Patents Assigned to Alcon, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12144723
    Abstract: Modular IOL systems including a base and a lens, wherein the lens includes tabs for connection to the base. The modular IOL allows for the lens to be adjusted or exchanged while leaving the base in place, either intra-operatively or post-operatively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignees: Alcon Inc., The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: Malik Y. Kahook, Glenn Sussman, Rudolph F. Zacher, Paul J. McLean, Harvey Uy, Robert Cionni, Kerry Solomon
  • Patent number: 12144920
    Abstract: A surgical cassette for an ophthalmic surgical system includes an irrigation conduit that is in fluid communication with a handpiece and carries fluid toward a surgical site. An aspiration conduit is in fluid communication with the handpiece and carries fluid away from the surgical site. An aspiration pump creates a vacuum pressure in the aspiration conduit to draw fluid through the aspiration conduit towards a drain reservoir. A reservoir couples with a pressure-vacuum source to manage the reservoir pressure. A valve is in fluid communication with the aspiration conduit and the reservoir and provides one or more channels between the aspiration conduit and the reservoir. One or more pressure sensors detect a pressure associated with the surgical site. A computer controls the valve in response to the pressure detected by the one or more pressure sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent A. Baxter, David Dyk, Satish Yalamanchili, Raphael Gordon
  • Patent number: 12135452
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fiber and a laser probe assembly with a probe tip that houses the fiber. In certain aspects, the fiber includes a core, an outer cladding surrounding the core, and an end face at a proximal and/or distal end of the fiber. The core is configured to transmit a laser light beam while the core and the outer cladding are both configured to transmit an illumination light. In certain aspects, a surface area of the end face corresponding to a cross-section of at least the outer cladding is treated with a roughening or polishing process to modulate an illumination light output angle of the fiber. Using a fiber that is configured to transmit a laser light beam as well as a wide-angle illumination light allows for a more compact fiber and probe tip, allowing for medical procedures that require a narrower probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Chenguang Diao, Ronald T. Smith, Alireza Mirsepassi
  • Patent number: 12127972
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to ophthalmic surgery, and more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for controlling intraocular pressure (IOP) and administering ocular tamponades during or after ophthalmic surgery. An exemplary apparatus generally includes a proximal segment having a first inner diameter (ID), a first proximal end, and a first distal end. The apparatus further includes a distal segment having a second ID smaller than the first ID, a second proximal end, and a second distal end configured to be disposed inside a hub or a cannula transition of a valved cannula comprising the hub, a shaft, and the cannula transition between the hub and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish Sinha, Robert Jeffrey Heng
  • Patent number: 12127933
    Abstract: Systems and methods for non-invasively assessing ciliary muscle accommodative potential in phakic eyes may include receiving a plurality of signals generated by a plurality of bipolar electrodes during a ciliary muscle assessment procedure, each of the plurality of signals indicating an electrical field associated with a patient's ciliary muscle, and analyzing the signals to evaluate the patient's ciliary muscle accommodative potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: John Alfred Campin, Kevin Liedel, George Hunter Pettit
  • Patent number: 12127802
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein provide improved techniques for OCT guided robotic ophthalmic procedures. A method includes receiving, during OCT scanning of an eye, position data of a plurality of galvanometer scanners from a plurality of absolute and incremental encoders coupled to the corresponding galvanometer scanners. The method further includes receiving scan data related to one or more tissues of the eye. The method further includes determining, a set of first positions of the one or more tissues of the eye in a first 3D coordinate system. The method further includes determining, based on the set of first positions and a mapping between the first and a second 3D coordinate systems, a position in the second 3D coordinate system for a surgical instrument coupled to a robotic device. The method includes causing the robotic device to move the surgical instrument to the position in the second 3D coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Steven T. Charles
  • Publication number: 20240350256
    Abstract: Materials and methods of manufacturing intraocular lenses, including polymeric materials for the intraocular lenses, fluids for intraocular lenses, and adhesives for intraocular lenses. The intraocular lenses can include an optic portion and a peripheral region in fluid communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Sharad HAJELA, Gomaa ABDELSADEK, Sean HALENBECK
  • Publication number: 20240348759
    Abstract: A method for enhancing digital images during an eye surgery includes producing warm white light via a lighting source by blocking blue and green wavelengths of light using an excitation filter. The method includes illuminating a pupil and iris of the eye with the warm white light during the eye surgery and collecting digital images of target anatomy using a digital camera. Within the images, a processor digitally isolates a pupil pixel region from an iris pixel region and adjusts a characteristic of constituent pixels of one of the regions. The method may be performed by executing instructions from a computer-readable storage medium to enhance a red reflex at predetermined stages of an eye surgery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Gillian Myers, Alan Fridman, Maximiliano Ramirez Luna
  • Patent number: 12116442
    Abstract: The invention provides a contact lens manufacturing method comprising a process for removing unprocessed molded silicone hydrogel contact lenses from mold halves in a relatively efficient and consistent manner. The method of the invention involves using a silicone fluid (or so-called silicone oil) as non-reactive diluent in SiHy lens formulation for making SiHy contact lenses. Resultant SiHy contact lenses cast-molded from such a SiHy lens formulation can have a significantly reduced adhesion force with the molding surfaces of a lens mold and consequently a higher efficiency and consistency in removing unprocessed molded SiHy contact lenses from mold halves can be achieved. This method of the invention can be easily implemented in a production environment for enhancing the production yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Jing Cheng, Yang Zheng, Steve Yun Zhang, Lindsay Olson
  • Patent number: 12109107
    Abstract: An ophthalmic lens includes an optic comprising an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and an optical axis. At least one of the anterior surface and the posterior surface has a surface profile including a base curvature, a refractive region having the base curvature, and a diffractive region comprising a diffractive profile including a plurality of diffractive steps. At least a portion of the diffractive profile constitutes a combination of a base diffractive profile defining multiple foci for the ophthalmic lens and an achromatizing structure that reduces longitudinal chromatic aberrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Hong, Xin Wei
  • Patent number: 12109147
    Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical system includes a robotic arm disposed above a patient's eye. A positioning camera is disposed on the robotic arm and positioned to visualize the patient's eye. A processor is electrically coupled to the positioning camera. The processor is configured to receive an indication of a position of the robotic arm relative to a fixed datum, determine a focal length between the positioning camera and the patient's eye, compare the focal length to the position of the robotic arm, and determine a patient eye level relative to the fixed datum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Sean Christopher Madden
  • Patent number: 12111443
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for producing a contact lens comprising a central photochromic zone that has a diameter of about 13 mm or less and is concentric with the central axis of the contact lens. The method comprises: applying a first polymerizable fluid composition containing at least one photochromic compound on a central portion of the molding surface of a female mold half to form a circular layer; partially photocuring, in situ, the circular layer in the female mold half by using a visible light; dispensing a second polymerizable fluid composition over the partially-cured circular layer on the molding surface of the female mold half; and a step of thermally curing the second polymerizable fluid composition and the partially-cured circular layer immersed therein in the mold cavity formed between the molding surfaces of the female mold half and a male mold half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle Plavnik, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Steve Yun Zhang, Zahra Bassampour, Chandana Kolluru
  • Publication number: 20240325140
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are intraocular lenses with features that counteract the effects of anterior capsular contraction and methods for implanting such intraocular lenses. In some embodiments, the intraocular lenses can comprise an optic fluid chamber and a haptic having a haptic fluid lumen in fluid communication with the optic fluid chamber. The haptic fluid lumen can comprise a thickened anterior portion such that a thickness of the anterior haptic wall of the haptic is greater than the thickness of the posterior haptic wall. Moreover, the intraocular lenses can comprise one or more support columns disposed within the haptic fluid lumen. The support columns and/or the thickened anterior portion of the haptic can maintain a shape of the haptic fluid lumen in response to forces applied to the haptic as a result of anterior capsular contraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Terah Whiting SMILEY, Andrew R. WALZ, Gregory Vinton MATTHEWS, Stephen COLLINS, Hanyang HUANG, William DOLLA, Raza Ulabdin SHAH, Paul MISSEL
  • Publication number: 20240325093
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein provide improved techniques for OCT guided robotic ophthalmic procedures. A method includes receiving, during OCT scanning of an eye, position data of a plurality of galvanometer scanners from a plurality of absolute and incremental encoders coupled to the corresponding galvanometer scanners. The method further includes receiving scan data related to one or more tissues of the eye. The method further includes determining, a set of first positions of the one or more tissues of the eye in a first 3D coordinate system. The method further includes determining, based on the set of first positions and a mapping between the first and a second 3D coordinate systems, a position in the second 3D coordinate system for a surgical instrument coupled to a robotic device. The method includes causing the robotic device to move the surgical instrument to the position in the second 3D coordinate system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Steven T. Charles
  • Publication number: 20240325139
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are intraocular lenses comprising an optic portion and at least one haptic having a proximal end coupled to the optic portion and a distal end. The haptic comprising a haptic lumen extending through at least part of the haptic. The haptic can comprise one or more haptic isolators disposed within the haptic lumen. The one or more haptic isolators can be configured to counteract or reduce unintended shape changes caused by an external energy directed at the haptic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew R. WALZ, Gregory Vinton MATTHEWS, Stephen COLLINS, Raza Ulabdin SHAH, Hanyang HUANG, William DOLLA, Paul MISSEL
  • Patent number: 12102559
    Abstract: Polymeric eye inserts are provided that may be dissolvable when placed in the cul-de-sac of the eye. These inserts may contain one or more polymers as well as a softener/plasticizer so that, when inserted into the eye, they may absorb tears, and dissolve and slowly release lubricant into the tear film to lubricate and protect the ocular surface for an extended duration of time. Increased retention time on the ocular surface for longer lasting relief may reduce dosing frequency and patient burden typically associated with topical drop usage. These polymeric eye inserts also may include one or more pharmaceutically active agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Allen Ketelson, Rekha Rangarajan, Walter R Laredo, Stephen John Collins
  • Patent number: 12102567
    Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical laser system comprising a laser source, a lens, a memory, and a processor in data communication with the memory and configured to execute instructions which cause the processor to control the laser source based on a detection signal received from a circuit. The circuit comprises a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a switch coupled between the second amplifier and a reference potential node and whose state is based on an output of a first comparator. The circuit further comprises a second comparator coupled to the second amplifier and a logic gate coupled to the first comparator and the second comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Conrad Sawicz, Derek Y Chen
  • Patent number: 12097149
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, an ophthalmic surgical system for adjusting a dimension of an eye includes a camera and a computer. The camera generates a surgical image of the eye in contact with a patient interface, which distorts the cornea. The surgical image includes the pupil with a real pupil diameter. The computer accesses a diagnostic image of the eye with the cornea having a natural curvature. The natural curvature affects the real pupil diameter to yield a diagnostic pupil diameter of the diagnostic image that is different from the real pupil diameter of the surgical image. The computer adjusts the real pupil diameter of the surgical image using an eye model to yield a refracted pupil diameter that takes into account the curvature of the cornea and uses the refracted pupil diameter to compensate for the difference between the diagnostic and real pupil diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: ALCON INC.
    Inventors: Mario Abraham, Michael Wittnebel, Friederike Rubin-Schwarz, Evi Goos
  • Patent number: 12096917
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a tip camera system that includes a probe including a probe body and a probe tip, an optical fiber light source, and an optical fiber positioned within the probe body that emits light at the probe tip to illuminate a local view of an interior of an eye. The system further includes a tip camera positioned in the probe tip and includes a sensor that detects light emitted by the optical fiber and reflected off the interior of the eye, and that sends a signal corresponding to the detected light to a processor. The system also includes an image processing system that includes the processor and that executes instructions to produce a tip camera digital image of the eye. The system also includes a digital display that displays the tip camera digital image of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Anderson, Paul Hallen
  • Patent number: 12097112
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an ophthalmic lens that is disposed to balance coma aberrations if the lens, when inserted in a patient's eye, is decentered or tilted with respect to an optical axis of the patient's eye, and maintain a substantially diffraction-limited image quality if the lens, when inserted in the patient's eye, is centered with respect to the optical axis of the patient's eye. The lens may include an optic having an anterior surface and an opposing posterior surface disposed about an optical axis of the lens. One of the surfaces (e.g., the anterior surface) may have a semi-aspheric surface profile, which includes an inner region having a substantially spherical surface profile and extending radially from the optical axis of the lens to a first boundary, and an outer region having an aspherical surface profile and extending radially at least beyond the first boundary to a second boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ryan Lutkenhaus, Shinwook Lee, Sangyeol Lee, Daniel Robert Carson, Zaiwei Xu