Patents Assigned to Alcon
  • Patent number: 7659970
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring an optical property of a multi-focal lens are disclosed. One embodiment of the method comprises: filtering out light transmitted by all but one of a plurality of diffraction orders of the lens to provide an unfiltered light from a single diffraction order; receiving the unfiltered light at a wavefront detector; and analyzing the unfiltered light at the wavefront detector to measure the optical property. The multi-focal lens can be a multi-focal diffractive intra-ocular lens. The measured optical property can be a discontinuity in the lens surface. Filtering can comprise blocking all but the unfiltered light using an aperture operable to let through the unfiltered light from the single diffraction order, and/or blocking all but the unfiltered light using an opaque obstruction operable to let through only a selected amount of light corresponding to the light transmitted by the single diffraction order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Simpson, Jihong Xie
  • Patent number: 7655662
    Abstract: Methods for using (indazol-5-yl)-pyrazines and (1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one)-pyrazines are disclosed herein to treat rho kinase-mediated diseases or rho kinase-mediated conditions, including controlling intraocular pressure and treating glaucoma, are disclosed. Ophthalmic pharmaceutical compositions useful in the treatment of eye diseases such as glaucoma, and additionally useful for controlling intraocular pressure, the compositions comprising an effective amount of (indazol-5-yl)-pyrazines and (1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one)-pyrazines, are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark R. Hellberg, Najam A. Sharif, Jesse A. May, Andrew Rusinko, Hwang-Hsing Chen
  • Patent number: 7652076
    Abstract: Disclosed are soft, high refractive index device materials having improved strength. The materials contain a monofunctional or difunctional, acrylate or methacrylate terminated aromatic functional methacrylic or acrylic macromer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Schlueter, Mutlu Karakelle
  • Patent number: 7651490
    Abstract: A handpiece having a single set of piezoelectric elements polarized to produce longitudinal motion when excited at the relevant resonant frequency. The piezoelectric crystals are connected to an ultrasonic horn to which a cutting tip is attached. The horn and/or the cutting tip contains a plurality of diagonal slits or grooves. The slits or grooves produce optimized torsional movement in the cutting tip when the piezoelectric crystals are excited at a second resonant frequency. Preferably, the two drive frequencies are not coincident, but provided in non-overlapping pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail Boukhny, James Y. Chon
  • Publication number: 20100012889
    Abstract: Dihydroxybenzotriazole UV absorbing compounds that are particularly useful in ophthalmic devices are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventor: David L. Jinkerson
  • Patent number: 7648465
    Abstract: A method for direct indication of the IOP level without requiring an additional pressure transducer being introduced into the irrigation path. The method of the present invention estimates resistance ratio for a particular setup, and thus does not assume a typical value; the estimation is performed in a pre-operational configuration that is the closest possible to the surgical configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventor: Raphael Gordon
  • Patent number: 7645256
    Abstract: A handpiece having at least one set of piezoelectric elements polarized to produce longitudinal motion when excited at the relevant resonant frequency. The piezoelectric crystals are connected to an ultrasonic horn to which a cutting tip is attached. The horn and/or the cutting tip contains a plurality of diagonal slits or grooves. The slits or grooves produce optimized torsional movement in the cutting tip when the piezoelectric crystals are excited at a second resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail Boukhny, James Y. Chon, Ahmad Salehi
  • Patent number: 7645255
    Abstract: A surgical system that is able to sense the onset of an occlusion or other surgical event as well as the instant an occlusion breaks. To help avoid overheating of the tip, the system determines a temperature of an eye using irrigation flow rate and reduces the power to the handpiece automatically if an overheating situation is predicted. Alternatively or in addition, the system monitors the power drawn by the handpiece, which is indicative of the cutting load on the tip, and automatically adjusts the power or stroke of the tip to compensate for increased loads on the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Raphael Gordon, Michael D. Morgan, Mikhail Boukhny, Ann Yadlowsky
  • Patent number: 7644603
    Abstract: A method of testing a surgical system that takes advantage of the fact that in a balanced irrigation/aspiration system (inflow?outflow) the duration of the aspiration pressure recovery to the irrigation fluid source pressure immediately following pump stop is independent of pump run time. This method provides a more reliable way of detecting restricted irrigation flow configurations not detectable by the current methods, such as marginal irrigation flow cases that could potentially lead to surgical complications (e.g. chamber collapse during post-occlusion break surge).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Raphael Gordon, Michael D. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20090326044
    Abstract: RNA interference is provided for inhibition of ocular hypertension target mRNA expression for lowering elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Ocular hypertension targets include carbonic anhydrase II, IV, and XII; ?1- and ?2 adrenergic receptors; acetylcholinesterase; Na+/K+-ATPase; and Na—K—2Cl cotransporter. Ocular hypertension is treated by administering interfering RNAs of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
    Inventors: Allan R. Shepard, Jon E. Chatterton, Abbot F. Clark, Martin B. Wax
  • Publication number: 20090324507
    Abstract: RNA interference is provided for inhibition of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) mRNA expression, in particular, for treating patients having a Syk-related inflammatory condition or at risk of developing a Syk-related inflammatory condition such as allergic conjunctivitis, ocular inflammation, dermatitis, rhinitis, asthma, allergy, or mast-cell disease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
    Inventors: John M. Yanni, Jon E. Chatterton, Daniel A. Gamache, Steven T. Miller
  • Patent number: 7640119
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of adjusting the amount of energy delivered to a liquefaction handpiece of an ophthalmic surgical system may include monitoring a voltage source at an output of a charging element of the ophthalmic surgical system, dynamically adjusting the charging element output based on feedback from the monitored voltage source, and dynamically adjusting the amount of energy provided by the voltage source as an input to the liquefaction handpiece. The energy adjustment may be based on the adjusted charging element output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventor: Amir H. Khashayar
  • Publication number: 20090312390
    Abstract: The use of inhibitors of GSK-3 useful for treating glaucoma is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: ALCON, INC.
    Inventors: Mark R. Hellberg, Abbot F. Clark, Iok-Hou Pang, Peggy Elizabeth Hellberg, Loretta Graves McNatt, Wan-Heng Wang
  • Patent number: 7629768
    Abstract: A charging base has a generally C-shaped housing and a charging element. The generally C-shaped housing has an upper part and a lower part. The upper part has an upper surface substantially parallel to a lower surface and an opening extending from the upper surface to the lower surface. The opening has a first width and a second width. A notch is located at the intersection of the first width and the second width. The lower part has a beveled surface generally parallel to and beneath the lower surface of the upper part. The charging element, which provides power to recharge a battery, is located beneath the beveled surface of the lower part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventor: Raffi Pinedjian
  • Patent number: 7625388
    Abstract: A surgical system that is able to sense the onset of an occlusion or other surgical event as well as the instant an occlusion breaks. To help avoid overheating of the tip, the system determines an approximate temperature of the eye using an irrigation flow rate and reduces the power to the handpiece automatically if an overheating situation is predicted. Alternatively or in addition, the system monitors the power drawn by the handpiece, which is indicative of the cutting load on the tip, and automatically adjusts the power or stroke of the tip to compensate for increased loads on the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail Boukhny, Raphael Gordon, Michael D. Morgan, Ann Yadlowsky
  • Patent number: 7626132
    Abstract: A foot controller for a microsurgical system that includes a body, a switch disposed on the body, and a switch guard coupled to the body and disposed in a spaced relationship to an outer surface of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventor: Victor B. Mezhinsky
  • Patent number: 7625927
    Abstract: Described are methods for the treatment of ocular hypertension or glaucoma comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of one or more compounds that inhibit the enzyme EgLN-3. Certain embodiments of the invention combine the use of EgLN-3 with other glaucoma treatment agents. The compounds of the invention may be formulated in compositions comprising pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter G. Klimko, Iok-Hou Pang
  • Patent number: 7625014
    Abstract: A connector includes a rear body portion and a front body portion. The front side of the rear body portion, and the front body portion disposed therearound, are for fluidly coupling to first and second sources of pressurized fluids in a co-axial manner. The rear side of the rear body portion is for fluidly coupling to first and second destinations of the pressurized fluids in an adjacent manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventor: Denis P. Turner
  • Patent number: 7622454
    Abstract: RNA interference is provided for inhibition of connective tissue growth factor mRNA expression in ocular disorders involving CTGF expression. Ocular disorders involving aberrant CTGF expression include glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, choroidal neovascularization, proliferative vitreoretinopathy and wound healing. Such disorders are treated by administering interfering RNAs of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventors: Allan R. Shepard, Iok-Hou Pang
  • Patent number: 7621907
    Abstract: An implantable medicament delivery device includes a core body which further includes a single basin or multiple smaller basins for containing a drug or a medicament. Each basin is covered by a screen. The implantable drug delivery device is placed within the body of an animal, and the drug is allowed to diffuse through the holes in the screen to provide treatment of a disease or condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Alcon, Inc.
    Inventor: Theron Robert Rodstrom