Abstract: An optical coherence tomography (OCT) apparatus includes an optical source module comprising two or more selectable optical sources or an optical source configured to selectively operate in two or more source operating modes, or a combination of both, and further comprises an OCT engine coupled to the optical source module, the OCT engine comprising an OCT interferometer. The OCT apparatus still further includes a mode-switching optics module coupled to the OCT engine and comprising one or more swappable, selectable, or adjustable optical components, such that the mode-switching optics module is configured to selectively provide two or more optical configurations for the optical path between the OCT engine and an imaged object, according to two or more corresponding operating modes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 20, 2018
Date of Patent:
November 10, 2020
Assignee:
Alcon Inc.
Inventors:
Craig Bender, Michael Papac, Lingfeng Yu
Abstract: The invention is related to a process for producing contact lenses that not only comprise a water gradient structural configurations, but also have a minimized uptakes of polyquaternium-1 and a long-lasting surface hydrophilicity and wettability even after being undergone a simulated 30-days lens care regime.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 29, 2018
Date of Patent:
November 10, 2020
Assignee:
Alcon Inc.
Inventors:
Yongxing Qiu, Kasey Jon Minick, John Dallas Pruitt, Newton T. Samuel, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Kelly Kayi Tallau, Matthew McCollum, Richard Govan
Abstract: A method for determining the inversion state of a soft contact lens (1), comprising imaging a soft contact lens having a convex surface (2, 3) and a concave surface (3, 2), a lens center and a lens edge (5) surrounding said soft contact lens (1), the method comprising using an optical coherence tomography system to obtain at least one sectional image of at least a part of the contact lens (1) comprising the lens edge (5), determining a cross-sectional edge geometry of the contact lens (1) extending from the lens edge (5) towards the lens center of the contact lens in the sectional image, the cross-sectional edge geometry corresponding to the convex and concave surface boundaries of the contact lens (1) in the sectional image, selecting a parameter defining the cross-sectional edge geometry of the contact lens (1) imaged and comparing the parameter defining the cross-sectional edge geometry of the contact lens (1) with a predetermined parameter defining a cross-sectional edge geometry of a non-inverted contact
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 30, 2017
Date of Patent:
November 10, 2020
Assignee:
Alcon Inc.
Inventors:
Sarah Unterkofler, Susanne Fechner, Marcus Heift, Matthias Schwab
Abstract: The present disclosure describes composite frame systems. The internal composite frame system may include at least one composite frame component including an intermediate frame element having a first side and a second side. A first plate may be positioned on the first side, and a second plate may be positioned on the second side. One or more fastener assemblies are operable to couple the first and second plates to the intermediate frame element.
Abstract: A-lines are obtained from an OCT scan of the eye, some of which pass through the iris and the lens and some of which pass through the lens but not the iris. An interface is detected from the A-lines; at least some of this interface is assumed to correspond to either the anterior or posterior of the iris. For each A-line, a first metric is derived from pixels near the detected first interface, such that the first metric reflects an OCT signal intensity associated with the interface, and a second metric is derived from pixels further from the interface, such that the second metric reflects OCT signal attenuation below the detected interface. An attenuation parameter is calculated for each A-line, based on the first and second metrics, and the iris's edge is detected by determining whether each A-line passes through the iris, based on the attenuation parameter.
Abstract: Systems and techniques for laser surgery are described. Scan data may be created by determining a coordinate of the object at a set of points along an arc by the imaging system, wherein the coordinate of the object is a Z coordinate of an object layer. An object shape parameter and position parameter may be determined based on the scan data by a system control module by extracting an amplitude and a phase of the scan data determining a center of the object layer based on the extracted amplitude and phase.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 22, 2016
Date of Patent:
November 10, 2020
Assignee:
Alcon Inc.
Inventors:
Ilya Goldshleger, Guy Holland, Ferenc Raksi
Abstract: Method for determining the refractive index (n) of a material of a contact lens, in particular of a soft contact lens, the contact lens (1) having a first surface and a second surface defining a lens geometry there between, by measuring the wavefront issued by the contact lens (1) with a wavefront sensor (4), obtaining data of the geometry of at least one section of the contact lens (1) with an optical coherence tomography system (3) and communicating the geometry of the at least one section of the contact lens (1) from the optical coherence tomography system (3) to an analyzer, particularly a computer, and determining the refractive index (n) of the material of the contact lens from the geometry of the at least one section of the contact lens and from the wavefront issued by the contact lens (1).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 18, 2018
Date of Patent:
November 3, 2020
Assignee:
Alcon Inc.
Inventors:
Susanne Fechner, Roger Biel, Marcus Heift, Thomas Tonn
Abstract: Described herein are water-soluble UV-absorbing vinylic monomers and their uses in preparing UV-absorbing contact lenses capable of blocking ultra-violet (“UV”) radiation and optionally (but preferably) violet radiation with wavelengths from 380 nm to 440 nm, thereby protecting eyes to some extent from damages caused by UV radiation and potentially from violet radiation. This invention also provides a UV-absorbing contact lens.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 20, 2019
Date of Patent:
November 3, 2020
Assignee:
Alcon Inc.
Inventors:
Frank Chang, Ryan DeSousa, Troy Vernon Holland, John Dallas Pruitt, Jared Nelson
Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus (5) for determining a coefficient of friction at a test site (11) on a surface (10) of a contact lens (1). The apparatus comprises: a lens holder (2) arranged at least partially in a receptacle (6); a slide (4) comprising a counter surface (40) made of lapped aluminum for contacting the test site (11); a load generator (7) configured to apply a predetermined normal load (Fn) between the counter surface (40) and the test site; a drive (8) configured to generate a sliding movement between the counter surface (40) and the contact lens in direction located in a plane perpendicular to the normal load (Fn); and a force sensor (9) configured to measure a tangential frictional force (Ft) between the test site and the counter surface (40) along the direction of the sliding movement.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 23, 2018
Date of Patent:
October 20, 2020
Assignee:
Alcon Inc.
Inventors:
Justyna Justynska-Reimann, Markus Grebe, Michael Ruland, André Wicklein
Abstract: The present invention provides novel intraocular lens compositions comprising a hydroxyl functional acrylic monomer and have a high Abbe number, minimal glistenings, and suitable mechanical properties for small incision delivery.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 12, 2018
Date of Patent:
October 20, 2020
Assignee:
Alcon Inc.
Inventors:
Xuwei Jiang, Thomas A. Callaghan, Ahmad R. Hadba
Abstract: An IOL system includes a capsular ring having a concave exterior surface extending around its circumference that is configured, upon insertion into a capsular bag of a patient's eye, to engage an equatorial region of the capsular bag. The concave exterior surface extends between an anterior surface and a posterior surface of the capsular ring. A first one or more flaps are arranged on the anterior surface such that at least a portion of each of the first one or more flaps, upon insertion into the capsular bag of a patient's eye, engages an anterior portion of the capsular bag. Similarly, a second one or more flaps are arranged on the posterior surface such that at least a portion of each of the second one or more flaps, upon insertion into a capsular bag of a patient's eye, engages a posterior portion of the capsular bag.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 10, 2015
Date of Patent:
October 13, 2020
Assignee:
Alcon Inc.
Inventors:
Stephen Collins, Niranjana Nandakumar, John Radle, Stephen Van Noy, Douglas B. Wensrich
Abstract: A method and system provide an ophthalmic lens including a lens body having a chamber therein, a reservoir module coupled with the lens body and an optical fluid. At least part of the lens body is flexible. The reservoir module includes a reservoir and a heat sensitive portion bordering the reservoir. The reservoir has a reservoir volume and is fluidically connected with the chamber. The heat sensitive portion has a shape responsive to a temperature of at least forty five degrees Celsius such that the reservoir volume changes in response to at least part of the heat sensitive portion reaching the temperature. The optical fluid resides in the chamber and the reservoir. A change in the reservoir volume flows a portion of the optical fluid between the reservoir and the chamber such that the flexible portion of the lens body undergoes a shape change corresponding to a base power change.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 13, 2018
Date of Patent:
September 29, 2020
Assignee:
Alcon Inc.
Inventors:
Ahmad Hadba, Ramiro Ribeiro, Douglas Schlueter, Marcel Ackermann, Lukas Scheibler, Stefan Troller
Abstract: An apparatus for laser eye surgery comprises a laser module, which is equipped to emit pulsed, focused laser radiation of a variable pulse repetition rate, and a processor-based control unit, which is equipped to receive at least one user input pertaining to a selection of one of several predefined pulse repetition rates over a user input and to control the laser module in accordance with the selected pulse repetition rate. In certain specific embodiments, the user interface enables input of two user entries, each of which relates to a selection of one of several predefined pulse repetition rates. The control unit controls the laser module for a first phase of a laser treatment in accordance with one input, and for a second phase of the laser treatment, it controls the laser module in accordance with the other input.
Abstract: Focusing optics for mode mixing may be used to homogenize different modes in an optical fiber used for surgical illumination. A vibration stage may impart mechanical motion to a condenser lens to generate a homogeneous illumination field from a coherent light source.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 29, 2018
Date of Patent:
September 22, 2020
Assignee:
Alcon Inc.
Inventors:
Cesario Dos Santos, Gerald David Bacher, Ronald Smith, Alireza Mirsepassi, Michael Papac
Abstract: The present invention relates to a hub for mounting a brake disc to a flange member on a vehicle axis. The hub member comprises a flange section with a plurality of first openings adapted to receive mounting members for mounting the flange section to a flange member and a brake disc attachment section connected to the flange section. The brake disc attachment section circumferentially surrounding the flange section and comprises a plurality of second openings adapted to receive mounting members for mounting the attachment section to a brake disc. The attachment section further comprises at least one reinforcement rib connected to at least one of the plurality of second openings.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 24, 2017
Date of Patent:
September 22, 2020
Assignee:
ALCON COMPONENTS LIMITED
Inventors:
Richard Humble, Andrew Smith, Garry Wiseman
Abstract: A system and method for ophthalmic surgery in which a light field camera is used to capture a digital image of the surgical field including the eye. The digital image is used to create image information and directional information, which is then used to from a three dimensional (3D) image with motion parallax.
Abstract: An optical coherence tomography (OCT) system and method for cross view imaging using at least two B-scan images transformed and coupled to each other at an angle to generate a cross view image.
Abstract: The invention is related to a hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens having a layered structural configuration: a lower water content silicone hydrogel core (or bulk material) completely covered with a layer of a higher water content hydrogel totally or substantially free of silicone. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens of the invention possesses high oxygen permeability for maintaining the corneal health and a soft, water-rich, lubricious surface for wearing comfort.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 25, 2019
Date of Patent:
September 22, 2020
Assignee:
Alcon Inc.
Inventors:
Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Sibichen J. Thekveli, Robert Carey Tucker, Jared Nelson
Abstract: The invention is generally related to soft contact lenses which comprise a polyvinylalcohol-based hydrogel lens body and a durable lubricious coating thereon which are covalently attached to the polyvinylalcohol-based hydrogel lens body through 6-membered acetal rings and to a method for producing the same.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 25, 2017
Date of Patent:
September 22, 2020
Assignee:
Alcon Inc.
Inventors:
Harald Bothe, Bernhard Seiferling, Heike Arndt, Thomas Wasse, Stephan Wittmar
Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for a laser-assisted eye-surgery treatment system, comprising a first image-acquisition unit that is designed to acquire a first image (39) of an eye to be treated. The apparatus further comprises a computer arrangement which is designed to detect at least one first feature (40?) of the eye by means of image processing of the first image, and to determine a position and an orientation of the first feature in a coordinate system (S?) of the treatment system. The computer arrangement is also designed to determine a position and an orientation of an incision (66?) to be produced in the eye in the coordinate system (S?) of the treatment system as a function of the determined position and orientation of the first feature (40?) in the coordinate system and as a function of a previously determined relative position and orientation of at least one second feature (64?) of the eye with respect to the first feature (40?).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 4, 2011
Date of Patent:
September 22, 2020
Assignee:
Alcon Inc.
Inventors:
Christof Donitzky, Christian Wuellner, Peter Riedel