Patents Assigned to Alcon
  • Patent number: 11730355
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide improved ocular aberrometry recovery. An ocular aberrometry system includes a wavefront sensor configured to provide wavefront sensor data associated with an optical target monitored by the ocular aberrometry system and a logic device configured to communicate with the wavefront sensor. The logic device is configured to receive ocular aberrometry output data including at least the wavefront sensor data provided by the wavefront sensor, identify imaging artifact induced singularities in the received ocular aberrometry output data, determine corrected aberrometry output data based, at least in part, on the identified singularities and the received ocular aberrometry output data, and generate user feedback corresponding to the received ocular aberrometry output data based, at least in part, on the corrected aberrometry output data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Max Hall, Thomas Padrick, Edwin Jay Sarver
  • Patent number: 11730627
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system for aligning an eye with a patient interface of a laser device includes a camera, a display screen, and a computer. The camera records images of the eye through the patient interface of the laser device. A liquid is disposed between and is in contact with the patient interface and the outer surface of the eye. The images include an outline of the liquid. The display screen displays the images of the eye. The computer aligns the eye with the patient interface by: identifying the outline of the liquid in an image received from the camera; determining a misalignment of the eye according to the outline; and instructing the display screen to display a description of the misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Abraham, Michael Wittnebel
  • Patent number: 11723746
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for performing intraocular lens implantation using real-time surgical reference indicium are disclosed. An example method includes recording a patient specific pre-operative still image of an eye prior to cyclorotation of the eye when a patient lies down for surgery and generating at least one real-time multidimensional visualization of at least a portion of the eye for display. The method further includes using the patient specific pre-operative still image to at least produce at least one virtual surgical reference indicium including an ocular natural vertical axis of the eye and align the at least one virtual surgical reference indicium to the eye in conjunction with the real-time multidimensional visualization of at least a portion of the eye. The patient specific pre-operative still image is captured under a dilation condition selected from the group consisting of natural dilation, chemical dilation, and no dilation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Ashok Burton Tripathi
  • Patent number: 11723727
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods for performing eye surgery in which a single image that simultaneously presents a graphical representation of a planned or actual flap location superimposed with a graphical representation of a planned or actual area of ablation is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Wittnebel, Mario Abraham, Stefan Schmid, Maik Lange, Martin Starigk
  • Patent number: 11726032
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a system that may: provide multiple first portions of a laser beam to an objective lens of an optical system; provide the multiple first portions of the laser beam to respective multiple locations of a test surface; receive multiple second portions of the laser beam from the test surface; determine multiple intensities respectively associated with the multiple second portions of the laser beam; transform the multiple intensities into data that represents multiple measurement values of the multiple intensities; determine, from the data, if an intensity value of the multiple intensities is below a threshold intensity value; if the intensity is below the threshold intensity value, provide information that indicates an issue associated with the objective lens; and if the intensity is not below the threshold intensity value, provide information that indicates there is no issue associated with the objective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Arun Paudel, Olaf Kittelmann, Matthias Foesel
  • Publication number: 20230248509
    Abstract: Disclosed are adjustable accommodating intraocular lenses and methods of adjusting accommodating intraocular lenses post-operatively. In one embodiment, an adjustable accommodating intraocular lens comprises an optic portion and a peripheral portion. At least one of the optic portion and the peripheral portion can be made in part of a composite material comprising an energy absorbing constituent and a plurality of expandable components. At least one of a base power and a cylindricity of the optic portion can be configured to change in response to an external energy directed at the composite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Terah Whiting SMILEY, Andrew R. WALZ, Sharad HAJELA, Gregory Vinton MATTHEWS, Robert Demitri ANGELOPOULOS, Nathan LEWIS
  • Patent number: 11717446
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a tissue part of an eye by means of laser radiation includes a suction-ring unit (16) which is capable of being mounted onto the eye, with a ring axis (22), a mechanical interface unit (34) which is separate from the suction-ring unit (16), which is capable of being moved along the ring axis (22) in coupling contact with the latter, and which is capable of being mechanically coupled with optical means (70) which focus the laser radiation onto or into the tissue part (12) of the eye, and sealing means (44, 52) which upon movement of the interface unit (34) in coupling contact with the suction-ring unit (16) form a space (58) which is capable of being evacuated and which is delimited by sealing surfaces (46, 60) of the interface unit (34) and of the suction-ring unit (16) and of the sealing means (44, 52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Christof Donitzky, Bernd Zerl, Thomas Deisinger
  • Patent number: 11717156
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking eye movement during a diagnostic procedure include an eye tracker capturing images of an eye, and a control processor configured to detect an eye position and orientation in each of the images, determine an eye fixation position and orientation relative to an optical axis of the eye tracker, estimate eye fixation parameters based at least in part on the determined eye fixation position and orientation, and track the eye position and orientation by analyzing the images to determine the eye position and orientation relative to the eye fixation parameters. The eye fixation parameters may comprise a reference position and orientation of the eye when fixated. A histogram is constructed of detected eye positions and orientations and analyzed to determine an eye fixation position and orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Sascha Birkner, Martin GrĂ¼ndig
  • Patent number: 11717439
    Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a rotational cutter for delaminating a membrane from a retina of an eye. The rotational cutter may comprise a first shaft and a second shaft comprising a blade portion, wherein the second shaft is coupled to a driver that is configured to at least partially rotate the second shaft relative to the first shaft, wherein rotating the second shaft rotates the blade portion for delaminating the membrane. The rotational cutter may also comprise a bottom portion configured to interface with a surface of the retina, wherein the bottom portion comprises one or more curved edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Niccolo Maschio, Niels Alexander Abt, Reto Grueebler, Philipp Schaller, Timo Jung, Rodolfo Wolfer
  • Publication number: 20230240836
    Abstract: Disclosed are adjustable intraocular lenses and methods of adjusting intraocular lenses post-operatively. In one embodiment, an adjustable accommodating intraocular lens comprises an optic portion and at least one haptic. At least part of the haptic can be made in part of a composite material comprising an energy absorbing constituent and a plurality of shrinkable and/or burstable microspheres. At least one of a base power of the optic portion can be configured to change in response to an external energy directed at the composite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Michael IRBY, Shivam AGARWAL
  • Patent number: 11712333
    Abstract: An IOL base compression device having an IOL towing mechanism is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Rudolph F. Zacher
  • Patent number: 11712161
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking eye movement during a diagnostic procedure include a retina imaging system configured to capture a first plurality of images of an eye and detect a presence of a fovea, an eye tracker configured to capture a second plurality of images of the eye and track a position and orientation of the eye; and a control processor configured to synchronize the first and second plurality of images, determine a time at which the fovea is detected in the first plurality of images, and determine one or more images from the second plurality of images to be classified as representative of fixation. The classified images are analyzed to determine eye fixation status during the diagnostic procedure based on eye tracking data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Sascha Birkner, Martin GrĂ¼ndig
  • Patent number: 11712369
    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: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. Schieber, Iqbal K. Ahmed
  • Patent number: 11707339
    Abstract: A microsurgical instrument having one or more distance indication members is provided. In a particular embodiment, the microsurgical instrument comprises a microsurgical tool and a first distance indication member coupled to, and extending beyond a distal end of, the microsurgical tool. A distal portion of the first distance indication member may be configured to deflect when in contact with a tissue surface, without causing damage to the tissue surface, to give a visual indication that the distal end of the microsurgical tool is in proximity to the tissue surface. The distal portion of the distance indication member can be further configured to return to a non-deflected configuration when no longer in contact with the tissue surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Ivan Filipin
  • Patent number: 11701220
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an intraocular lens (IOL) or ophthalmic device including an optic and at least one haptic, at least a portion of which is formed from a photoresponsive shape memory polymer network, such as a polydomain azo liquid crystalline polymer network (PD-LCN). The present disclosure further provides systems and methods for adjusting the position of such an IOL or other ophthalmic device using polarized laser radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Akinay, Xuwei Jiang, Jian Liu, Jingbo Liu
  • Patent number: 11701256
    Abstract: A gas mixing system for providing mixed gas for intraocular injection. In some embodiments, a first fixed-volume chamber is automatically purged and filled with gas from a first gas supply input, to a first predetermined pressure. A second fixed-volume chamber is purged and filled with gas from a second gas supply input, to a second predetermined pressure. The first and second predetermined pressures are determined based on a desired concentration of gases in the final mix, and the respective volumes of the first and second fixed-volume chambers and of a third fixed-volume chamber. Gas from the first fixed-volume chamber is then allowed to mix with gas in the third fixed-volume chamber, which was previously purged. Next, gas from the second fixed-volume chamber is allowed to mix with gas in the third fixed-volume chamber. Finally, the mixture of gases in the third fixed-volume chamber is expressed into an intraocular syringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Alan Hopkins
  • Patent number: 11696851
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a cannula system with a retention mechanism comprising a cannula, a hub coupled to the cannula, wherein a distal end of the cannula is configured to be inserted into a body part up to the hub, and a retention mechanism configured to create resistance for retaining the cannula inside the body part in response to force exerted on the cannula for pulling the cannula out of the body part. The retention mechanism may include retention elements coupled to a bottom surface of the hub, and by rotating the hub in a first direction, the one or more retention elements that are parallel to a surface of the body part are configured to penetrate the body part. In other embodiments, the retention mechanism may include halfpipe elements that pivot on fulcrum points to hold or release the hub and cannula from the body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Steven T. Charles
  • Patent number: 11690802
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ophthalmic emulsion. The emulsion has a unique combination of ingredients that promotes the stability of small oil droplets within the emulsion. The emulsion also includes a mucoadhesive polymer that aid in delivering a lipid to the ocular surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Allen Ketelson, David L. Meadows
  • Patent number: 11692906
    Abstract: A method for determining geometrical parameters of a soft contact lens comprises the steps of providing an OCT imaging device comprising an OCT light source; providing a soft contact lens arranging the soft contact lens relative to the OCT imaging device so light coming from the OCT light source impinges on the back surface of the soft contact lens; generating a three-dimensional OCT image of the soft contact lens; from the three-dimensional OCT image determining a plurality of edge points located on the edge of the soft contact lens, connecting adjacent ones of the edge points by individual straight lines; summing up the lengths of all individual straight lines to a length U of the approximated circumference of the soft contact lens; from the length U determining a diameter D of the lens according to D=U/?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Tonn
  • Patent number: 11684515
    Abstract: Multi-fiber laser probes utilize relative motion of fibers and other laser probe elements to preserve small-gauge compatibility while providing for multi-spot beam deliver, or to provide for the selectively delivery of single-spot or multi-spot beam patterns. An example probe includes fibers having distal ends that are movable as a group onto a distal ramp element affixed to a distal end of a cannula, so that the distal ends of the fibers can be moved between a retracted position, in which the distal ends of the fibers are within the cannula or ramp element, and an extended position, in which distal ends of the fibers are guided by grooves or channels of the ramp so as to extend at least partially through external openings in the distal end of the laser probe and so as to be pointed angularly away from a longitudinal axis of the cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Chenguang Diao, Mark Harrison Farley, Alireza Mirsepassi, Ronald T. Smith