portion, to output a scanning laser along a visualization path. An avalanche photodiode (APD) detector receives the second beam portion. A 4F correlator optical system has a spatial filter arranged along the visualization path. An optional optical flat may be disposed between the eye and the 4F correlator optical system to achieve stereo parallax.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Steven T. Charles
  • Patent number: 11969215
    Abstract: System and method for imaging a target site with a housing assembly having a head unit configured to be at least partially directed towards the target site. An optical coherence tomography (OCT) module and stereoscopic visualization camera are at least partially located in the head unit and configured to obtain a first set and a second of volumetric data of the target site, respectively. A controller is configured to register the first set of volumetric data with the second set of volumetric data to create a third set of registered volumetric data. The third set of registered volumetric data and second set of volumetric data are rendered, via a volumetric render module, to a first and second region. The first region and the second region are overlaid to obtain a composite shared view of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok Burton Tripathi, George Charles Polchin, Maximiliano Ramirez Luna, Patrick Terry, Thomas Paul Riederer
  • Patent number: 11974053
    Abstract: A stereoscopic imaging platform includes a stereoscopic camera configured to record left and right images of a target site. A robotic arm is operatively connected to the stereoscopic camera, the robotic arm being adapted to selectively move the stereoscopic camera relative to the target. The stereoscopic camera includes a lens assembly having at least one lens and defining a working distance. The lens assembly has at least one focus motor adapted to move the at least one lens to selectively vary the working distance. A controller is adapted to selectively execute one or more automatic focusing modes for the stereoscopic camera. The automatic focusing modes include a continuous autofocus mode adapted to maintain a focus of the at least one stereoscopic image while the robotic arm is moving the stereoscopic camera and the target site is moving along at least an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Terry
  • Patent number: 11963867
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a curvature-changing, accommodative intraocular lens (IOL) for implantation in the capsular bag of a patient's eye. The IOL includes a fluid optic body having a cavity for containing an optical fluid, the cavity at least partially defined by a sidewall extending around the cavity and defining a diameter of the cavity and a deformable optical membrane intersecting the sidewall around a circumference of the sidewall and spanning the diameter of the cavity. The IOL further includes a second optic body spaced a distance apart from the fluid optic body and a plurality of struts extending from the sidewall and coupling the fluid optic body to the second optic body. The struts are configured such that axial compression of the capsular bag causes the struts to deform the sidewall in a manner that increases the diameter of the cavity, modifying a curvature of the deformable optical membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: David Borja, Lauren Gerardi, Shinwook Lee
  • Patent number: 11957570
    Abstract: An ophthalmic device includes an optic including an optic axis and a closed-loop haptic structure coupled to the optic via a frame surrounding the optic, the closed-loop haptic structure including a closed loop extending from first and second attachment points to the frame. The closed loop includes a first hinge and a second hinge. The first hinge has a first section having a first component extending in a first angular direction, a second section having a second component extending in a second angular direction opposite to the first angular direction, and a first connecting section between the first section and the second section. The second hinge has a third section having a third component extending in the second angular direction, a fourth section having a fourth component extending in the first angular direction, the fourth section being connected to the second section to form the closed loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Kyu Lee, Stephen John Collins, Ian Michael Marks, Jonathan David Mccann, Jian Liu, Douglas Brent Wensrich, Stephen J. Van Noy
  • Patent number: 11952449
    Abstract: The invention is related to a class of hydrophilic poly(meth)acrylamide-based copolymers each comprising dangling (i.e., pendant) reactive chains each terminated with a carboxyl group groups and at least 50% by mole of (meth)acrylamide repeating units relative to all repeating units of the hydrophilic poly(meth)acrylamide-based copolymer. The hydrophilic copolymers have a relatively high affinity to a base coating of a polyanionic polymer on a medical device or contact lens and are highly reactive towards azetidinium groups of an azetidinium-containing polymer upon heating. They can find particular use in producing water-soluble highly-branched hydrophilic polymeric material and in producing water gradient contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Chang, Feng Jing, Troy Vernon Holland, Chung-Yuan Chiang, John Dallas Pruitt
  • Patent number: 11950969
    Abstract: A tracking system for quantifying retinal traction on a retina of a patient eye includes an indicator device, a stereo camera, and an electronic control unit (ECU). The stereo camera collects and outputs stereo image data. The ECU, which is in communication with the indicator device, executes a method by receiving the stereo image data from the stereo camera during an ophthalmic procedure and thereafter assigning tracking points as coinciding pixels within stereo image pairs. The ECU also automatically performs a digital image correlation (DIC) process using the stereo image pairs to ascertain relative motion of the tracking points, and associates relative motion of the tracking points with the retinal traction using a traction map. A numeric traction quotient is generated that is indicative of magnitude of retinal traction. The ECU executes a control action using the indicator device based on the numeric traction quotient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Niccolo Maschio
  • Patent number: 11950845
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods and apparatus for accurate identification of the visual axis of the eye. In one embodiment, a visual axis identification system includes a fixation light source, a camera, a processing system, and a multifocal lens. The patient focuses their gaze through the multifocal lens and onto a fixation light beam provided by the fixation light source. The passage of the fixation light beam through the multifocal lens creates two or more images on or near to the patient's retina. The multifocal lens and/or the patient's eye are then moved relative to each other while the patient continuously maintains their gaze on the fixation light beam. The patient's visual axis may be located by determining the location of the optical center of the multifocal trial lens relative to the patient's eye when the centers of the multiple images coincide on the retina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Zsolt Bor
  • Patent number: 11950844
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide improved ocular aberrometry. An ocular aberrometry system includes a wavefront sensor configured to provide wavefront sensor data associated with an optical target monitored by the ocular aberrometry system and a logic device configured to communicate with the wavefront sensor. The logic device is configured to determine a complex analysis engine for the ocular aberrometry system based, at least in part, on an aberrometer model and/or an eye model associated with the ocular aberrometry system, wherein the aberrometer model and the eye model are based, at least in part, on wavefront sensor data provided by the wavefront sensor. The logic device is also configured to generate a compact analysis engine for the ocular aberrometry system based, at least in part, on the determined complex analysis engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Max Hall, Thomas Padrick, Edwin Jay Sarver
  • Patent number: 11944379
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a compatibility between a multi-focal contact lens and a patient seeking presbyopia vision correction include receiving, from a first device associated with a first eye-care professional (ECP), a request for selecting a contact lens for a consumer, wherein the request comprises biometric information associated with the consumer; obtaining a performance metric associated with the first ECP; determining, using the machine learning model and based on the performance metric, a customized compatibility index indicating a compatibility between a particular contact lens and the consumer for the first ECP; and presenting a report indicating the compatibility index on the first device. Additional systems, methods, and non-transitory machine-readable mediums are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh Sarangapani, Kevin Baker
  • Patent number: 11944535
    Abstract: A method and system provide an ophthalmic device. The ophthalmic device includes an ophthalmic lens having anterior surface, a posterior surface and at least one diffractive structure including a plurality of zones. The at least one diffractive structure is for at least one of the anterior surface and the posterior surface. Each zone includes at least one echelette having a least one step height. The step height(s) are individually optimized for each zone. To compensate chromatic aberration of eye from distance to a range of vision, a greater than 2? phase step height may be employed and the step height(s) folded by a phase, which is an integer multiple of two multiplied by ?. Hence chromatic aberration of eye may be compensated to improve vision from distance to near.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Hong, Shinwook Lee
  • Patent number: 11945895
    Abstract: The invention provides a class of photochromic polydiorganosiloxane vinylic crosslinkers. Each of the photochromic polydiorganosiloxane vinylic crosslinkers of the invention comprise (1) a polydiorganosiloxane polymer chain comprising dimethylsiloxane units and photochromic siloxane unit having one methyl substituent and one organic substituent having a photochromic moiety that capable of undergoing a reversible color change upon exposure to UV-irradiation or high-energy-violet light; (2) two terminal ethylenically-unsaturated groups. The invention also provides a soft photochromic contact lens, especially a photochromic silicone hydrogel contact lens, which comprises a crosslinked polymeric material comprising repeating units of at least one of such a class of photochromic polydiorganosiloxane vinylic crosslinkers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan Chang, Junhao Ge, Steve Yun Zhang, Weihong Lang
  • Patent number: 11945181
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for producing photochromic silicone hydrogel contact lenses in a relatively efficient and consistent manner from a polymerizable composition under a controlled thermal curing scheme. The main polymerizable components in the polymerizable composition are a high radical-reactive hydrophilic (meth)acrylamido monomer, a high radical-reactive siloxane-containing (meth)acrylamido monomer, and a polysiloxane vinylic crosslinker(s) free of low-reactive ethylenically unsaturated group as the main crosslinker. The thermal free radical initiator having a 10 hour half-life temperature (T10h?) of from about 50° C. to about 90° C. The controlled thermal curing scheme includes maintaining a first curing temperature of from about (T10h??20)° C. to about T10h?° C. for a first curing time and maintaining a second curing temperature of from about (T10h?+10)° C. to about (T10h?+35)° C. for a second curing time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Junhao Ge, Yuan Chang, Steve Yun Zhang, Michelle Plavnik, Augustine Twum Kumi, Daqing Wu
  • Publication number: 20240099807
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described which guide a surgeon in performing a reconstructive or cosmetic procedure. The apparatus and methods utilize three-dimensional presentations of the target surgical site incorporating one or more virtual surgical guides which help attain proper alignment and orientation of the post-surgical outcome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok Burton Tripathi, Michael A. Weissman
  • Patent number: 11938058
    Abstract: An illustrative method for reducing intraocular pressure in a patient may comprise deploying an ocular implant adapted to reside at least partially in a portion of Schlemm's canal of an eye and administering a therapeutic agent comprising a Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor to the patient. The ocular implant may be configured to lower the intraocular pressure from an initial to a second pressure within a first range and the therapeutic agent may lower an intraocular pressure to a third pressure within a second range, the third pressure lower than the second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. Schieber, Charles L. Euteneuer, David T. Van Meter, Kenneth M. Galt
  • Patent number: 11931297
    Abstract: Certain embodiments describe an endoilluminator having a tube that includes an interior compartment between a proximal end and a distal end of the tube, wherein the distal end of the tube is configured to be inserted into an eye. The endoilluminator also includes a handpiece coupled to a light source and the proximal end of the tube, wherein the endoilluminator is configured to filter an incident component of light transmitted by the light source and emit a polarized component of the transmitted light through the distal end of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Steven T. Charles