Patents Assigned to Alcon, Inc.
  • 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
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20240307225
    Abstract: An illustrative method for reducing intraocular pressure in a patient may comprise deploying an ocular implant adapted to reside at least partially in a portion of Schlemm's canal of an eye and administering a therapeutic agent comprising a Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor to the patient. The ocular implant may be configured to lower the intraocular pressure from an initial to a second pressure within a first range and the therapeutic agent may lower an intraocular pressure to a third pressure within a second range, the third pressure lower than the second pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. SCHIEBER, Charles L. EUTENEUER, David T. VAN METER, Kenneth M. GALT
  • Patent number: 12089894
    Abstract: A system for predicting post-operative vignetting in an eye of a subject includes a controller having a processor and a tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The controller is in communication with a diagnostic module adapted to store pre-operative anatomic data of the eye as an eye model. The system includes a projection module and a ray tracing module selectively executable by the controller. The projection module is adapted to determine imputed post-operative variables of the eye based at least partially on the pre-operative anatomic data and the intraocular lens. The ray tracing module is adapted to calculate propagation of light through the eye. The ray tracing module is executed to determine a light distribution for respective visual field angles across a predefined field of view. The controller is configured to determine one or more post-operative vignetting parameters based at least partially on the light distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: George Hunter Pettit, Mark Andrew Zielke, Victor Manuel Hernandez, Philip Matthew McCulloch
  • Patent number: 12083756
    Abstract: A method of providing a male mold half for molding a toric contact lens at a predetermined target rotational orientation is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: —providing the male mold half at a predetermined rotational orientation, —picking the male mold half up with a gripper having a central axis, —rotating the gripper with the male mold half about the central axis of the gripper by a predetermined rotational angle (?) towards the predetermined target rotational orientation, and —releasing the rotated male mold half from the gripper. Prior to picking the male mold half up, the method comprises centering the grippe and the male mold half relative to each other such that the central axis of the gripper and a central axis of the male mold half coincide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Schwab, Udo Schuessler, Steffen Lieb, Eduard Jetzlaff, Jan Bernard, Halina Heidrich, Thomas Tonn
  • Patent number: 12083045
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system for calibrating the focal point of a laser beam comprises a laser, focusing optics, detector optics, a two-photon absorption (TPA) detector, and a computer. The laser generates the laser beam. The focusing optics direct the focal point of the laser beam along a z-axis towards a zero-surface corresponding to a zero-plane, and receives a portion of the laser beam reflected by the zero-surface. The detector optics receive the reflected portion from the focusing optics, and directs the reflected portion towards a TPA detector. The TPA detector senses the peak intensity of the reflected portion, which indicates a proximity of the focal point to the zero-surface, and generates a signal representing the peak intensity of the reflected portion. The computer determines whether the focal point of the laser beam is calibrated in response to the signal representing the peak intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: ALCON INC.
    Inventors: Evi Goos, Claudia Gorschboth, Matthias Foesel, Olaf Kittelmann
  • Patent number: 12083823
    Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a retractable guard assembly coupled to a caster of a mobile equipment, comprising a housing and one or more guards at least partially disposed in the housing. The one or more guards are independently movably coupled to the housing. The retractable guard assembly further comprises corresponding one or more biasing elements coupled to the one or more guards and to the housing for biasing the one or more guards towards a fully deployed state. When the one or more guards are in the fully deployed state, contact between a fixed object and a portion of the one or more guards disposed outside the housing causes the one or more guards to transition into a retracted state, and when the contact is removed, the corresponding one or more biasing elements cause the one or more guards to transition into the fully deployed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Brandon L. Spoelstra
  • Patent number: 12083728
    Abstract: To achieve molding insert is properly mounted to the tooling plate of the injection molding machine, a sensor head comprising confocal sensors is used. The sensor heads are placed on the tooling plate at the respective position to determine whether the desired mold insert has been mounted to that position and whether the desired mold insert has been precisely and accurately mounted to the tooling plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Bernard, Michael Stutz, Thomas Tonn
  • Publication number: 20240293192
    Abstract: A robotic system includes a base, a support column, and a selective-compliance-articulated robot arm (SCARA) connected to the base via the support column. The SCARA is configured with ophthalmic visualization-specific kinematics. The SCARA includes first, second, and third revolute joints. A first link is connected to the base via the first revolute joint. A second link is connected to the first link via the second revolute joint, has a distal end connected to the third revolute joint, and is configured as a four-bar mechanism. The second link is connectable to a microscope. A linear actuator is connected to the second link. In response to electronic control signals from an electronic control unit, the linear actuator controls vertical motion of the SCARA. None of the revolute joints of the SCARA functions in an anti-gravity mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Steven T. Charles
  • Publication number: 20240293260
    Abstract: A method of inserting an ocular implant into Schlemm's canal, the method comprising: moving the ocular implant into Schlemm's canal; and injecting a visco-elastic medium in front of the implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. SCHIEBER, Charles L. EUTENEUER
  • Patent number: 12076273
    Abstract: A method of deploying an ocular implant into Schlemm's canal of an eye. The method includes the steps of inserting a distal end of a cannula through a cornea of the eye and into an anterior chamber of the eye, the cannula having a distal opening extending from the distal end and through a side wall; placing the distal opening of the cannula into fluid communication with Schlemm's canal; advancing the ocular implant distally through the cannula with a delivery tool engaged with the ocular implant, a proximal portion of the ocular implant engaging the delivery tool proximal to a distal portion of the delivery tool; and disengaging the ocular implant and the delivery tool when the proximal portion of the ocular implant reaches the cannula distal opening. The invention also includes a system for practicing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: John Wardle, Andrew T. Schieber
  • Patent number: 12076085
    Abstract: A method of verifying ophthalmic measurements includes obtaining, via an ophthalmic measurement device, a first measurement of at least one ophthalmic parameter over a first measurement area. The first measurement area corresponds to an unassisted visible area of a patient's eye. A second measurement of the at least one ophthalmic parameter over a second measurement area is obtained via the measurement device. The second measurement area corresponds to an assisted visible area of the patient's eye. The first measurement is compared to the second measurement. It is determined if the second measurement diverges from the first measurement. Responsive to a determination that the second measurement diverges from the first measurement, an alert that the second measurement is inaccurate is generated. Responsive to a determination that the second measurement does not diverge from the first measurement, the second measurement is accepted as accurate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: John Alfred Campin, Martin Gruendig, Christopher Sean Mudd, George Hunter Pettit, Peter Zieger
  • Patent number: 12070416
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices used to treat eyelids, meibomian glands, ducts, and surrounding tissue are described herein. In some embodiments, an eye treatment device is disclosed, which includes a scleral shield positionable proximate an inner surface of an eyelid, the scleral shield being made of, or coated with, an energy-absorbing material activated by a light energy, and an energy transducer positionable outside of the eyelid, the energy transducer configured to provide light energy at one or more wavelengths, including a first wavelength selected to heat the energy-absorbing material. Wherein, when the eyelid is positioned between the energy transducer and the scleral shield, the light energy from the energy transducer and the heated energy-absorbing material of the scleral shield conductively heats a target tissue region sufficiently to melt meibum within meibomian glands located within or adjacent to the target tissue region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Brian S. Kelleher, John Slate, Michael Burk, Mark Petersen, David Esbaugh, Dan Vance
  • Patent number: 12072556
    Abstract: The invention is related to a contact lens, especially a SiHy contact lens, which comprises a lens bulk material covered with an outer surface hydrogel layer thereon and has a posterior surface and an opposite anterior surface. The outer surface hydrogel layer consists of an anterior outer hydrogel layer and a posterior outer hydrogel layer. A contact lens of the invention is characterized by having a difference in surface softness between its posterior (BC) and anterior (FC) surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, Robert Carey Tucker, Yeming Gu
  • Patent number: 12070421
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for automated fine adjustment of an ophthalmic surgery support in which an eye tracking system detects a detectable position of an eye. The direction and distance the support must be adjusted for the eye to be centered may be determined based on the detectable position. A control signal is generated and transmitted to a control device that adjusts the position of the support to center the eye. The disclosure further provides a method for automated fine adjustment of a support, which includes detecting a detectable position of an eye, determining whether the eye is centered in relation to the center of the detection field of an eye tracking system based on the detectable position, determining a direction and a distance the detectable position must be adjusted to be centered, and generating and transmitting a control signal to adjust the position of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: ALCON INC.
    Inventors: Mario Abraham, Michael Wittnebel
  • Patent number: 12070425
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a patient interface for an ophthalmic laser system comprises an interface portion and an attachment portion. The interface portion comprises a contact portion, a cone wall, and one or more structures. The contact portion has an abutment face that is configured to be in contact with the cornea of an eye. The cone wall is disposed outwardly from the contact portion and defines a cone interior. The cone wall has an inner surface and an outer surface, where the inner surface defines the cone interior. The cone wall has an upper portion and a lower portion, where the lower portion is coupled to the contact portion. The one or more structures direct light from the cone wall towards the cone interior. The attachment portion affixes the interface portion to the cornea of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: ALCON INC.
    Inventors: Michael Wittnebel, Mario Abraham
  • Patent number: 12070268
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a system that may: produce the laser beam; determine multiple focal point distances associated with respective multiple positions of a plane orthogonal to the laser beam via for each position of the multiple positions: adjust at least one mirror to target the laser beam to the position; determine multiple intensity values associated with respective multiple interim focal point distances; determine a maximum intensity value of the multiple intensity values; determine an interim focal point distance of the multiple interim focal point distances respectively associated with the maximum intensity value; and determine a focal point distance of the multiple focal point distances as the interim focal point distance of the multiple interim focal point distances respectively associated with the maximum intensity value; and determine a topography of a surface of a patient interface based at least on the multiple focal point distances associated with the respective multiple positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: ALCON INC.
    Inventors: Arun Paudel, Olaf Kittelmann, Matthias Foesel
  • Patent number: 12070417
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for measuring fluid pressure in an ophthalmic surgical system. An example system comprises a fluid flow path and a pressure sensor system for measuring pressure in the fluid flow path. The pressure sensor system comprises a conductive, movable diaphragm having a first side and a second side, the first side of the diaphragm facing the fluid flow path, and an eddy current position sensor positioned on the second side of the diaphragm without contacting the diaphragm. The eddy current position sensor comprises a position sensor coil activatable by high frequency alternating current and signal conditioning electronics capable of sensing inductance or impedance or resonant frequency variation in the position sensor coil as a gap between the diaphragm and the position sensor coil changes and of translating that variation into a displacement signal correlated to fluid pressure. A method of measuring fluid pressure may be performed using one or more of the systems described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn X. Gao, Ivan Milutinovic, Roderick S. Van, Vincent A Baxter, Raphael Gordon
  • Patent number: 12070280
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a voice-controlled system for controlling devices and systems in a surgical setting. The voice-controlled system includes at least one microphone and at least one loudspeaker distributed within the surgical setting to receive and audibly respond to voice commands from operating staff. In certain aspects, the at least one microphone and at least one loudspeaker include a phased microphone array and a phased loudspeaker array that are coordinated and synchronized to perform active noise reduction, echo cancellation, and directional determination of sound sources. The voice-controlled system performs tasks, such as activation of surgical devices, based on verbal interactions with the operating staff through the at least one microphone and at least one loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Steven T. Charles, Paul R. Hallen