Patents Assigned to Alcon, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12351688
    Abstract: The invention provides a class of hydrophilized polydiorganosiloxane vinylic crosslinkers. Each of the hydrophilized polydiorganosiloxane vinylic crosslinkers of the invention comprise (1) a polydiorganosiloxane segment comprising dimethylsiloxane units and hydrophilized siloxane units each having one methyl substituent and one organic substituent having a phosphorylcholine moiety; (2) ethylenically-unsaturated groups. The invention also provides a silicone hydrogel contact lens, which comprises a crosslinked polymeric material comprising repeating units of at least one of such a class of hydrophilized polydiorganosiloxane vinylic crosslinkers. The invention further provides a method of producing a hydrophilized contact lens from a polymerizable composition comprising at least one of such a class of hydrophilized polydiorganosiloxane vinylic crosslinkers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Chang, Troy Vernon Holland, Houliang Tang, Adam K. Sniady
  • Patent number: 12349969
    Abstract: A method for estimating biometric landmark dimensional measurements of a human eye includes, in a possible embodiment, receiving one or more images of the human eye via a host computer. In response to receiving the one or more images, the method includes generating a preliminary set of landmark point locations in the one or more images via the host computer using a deep-learning algorithm, and then refining the preliminary set of landmark point locations using a post-hoc processing routine of the host computer to thereby generate a final set of estimated landmark point locations. Additionally, the biometric landmark dimensional measurements are automatically generated via the host computer using the final set of estimated landmark point locations. A data set is then output that is inclusive of the set of estimated landmark point locations. A host computer that executes instructions from memory to perform the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Dimitri Angelopoulos, Bryan Stanfill
  • Patent number: 12350195
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a method of performing ocular biometry. The method includes performing phacoemulsification to emulsify and remove an internal lens of an eye. The method further includes performing vitrectomy to remove vitreous from the eye. The method also includes placing a trial in a lens capsule of the eye. The method further includes performing biometry with a first biometry system to provide measurements including at least one of an axial length of the eye, a curvature of a cornea of the eye, and toric axis. The method also includes removing the trial from the lens capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Steven T. Charles
  • Patent number: 12349972
    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: April 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok Burton Tripathi, George Charles Polchin, Maximiliano Ramirez Luna, Patrick Terry, Thomas Paul Riederer
  • Patent number: 12343287
    Abstract: An ocular implant for treating glaucoma is provided, which may include any number of features. More particularly, the present invention relates to implants that facilitate the transfer of fluid from within one area of the eye to another area of the eye. One feature of the implant is that it includes a proximal inlet portion and a distal inlet portion adapted to be inserted into the anterior chamber of the eye, and an intermediate portion adapted to be inserted into Schlemm's canal. Another feature of the implant is that it can be biased to assume a predetermined shape to aid in placement within the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Euteneuer, Thomas R. Hektner, Andrew T. Schieber, John Wardle
  • Patent number: 12343951
    Abstract: An automated production line for the production of ophthalmic lenses comprises: a production line front end (1) comprising: a first injection-molding machine (10) and a second injection-molding machine (12) a casting module (14) comprising a filling station (144) and a capping station (145); a stacking module (15) and a curing module (16); a destacking module (17) and a demolding and delensing module a production line back end (2) comprising: a treatment module (20), an inspection module (21), wherein the production line has the easy adaptability of curing times and temperatures, and in the capability of using different treatment liquids and treatment times in the extraction module to achieve the product flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Schwab, Matthias Braun, Roger Biel, Shu Zong
  • Publication number: 20250205081
    Abstract: A method for enhancing a digital image of a patient's eye includes illuminating the patient's eye with light from a modulable lighting source and collecting a digital image of the illuminated eye while the eye is tracked via motion tracking logic of an electronic control unit (ECU). The method includes receiving input signals as a request to enhance an area-of-focus of the eye, automatically identifying the area-of-focus via artificial intelligence (AI) logic in response to the input signals, and selectively adjusting characteristics of the lighting source and constituent pixels of the digital image located outside of the area-of-focus. The method further includes transmitting display control signals to one or more display screens to present an enhanced digital image of the eye. A system for enhancing the digital image includes the lighting source, digital camera, and ECU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2024
    Publication date: June 26, 2025
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Lu Yin, Vignesh Suresh, Ramesh Sarangapani
  • Patent number: 12340900
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for predicting a likelihood of future failure of components in an ophthalmic medical device and performing preventative maintenance on the ophthalmic medical device. An example method generally includes receiving, from an ophthalmic medical device, measurements of one or more operational parameters associated with the ophthalmic medical device. Using one or more models, a future failure of the ophthalmic medical is predicted. The predictions are generated based, at least in part, on the received measurements of the one or more operational parameters. One or more actions are taken to perform preventative maintenance on the ophthalmic medical device based on the predicted future failure of the ophthalmic medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Nancy Aluy, John Alfred Campin, Brian George Green, Mark Andrew Zielke
  • Patent number: 12336759
    Abstract: A system and method for selecting an intraocular lens, for implantation into an eye, includes a controller having a processor and a tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The controller is configured to selectively execute a machine learning model trained with a training dataset. Execution of the instructions by the processor causes the controller to obtain pre-operative objective data for the patient, including one or more anatomic eye measurements. The controller is configured to obtain pre-operative questionnaire data for the patient, including at least one personality trait. The pre-operative objective data and the pre-operative questionnaire data are entered as respective inputs to the machine learning model. A predicted subjective outcome score for the patient is generated as an output of the machine learning model. The intraocular lens is selected based in part on the predicted subjective outcome score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: ALCON INC.
    Inventors: John Alfred Campin, Brant Gillen, Martin GrĂ¼ndig, Robert Moore, George Hunter Pettit, Mark Andrew Zielke
  • Patent number: 12336938
    Abstract: According to certain embodiments, an ophthalmic surgical system for treating presbyopia comprises controllable components and a computer. The controllable components comprise a light source that generates a light beam and a scanner that directs a focal point of the light beam. The computer determines an ablation profile to remove tissue from a central region and a peripheral region of a cornea of a first eye of a pair of eyes. The ablation profile is designed to remove tissue from the central region to yield a protrusion to provide for near-vision, and to remove tissue from the peripheral region to correct to emmetropia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: ALCON INC.
    Inventors: Zsolt Bor, Mario Klafke, Johannes Krause, Keith Watanabe
  • Patent number: 12336971
    Abstract: Provided herein are ophthalmic pharmaceutical compositions comprising (1R,2S,5R)-2-isopropyl-N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxamide (WS-12) for effectively treating dry eye in a subject in need thereof, effectively reducing dry eye in a subject in need thereof, effectively reducing the likelihood of dry eye in a subject in need thereof, or for treating, preventing, or ameliorating signs or symptoms of dry eye in a subject in need thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Anjali Joshi
  • Patent number: 12339528
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a colored cosmetic photochromic contact lens, comprising: a pupil section, a generally annular iris section surrounding the pupil section, wherein at least the pupil section is photochromic, wherein the iris section having a colored, printed, opaque, intermittent pattern, wherein the said pattern is covered by a clear ink layer, wherein the clear ink layer is on outer surface of lens to the observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Junhao Ge, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Steve Yun Zhang, Yuan Chang, Augustine Twum Kumi
  • Patent number: 12336690
    Abstract: An imaging tool with a tubular implement of minimal diameter for locating in a patient's eye and to extend an image capturing platform therefrom. The platform is uniquely sized for storage within the lumen or inner diameter of the implement, such as a thin film image sensor. However, a microchip package having a bulk footprint too large for the inner diameter of the implement may be displaced to another location of the tool such as within the adjacent, more sizeable handpiece or housing. Further, the platform may be expanded upon being exposed to the interior of the eye by the extending thereinto. Thus, an increased surface and pixel count may be provided for the imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Paul R. Hallen
  • Patent number: 12339525
    Abstract: An ophthalmic lens includes an optic with a first surface, a second surface, and a phase-shift structure having one or more phase-shift regions. A method for fabricating an ophthalmic lens includes designing an optic with a first surface, a second surface, and a phase-shift structure having one or more phase-shift regions. The phase-shift regions may be adapted to generate respective chromatic focal shifts such that an incident radiation in a respective wavelength range at least partially converges towards a respective selected wavelength. The method includes determining a chromatic aberration target for the optic and determining the quantity of the phase-shift regions meeting the chromatic aberration target. The optic is formed with the phase-shift regions having respective optimal heights obtained based in part on an overall interaction effect. The phase-shift structure may be adapted to increase a depth-of-focus of the optic in the direction of extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Xin Hong
  • Patent number: 12336933
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne A. Noda, Omar Harouny, Daniel Hyman
  • Patent number: 12336936
    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: April 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: John Wardle, Andrew T. Schieber
  • Patent number: 12329633
    Abstract: An intraocular lens (IOL) injectors and associated methods are described. The IOL injectors may include a collapsible portion configured to reduce the length of the IOL injector when the collapsible portion is altered from an uncollapsed configuration to a collapsed configuration. In some instances, an IOL may be advanced from a storage location to a dwell location when the collapsible portion is altered from the uncollapsed configuration to the collapsed configuration. The IOL injectors may also include a combination push and screw drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Brent Wensrich, Todd Taber, Len Takudzwa Magara, Jian Liu
  • Patent number: 12330384
    Abstract: An automated production line for the production of ophthalmic lenses comprises: a production line front end (1) comprising: a first injection-molding machine (10) and a second injection-molding machine (12) a casting module (14) comprising a filling station (144) and a capping station (145); a stacking module (15) and a curing module (16); a destacking module (17) and a demolding and delensing module a production line back end (2) comprising: an inspection module (21); Wherein the inspection module comprising a rail system in which self-driving shuttles carrying the inspection cuvettes are arranged on a closed-loop rail, wherein the rail system can be adapted to the available space in the production plant/hall using curves and straight portions in the manner known from a model railway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Schwab, Matthias Braun, Roger Biel, Nils Schweizer, Nicholas Gollas, Susanne Fechner, Shu Zong
  • Patent number: D1082512
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Cicchella, Grace Chuang Liao, Ashish Sinha
  • Patent number: D1083106
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Mason Hahn, Scott Newton, Andrew Zoolakis