Patents Assigned to Alcon, Inc.
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Publication number: 20230089016Abstract: A method and device for reducing intraocular pressure in a patient. The method may comprise administering a viscoelastic material in Schlemm's canal to open aqueous humor outflow pathways. The device is adapted to perform the method. The viscoelastic material may be configured to lower the intraocular pressure within the eye.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Wayne A. NODA, Omar HAROUNY, Daniel HYMAN
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Patent number: 11607308Abstract: An exemplary ophthalmic lens includes an optic comprising an anterior optic surface and a posterior optic, and a multi-curvature optical edge surrounding the optic and connecting the anterior optic surface to the posterior optic surface, the multi-curvature optical edge comprising a plurality of tangentially-connected curved surfaces configured to mitigate positive dysphotopsia by directing or diffusing from light incident on the multi-curvature optical edge away from a fovea of a patient.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2019Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Kamal K. Das, Jian Liu
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Patent number: 11602272Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for performing ophthalmic optical coherence tomography with multiple resolutions. In some embodiments, a system comprises a light source, an output lens, and a set of optical components between the light source and the output lens, the set of optical components comprising an afocal zoom telescope. The set of optical components is adapted to provide imaging both at a first field of view with a first resolution and at a second field of view with a second resolution, wherein the first field of view is wider than the second field of view and the second resolution is higher than the first resolution. A method of performing ophthalmic optical coherence tomography with multiple resolutions may be performed using one or more of the systems described herein.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Brent Duchon, Muhammad K. Al-Qaisi, Richard J. Michaels, Steve X. Chen
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Patent number: 11602586Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring for an occlusion in an aspiration line during an ophthalmic surgical procedure. An ophthalmic surgical system may include a first aspiration pump located in a handpiece, a second aspiration pump located away from the handpiece such as in a console, and a pressure sensor located between the first aspiration pump and the second aspiration pump. The pressure sensor is adapted to monitor for an occlusion in the aspiration line upstream of the first aspiration pump. The second aspiration pump may be operated at the same flow rate as the first aspiration pump and/or to maintain a constant pressure between the second aspiration pump and the first aspiration pump. Systems and methods as disclosed allow for a handpiece pump located close to the working tip while providing reliable occlusion detection with a pressure sensor located away from the handpiece.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: John Morgan Bourne, Raphael Gordon, Gary P. Sorensen
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Patent number: 11602271Abstract: An OCT imaging system may include an OCT light source operable to emit an OCT light beam, and a beam splitter operable to split the OCT light beam into a sample beam, transferred to a sample arm waveguide, and a reference beam, transferred to a reference arm waveguide. The sample arm waveguide and the reference arm waveguide may be coupled together within a cladding, wherein the cladding improves a calibration of a generated OCT image by fixing axial movement of the sample arm and reference arm waveguides relative to one another. By routing long reference and sample arm waveguide fibers together in the OCT system using a sheath/cladding, OCT image offset due to asymmetrical fiber stretching can be minimized or eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2019Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Guy Holland, Muhammad K Al-Qaisi
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Patent number: 11602910Abstract: The invention relates to a pad printing instrument comprising an ink supply system capable of control the temperature, viscosity and colorant concentration of an ink in an ink cup. Such controls are achieved by continuously adding and mixing a cold ink having a composition identical to the ink in the ink cup but having a lower temperature. The continuous addition of a small amount of a cold ink into the ink cup could compensate heat generated by the friction between the ink cup and a cliché and could minimize the evaporation of a diluent in the ink and change in the concentration of colorants in the ink and ink viscosity. The invention also relates to use of a pad printing instrument comprising an ink supply system of the invention for producing colored hydrogel or silicone hydrogel contact lenses.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Richard Charles Breitkopf, Changhong Yin, Steve Yun Zhang
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Patent number: 11596546Abstract: An ocular implant is provided. In some embodiments, the ocular implant includes a body that is curved about a longitudinal central axis and a distal body portion that defines a longitudinal channel including a channel opening. The implant is sized and configured such that the ocular implant assumes an orientation in which the channel opening is adjacent a major side of Schlemm's canal when the ocular implant is disposed in Schlemm's canal. Methods for delivering ocular implants into Schlemm's canal are also provided. Some methods include covering openings in the ocular implant, advancing the implant into Schlemm's canal while at least some of the openings are covered, and uncovering the openings while the distal portion of the implant is disposed in Schlemm's canal.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2019Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: John Wardle, Andrew T. Schieber, Kenneth M. Galt
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Patent number: 11597129Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously manufacturing a plurality of plastic molds comprises: an injection molding tool comprising a first and second molding tool halves and —a gripper tool comprising a plurality of gripper members to which suction can be applied. The first and second molding tool halves are movable into the closed position and into an open position. A front surface of the first molding members comprises recesses to allow the formation of pins projecting from the rear surface the plastic mold into the recesses to make the plastic molds adhere to the first molding members. The gripper tool is movably arranged only in a direction parallel to the first surface into the space formed between the first and second surfaces for transferring the plastic molds to the gripper members and out of this space again.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2020Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Eduard Jetzlaff, Yasin Acikgoez, Halina Heidrich
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Patent number: 11590798Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a retractable guard assembly coupled to a caster of a mobile equipment, comprising one or more first guards comprising corresponding one or more guard toeholds and one or more second guards. When the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards are in a fully retracted state, fully compressing any one of the one or more guard toeholds causes the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards to transition into a fully deployed state. When the one or more first guards and the one or more second guards are in a fully deployed state, fully lifting any one of the one or more guard toeholds causes the one or more first guards and one or more second guards to transition into the fully retracted state.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: William Monteleone, Marc Nestor, Brandon L. Spoelstra
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Patent number: 11584097Abstract: The invention provides a thermal cast-molding method for producing colored silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The method of the invention comprises: (1) forming, on a molding surface of a mold, a transferable colored polymeric composite film which comprises or consists essentially of a first polymeric film, a second polymeric film and a cured colored image encapsulated therewithin; (2) dispensing a silicone hydrogel lens formulation into the lens-forming cavity of the mold; and (4) thermally curing the third polymerizable composition within the lens-forming cavity for at least about 40 minutes to form the colored silicone hydrogel contact lens, whereby the transferable, colored, and polymeric composite film detaches from the first or second molding surface and becomes integral with the body of the silicone hydrogel contact lens.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Steve Yun Zhang, Changhong Yin, Richard Charles Breitkopf
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Patent number: 11587656Abstract: A personalized assistance system for a user of a vision correction device includes a remote computing unit with a controller having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The controller is configured to selectively execute one or more machine learning models. A user device is operable by the user and includes an electronic diary module configured to prompt the user to answer one or more preselected questions at specific intervals. The electronic diary module is configured to store respective answers, entered by the user in response to the one or more preselected questions, as self-reported data. The controller is configured to obtain the self-reported data from the electronic diary module and generate an analysis of the self-reported data, via the one or more machine learning models. The controller is configured to assist the user based in part on the analysis.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Kevin Baker, Ramesh Sarangapani
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Patent number: 11583441Abstract: In some embodiments, a vitrectomy probe may include an inner cutting tube reciprocating in an outer tube. The outer tube includes a side port and the inner tube includes a distal cutting port, and, in some embodiments, an additional side port. In some embodiments, the inner tube may also include a flat upper edge that cuts across the outer tube side port. In some embodiments, a diaphragm drives the inner tube and may have an open-stroke side with a lower hardness material than a closed-stroke side. In some embodiments, an aspiration tube coupled to the vitrectomy probe may include a first aspiration tubing and a second aspiration tubing with a lower hardness than the first aspiration tubing. In some embodiments, the vitrectomy probe may be coupled to pneumatic tubing that is stepped or tapered.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Jose Luis Lopez, Matthew Douglas McCawley, Brian William McDonell, Timothy C. Ryan, John R. Underwood, Salomon Valencia, Jack Robert Auld
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Patent number: 11588297Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for an optical component mounting system for supporting an optical component such as a laser. The mounting system comprises a first component comprising a first surface, a second component comprising a second surface facing the first surface, and adhesive between the first surface of the first component and the second surface of the second component, wherein the first component comprises at least three mounting pads extending from the first surface for contacting the second surface of the second component and providing direct support between the first component and the second component. The component comprising the mounting pads may be a lower mount, an upper mount such as an upper clamping mount, or a bonding pad or other component in the stack of components. A method of assembling the stack of components may comprise curing the adhesive at a temperature at or above an upper end of an expected temperature operating range for the optical component mounting system.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Ronald T. Smith, Alireza Mirsepassi, Mark Harrison Farley
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Patent number: 11585723Abstract: A cuvette with at least one side having materials with thermal conductivity of at least 5 W/m-K, such as sapphire, for holding contact lenses or intra-ocular lenses during optical measurements. The cuvette may further include a backstop to ensure consistent measurements and a pedestal to minimize optical measurement variations.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: David Andrew Icenogle, Yeming Gu, Yan Wang
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Patent number: 11576998Abstract: Disclosed are high refractive index, hydrophobic, acrylic materials. These materials have both high refractive index and a high Abbe number. This combination means the materials have a low refractive index dispersion and thus are especially suitable for use as intraocular lens materials. The materials are also suitable for use in other implantable ophthalmic devices, such as keratoprostheses, corneal rings, corneal implants, and corneal inlays.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventor: Douglas Schlueter
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Patent number: 11580483Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods include an intraocular lens (IOL) cart that may assist with inventory management and may help users identify an IOL for use in a particular surgical application. The IOL cart may include sensors and indicators that provide information to a user and may update IOL inventory automatically whenever the IOL cart is accessed by a user.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Mikhail Boukhny, David Thoe
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Patent number: 11571294Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for implanting an intraocular lens into an eye are described. For example, an intraocular lens injector may include a passage formed in a distal end portion of the intraocular lens injector. The passage may define an interior surface, and a ramp may be formed on the interior surface so as to cause a leading haptic of an intraocular lens (IOL) being advanced through the passage to lift above a surface of an optic of the IOL to ensure proper folding of the IOL.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Kyle Brown, Tu Cam Tran, Yinghui Wu, Stephen J Van Noy
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Patent number: 11571272Abstract: A stereoscopic camera with fluorescence visualization is disclosed. An example stereoscopic camera includes a visible light source, a near-infrared light source, and a near-ultraviolet light source. The stereoscopic camera also includes a light filter assembly having left and right filter magazines positioned respectively along left and right optical paths and configured to selectively enable certain wavelengths of light to pass through. Each of the left and right filter magazines includes an infrared cut filter, a near-ultraviolent cut filter, and a near-infrared bandpass filter. A controller of the camera is configured to provide for a visible light mode, an indocyanine green (“ICG”) fluorescence mode, and a 5-aminolevulinic acid (“ALA”) fluorescence mode by synchronizing the activation of the light sources with the selection of the filters. A processor of the camera combines image data from the different modes to enable fluorescence emission light to be superimposed on visible light stereoscopic images.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2021Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Alcon, Inc.Inventors: Ashok Burton Tripathi, Maximiliano Ramirez Luna, George Polchin, Thomas Riederer, Alan Fridman
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Publication number: 20230036067Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for guiding an astigmatism correction procedure on an eye of a patient are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a photosensor configured to record a pre-operative still image of an ocular target surgical site of the patient. The apparatus also includes a real-time, multidimensional visualization module configured to produce a real-time multidimensional visualization of the ocular target surgical site during an astigmatism correction procedure. The apparatus further includes a data processor configured to determine a virtual indicium that includes data for guiding the astigmatism correction procedure. The data processor uses the pre-operative still image to align the virtual indicium with the multidimensional visualization such that the virtual indicium is rotationally accurate. The data processor then displays the multidimensional visualization of the ocular target surgical site in conjunction with the virtual indicium.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Applicant: Alcon Inc.Inventor: Ashok Burton Tripathi
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Patent number: 11564711Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an adjustable length infusion cannula having a cannula including a first proximal end and a first distal end, and a hub having a second proximal end, a second distal end, and a central aperture that extends between the second proximal end and the second distal end. The central aperture is configured to accept the first distal end of the cannula and allow the cannula upward movement and downward movement through the hub. The adjustable length infusion cannula also includes a locking mechanism configured to lock the cannula within the hub such that the first distal end extends a first distance past the second distal end of the hub.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventor: Steven T. Charles