Patents Assigned to Alcon, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12042376
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for inserting an intraocular lens (IOL) assembly into an eye may be provided. An apparatus for delivery of a lens component into an eye, including: a housing; a nozzle operatively coupled to the housing; a plunger at least partially and moveably disposed within the housing for driving the lens component; and a spring that applies a biasing force to the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Victoria Holderby
  • Patent number: 12047717
    Abstract: A method for enhancing digital images during a microsurgery, e.g., an eye surgery, includes collecting digital images of target anatomy using a digital camera as the target anatomy is illuminated by warm white light. The method includes identifying, via a processor in communication with the digital camera, a predetermined stage of the microsurgery. Within the images, the processor digitally isolates a first pixel region, e.g., a pupil pixel region, from a second pixel region, e.g., an iris pixel region, and adjusts a characteristic of constituent pixels thereof. The method, possibly recorded as instructions in a computer-readable medium, may be used to enhance a red reflex at predetermined stages of an eye surgery. A system includes a lighting source for emitting warm white light having a color temperature of less than about 4000° K, the camera, and the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Gillian Myers, Alan Fridman, Maximiliano Ramirez Luna
  • Patent number: 12035970
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a system for processing image data from an intraoperative diagnostic device in real-time during an ophthalmic procedure. The system comprises an image capture element that captures a grayscale image of a first size and an image processing element that scales the grayscale image from the first size to a second size. The system also comprises a two-stage classification model comprising: a feature extraction stage to process the scaled grayscale image and generate a feature vector based on the scaled grayscale image and a classification stage to process the feature vector and generate an output vector. The image processing element is further configured to determine an image quality of the obtained grayscale image based on the output vector for display to an operator and the image quality of the obtained grayscale image indicates a probability that the obtained grayscale image includes an artifact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin Jay Sarver, Max Hall
  • Publication number: 20240236515
    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: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Terry
  • Patent number: 12029684
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, an ophthalmic surgical system for performing a surgical procedure on an eye comprises a laser device, a camera, and a computer. The laser device comprises a laser source and a scanner. The laser source generates a laser beam comprising pulses, and the scanner directs the pulses towards tissue of the eye according to a laser focal spot pattern. The camera captures surgical images of the eye. The computer instructs the laser device to direct the pulses towards the eye according to the laser focal spot pattern, accesses and monitor the surgical images of the eye, identifies an interfering object from the surgical images of the eye, and modifies the control of the pulses to compensate for the interfering object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Abraham, Michael Wittnebel
  • Patent number: 12029683
    Abstract: An ocular implant including a drug releasing element and having an inlet portion and a Schlemm's canal portion distal to the inlet portion, the inlet portion being disposed at a proximal end of the implant and sized and configured to be placed within an anterior chamber of a human eye, the Schlemm's canal portion being arranged and configured to be disposed within Schlemm's canal of the eye when the inlet portion is disposed in the anterior chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Wendy Blanda, Rhett Schiffman
  • Patent number: 12033321
    Abstract: A system and method for augmenting an original OCT (optical coherence tomography) image includes a controller having a processor and a tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The system includes one or more learning modules selectively executable by the controller. The learning modules are trained by a training network with a training dataset having a plurality of training ultrasound bio-microscopy images and respective training OCT images. Execution of the instructions by the processor causes the controller to obtain the original OCT image, captured through an OCT device. The controller is configured to generate an augmented OCT image based in part on the original OCT image, by executing the (trained) learning modules. The augmented OCT image at least partially extends a peripheral portion of the original OCT image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Sinchan Bhattacharya, Hyo Won Choi, Ramesh Sarangapani, Bryan Stanfill
  • Publication number: 20240216172
    Abstract: An ocular implant delivery system is provided with a number of features. In some embodiments, the delivery system comprises a rotation mechanism configured to rotate and orient a cannula of the system, and an advancement mechanism configured to advance and retract an ocular implant through the delivery system and into an eye of a patient. In some embodiments, the cannula is sized and configured to be inserted into Schlemm's canal of the eye. The ocular implant is configured to maintain its orientation within the delivery system as the cannula is rotated. In some embodiments, the ocular implant automatically disengages the delivery system when it is advanced beyond a distal tip of the delivery system. Methods of implanting an ocular implant are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: John WARDLE, Andrew T. SCHIEBER
  • Publication number: 20240207014
    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: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2024
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Applicant: ALCON INC.
    Inventor: Niccolo Maschio
  • Patent number: 12016796
    Abstract: An ocular implant having an inlet portion and a Schlemm's canal portion distal to the inlet portion, the inlet portion being disposed at a proximal end of the implant and sized and configured to be placed within an anterior chamber of a human eye, the Schlemm's canal portion being arranged and configured to be disposed within Schlemm's canal of the eye when the inlet portion is disposed in the anterior chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. Schieber, Charles L. Euteneuer
  • Patent number: 12011393
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system for sensing occlusions in an optical system includes a first laser source configured to generate optical signals and a set of optical elements arranged to receive the optical signals from the first laser source and to direct the optical signals along a beam path. The system also includes a detector arranged to receive reflections of the optical signals traveling along at least a portion of the beam path and a control system communicably coupled to the detector. The control system is configured to detect, based on signals generated by the detector, reflection signals associated with the reflections of the optical signals, and disable a second laser source based on detection of the reflection signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald David Bacher, Nikki Koe, Bruno Lassalas, Alireza Mirsepassi, Dean Richardson, Ronald T. Smith
  • Patent number: 12004823
    Abstract: Ophthalmic surgical systems and methods for displaying graphical user interfaces in ophthalmic surgical systems are disclosed. An example ophthalmic surgical system has alternative setup conditions, and a host computer is configured to detect the setup condition and to display on a display screen a graphical user interface corresponding to the detected setup condition. The alternative setup conditions may be based upon a configuration of an ophthalmic surgical console and/or based upon which type of fluidics cassette is installed on the ophthalmic surgical console. In some embodiments, the host computer is configured to display on the display screen a graphical user interface that graphically indicates the instrument ports that are available and/or that are not available for instrument connections in the detected setup condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Carbone, Cory Costantino, Sean Christopher Madden, Prateet Verma
  • Patent number: 11998445
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for inserting an intraocular lens (IOL) assembly into an eye may be provided. An apparatus for delivery of a lens component into an eye may include a housing. The apparatus may further include a plunger at least partially disposed in the housing, wherein the housing comprises an elongated portion and a viscoelastic soft tip at a distal end of the elongated portion, wherein the viscoelastic soft tip has a storage modulus of about 1 megapascal (MPa) to about 300 MPa and a loss module of about 1 MPa to about 300 MPa. The apparatus may further include a drive mechanism operatively coupled to plunger and configured to cause the plunger to translate in the housing. The apparatus may further include a nozzle operatively coupled to the housing through which the plunger delivers the lens component into the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Andrew Zielke
  • Patent number: 11998483
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to microsurgical instruments having variable stiffness such as microsurgical instruments having variable stiffness for ophthalmic surgical procedures. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument includes a probe and a stiffener assembly. The stiffener assembly further includes a stiffener formed of a hollow tubular member substantially surrounding at least a portion of a length of the probe. Actuation of the stiffener along the length of the probe adjusts the stiffness of the probe, thus providing a user better control of the surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Bill Chen, James Y. Chon, John R. Underwood
  • Patent number: 11999908
    Abstract: Described herein is a cost-effective and time-efficient method for producing photochromic contact lenses, in particular, preferably photochromic silicone hydrogel contact lenses, from a polymerizable composition comprising an unique selection and combination of main polymerizable components, a photochromic compound and a visible-light photoinitiator, based on the Lightstream Technology™. This invention also provides photochromic contact lenses or more preferably photochromic silicone hydrogel contact lenses made according to a method of the invention. A photochromic contact lens of the invention is capable of undergoing a reversible color change upon exposure to UV-irradiation or high-energy-violet light (HEVL) (with wavelengths from 380 nm to 440 nm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Jing, Frank Chang, Houliang Tang
  • Patent number: 11992437
    Abstract: An ocular implant adapted to be disposed within Schlemm's canal of a human eye with a body extending along a curved longitudinal central axis in a curvature plane, a first strut on one side of the implant and a second strut on an opposite side of the implant, the circumferential extent of the first strut with respect to the plane of curvature being greater than the circumferential extent of the second strut with respect to the plane of curvature. The invention also includes methods of using the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: John Wardle, Andrew T. Schieber
  • Publication number: 20240164850
    Abstract: A visualization system for an ophthalmic procedure on a target eye, e.g., lens replacement surgery, includes first and second light sources respectively operable for directing visible and NIR light toward the target eye. A hot mirror directs reflected light from the eye along two paths, i.e., a visible light path for reflected visible light and an NIR light path for reflected NIR light. First and second cameras are respectively positioned in the visible and NR light paths to detect the reflected visible or NIR light and output a visible or NIR image. An electronic control unit (ECU) executes a method to detect a perimeter edge of an imaged portion of the target eye in the NIR image using edge detection logic, merges the visible image with the NIR image to construct a combined image, and indicates the perimeter edge in the combined image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Maximiliano Ramirez Luna, Hillary Schatz, John Park
  • Patent number: 11986240
    Abstract: A system for guiding an ophthalmic procedure is disclosed. The system includes a housing assembly with a head unit configured to be at least partially directed towards a target site in an eye. 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 set of volumetric data, respectively. A controller is configured to register the first set and second set of volumetric data to create a third set of registered volumetric data. The third set and second set of registered 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 shared composite view of the target site. The controller is configured to extract structural features and/or enable visualization of the target site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok Burton Tripathi, George Charles Polchin, Maximiliano Ramirez Luna, Patrick Terry, Thomas Paul Riederer
  • Patent number: 11980575
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a multi-core optical fiber cable (MCF). In some embodiments, an MCF comprises a plurality of cores surrounded by a cladding and a coating surrounding the cladding, wherein a refractive index of one or more of the plurality of cores is greater than a refractive index of the cladding. The MCF further comprises a probe comprising a probe tip coupled with a distal end of the MCF and a lens located at a distal end of the probe tip. In some embodiments, the lens is configured to translate laser light from the distal end of the MCF to create a multi-spot pattern of laser beams on a target surface and a distal end of the MCF terminates at an interface with the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Chenguang Diao, Mark Harrison Farley, Alireza Mirsepassi, Ronald T. Smith, Dean Richardson
  • Patent number: D1029239
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Niels Alexander Abt, Reto Grüebler, Simon Nicola Kunz, Niccolo Maschio, Christoph Siegenthaler