Patents Assigned to Alcon
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Patent number: 10660704Abstract: An optical surgical probe includes a handpiece, a light guide within the handpiece, and a multi-spot generator at a distal end of the handpiece. The handpiece is configured to optically couple to a light source. The light guide is configured to carry a light beam from the light source to a distal end of the handpiece. The multi-spot generator includes a faceted optical element with a faceted end surface spaced from a distal end of the light guide. The faceted end surface includes at least one facet oblique to a path of the light beam.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2017Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventor: Ronald T. Smith
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Patent number: 10654197Abstract: A method for cleaning a molding surface (51) of a reusable lens mold (5), in particular of a reusable lens mold (5) for molding ophthalmic lenses such as soft contact lenses, comprising the steps of: generating a jet (3) of deionized water, exposing the molding surface (51) of the reusable lens mold (5) to the jet (3) of deionized water, wherein the jet (3) of deionized water has a circular full cone spray pattern and impinges on the molding surface (51) of the reusable lens mold (5), and wherein the circular full cone spray pattern has a uniform distribution of the volume flow of deionized water over the base of the cone of the circular full cone spray pattern.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2019Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventor: Halina Heidrich
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Patent number: 10646375Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for pressure-driven micro-surgical tool actuation. The systems and methods may encompass the use of a remote handle held by a first hand of a user as well as a surgical tool located in the eye of a patient. A primary actuator may be included in remote handle and operable to be actuated by a mechanical force exerted on the handle. Actuating the primary actuator pressurizes a fluid within a length of tubing. The pressurized fluid may be transmitted to a dynamic tool held by a second hand of the user, where the pressurized fluid may be used to actuate a subordinate actuator. Actuation of the subordinate actuator may actuate a dynamic component of the dynamic tool.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventor: Steven T. Charles
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Patent number: 10639197Abstract: In some embodiments, a vitrectomy probe may include an inner cutting tube reciprocating in an outer tube. The outer tube includes a side port and the inner tube includes a distal cutting port, and, in some embodiments, an additional side port. In some embodiments, the inner tube may also include a flat upper edge that cuts across the outer tube side port. In some embodiments, a diaphragm drives the inner tube and may have an open-stroke side with a lower hardness material than a closed-stroke side. In some embodiments, an aspiration tube coupled to the vitrectomy probe may include a first aspiration tubing and a second aspiration tubing with a lower hardness than the first aspiration tubing. In some embodiments, the vitrectomy probe may be coupled to pneumatic tubing that is stepped or tapered.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Jose Luis Lopez, Matthew Douglas McCawley, Brian William McDonell, Timothy C. Ryan, John R. Underwood, Salomon Valencia, Jack Robert Auld
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Patent number: 10639198Abstract: An example probe multi-spot, multi-fiber, laser probe includes a plurality of optical fibers extending from a proximal end of the laser probe to at least near a distal end of the laser probe, and a cannula having a distal end and surrounding the plurality of optical fibers along at least a portion of the laser probe at or near the distal end of the laser probe. A distal pass-through element is positioned within the cannula and at or near the distal end of the cannula and has a groove and/or channel corresponding to each fiber and through which a respective optical fiber passes, and is formed so as to induce a radial rotation of each of the plurality of optical fibers, relative to a central longitudinal axis of the cannula, as the respective optical fiber passes through the distal pass-through element.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2018Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventor: Mark Farley
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Patent number: 10631950Abstract: A surgical machine comprises multiple machine connectors disposed on its face, and a device detection mechanism located close to the machine connectors. The device detection mechanism is configured to read identification data from device information component when positioned within a predetermined range. A control circuit is configured to: identify, based on a device information read from a device information component brought within the range of the device detection mechanism, a matching machine connector from multiple machine connectors, control a light source corresponding to the matching machine connector to illuminate the corresponding illumination ring with the first color, in response to this identifying, and, control the light source corresponding to each of one or more remaining ones of the machine connectors to provide no illumination or to illuminate the corresponding illumination ring with a second color.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2018Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Joshua Anderson, Paul R. Hallen
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Patent number: 10638080Abstract: The disclosure provides a system including an augmented reality device communicatively coupled to an imaging system of an ophthalmic microscope. The augmented reality device may include a lens configured to project a digital image, a gaze control configured to detect a focus of an eye of an operator, and a dimming system communicatively coupled to the gaze control and the outer surface and including a processor that receives a digital image from the imaging system, projects the digital image on the lens, receives a signal from the gaze control regarding the focus of the eye of the operator, and transitions the outer surface of the augmented reality device between at least partially transparent to opaque based on the received signal. The disclosure further includes a method of performing ophthalmic surgery using an augmented reality device and a non-transitory computer readable medium able to perform augmented reality functions.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2018Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: ALCON INC.Inventors: Mikhail Ovchinnikov, John Koontz, Andrew Steven Hopper, Cesario Dos Santos
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Patent number: 10632014Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system includes a laser engine to generate a beam of femtosecond laser pulses, a laser scanner to scan each laser pulse of the beam in three dimensions according to a scan pattern, and a compound lens comprising a glass lens and a birefringent lens, the compound lens arranged to receive the scanned beam and configured to split each laser pulse of the scanned beam into an ordinary pulse and an extraordinary pulse, producing an ordinary beam comprising ordinary pulses and an extraordinary beam comprising extraordinary pulses. A particular ordinary pulse and a particular extraordinary pulse split from a particular laser pulse are spatially separated in depth along an optical axis of the compound lens, by a distance greater than or equal to 5 ?m, and temporally separated by a delay greater than or equal to a pulse duration of the femtosecond laser pulses. An objective is configured to focus the ordinary beam and the extraordinary beam within an ophthalmic target.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2018Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Zsolt Bor, Mikhail Ovchinnikov
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Patent number: 10624787Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 10, 2009Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Christof Donitzky, Thomas Deisinger, Bernd Zerl
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Patent number: 10624981Abstract: A method of removing a liquid from a container (1) for accommodating an ophthalmic contact lens, in particular a soft contact lens, during transporting the container (1) from a liquid bath (13) to a subsequent processing station (14), the method including the steps of: transporting the container (1) from the liquid bath to the subsequent processing station, generating suction (20), and applying the suction (20) to a bottom (11) of the container (1) during the step of transporting the container (1) from the liquid bath to the subsequent processing station, thereby removing the liquid from the container (1).Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Roger Biel, Andrea Kopp, Katrin Sylke Struckmeier, Michael Stutz
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Patent number: 10624848Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 7, 2019Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Howard Allen Ketelson, David L. Meadows
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Patent number: 10617562Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for insertion in an eye of a patient for aspirating material from the eye in the treatment of an ocular condition, the apparatus comprising a needle disposed at a distal end of the apparatus, an aspiration channel extending from a distal aperture of the needle to a proximal end of the apparatus, and an irrigation sleeve coaxially disposed about the needle. The aspiration channel comprises a proximal portion having a first diameter, a bypass portion having a second diameter and at least one bypass port, and a distal portion having a third diameter. The second diameter is larger than the first diameter. The irrigation sleeve and the needle form an annular irrigation passageway therebetween. The bypass port is shaped and configured to establish fluid communication between the irrigation passageway and the aspiration channel.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: John Morgan Bourne, John Richard Carpenter
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Patent number: 10618233Abstract: The invention is generally related to soft contact lenses which comprise a non-silicone hydrogel lens body and a hydrogel coating thereon. The non-silicone hydrogel lens body is composed of a hydrogel material which is free of silicone and comprises at least 50% by mole of repeating units of at least one hydroxyl-containing vinylic monomer. The hydrogel coating comprises a first polymeric material having first reactive functional groups and a hydrogel layer derived from a second polymeric material having second reactive functional groups, and the hydrogel layer is covalently attached onto the anchor layer through linkages each formed between one first reactive functional group and one second reactive functional group. The soft contact lens has a surface lubricity better than the lubricity of the non-silicone hydrogel lens body and has a friction rating of about 2 or lower after 7 cycles of manual rubbing, a water content of from about 10% to about 85% by weight and an elastic modulus of from about 0.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2019Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Jared Nelson
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Patent number: 10618986Abstract: The invention is related to a class of hydrophilic copolymers comprising loosely dangling thiol-containing pendant groups. The hydrophilic copolymers are highly reactive towards azetidinium groups of an azetidinium-containing polymer upon heating and can find particular use in for producing water-soluble highly-branched hydrophilic polymeric material useful for producing water gradient contact lenses.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Frank Chang, Troy Vernon Holland, Feng Jing, Ryan DeSousa
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Patent number: 10620137Abstract: A contact lens inspection system, in particular for soft contact lenses, comprises a light source (40) for illuminating a contact lens to be inspected; a plenoptic camera (1) for producing an electronic plenoptic image; a processing unit (103) adapted for electronically processing the electronic plenoptic image of the contact lens and configured for refocusing the image.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2018Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Sarah Unterkofler, Matthias Schwab
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Patent number: 10611107Abstract: The invention provides a method of making ophthalmic lenses with an enhanced quality and enhanced yield achieved by using molds having been treated on back surface of mold with corona discharge technique. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a mold for cast-molding contact lenses from a lens formulation, wherein the mold comprises a first mold half having a first molding surface and a first back surface, a second mold half having a second molding surface and a second back surface, wherein when the first and second mold are configured to receive each other such that a lens forming cavity is formed between the first molding surface and the second molding surface and applying a corona discharge on one of the first and second back surfaces so that the molding surface of the mold with the treated back surface has an average water contact angle smaller than the molding surface of the mold with untreated mold by about 0.1 degrees to about 6 degrees.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2016Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Oli Jobe, Uwe Haken
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Patent number: 10611923Abstract: The invention is related to azetidinium-containing copolymers and vinylic monomers and their uses in formation of non-silicone hydrogel coatings on silicone hydrogel contact lenses.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Troy Vernon Holland, Frank Chang, Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Venkat Shankar, Robert Scott, Yash Kapoor
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Patent number: 10610409Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for monitoring phototoxicity caused by vitreous visualization device (“VVD”) illumination during ophthalmic surgery. The systems and methods determine the cumulative amount of optical energy incident on the retina, which corresponds to phototoxicity, the distance between a cutter of the VVD and the retina, and areas where the vitreous has been removed, or any combination thereof. The disclosure further provides a method for monitoring and preventing phototoxicity caused by VVD illumination during ophthalmic surgery. The method may further include determining the distance between a cutter of the VVD and the retina, and determining areas where the vitreous has been removed based on focus areas of the retina that the plurality of light spots has contacted.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Gerald David Bacher, Mark David Labelle
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Patent number: 10610408Abstract: Systems and methods for assembling an illuminated infusion cannula involving an optical fiber support assembly with an optical fiber support tube and a positioning insert that couples within a cannula and that can position an optical fiber in the tip of the cannula while supporting substantially laminar and minimally-restricted fluid flow through the cannula.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventor: Mark Harrison Farley
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Patent number: 10606090Abstract: A multi-beam splitter enables superimposing overlay content onto an optical field of view of a microscope using a compact and flexible design that is cost-effective for many applications. The multi-beam splitter also enables capturing of the optical field of view without the overlay content.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2018Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: ALCON INC.Inventor: Tobias Jura Rapoport