Patents Assigned to Alcon
  • Patent number: 11306090
    Abstract: The present invention provides in one aspect azabicyclo and diazepine derivatives useful as modulators of muscarinic receptors. In another aspect, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions for treating ocular diseases, the compositions comprising at least one muscarinic receptor modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: David Ellis, Howard Allen Ketelson
  • Patent number: 11298146
    Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical instrument comprising a device having a functional end configured to be inserted into a body part, a shaft coupled to a proximal end of the device, and a shaft housing configured to receive a distal end of the shaft and operable to move along a central axis of the shaft. The surgical instrument further comprises a tube coupled to the distal end of the shaft housing and configured to partially house the device such that the functional end of the device at least partially extends beyond the distal end of the tube. The surgical instrument further comprises a plurality of arcuate levers such that pressing one or more of the plurality of arcuate levers moves the shaft housing and the tube toward the functional end of the device, causing the tube to transition the device from a deactivated state to an activated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Linsi
  • Patent number: 11298221
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a three-lens IOL system including a first, anterior lens, a second, posterior lens rigidly connected to the first lens by at least one rigid member such that the second lens is a fixed distance from the first lens along an axis, a third, center, moveable lens positioned between the first lens and the second lens and adapted to move linearly along the axis anteriorly in a direction of the first lens or posteriorly in a direction of the second lens to change an optical power of the system, and an articulating actuator that contacts the moveable lens and a capsular bag of an eye when the IOL system is implanted in the capsular bag, the articulating actuator adapted to move the moveable lens linearly along the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Philip Matthew McCulloch
  • Patent number: 11298874
    Abstract: A continuous additive fabrication system comprises a bath of photopolymer resin and a light source assembly having a light source and a motorized variable aperture. The light source assembly is operable to generate a focus point in the bath of photopolymer resin, the shape of the focus point at a curing plane within the bath of photopolymer resin corresponding to the shape of the motorized variable aperture. The continuous additive fabrication system further comprises a platform configured to support a build object and a drive mechanism (coupled to at least one of the platform and the light source assembly) configured to continuously move the curing plane through the bath of photopolymer resin. A size and/or shape of the motorized variable aperture is changed while the curing plane in continuously moved through the bath of photopolymer resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Craig Cox, Fernando Enrique Oritz, Austin Xavier Rodeheaver
  • Patent number: 11291470
    Abstract: Various embodiments are generally directed to a surgical probe with shape-memory material, such as a probe with a set of light sources, for instance. Some embodiments are particularly directed to a cannula with a shape-memory material that is used to secure a window. In one or more embodiments, for example, an apparatus for surgical use may include a cannula with a shape-memory material in an austenitic phase. In some embodiments, the window may be positioned at an opening of the cannula when the shape-memory material is in a martensitic phase. In some embodiments, transitioning the shape-memory material from the martensitic phase to the austenitic phase secures the window in position at the opening of the cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Cook, Alireza Mirsepassi, Kambiz Parto
  • Patent number: 11285043
    Abstract: Performance of enhanced visually directed procedures under low ambient lighting conditions. An imaging system includes a first high resolution photosensor configured to acquire at least one first real-time high resolution video signal representing at least one view of the eye in at least one wavelength of light outside of the wavelengths of visible light. A second high resolution photosensor is configured to acquire at least one second real-time high resolution video signal representing the at least one view of the eye inside of the wavelengths of visible light. A control unit is configured to acquire the at least one first real-time high resolution video signal and the at least one second real-time high resolution video signal after the light conditions are low enough such that a pupil of the eye does not constrict substantially from its maximum pupillary diameter, via the first and the second high resolution photosensor, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Ashok Burton Tripathi
  • Patent number: 11284794
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system for tracking movement of an eye comprises a camera system, a computer system, and an output device. The camera system generates images of the eye. The computer system stores the images and at least one of the images as a reference image. The computer system also tracks movement of the eye within a tracking range by comparing a current image with the reference image, and by determining a movement of the eye from the comparison of the current image and the reference image. The tracking range has one or more alert points. The computer system also determines an orientation of the eye relative to at least one alert point of the tracking range. The output device outputs a range indicator that indicates the orientation of the eye relative to the at least one alert point of the tracking range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Jessica Jurich, Horia Grecu, Martin GrĂ¼ndig, Tobias Jura Rapoport
  • Patent number: 11284992
    Abstract: An ophthalmic lens includes an optic comprising an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and an optic edge extending between the anterior surface and the posterior surface, the optic having an optical axis. The ophthalmic lens further includes a plurality of haptics extending from a periphery of the optic, each of the plurality of haptics including a gusset region, a distal region, and an elbow region connecting the gusset region to the distal region. The gusset region of each of the plurality of haptics extends from the periphery of the optic and spans a portion of the periphery of the optic. In addition, the gusset region of each of the plurality of haptics monotonically increases in thickness with increased distance from the periphery of the optic, while the distal region of each of the plurality of haptics monotonically decreases in thickness with increased distance from the elbow region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen John Collins, Rakhi Jain, John Evan Radle, Jian Liu, Michael Lee Mangum
  • Patent number: 11284994
    Abstract: A Bernoulli gripper for ophthalmic lenses includes a gripper body with a first cavity corresponding in shape to an optic zone of an ophthalmic lens and a first channel formed within the gripper body. The first channel penetrates the first cavity at one end and includes a first port in the gripper body at another end of the first channel. The first channel is enabled to supply a fluid medium from the first port to the first cavity at a first velocity such that the ophthalmic lens positioned with the optic zone in proximity to the first cavity is subject to a first pressure force against the first cavity by the Bernoulli effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Dominik Huehn, Jochen Koehler
  • Patent number: 11279103
    Abstract: The invention provides a method producing contact lenses, including the step of: holding the molded silicone hydrogel contact lens attached to the one of the female mold half or the male mold half with a vacuum supplied with a suction cup; deforming a surface of the one of the female mold half or the male mold half having the molded silicone hydrogel contact lens attached to with a pin so as to separate the molded silicone hydrogel contact lens from the mold half attached to and to transfer the molded silicone hydrogel contact lens to the suction cup; moving the suction cup away from the pin while the suction cup continues to hold the molded silicone hydrogel contact lens remains; applying a compressed gas to blow the molded silicone hydrogel contact lens away from the suction cup into a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Daryl Reece, Uwe Haken, Delores Davis
  • Patent number: 11272990
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a system that may: render, based at least on first positions of locations of iris structures of an eye, a first two-dimensional overlay image associated with a three-dimensional image overlay image; display, via a first display, the first two-dimensional overlay image; render, based at least on the first positions and at least on a horizontal offset, a second two-dimensional overlay image associated with the three-dimensional overlay image; display, via a second display, the second two-dimensional overlay image; render, based at least on second positions, a third two-dimensional overlay image associated with the three-dimensional overlay image; display, via the first display, the third two-dimensional overlay image; render, based at least on second positions of locations of the iris structures and at least on the horizontal offset, a fourth two-dimensional overlay image associated with the three-dimensional overlay image; and display, via the second display, the fourth two-dimensional
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Aleksander Gudalo
  • Patent number: 11274787
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a rotational mechanism comprising a rotating part with an extension, configured to rotate about a first axis, a base comprising a sliding channel, wherein the rotating part is configured to rotate with respect to the base, and a stopping element comprising a stopping tab configured to interact with the sliding channel and further configured to interact with the extension to limit rotation of the rotating part. The rotating part is able to rotate the same amount in both the first direction and the second direction starting from a starting position and stopping at a stopping position, wherein, when reaching the stopping position by rotation in the first direction, the rotating part is restricted from further moving in the first direction, and wherein, when reaching the stopping position by rotation in the second direction, the rotating part is restricted from further moving in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey C. Jawidzik, Brody Wayne Collins
  • Patent number: 11259916
    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: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: John Campin, Kevin Liedel, George Hunter Pettit
  • Patent number: 11259960
    Abstract: Various embodiments are generally directed to a surgical instrument for detecting light, such as by measuring light traveling in a waveguide, for instance. Some embodiments are particularly directed to a determining one or more parameters associated with ocular surgery based on detection of the light. In one or more embodiments, for example, a surgical instrument may include a cannula, a waveguide, a transducer, and logic implemented in circuitry communicatively coupled with the transducer. In one or more such embodiments, the cannula may comprise at least a portion of the waveguide. In some embodiments, the transducer may detect light traveling in a first direction in the waveguide. In some such embodiments, the logic may determine at least one parameter associated with ocular surgery based on the light detected by the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Steven T. Charles
  • Patent number: 11259915
    Abstract: An IOL utilizes a haptic formed as a toroid portion configured to fit into a capsular bag of an aphakic eye of a patient. The toroid portion may be separate from an IOL optic and may include a receiving feature for the IOL optic. The toroid portion may be configured for intraoperative fluid-filling for snug fitting at the equator of the capsular bag, in order to immobilize the IOL optic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Alan Cable, II
  • Patent number: 11256110
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a system that may provide a virtual object at a first virtual distance to an eye of a patient; may provide a first light wave to the eye; may receive a first perturbed light wave, based at least on the first light wave, from the eye; may determine first optical corrections based at least on the first perturbed light; may provide the virtual object at a second virtual distance to the eye; after providing the virtual object at the second virtual distance, may provide a second light wave to the eye; may receive a second perturbed light wave, based at least on the second light wave, from the eye; may determine second optical corrections based at least on the second perturbed light; and may determine a corrective optical solution for the eye based at least on the first optical corrections and the second optical corrections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Dominik Lerm, Stefan Schmid, Stefan Koch, Joerg Grampp, Berndt Warm, Peter Martin
  • Patent number: 11254075
    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. A method of the invention comprises the combination of using a hydrophilic (meth)acrylamido monomer as one of major polymerizable components in a lens formulation for cast-molding of contact lenses, adding a post-curing treatment step which involves heating molds with molded lenses therewithin in an oven at a post-curing temperature higher than the curing temperature and under nitrogen gas flow at a higher flow rate, and using ultrasonic vibration energy for delensing. This method of the invention can be easily implemented in a production environment for enhancing the production yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Charles Breitkopf, Daqing Wu, Junhao Ge, Steve Yun Zhang
  • Patent number: 11256003
    Abstract: The invention is related to contact lenses that not only comprise the much desired water gradient structural configurations, but also have a minimized uptakes of polycationic antimicrobials and a long-lasting surface hydrophilicity and wettability even after going through a 30-days lens care regime. Because of the water gradient structural configuration and a relatively-thick, extremely-soft and water-rich hydrogel surface layer, a contact lens of the invention can provide superior wearing comfort. Further, a contact lens of the invention is compatible with multipurpose lens care solutions present in the market and can endure the harsh lens care handling conditions (e.g., digital rubbings, accidental inversion of contact lenses, etc.) encountered in a daily lens care regime. As such, they are suitable to be used as weekly- or monthly-disposable water gradient contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Newton T. Samuel, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Robert Carey Tucker, Yuan Chang, Ethan Leveillee
  • Patent number: 11254076
    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. A method of the invention comprising the steps of formulating a lens formulation by dissolving/blending all polymerizable components in a mixture a hydrophobic acrylic monomer as a reactive diluent and an organic solvent as a non-reactive diluent at a weight ratio of least 0.24 (reactive diluent over the sum of reactive and non-reactive solvents) per gram of the polymerizable composition and using a relatively low ultrasonic vibration energy for delensing. This method of the invention can be easily implemented in a production environment for enhancing the production yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Junhao Ge, Daqing Wu, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Steve Yun Zhang, Augustine Twum Kumi
  • Patent number: 11246752
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for selectively constraining an orientation of a portion of a surgical tool system relative to another. Example surgical tool systems may include a surgical tool having at least one movable component, at least one actuation component, and a surgical tool attachment. The surgical tool attachment may be operable selectively to engage and disengage the moveable component so as to prevent movement of the movable component relative to the surgical tool in an engaged configuration and to permit movement of the movable component relative to the surgical to in a disengaged configuration, respectively. In the engaged configuration, a dynamic component of the surgical tool system may be fixed relative to the surgical tool, and, in a disengaged configuration, the dynamic component may be freely movable relative to the surgical tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Niels Alexander Abt, Thomas Linsi