Alcon, Inc.

Niccolo Maschio

Reto Grueebler

Niels Alexander Abt

Timo Jung

Thomas Linsi

Reto Grüebler

Simon Nicola Kunz

Christoph Siegenthaler

Philipp Schaller

Rodolfo Wolfer

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.

Tracking of retinal traction through digital image correlation

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.

Retractable backflush instrument

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.

Retina massage and smoothing device

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.

Actuation mechanism with grooved actuation levers

Retractable backflush handpiece

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.

Membrane delamination device

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.

Rotational cutter

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.

Low friction trocar valve

360 degree actuation handle

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.

Growing community of inventors

Winterthur, Switzerland

Niccolo Maschio