IP Library Granted Patent US 12,458,489
Granted Patent B2
US 12,458,489 · App. 18/592,481 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Defined removal site on sterile blister pack

Inventor: Marec Weber (Erlangen, DE)
Assignee: ALCON INC.
A61F2/1691A61B50/00A61B50/30A61J1/00A61L2/26B65B69/00B65B69/0058A61B2050/0051A61B2050/0065A61B2050/3008A61B2090/0807A61L2202/12A61L2202/181A61L2202/182A61L2202/21A61L2202/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,458,489
App. No.
18/592,481
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for systematic, controlled removal of sterile products from blister packs for use during surgery is disclosed.

Claims (51)

1 . A system comprising:

a blister pack having a front and a back, the blister pack comprising:

a plurality of sterile holding areas, each sterile holding area configured to accommodate a sterile eye surgery instrument of a plurality of sterile eye surgery instruments, the plurality of sterile holding areas comprising a frustoconical sterile holding area having a frustoconical shape configured to accommodate a sterile eye surgery instrument of the plurality of sterile eye surgery instruments comprising an applanation cone, the frustoconical sterile holding area having a larger circular base and a smaller circular base, the larger circular base proximate to the front of the blister pack, the smaller circular base proximate to the back of the blister pack; and

a plurality of pressure points disposed at the back of the blister pack for controlled removal of the plurality of sterile eye surgery instruments while maintaining sterility of the plurality of sterile eye surgery instruments, wherein:

at least two pressure points of the plurality of pressure points comprise:

a first pressure point marked to indicate that the first pressure point should be used first to remove a first sterile eye surgery instrument from the blister pack; and

a second pressure point marked to indicate that the second pressure point should be used second to remove a second sterile eye surgery instrument from the blister pack; and

the plurality of pressure points comprise a cone pressure point disposed at the back of the blister pack proximate to the smaller circular base of the frustoconical sterile holding area to facilitate controlled removal of the applanation cone; and

a protective cover removably coupled to the blister pack.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

each pressure point of the plurality of pressure points is disposed at a location proximate to but distinct from a sterile eye surgery instrument of the plurality of sterile eye surgery instruments.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

one or more pressure points of the plurality of pressure points are disposed at one or more locations proximate to but distinct from the frustoconical sterile holding area.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the frustoconical shape of the frustoconical sterile holding area has a smaller diameter circular surface; and

one or more pressure points of the plurality of pressure points are disposed proximate to the smaller diameter circular surface.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein;

the frustoconical shape of the frustoconical sterile holding area has a smaller diameter circular surface;

a first of a pair of pressure points of the plurality of pressure points is disposed proximate to the smaller diameter circular surface; and

a second of the pair of pressure points of the plurality of pressure points is disposed opposite the smaller diameter circular surface from the first of the pair of pressure points of the plurality of pressure points.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of sterile holding areas comprises a conical sterile holding area having a conical shape with an apex; and

one or more pressure points of the plurality of pressure points are disposed proximate to the apex of the conical shape of the conical sterile holding area.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of sterile holding areas comprises a rectangular sterile holding area having a rectangular shape.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of sterile eye surgery instruments comprises a lens; and

the plurality of sterile holding areas comprises a lens sterile holding area configured to accommodate the lens.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of sterile holding areas comprises a conical sterile holding area and a rectangular sterile holding area; and

the conical sterile holding area is adjacent to the frustoconical sterile holding area; and

the conical sterile holding area and the frustoconical sterile holding area are adjacent to the rectangular sterile holding area.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of pressure points are disposed within the plurality of sterile holding areas.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of pressure points are disposed near the plurality of sterile holding areas.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

each pressure point of the plurality of pressure points is marked with an embossed word “push”.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein;

each pressure point of the plurality of pressure points is marked with a circled “X”.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

each pressure point of the plurality of pressure points is marked on the front of the blister pack; and

each pressure point of the plurality of pressure points is marked on the back of the blister pack.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

each pressure point of the plurality of pressure points is marked only on the back of the blister pack.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:

each pressure point of the plurality of pressure points is marked only on the front of the blister pack.

17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a first pair of pressure points of the plurality of pressure points are disposed on a base of the back of the blister pack and a third pressure point of the plurality of pressure points is disposed between the base and a front surface of the blister pack.

18 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an arrow pointing to a given pressure point of the plurality of pressure points.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein, for each pressure point of the plurality of pressure points, the system comprises a respective arrow pointing to a respective pressure point of the plurality of pressure points.

20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein, the arrow is on the back of the blister pack.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2024
From: WEBER, MAREC
To: WAVELIGHT GMBH
Reel/Frame 066622/0026 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2024
From: WAVELIGHT GMBH
To: NOVARTIS AG
Reel/Frame 066622/0116 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2024
From: NOVARTIS AG
To: ALCON INC.
Reel/Frame 066622/0154 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17313245 · May 6, 2021
Division 16309124
Related Publication 20240261088A1 · Aug 8, 2024
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