Patents by Inventor Nicholas Max Gunn

Nicholas Max Gunn has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11491050
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing an ophthalmic surgical treatment procedure include one or more wicking members to secure a volume of treatment fluid to a distal end of a surgical instrument. Such a surgical instrument may include an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween, the elongate tubular member being configured to penetrate a body cavity of a patient. The instrument may further include a wicking member extending beyond the distal end of the elongate tubular member. The wicking member may be configured to secure a volume of treatment fluid delivered through the lumen to the wicking member for application from the wicking member to target tissue in the body cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Max Gunn, Andrew David Johnson, Pooria Sharif Kashani
  • Patent number: 10758411
    Abstract: A handheld reciprocating surgical tool may contain an inertial damper to counteract the momentum of a diaphragm assembly of the reciprocating surgical tool. A momentum of the inertial damper may be tuned such that the momentum of the inertial damper is comparable in magnitude and opposite in direction to a momentum of the diaphragm assembly. The diaphragm assembly may include a cutting tool. The combined momentum of a diaphragm assembly and the inertial damper may result in a reduced net momentum, which may reduce vibration of the reciprocating surgical tool haptically experienced by a surgeon, thereby improving surgeon comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Dean, Nicholas Max Gunn, Andrew David Johnson
  • Patent number: 10743984
    Abstract: Ophthalmic implants and methods of use that provide structural support to the optic nerve are disclosed herein. An adhesive and/or ophthalmic implant may be delivered to an optic nerve of an eye to relieve pressure on the optic nerve. The ophthalmic implant may include a base portion that includes a first surface and a second surface opposing the second surface and a protrusion from the second surface for extending into a cup of an optic nerve in an eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Max Gunn, Andrew David Johnson
  • Patent number: 10667685
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a small gauge extendable-retractable mirror for use in intraocular surgery. The mirror of the present disclosure can be used in intraocular surgery to enable visualization of areas of the eye currently difficult or impossible to view, such as, e.g., behind the iris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Grace C. Chang, Nicholas Max Gunn
  • Publication number: 20200069465
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing an ophthalmic surgical treatment procedure include one or more wicking members to secure a volume of treatment fluid to a distal end of a surgical instrument. Such a surgical instrument may include an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween, the elongate tubular member being configured to penetrate a body cavity of a patient. The instrument may further include a wicking member extending beyond the distal end of the elongate tubular member. The wicking member may be configured to secure a volume of treatment fluid delivered through the lumen to the wicking member for application from the wicking member to target tissue in the body cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Nicholas Max Gunn, Andrew David Johnson, Pooria Sharif Kashani
  • Patent number: 10500090
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing an ophthalmic surgical treatment procedure include one or more wicking members to secure a volume of treatment fluid to a distal end of a surgical instrument. Such a surgical instrument may include an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween, the elongate tubular member being configured to penetrate a body cavity of a patient. The instrument may further include a wicking member extending beyond the distal end of the elongate tubular member. The wicking member may be configured to secure a volume of treatment fluid delivered through the lumen to the wicking member for application from the wicking member to target tissue in the body cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Nicholas Max Gunn, Andrew David Johnson, Pooria Sharif Kashani
  • Patent number: 10438576
    Abstract: Active noise cancellation is employed to address unwanted acoustical noise generated by various equipment associated with an ophthalmic surgical system. Active noise cancellation may be used within a chassis of the ophthalmic surgical system, within an air compressor used with the ophthalmic surgical system, and within a reciprocating surgical probe used with the ophthalmic surgical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Kirk Wellington Todd, Johan Gustaf Ekvall, Paul J. Essex, Steven T. Charles, Nicholas Max Gunn
  • Patent number: 10111777
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are described for selectively generating an aspiration flow within a surgical instrument. Particularly, the disclosure describes example vitrectomy probes operable to selectively generate an aspiration flow in relation to operation of the cutter of the vitrectomy probe. In some instances, one or more valves may be used to form a barrier or closure and create a piston effect in order to selectively generate an aspiration flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Nicholas Max Gunn
  • Publication number: 20180271643
    Abstract: Ophthalmic implants and methods of use that provide structural support to the optic nerve are disclosed herein. An adhesive and/or ophthalmic implant may be delivered to an optic nerve of an eye to relieve pressure on the optic nerve. The ophthalmic implant may include a base portion that includes a first surface and a second surface opposing the second surface and a protrusion from the second surface for extending into a cup of an optic nerve in an eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholas Max Gunn, Andrew David Johnson
  • Publication number: 20180243134
    Abstract: A handheld reciprocating surgical tool may contain an inertial damper to counteract the momentum of a diaphragm assembly of the reciprocating surgical tool. A momentum of the inertial damper may be tuned such that the momentum of the inertial damper is comparable in magnitude and opposite in direction to a momentum of the diaphragm assembly. The diaphragm assembly may include a cutting tool. The combined momentum of a diaphragm assembly and the inertial damper may result in a reduced net momentum, which may reduce vibration of the reciprocating surgical tool haptically experienced by a surgeon, thereby improving surgeon comfort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Joshua Dean, Nicholas Max Gunn, Andrew David Johnson
  • Publication number: 20180160900
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a small gauge extendable-retractable mirror for use in intraocular surgery. The mirror of the present disclosure can be used in intraocular surgery to enable visualization of areas of the eye currently difficult or impossible to view, such as, e.g., behind the iris.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Grace C. Chang, Nicholas Max Gunn
  • Patent number: 9943226
    Abstract: A lens holder for holding a vitrectomy lens during a surgical procedure may include a support ring sized and shaped to receive a portion of the vitrectomy lens to provide visualization of a surgical site in an eye of the patient. The support ring may be configured to rest upon the eye of the patient during a surgical treatment procedure performed on the eye. The lens holder may also include a transparent, flexible membrane disposed along a bottom plane of the support ring and configured to conform to a surface feature on the eye. It may also include an overflow trough to control contact of a wetting agent with the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Nicholas Max Gunn
  • Publication number: 20180018953
    Abstract: Active noise cancellation is employed to address unwanted acoustical noise generated by various equipment associated with an ophthalmic surgical system. Active noise cancellation may be used within a chassis of the ophthalmic surgical system, within an air compressor used with the ophthalmic surgical system, and within a reciprocating surgical probe used with the ophthalmic surgical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Kirk Wellington Todd, Johan Gustaf Ekvall, Paul J. Essex, Steven T. Charles, Nicholas Max Gunn
  • Publication number: 20170172793
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing an ophthalmic surgical treatment procedure include one or more wicking members to secure a volume of treatment fluid to a distal end of a surgical instrument. Such a surgical instrument may include an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween, the elongate tubular member being configured to penetrate a body cavity of a patient. The instrument may further include a wicking member extending beyond the distal end of the elongate tubular member. The wicking member may be configured to secure a volume of treatment fluid delivered through the lumen to the wicking member for application from the wicking member to target tissue in the body cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Nicholas Max Gunn, Andrew David Johnson, Pooria Sharif Kashani
  • Publication number: 20170165109
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods of and for an ophthalmic surgical system are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation, an ophthalmic surgical system includes a patch sized and shaped to seal a retinal break of an eye by preventing fluid from infiltrating a sub-retinal space when adhered to the retina surrounding the retinal break; and a delivery device including a cannula configured to maintain the patch in a furled state for passage through an incision in the eye, the delivery device actuatable to deploy the patch within a vitreous chamber of the eye. In another exemplary implementation, an ophthalmic surgical method includes damaging tissue around a retinal break; delivering, into the vitreous chamber, a patch sized and shaped to seal the retinal break; positioning the patch on the retina surrounding the retinal break; and affixing the patch to the retina such that the patch prevents fluid from infiltrating a sub-retinal space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Nicholas Max Gunn, Pooria Sharif Kashani, Michael J. Papac
  • Publication number: 20170119249
    Abstract: A lens holder for holding a vitrectomy lens during a surgical procedure may include a support ring sized and shaped to receive a portion of the vitrectomy lens to provide visualization of a surgical site in an eye of the patient. The support ring may be configured to rest upon the eye of the patient during a surgical treatment procedure performed on the eye. The lens holder may also include a transparent, flexible membrane disposed along a bottom plane of the support ring and configured to conform to a surface feature on the eye. It may also include an overflow trough to control contact of a wetting agent with the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventor: Nicholas Max Gunn
  • Patent number: 9572712
    Abstract: An implantable fluidic valve actuated by osmotic pressure gradient and methods of operating it are provided. The valve includes: an input fluid channel; an output fluid channel in fluid communication with the input fluid channel at an aperture; and a semi-permeable membrane forming a portion of a sealed chamber. The semi-permeable membrane may have an outer surface forming a wall of the input fluid channel, and an inner surface forming a wall of the sealed chamber, the membrane being configured to allow diffusion of a solvent into and out of the sealed chamber; and a first electrode and a second electrode disposed within the sealed chamber configured to receive a voltage. A pump including the above elements and a check valve is provided. An ocular implant including an inlet tube sized to receive aqueous humor and an intra-ocular pressure control system having a fluidic valve as above is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Nicholas Max Gunn
  • Patent number: 9492321
    Abstract: A microfluidic valve for implantation in an eye of a patient is disclosed. The valve may include a chamber formed between a substrate and a flexible membrane. The valve may also include a boss disposed in the chamber and having a top edge in selective contact with the flexible membrane. The top edge includes a relief portion and a non-relief portion, with the relief portion being structurally arranged so that a pressure required to separate the membrane from the relief portion is less than a pressure required to separate the membrane from the non-relief portion. The valve also may include an inlet extending through the boss and the substrate through which fluid enters the chamber and an outlet configured to allow fluid to exit the chamber. Methods for priming a microfluidic valve are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Nicholas Max Gunn, Andrew David Johnson
  • Publication number: 20160235298
    Abstract: An intraocular pressure monitoring and sensing device for implantation in an eye of a patient may include a substrate having a pressure sensor disposed on a top surface thereof and a pressure sensor cap disposed on the substrate over the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor cap may include a wall structure extending from the top surface of the substrate, the wall structure laterally surrounding the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor cap may further include a cap top situated above the pressure sensor, the cap top and wall structure together forming an interior chamber, and a chamber inlet providing fluid access to the interior chamber. At least one of the cap top and the wall structure includes a semi-permeable surface to aid in priming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Nicholas Max Gunn
  • Publication number: 20160143780
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are described for selectively generating an aspiration flow within a surgical instrument. Particularly, the disclosure describes example vitrectomy probes operable to selectively generate an aspiration flow in relation to operation of the cutter of the vitrectomy probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventor: Nicholas Max Gunn