Patents by Inventor Niels Alexander Abt

Niels Alexander Abt 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).

  • Publication number: 20240122751
    Abstract: Projection of visible, non-treatment light onto an eye to illuminate specific areas of the surgical field is disclosed herein. A surgical system may include a surgical console; a microscope communicatively coupled to the surgical console; a camera communicatively coupled to the surgical console; and a projector operable to project light onto an eye. The projector may be communicatively coupled to the surgical console. A method for light projection may include collecting information from an eye using a camera; determining the light projection based, at least in part, on the collected information; and projecting visible, non-treatment light onto the eye using a projector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventor: Niels Alexander Abt
  • Patent number: 11890227
    Abstract: Projection of visible, non-treatment light onto an eye to illuminate specific areas of the surgical field is disclosed herein. A surgical system may include a surgical console; a microscope communicatively coupled to the surgical console; a camera communicatively coupled to the surgical console; and a projector operable to project light onto an eye. The projector may be communicatively coupled to the surgical console. A method for light projection may include collecting information from an eye using a camera; determining the light projection based, at least in part, on the collected information; and projecting visible, non-treatment light onto the eye using a projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Niels Alexander Abt
  • 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: 11517474
    Abstract: Projection of visible, non-treatment light onto an eye to illuminate specific areas of the surgical field is disclosed herein. A surgical system may include a surgical console; a microscope communicatively coupled to the surgical console; a camera communicatively coupled to the surgical console; and a projector operable to project light onto an eye. The projector may be communicatively coupled to the surgical console. A method for light projection may include collecting information from an eye using a camera; determining the light projection based, at least in part, on the collected information; and projecting visible, non-treatment light onto the eye using a projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Niels Alexander Abt
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11399914
    Abstract: Provided herein are cannula devices that are self-illuminating to facilitate visualization of the cannula devices during a surgical procedure. The self-illuminating feature may be provided by phosphors incorporated into the cannula device, for example in the hub or sealing element of the cannula device. The cannula device may emit light of a specific color selected to correspond to a size of the cannula device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Anderson, James Y. Chon, Mark Harrison Farley, Paul R. Hallen, Niels Alexander Abt
  • Publication number: 20220233768
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus is provided for performing a subretinal injection into a subretinal space between a retina and a retinal pigment epithelium of an eye. The apparatus includes an injection needle having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end configured to be insertable into the subretinal space at a position on a surface of the retina. The apparatus includes a multi-lumen tubing having a distal end coupled to the proximal end of the injection needle and a proximal end coupled to a fluid control unit. The apparatus includes a stabilizer configured to immobilize the injection needle at the position on the surface of the retina. The fluid control unit has a plurality of fluid reservoirs containing a non-treatment solution, a treatment solution, and a working fluid which are injectable into the eye via separate lumens of the multi-lumen tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Niels Alexander Abt, Reto Grüebler
  • Patent number: 11395713
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for illuminating an interior portion of an eye are disclosed herein. In an exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an apparatus for use in ophthalmic surgery. The apparatus may include a light guide including an optical fiber, a transition region, and a light sleeve. The transition region may be disposed between the optical fiber and the light sleeve for transmission of light from the optical fiber to the light sleeve such that the light sleeve is operable to emit the light at a distal end of the light sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Reto Grueebler, Niels Alexander Abt
  • 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: 11246752
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for selectively constraining an orientation of a portion of a surgical tool system relative to another. Example surgical tool systems may include a surgical tool having at least one movable component, at least one actuation component, and a surgical tool attachment. The surgical tool attachment may be operable selectively to engage and disengage the moveable component so as to prevent movement of the movable component relative to the surgical tool in an engaged configuration and to permit movement of the movable component relative to the surgical to in a disengaged configuration, respectively. In the engaged configuration, a dynamic component of the surgical tool system may be fixed relative to the surgical tool, and, in a disengaged configuration, the dynamic component may be freely movable relative to the surgical tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Niels Alexander Abt, Thomas Linsi
  • Publication number: 20210330492
    Abstract: An auxiliary surgical field visualization system is described, which includes an auxiliary surgical field camera, configured for acquiring an image of a field of view of a secondary surgical field, wherein the secondary surgical field includes the exterior of a patient's eye undergoing vitreoretinal surgery. The auxiliary surgical field visualization system also includes a display in electronic communication with the auxiliary surgical field camera, wherein the display is configured for receiving, from the auxiliary surgical field camera, a signal that includes the image of the field of view of the secondary surgical field, and upon receiving the signal, displaying the image of the field of view of the secondary surgical field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventor: Niels Alexander Abt
  • Patent number: 11103380
    Abstract: An auxiliary surgical field visualization system is described, which includes an auxiliary surgical field camera, configured for acquiring an image of a field of view of a secondary surgical field, wherein the secondary surgical field includes the exterior of a patient's eye undergoing vitreoretinal surgery. The auxiliary surgical field visualization system also includes a display in electronic communication with the auxiliary surgical field camera, wherein the display is configured for receiving, from the auxiliary surgical field camera, a signal that includes the image of the field of view of the secondary surgical field, and upon receiving the signal, displaying the image of the field of view of the secondary surgical field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventor: Niels Alexander Abt
  • 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: 20210177540
    Abstract: Illumination of a cannula is disclosed herein. A cannula may include a cannula hub at a proximal end of the cannula. The cannula hub is operable to emit visible light. The cannula may further include a tube portion that extends from the cannula hub towards a distal end of the cannula. A surgical system may include a surgical console, a microscope communicatively coupled to the surgical console, and a cannula. The cannula may include a cannula hub at the proximal end of the cannula, and a tube portion that extends from the cannula hub towards a distal end of the cannula. The cannula hub is operable to emit visible light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventor: Niels Alexander Abt
  • Publication number: 20210128195
    Abstract: A cannula with an augmented frictional surface to enhance physical security thereof. The augmented surface may be of unique morphology with rows or ribs. The ribs may be continuous or individual projections. They may be horizontal or screw-like. In one embodiment of screw-like ribs, rotations during placement and removal of the cannula may be employed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventor: Niels Alexander Abt
  • 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: 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
  • 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