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Publication No. EP3678617

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App No. EP18808494

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Filed by ALCON INC.

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Filed on 2018-10-31

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Issued/Published on 2026-01-14

Official EPO Register

Publication No. EP3678617 A1

Application No. EP18808494 Filed: 2018-10-31

Grant Date 2026-01-14 Mention of grant

Active Oppositions 1 Active EPO Oppositions

Patent Abstract / Summary

Patent abstract is being processed or was not provided in English by the publishing office.

IPC Classifications

A61F9/008

Priority Claims

US 201762585631P Date: 2017-11-14

Designated Contracting States (38 EPC States)

AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

Parties & Representation

Applicants

ALCON INC.

Rue Louis-d'Affry 6, 1701 Fribourg

Inventors (5)

MIRSEPASSI, Alireza

c/o Alcon Research Ltd., 20511 Lake Forest Drive

DIAO, Chenguang

c/o Alcon Research Ltd., 20511 Lake Forest Drive

FARLEY, Mark Harrison

c/o Alcon Research Ltd., 20511 Lake Forest Dr.

SMITH, Ronald T.

c/o Alcon Research Ltd., 20511 Lake Forest Drive

HORN, Jochen

631 Claret Court, Pleasanton, CA 94566

Representatives / Agents

Murgitroyd & Company

165-169 Scotland Street, Glasgow G5 8PL

Hanna Moore + Curley

Garryard House, 25/26 Earlsfort Terrace

Ullrich & Naumann PartG mbB

Schneidmühlstrasse 21, 69115 Heidelberg

Key Procedural Dates

Request-For-Examination 2020-04-06

Mention Of Grant Published 2026-01-14

First-Examination-Report-Despatched 2022-10-07

Legal Status & Event History

Official European Patent Office legal and procedural status changes recorded for this file.

46 Events Recorded

Date	Code	Event Description	Auth
2020-07-15	AX	REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT	EP
2020-07-15	17P	REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION FILED	EP
2020-07-15	AK	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES	EP
2021-02-17	DAX	REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT (DELETED)	EP
2021-02-17	DAV	REQUEST FOR VALIDATION OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT (DELETED)	EP
2020-06-12	PUAI	PUBLIC REFERENCE MADE UNDER ARTICLE 153(3) EPC TO A PUBLISHED INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION THAT HAS ENTERED THE EUROPEAN PHASE	EP
2020-06-12	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2019-05-28	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2018-12-08	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2022-10-07	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2022-11-09	17Q	FIRST EXAMINATION REPORT DESPATCHED	EP
2023-06-14	P01	OPT-OUT OF THE COMPETENCE OF THE UNIFIED PATENT COURT (UPC) REGISTERED	EP
2025-04-23	GRAP	DESPATCH OF COMMUNICATION OF INTENTION TO GRANT A PATENT	EP
2025-04-23	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2025-05-21	INTG	INTENTION TO GRANT ANNOUNCED	EP
2025-08-23	GRAJ	INFORMATION RELATED TO DISAPPROVAL OF COMMUNICATION OF INTENTION TO GRANT BY THE APPLICANT OR RESUMPTION OF EXAMINATION PROCEEDINGS BY THE EPO DELETED	EP
2025-08-23	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2025-09-14	GRAP	DESPATCH OF COMMUNICATION OF INTENTION TO GRANT A PATENT	EP
2025-09-14	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2025-10-01	INTC	INTENTION TO GRANT ANNOUNCED (DELETED)	EP
2025-10-15	INTG	INTENTION TO GRANT ANNOUNCED	EP
2025-12-11	GRAS	GRANT FEE PAID	EP
2025-12-12	GRAA	(EXPECTED) GRANT	EP
2025-12-12	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2026-01-14	AK	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES	EP
2026-01-14	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-01-29	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-02-11	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-03-11	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-06-15	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-07-07	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-10	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-07-08	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-09	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-10	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-11	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-14	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-15	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-17	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-18	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-24	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-28	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-10-06	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-10-09	PGFP	ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-10-10	PGFP	ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-10-13	PGFP	ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP

Patent & Non-Patent Citations

Cited documents and prior art referenced in search and examination reports.

8 Citations

Cited Patent Documents

US2017172792

Espacenet

US2011144627

Espacenet

US2007265602

Espacenet

US2015219819

Espacenet

US3910678

Espacenet

WO2008024848

Espacenet

Non-Patent Scientific Literature (NPL)

- "OPTICAL FIBERS ", OZOPTICS, 28 January 2014 (2014-01-28), pages 1 - 6, XP055200674, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:http://www.ozoptics.com/ALLNEW_PDF/DTS0135.pdf> [retrieved on 20150707]

- PASCHOTTA RÜDIGER: "Multimode Fibers", RP PHOTONICS ENCYCLOPEDIA, RP PHOTONICS AG, 16 October 2026 (2026-10-16), pages 1 - 14, XP093446747, Retrieved from the Internet <URL:https://www.rp-photonics.com/multimode_fibers.html>

Worldwide Patent Family

Related applications and patents in the same INPADOC worldwide family.

7 Family Members

Country	Publication Number	Kind	Publication Date	Action
EP	EP3678617A1	A1	2020-07-15	Espacenet
EP	EP3678617B1	B1	2026-01-14	Espacenet
JP	JP2021502848A	A	2021-02-04	Espacenet
JP	JP7814840B2	B2	2026-02-17	Espacenet
US	US2019142544A1	A1	2019-05-16	Espacenet
US	US11109938B2	B2	2021-09-07	Espacenet
WO	WO2019097338A1	A1	2019-05-23	Espacenet

Official File Inspection EPC Art. 128 Public Dossier

Complete European Patent Register Dossier (148 Total Documents)

The full inspection file for Application EP18808494 contains 148 total documents, including all notices of opposition, proprietor counter-statements, examination communications, third-party observations, and procedural forms. Below are all major recorded procedural filings and publication specifications.

Open 148-Doc Register Dossier

Dossier Filing

Date: 2025-12-11 Procedure: Examination EPIDOSNIGR5

Inspect on Register

MULTI-SPOT LASER PROBE WITH ILLUMINATION FEATURES

Patent Abstract / Summary

IPC Classifications

Priority Claims

Designated Contracting States (38 EPC States)

Parties & Representation

Applicants

Inventors (5)

Representatives / Agents

Key Procedural Dates

Patent Oppositions

Geuder AG

Legal Status & Event History

Patent & Non-Patent Citations

Cited Patent Documents

Non-Patent Scientific Literature (NPL)

Worldwide Patent Family

Complete European Patent Register Dossier (148 Total Documents)

Recorded Filings & Patent Specifications

European Patent Specification - Granted Patent (B1)

Official European Patent Register Full Dossier

European Patent Application with Search Report (A1)

Opposition filed

Lapse of the patent in a contracting state

Lapse of the patent in a contracting state

Lapse of the patent in a contracting state

Lapse of the patent in a contracting state

Lapse of the patent in a contracting state

(Expected) grant

New entry: Payment of fee for grant

New entry: Payment of fee for publishing/printing

New entry: Receipt of the translation of the claim(s)

New entry: Renewal fee paid

Renewal fee payment

Intention to grant the patent

New entry: Communication of intention to grant a patent

Deletion - Disapproval of the communication of intention to grant the patent by the applicant or resumption of examination proceedings by the EPO

DISSAPPROVAL_OF_COMMUNICATION_OF_INTENTION_TO_GRANT_PATENT

Intention to grant the patent

New entry: Communication of intention to grant a patent

New entry: Renewal fee paid

Renewal fee payment

New entry: Renewal fee paid

Renewal fee payment

New entry: Reply to examination report

New entry: Despatch of examination report + time limit

First examination report

Communication from the examining division

New entry: Renewal fee paid

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Renewal fee payment

Change - representative

Change - extension states

Change: Validation states

Amendment by applicant

Amendments

New entry: Renewal fee paid

Renewal fee payment

Publication in section I.1 EP Bulletin

The date on which the examining division becomes responsible, has been established

Request for examination filed

PCT data prior to European publication

PCT data prior to European publication

Change - representative

PCT data prior to European publication

Payment of national basic fee

Payment of the first designation fee

Payment of the fee for examination

Date on which the examining division has become responsible

PCT data prior to European publication

PCT data prior to European publication

New entry: applicant or inventor

PCT data prior to European publication

Validation of the patent

Extension of the patent

Language of the procedure

International searching authority