Bernoulli gripper for intraocular and contact lenses
AssigneeAlcon Inc.
InventorsDominik Huehn, Jochen Koehler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Bernoulli gripper for ophthalmic lenses includes a gripper body with a first cavity corresponding in shape to an optic zone of an ophthalmic lens and a first channel formed within the gripper body. The first channel penetrates the first cavity at one end and includes a first port in the gripper body at another end of the first channel. The first channel is enabled to supply a fluid medium from the first port to the first cavity at a first velocity such that the ophthalmic lens positioned with the optic zone in proximity to the first cavity is subject to a first pressure force against the first cavity by the Bernoulli effect.
Claims18
A method for gripping an ophthalmic lens, the method comprising:
- placing a gripping portion of a gripper body in proximity to an optic zone of an ophthalmic lens, wherein:
- the ophthalmic lens comprises:
- the optic zone, the optic zone having a curvature;
- and
- one or more haptics coupled to the optic zone;
- the gripper body comprises:
- the gripping portion, the gripping portion having a concave surface or convex surface corresponding to the curvature of the optic zone;
- a channel formed within the gripper body and penetrating the gripping portion at a first end of the channel;
- and
- one or more mechanical stops disposed around a perimeter of the gripping portion;
- subjecting the ophthalmic lens to a pressure force against the gripping portion by a Bernoulli effect through the channel;
- and
- engaging the one or more haptics of the ophthalmic lens with the one or more mechanical stops to laterally align the ophthalmic lens and control rotation of the ophthalmic lens.
A Bernoulli gripper for ophthalmic lenses, the Bernoulli gripper comprising:
- a gripper body comprising:
- a gripping portion, the gripping portion having a concave surface or convex surface corresponding to a curvature of an optic zone of an ophthalmic lens;
- a channel formed within the gripper body and penetrating the gripping portion at a first end of the channel, the channel configured to subject the ophthalmic lens, positioned in proximity to the gripping portion, to a pressure force against the gripping portion by a Bernoulli effect through the channel;
- and
- one or more mechanical stops formed around a perimeter of the gripping portion, the mechanical stops configured to engage one or more haptics of the ophthalmic lens to laterally align the ophthalmic lens and control rotation of the ophthalmic lens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.