Patents by Inventor Reto Grueebler

Reto Grueebler 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: 20180296391
    Abstract: Vitreoretinal instruments and methods related thereto are disclosed herein. The disclosure describes various example vitreoretinal instruments having various aspirating port configurations. A vitreoretinal instrument may include a handle and a cannula coupled to the handle. The cannula may include a straight portion and a curved portion. The curved portion may be configurable between a straight configuration and a curved configuration. The curved configuration may include a first curved portion having a curvature defined by a first radius. The curved configuration may include a second curved portion having a curvature defined by a second radius different from the first radius. The curved portion may further include one or more ports formed in the curved portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Steven T. Charles, Reto Grueebler, Philipp Schaller
  • Publication number: 20180103972
    Abstract: Surgical instruments and, particularly, ophthalmic surgical instruments are disclosed. Example surgical instruments include forceps for removal of an internal limiting membrane (ILM). The example forceps may include a textured surface formed at a distal end of the forceps jaws. The textured surface may have a plurality of microposts that operate to increase a coefficient of friction between the ILM and the forceps in order to reduce a normal force, applied by the forceps, needed to engage the ILM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Reto Grueebler, Markus Hupp, Pooria Sharif Kashani
  • Publication number: 20170360603
    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: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Reto Grueebler, Thomas Linsi, Rodolfo Wolfer, Bogdan Vigaru, Steven T. Charles
  • Patent number: 9827141
    Abstract: Tissue manipulation during ocular surgery may be achieved by a variety of systems and techniques. In particular implementations, a system may include spaced apart levers, hinge members, a grasping mechanism, and a guide mechanism located between the levers. A first hinge member may extend from one of the levers to the guide mechanism and move the guide mechanism in one of a proximal or distal direction when the levers are moved toward each other. The grasping mechanism may be coupled to the guide mechanism and extend distally from the guide mechanism. A second hinge member may extend from one of the levers and be coupled to a tube that surrounds a portion of the grasping mechanism. The second hinge member distally displaces the tube when the levers are moved towards each other. The relative motion of the guide mechanism and the tube may cause actuation of the grasping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Philipp Schaller, Reto Grueebler
  • Publication number: 20160339157
    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: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Reto Grueebler, Stephen Lane, Philipp Schaller
  • Patent number: 9433725
    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: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Philipp Schaller, Reto Grueebler, Stephen Lane
  • Publication number: 20150359669
    Abstract: An ophthalmic instrument includes a shaft comprising a lumen. The instrument also includes a first arm extending from the lumen, the first arm having a first distal portion having a first flat tip. The instrument also includes a second arm extending from the lumen, the second arm having a second distal portion having a second flat tip that is positioned such that the second flat tip contacts the first flat tip when the first arm is forced towards the second arm. The first arm and the second arm comprise at least in part, a first material that is substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength within a range of about 700-1200 nanometers (nm) and is substantially opaque to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength within a range of about 400-700 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Reto Grueebler, Philipp Schaller
  • Publication number: 20150238355
    Abstract: A surgical instrument such as for use in vitreoretinal surgeries is described. The surgical instrument may include a pair of pincers resiliently biased toward an opened configuration and being movable toward each other into a closed configuration to engage a membrane. Each pincer may include a rounded grasping edge. The grasping edges may include a textured surface operable to induce a capillary effect between a membrane and the forceps to promote adhesion therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Guido Vezzu, Reto Grueebler
  • Publication number: 20140379024
    Abstract: Tissue manipulation during ocular surgery may be achieved by a variety of systems and techniques. In particular implementations, a system may include spaced apart levers, hinge members, a grasping mechanism, and a guide mechanism located between the levers. A first hinge member may extend from one of the levers to the guide mechanism and move the guide mechanism in one of a proximal or distal direction when the levers are moved toward each other. The grasping mechanism may be coupled to the guide mechanism and extend distally from the guide mechanism. A second hinge member may extend from one of the levers and be coupled to a tube that surrounds a portion of the grasping mechanism. The second hinge member distally displaces the tube when the levers are moved towards each other. The relative motion of the guide mechanism and the tube may cause actuation of the grasping mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Philipp Schaller, Reto Grueebler
  • Publication number: 20140135820
    Abstract: Example forceps, including forceps formed from a polymeric material, are disclosed herein. The forceps may include a forceps tip having a pair of grasping surfaces formed at a first end of a tip body and movable between an open position and a closed position. A tip connector is provided at a second end of the tip body for connection of the forceps tip to a handle. A sleeve is received over the tip body and is movable therealong for moving the grasping platforms between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventors: Philipp Schaller, Reto Grueebler