Patents by Inventor Niccolo Maschio

Niccolo Maschio has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11950969
    Abstract: A tracking system for quantifying retinal traction on a retina of a patient eye includes an indicator device, a stereo camera, and an electronic control unit (ECU). The stereo camera collects and outputs stereo image data. The ECU, which is in communication with the indicator device, executes a method by receiving the stereo image data from the stereo camera during an ophthalmic procedure and thereafter assigning tracking points as coinciding pixels within stereo image pairs. The ECU also automatically performs a digital image correlation (DIC) process using the stereo image pairs to ascertain relative motion of the tracking points, and associates relative motion of the tracking points with the retinal traction using a traction map. A numeric traction quotient is generated that is indicative of magnitude of retinal traction. The ECU executes a control action using the indicator device based on the numeric traction quotient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Niccolo Maschio
  • Patent number: 11752036
    Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a membrane delamination device for delaminating a membrane from a retina of an eye. The membrane delamination device comprises a blade, a first lever coupled to the blade, and a second lever coupled to the blade. The first lever and the second lever are at least partially housed by a first shaft of a hand-piece. The first lever is fixedly coupled to the first shaft. The second lever is fixedly coupled to the hand-piece. The blade at least partially extends beyond a distal end of the first shaft. The membrane delamination device is configured to be actuated as a result of longitudinal movement of the second lever within and in relation to the first shaft. The second lever moves longitudinally within and in relation to the first shaft due to an application of force to the second lever through the hand-piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Reto Grueebler, Thomas Linsi, Niccolo Maschio
  • Patent number: 11717439
    Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a rotational cutter for delaminating a membrane from a retina of an eye. The rotational cutter may comprise a first shaft and a second shaft comprising a blade portion, wherein the second shaft is coupled to a driver that is configured to at least partially rotate the second shaft relative to the first shaft, wherein rotating the second shaft rotates the blade portion for delaminating the membrane. The rotational cutter may also comprise a bottom portion configured to interface with a surface of the retina, wherein the bottom portion comprises one or more curved edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Niccolo Maschio, Niels Alexander Abt, Reto Grueebler, Philipp Schaller, Timo Jung, Rodolfo Wolfer
  • Publication number: 20230013621
    Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical instrument comprising a device having a proximal end and a functional end configured to be inserted into a body part, an assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, a shaft coupled to the proximal end of the assembly, the shaft having a shaft housing, a bearing positioned around the assembly, wherein the bearing is configured to slide over the assembly, a hub having a sleeve tube. The basket comprises a plurality of grooved levers, each grooved lever having a proximal end received by the shaft housing and a distal end coupled to a tip of the basket, wherein compressing one or more of the plurality of grooved levers moves the bearing and the hub relative to the shaft and toward the functional end of the device, causing the sleeve tube to transition the device from the deactivated state to an activated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Niels Alexander Abt, Reto Grueebler, Timo Jung, Thomas Linsi, Niccolo Maschio
  • Patent number: 11490915
    Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical instrument comprising a device having a proximal end and a functional end configured to be inserted into a body part, an assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, a shaft coupled to the proximal end of the assembly, the shaft having a shaft housing, a bearing positioned around the assembly, wherein the bearing is configured to slide over the assembly, a hub having a sleeve tube. The basket comprises a plurality of grooved levers, each grooved lever having a proximal end received by the shaft housing and a distal end coupled to a tip of the basket, wherein compressing one or more of the plurality of grooved levers moves the bearing and the hub relative to the shaft and toward the functional end of the device, causing the sleeve tube to transition the device from the deactivated state to an activated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Niels Alexander Abt, Reto Grueebler, Timo Jung, Thomas Linsi, Niccolo Maschio
  • Publication number: 20220265383
    Abstract: A tracking system for quantifying retinal traction on a retina of a patient eye includes an indicator device, a stereo camera, and an electronic control unit (ECU). The stereo camera collects and outputs stereo image data. The ECU, which is in communication with the indicator device, executes a method by receiving the stereo image data from the stereo camera during an ophthalmic procedure and thereafter assigning tracking points as coinciding pixels within stereo image pairs. The ECU also automatically performs a digital image correlation (DIC) process using the stereo image pairs to ascertain relative motion of the tracking points, and associates relative motion of the tracking points with the retinal traction using a traction map. A numeric traction quotient is generated that is indicative of magnitude of retinal traction. The ECU executes a control action using the indicator device based on the numeric traction quotient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: ALCON INC.
    Inventor: Niccolo Maschio
  • Publication number: 20220192875
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an apparatus comprising a hand-piece, an outer tube coupled to the hand-piece, an inner tube housed within the outer tube and having a distal end coupled to a soft tip and a proximal end coupled to an adapter, a proximal end of the adapter coupled to a distal end of a valve, the valve slidably coupled to the hand-piece, and a core slidably coupled to the hand-piece and having a distal end coupled to a proximal end of the valve. To retract the soft tip, the valve is retracted, causing the adapter, the valve, and the core to slidably retract in a proximal direction in relation to the hand-piece, and to extend the soft tip, the valve is protracted, causing the adapter, the valve, and the core to slidably protract in a distal direction in relation to the hand-piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Reto Grüebler, Simon Nicola Kunz, Niccolo Maschio, Christoph Siegenthaler
  • Patent number: 11351057
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a low friction trocar valve comprising a set of sheets arranged circularly and defining an entry point for the insertion of an instrument. In certain aspects, each sheet of the trocar valve's set of sheets comprises areas that overlap with two adjacent sheets. The trocar valve is formed in an opening of a valve housing coupled to or formed as part of a trocar cannula to provide a sealing mechanism for preventing the escape of pressurized fluids from the trocar cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Niels Alexander Abt, Reto Grueebler, Timo Jung, Niccolo Maschio
  • Patent number: 11096707
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a surgical instrument comprising surgical instrument comprising an device having a functional end and a main handle comprising a distal end coupled to the device. The surgical instrument further comprises an actuation handle insert comprising a number of first rolling components and an actuation tube coupled to the actuation handle insert, wherein the functional end of the device at least partially extends outside of the actuation tube when the device is deactivated. The surgical instrument further comprises levers comprising second rolling components. The surgical instrument further comprises a plurality of rolling elements, wherein each of the rolling elements is placed between one of the second rolling components and one of the first rolling components and pressing one or more of the levers pushes the actuation handle insert forward relative to the device, causing the actuation tube to transition the device from the deactivated state to an activated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Niels Alexander Abt, Reto Grueebler, Timo Jung, Niccolo Maschio
  • Publication number: 20210113376
    Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a membrane delamination device for delaminating a membrane from a retina of an eye. The membrane delamination device comprises a blade, a first lever coupled to the blade, and a second lever coupled to the blade. The first lever and the second lever are at least partially housed by a first shaft of a hand-piece. The first lever is fixedly coupled to the first shaft. The second lever is fixedly coupled to the hand-piece. The blade at least partially extends beyond a distal end of the first shaft. The membrane delamination device is configured to be actuated as a result of longitudinal movement of the second lever within and in relation to the first shaft. The second lever moves longitudinally within and in relation to the first shaft due to an application of force to the second lever through the hand-piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Reto Grueebler, Thomas Linsi, Niccolo Maschio
  • Publication number: 20210059702
    Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical instrument comprising a device having a proximal end and a functional end configured to be inserted into a body part, an assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, a shaft coupled to the proximal end of the assembly, the shaft having a shaft housing, a bearing positioned around the assembly, wherein the bearing is configured to slide over the assembly, a hub having a sleeve tube. The basket comprises a plurality of grooved levers, each grooved lever having a proximal end received by the shaft housing and a distal end coupled to a tip of the basket, wherein compressing one or more of the plurality of grooved levers moves the bearing and the hub relative to the shaft and toward the functional end of the device, causing the sleeve tube to transition the device from the deactivated state to an activated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Niels Alexander Abt, Reto Grueebler, Timo Jung, Thomas Linsi, Niccolo Maschio
  • Publication number: 20200375844
    Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a retina massage and smoothing device. In certain embodiments, the device comprises a tip configured to be used for manipulating a surface of a retina inside an eye, and a shaft coupled to the tip, the shaft having a proximal end configured to be coupled to a handle, wherein the shaft is further configured to be at least partially housed by an outer tube of the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Niccolo Maschio, Reto Grueebler, Timo Jung
  • Publication number: 20200375797
    Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a rotational cutter for delaminating a membrane from a retina of an eye. The rotational cutter may comprise a first shaft and a second shaft comprising a blade portion, wherein the second shaft is coupled to a driver that is configured to at least partially rotate the second shaft relative to the first shaft, wherein rotating the second shaft rotates the blade portion for delaminating the membrane. The rotational cutter may also comprise a bottom portion configured to interface with a surface of the retina, wherein the bottom portion comprises one or more curved edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Niccolo Maschio, Niels Alexander Abt, Reto Grueebler, Philipp Schaller, Timo Jung, Rodolfo Wolfer
  • Publication number: 20200187970
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a surgical instrument comprising surgical instrument comprising an device having a functional end and a main handle comprising a distal end coupled to the device. The surgical instrument further comprises an actuation handle insert comprising a number of first rolling components and an actuation tube coupled to the actuation handle insert, wherein the functional end of the device at least partially extends outside of the actuation tube when the device is deactivated. The surgical instrument further comprises levers comprising second rolling components. The surgical instrument further comprises a plurality of rolling elements, wherein each of the rolling elements is placed between one of the second rolling components and one of the first rolling components and pressing one or more of the levers pushes the actuation handle insert forward relative to the device, causing the actuation tube to transition the device from the deactivated state to an activated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Niels Alexander Abt, Reto Grueebler, Timo Jung, Niccolo Maschio
  • Publication number: 20200085615
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a low friction trocar valve comprising a set of sheets arranged circularly and defining an entry point for the insertion of an instrument. In certain aspects, each sheet of the trocar valve's set of sheets comprises areas that overlap with two adjacent sheets. The trocar valve is formed in an opening of a valve housing coupled to or formed as part of a trocar cannula to provide a sealing mechanism for preventing the escape of pressurized fluids from the trocar cannula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Niels Alexander Abt, Reto Grueebler, Timo Jung, Niccolo Maschio
  • Patent number: D934424
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Niels Alexander Abt, Reto Grueebler, Timo Jung, Niccolo Maschio