Patents Assigned to Alcon
  • Patent number: 10722618
    Abstract: A method and system assist a physician in controlling pressure in a line during a surgery. The method includes filtering a vacuum signal such that portions of the vacuum signal having a frequency greater than a threshold frequency (e.g., ten Hz) are not passed. Thus a filtered vacuum signal is provided. The method also includes providing a control signal to a vacuum source. The control signal is selected from the vacuum signal and the filtered vacuum signal. The vacuum source provides a vacuum having a level based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Mason Hahn, Andrew David Johnson, Brian William McDonell
  • Patent number: 10718960
    Abstract: The invention is related to a method for producing silicone hydrogel contact lenses with a stable lubricious hydrogel coating thereon providing a low surface friction. A method of the invention comprises forming a plasma-reactive hydrophilic polymer hybrid base coating having reactive functional groups on a silicone hydrogel contact lens and heating the silicone hydrogel contact lens with the hybrid base coating in an aqueous solution of a water-soluble and thermally crosslinkable hydrophilic polymeric material to form a stable lubricious hydrogel coating thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Harald Bothe
  • Patent number: 10712474
    Abstract: Disclosed are high refractive index, hydrophobic, acrylic materials. These materials have both high refractive index and a high Abbe number. This combination means the materials have a low refractive index dispersion and thus are especially suitable for use as intraocular lens materials. The materials are also suitable for use in other implantable ophthalmic devices, such as keratoprostheses, corneal rings, corneal implants, and corneal inlays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas Schlueter
  • Patent number: 10702415
    Abstract: A method and system provide a surgical hand piece including an aspiration line, a tip and a sensor. The tip is coupled with the aspiration line. The sensor is in the aspiration line. The sensor measures a change in at least one of flow through the aspiration line, pressure in the aspiration line and motion of an additional portion of the hand piece within the aspiration line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Steven T. Charles
  • Patent number: 10694940
    Abstract: A method of automatically detecting a retinal feature using an ophthalmic imaging system and automatically providing at least one of an audio, visual, and tactile indication of the detected retinal feature to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Hugang Ren, Lingfeng Yu
  • Patent number: 10690127
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods of and for an ophthalmic surgical system are disclosed. An ophthalmic surgical system may include a handheld probe. The probe may include a housing sized and shaped for grasping by a user. The probe may include a tip extending from the housing and being sized to penetrate and treat an eye of a patient. The tip may include an aspiration lumen arranged to carry fluid away from the eye. The probe may include a peristaltic pump disposed within the housing. The pump may include a roller in contact with a deformable conduit in fluid communication with the aspiration lumen. The roller may be arranged to deform the conduit while in contact therewith. The pump may also include a roller driver in contact with a periphery of the roller in a manner that moves the roller along the conduit to urge the fluid through the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Francisco Javier Ochoa
  • Patent number: 10690203
    Abstract: A ventilated brake disc has a disc body having a first disc plate, a second disc plate and a vane structure between the first and second disc plates, the vane structure separating the first and second disc plates to allow passage of fluid therebetween, in which the vane structure defines a plurality of vanes, which vanes connect the first and second disc plates, are swept to extend in a radial and circumferential direction of the disc body and define a plurality of protrusions on at least one circumferentially facing side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: ALCON COMPONENTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Garry Wiseman, Phillip Smith
  • Patent number: 10687912
    Abstract: Fiber-based mode mixing techniques may be used to homogenize different modes in an optical fiber used for surgical illumination. A vibrating fiber mechanism may impart mechanical motion to a portion of the optical fiber to generate a homogeneous illumination field from a coherent light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Cesario Dos Santos, Gerald David Bacher, Ronald Smith, Alireza Mirsepassi, Michael Papac
  • Patent number: 10687979
    Abstract: Performance of enhanced visually directed procedures under low ambient lighting conditions. A computer readable medium storing a set of computer instructions for performing an enhanced visually directed procedure under low ambient visible light on a patient's eye. The computer instructions include: acquiring at least one 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. The computer instructions include converting the at least one view is converted corresponding to the at least one real-time high resolution video signal at the at least one wavelength of light outside of the wavelengths of visible light into at least one wavelength of visible light. The at least one high resolution photosensor is acquired after light conditions are low enough such that a pupil of the eye does not constrict substantially from its maximum pupillary diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: ALCON INC.
    Inventor: Ashok Burton Tripathi
  • Patent number: 10682225
    Abstract: A method and system provide an ophthalmic device including an optic and a haptic. The optic includes at least one optical material having a first Young's modulus. The haptic is coupled with the optic. The haptic includes at least a second Young's modulus greater than the first Young's modulus and less than 1.8 GPa. Thus, the haptic is stiffer than the optic, but more flexible than a material such as polymethyl metacrylate (PMMA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Sung Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 10682202
    Abstract: Systems and methods for forming a handle apparatus may include shaping a strip of composite material with a flexible central portion, two grips, and two end portions. The strip may be bent onto itself such that the end portions are fastened together by a fastening device. The handle apparatus may also include a hole disposed in the flexible central portion through which a tool actuator may be passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Niels Alexander Abt
  • Patent number: 10675146
    Abstract: A method and system provide an ophthalmic device. The ophthalmic device includes an ophthalmic lens having an anterior surface, a posterior surface, at least one diffractive structure and at least one base curvature. The at least one diffractive structure for provides a first spherical aberration for a first focus corresponding to at least a first focal length. The at least one base curvature provides a second spherical aberration for at least a second focus corresponding to at least a second focal length. The first spherical aberration and the second spherical aberration are provided such that the first focus has a first focus spherical aberration and the second focus has a second focus spherical aberration. The first focus spherical aberration is opposite in sign to the second focus spherical aberration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Myoung-Taek Choi, Xin Hong, Yueai Liu
  • Patent number: 10676557
    Abstract: The invention provides a hydrophilized polydiorganosiloxane vinylic crosslinker which comprises (1) a polydiorganosiloxane polymer chain comprising dimethylsiloxane units and hydrophilized siloxane unit having one methyl substituent and one monovalent C10-C50 organic substituent having two or three carboxy groups, wherein the molar ratio of the hydrophilized siloxane units to the dimethylsiloxane units is from about 0.035 to about 0.25, and (2) two terminal (meth)acryloyl groups. The hydrophilized polydiorganosiloxane vinylic crosslinker has a number average molecular weight of greater than 3000 Daltons. The present invention is also related to a silicone hydrogel contact lens, which comprises repeating units derived from a hydrophilized polydiorganosiloxane vinylic crosslinker of the invention. In addition, the invention provides a method for making silicone hydrogel contact lenses using a lens-forming formulation comprising hydrophilized polydiorganosiloxane vinylic crosslinker of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Chang, Ryan DeSousa, Jinyu Huang
  • Patent number: 10675180
    Abstract: Various membrane delamination devices for removing proliferative membranes from underling tissues are disclosed herein. In some implementations, the delamination device may include a first shearing part and a second shearing part. One of the first shearing part and the second shearing part may be moveable relative to the other of the first shearing part and the second shearing part. One or more of the shearing parts may include a plurality of teeth formed at a leading edge thereof. A shearing action produced by operation of the shearing parts may be used to sever fibers joining proliferative membranes from an underlying tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Reto Grueebler, Thomas Linsi, Rodolfo Wolfer, Bogdan Vigaru, Steven T. Charles
  • Patent number: 10675390
    Abstract: A hand piece having an irrigation portion and an aspiration portion that are releasably coupled is disclosed. In an assembled configuration, the irrigation portion and the aspiration portion are coupled such that the hand piece may be manipulable by a user as a single unit. In a separated configuration, the irrigation portion and the aspiration portion may be utilized separate from each other. The irrigation portion and the aspiration portion may be freely moved between the assembled configuration and the separated configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Reto Grueebler, Stephen Lane, Philipp Schaller
  • Patent number: 10676608
    Abstract: The invention is related to a class of hydrophilic poly(meth)acrylamide-based copolymer comprising dangling (i.e., pendant) phosphorylcholine groups and dangling (i.e., pendant) reactive groups or chains each of which comprises one carboxyl group, one thiol group, or one primary or secondary amino group. The hydrophilic copolymers have a relatively high affinity to a base coating of a polyanionic polymer on a medical device or contact lens and are reactive towards azetidinium groups of an azetidinium-containing polymer upon heating. They can find particular use in producing water-soluble highly-branched hydrophilic polymeric material and in producing water gradient contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Chang, Feng Jing, Troy Vernon Holland, Chung-Yuan Chiang, John Dallas Pruitt
  • Patent number: 10670815
    Abstract: Improved optical fiber coupling reliability is realized by improving structures and materials used at the fiber joint. When ceramic ferrules are used at the fiber joint, the penetration of a UV-cured optical adhesive between the ceramic ferrules and the fiber ends is avoided or prevented, while an anti-reflective coating, an uncured optical adhesive, or a refractive index matching gel may be applied between the ceramic ferrules. When glass ferrules are used at the fiber joint, the UV-cured optical adhesive may be applied and fully cured between the glass ferrules and the fiber ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Chenguang Diao, Alireza Mirsepassi, Michael J. Papac
  • Patent number: 10667685
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a small gauge extendable-retractable mirror for use in intraocular surgery. The mirror of the present disclosure can be used in intraocular surgery to enable visualization of areas of the eye currently difficult or impossible to view, such as, e.g., behind the iris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Grace C. Chang, Nicholas Max Gunn
  • Patent number: 10661926
    Abstract: An apparatus for thermally bonding together a cover film of an ophthalmic lens package and a base part of the package, including a carrier for supporting the base part with film arranged thereon; a bonding unit above the carrier having a mounting plate with a bonding stamp extending therefrom, the bonding stamp having a mounting portion fixedly attached to the mounting plate, a bonding head arranged beneath the mounting portion with a heatable bonding contour on a side of the bonding head facing the carrier, and an articulated connector arranged between and connecting the mounting portion and the bonding head; and an actuator for performing movement of the carrier and the bonding stamp towards and away from each other for thermally bonding the film with the base part by pressing the heated bonding contour against the film and subsequent separation of the bonding head from the cover film bonded to the base part, the articulated connector being a cardanic joint with two rotational axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Fischer, Elmar Kuther, Volker Lanig, Dietmar Berghänel
  • Patent number: 10661515
    Abstract: A casting mold (1) for the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses, in particular hard and soft contact lenses comprises a male mold half (2) having a generally convexly shaped male mold surface (20) and a female mold half having a generally concavely shaped female mold surface (30). Each of the male and female mold surfaces comprises a lens-forming surface (21, 31) which is encircled by a non lens-forming annular edge surface (22, 32). The lens-forming surface (21, 31) comprises a central optical zone (210, 310) and a non-optical peripheral zone (211, 311) surrounding the central optical zone. At least one of the male and female mold halves (2, 3) is provided with at least one permanent marking (10; 11; 12; 110, 111) which is arranged on a surface in the peripheral zone (211, 311) of the lens-forming surface (21, 31) and/or on the non lens-forming annular edge surface (22, 32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Jens Hof, Burkhard Dietrich, Roger Biel