Automatic surgical device for cutting a cornea

• US 20020091401A1
• Filed: 04/24/2001
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johann F. Hellenkamp
• Original Assignee: Johann F. Hellenkamp
• Inventors: Hellenkamp, Johann F.
• Application Number:
  US09/841,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20020091401A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/166
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/0052 the instrument being supported on the patient's eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/013 Instruments for compensation of ocular refraction A61F9/008 takes precedence; Instruments for use in cornea removal, for reshaping or performing incisions in the cornea

Abstract

A surgical device for cutting substantially across a cornea of an eye of a patient, the device including a positioning ring structured to be temporarily attached to a portion of the eye surrounding the cornea to be cut, and defining an aperture sized to receive and expose the cornea to be cut. The surgical device further includes a cutting head assembly structured to be guided and driven over an upper surface of the positioning ring in a generally arcuate path, and having a cutting element positioned therein and structured to oscillate laterally to facilitate smooth and effective cutting of the cornea. The cutting head assembly is structured to be detachably coupled to the positioning ring while simultaneously permitting movement of the cutting head assembly relative to the positioning ring along the generally arcuate path.

Claims

1. A method for cutting a cornea portion of an eye comprising the steps of:

temporarily maintaining the eye in an immobile, cornea exposed orientation, and

driving a cutting element across the cornea along an arcuate path from a lower region of the cornea to an upper region of the cornea so as to at least partially cut the cornea and such that normal, post-operative blinking of the eye results to substantially advance healing of the eye.

2. A method for cutting a cornea portion of an eye as recited in claim 1 further including a step of defining said arcuate path along the cornea prior to driving said cutting element therealong.

3. A method for cutting a cornea portion of an eye comprising the steps of:

temporarily maintaining the eye in an immobile, cornea exposed orientation, and

driving a cutting element across the cornea so as to at least partially cut the cornea and so as to define a generally horizontally disposed corneal flap at an upper region of said cornea.

4. A method for cutting a cornea portion of an eye as recited in claim 3 further including a step of defining an arcuate path along the cornea and driving said cutting element along said arcuate path.

5. A method for cutting a cornea portion of each of a patient'"'"'s eyes comprising the steps of:

temporarily and selectively maintaining each of the patient'"'"'s eyes in an immobile, cornea exposed orientation, and

driving a cutting element across the cornea of each eye so as to at least partially cut the cornea of each eye and so as to define a corneal flap remaining attached at a hinge on an upper region of said cornea of each eye, with said hinge being disposed in generally transverse relation to a direction of normal, post-operative blinking of each of the eyes.

6. A surgical device for cutting across a cornea of an eye of a patient, said device comprising:

a) a positioning ring structured to be at least temporarily attached to a portion of the eye surrounding the cornea to be cut;

said positioning ring defining an aperture;

b) said positioning ring including a guide assembly defining a generally arcuate path;

c) a cutting head assembly including a cutting element for cutting the cornea; and

d) said cutting head assembly structured to move over said positioning ring along said generally arcuate path defined by said guide assembly.

7. A surgical device as recited in claim 6 wherein said cutting path defined by said guide assembly terminates at an upper portion of the cornea of both the patient'"'"'s left and right eye.

8. A surgical device as recited in claim 6 wherein said cutting head assembly is structured for automated movement over said positioning ring.

9. A surgical device for cutting across a cornea of an eye of a patient, said device comprising:

a) a positioning ring structured to be at least temporarily attached to a portion of the eye surrounding the cornea to be cut;

said positioning ring defining an aperture;

b) said positioning ring including a guide assembly defining a generally arcuate path;

c) said guide assembly including at least a post member structured to define an axis of rotation for said generally arcuate path;

d) a cutting head assembly including a cutting element for cutting the cornea; and

e) said cutting head assembly structured to be at least temporarily operatively coupled to said post member and to move over said positioning ring along said generally arcuate path.

10. A surgical device as recited in claim 9 further including a coupling member structured and disposed to detachably couple said cutting head assembly to at least said post member and to permit movement of said cutting head assembly relative to said positioning ring along said generally arcuate path.

11. A surgical device for cutting across a cornea of an eye of a patient, said device comprising:

a) a positioning ring structured to be at least temporarily attached to a portion of the eye surrounding the cornea to be cut;

said positioning ring defining an aperture;

b) said positioning ring including a guide assembly defining a generally arcuate path;

c) said guide assembly including at least a post member disposed on said positioning ring and structured to define an axis of rotation for said generally arcuate path;

d) a cutting head assembly including a cutting element for cutting the cornea; and

e) said cutting head assembly at least temporarily operatively coupled to said post member and structured to move over said positioning ring along said generally arcuate path.

12. A surgical device as recited in claim 11 wherein said post member is disposed over the patient'"'"'s eye on said positioning ring.

14. A surgical device as recited in claim 13 wherein said cutting path which terminates in generally aligned relation with the direction of normal post-operative blinking of the eye is defined by a generally arcuate path.

15. A surgical device as recited in claim 13 wherein said cutting path terminates at an upper portion of the cornea of both the patient'"'"'s left and right eye.

18. A surgical device as recited in claim 17 wherein said cutting path which terminates in generally aligned relation with the direction of normal post-operative blinking of the eye is defined by a generally arcuate path.

13. A surgical device for cutting across a cornea of an eye of a patient, said device comprising:

a positioning assembly structured to position the cornea of the eye in an exposed, cuttable orientation; and

a cutting head assembly including a cutting element for cutting the cornea, said cutting head assembly structured to move over the cornea along a cutting path which terminates in generally aligned relation with a direction of normal postoperative blinking of the eye.

16. A surgical device for cutting across a cornea of an eye of a patient, said device comprising:

a positioning assembly structured to position the cornea of the eye in an exposed, cuttable orientation; and

a cutting head assembly including a cutting element for cutting the cornea, said cutting head assembly structured to move over and cut the cornea and to define a corneal flap secured at generally an upper region of the eye.

17. A surgical device for selectively cutting across a cornea of each of the eyes of a patient, said device comprising:

a positioning assembly structured to selectively and at least temporarily position the cornea of each of the eyes in an exposed, cuttable orientation;

a cutting head assembly including a cutting element for cutting the cornea; and

said cutting head assembly and said positioning ring being cooperatively structured with one another so as to selectively move said cutting head assembly over the cornea of each of the eyes along a cutting path which terminates in generally aligned relation with a direction of normal post-operative blinking of each of the eyes.

19. A surgical device for cutting across a cornea of an eye of a patient, said device comprising:

a) a positioning ring structured to be at least temporarily attached to a portion of the eye surrounding the cornea to be cut;

said positioning ring defining an aperture;

b) said positioning ring including a guide assembly defining a cutting path which terminates in generally aligned relation to a direction of normal post-operative blinking of the eye;

c) a cutting head assembly including a cutting element for cutting the cornea, said cutting head assembly being structured and disposed to be driven across said positioning ring along said cutting path defined by said guide assembly; and

d) a drive assembly operably connected to said cutting head assembly for causing movement of said cutting head assembly across said positioning ring and for causing oscillating movement of said cutting element.

20. A surgical device for selectively cutting across a cornea of each eye of a patient, said device comprising:

a) a positioning ring having means for selectively and at least temporary attachment to a portion of the eye surrounding the cornea to be cut;

said positioning ring defining an aperture;

b) said positioning ring including a guide assembly defining a cutting path which terminates in generally aligned relation to a direction of normal post-operative blinking of the eye;

c) said guide assembly including at least a post member structured to define an axis of said cutting path; and

d) a cutting head assembly including a cutting element for cutting the cornea, said cutting head assembly being operatively coupled to said post member and structured and disposed to be selectively driven across said positioning ring along said cutting path which terminates generally in aligned relation with said direction of normal post-operative blinking of each of the eyes.

21. A surgical device as recited in claim 20 wherein said guide assembly further comprises a guide track.

22. A method for cutting a cornea portion of a either eye comprising the steps of:

selecting an eye whose cornea is to be cut,

identifying whether the selected eye is a left eye or a right eye;

temporarily maintaining the selected eye in an immobile, cornea exposed orientation,

positioning a cutting element on the selected eye in accordance with whether the selected eye is a left or right eye,

driving a cutting element forward across the cornea along an arcuate path which, at least partially as a result of the positioning of the cutting element, is from a lower region of the cornea to an upper region of the cornea and at least partially cuts the cornea to define a generally horizontally disposed corneal flap at an upper region of said cornea.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein removing the cutting element from the positioning ring further comprises removing the cutting element from the positioning ring while maintaining the positioning ring in engaging relation with the eye.

23. A method for cutting a cornea portion of an eye comprising the steps of:

temporarily maintaining the eye in an immobile, cornea exposed orientation,

moving a cutting element across the cornea from a lower region of the cornea towards an upper region of the cornea,

cutting the cornea with the cutting element at least during a portion of its movement so as to define a corneal flap,

stopping the cutting element in the upper region of the cornea prior to complete severing of the corneal flap, and

removing the cutting element from engaging relation with the cornea while the corneal flap remains connected to the cornea at a generally horizontal segment in the upper region of the cornea.

24. A method for cutting a cornea portion of an eye comprising the steps of:

temporarily maintaining the eye in an immobile, cornea exposed orientation utilizing a positioning ring,

driving a cutting element over the positioning ring across the cornea so as to at least partially cut the cornea and so as to define a generally horizontally disposed corneal flap at an upper region of said cornea, and

removing the cutting element from a cornea engaging relation with the positioning ring.

25. A method for cutting a cornea portion of an eye comprising the steps of:

positioning a cutting element on a positioning ring structured to at least temporarily maintain the eye in an immobile, cornea exposed orientation,

driving a cutting element over the positioning ring so as to at least partially cut the cornea and so as to define a generally horizontally disposed corneal flap at an upper region of said cornea, and

removing the cutting element from the positioning ring.

27. A surgical device for cutting across a cornea of an eye of a patient, said device comprising:

a) a positioning ring structured to be at least temporarily attached to a portion of the eye surrounding the cornea to be cut;

b) said positioning ring including a guide assembly defining a generally arcuate path;

c) a cutting head assembly including a cutting element for cutting the cornea; and

d) said cutting head assembly and said positioning ring being structured to operably associated with one another such that said cutting head assembly moves over said positioning ring along said generally arcuate path defined by said guide assembly from generally a lower region of the cornea to an upper region of the cornea of either a left eye or right eye.

28. A surgical device for cutting across a cornea of an eye of a patient, said device comprising:

a) a positioning ring structured to be at least temporarily attached to a portion of the eye surrounding the cornea to be cut as a result of a vacuum;

b) said positioning ring including a guide assembly defining a generally arcuate path;

c) a cutting head assembly including a cutting element for cutting the cornea;

d) said cutting head assembly structured to move over said positioning ring along said generally arcuate path defined by said guide assembly; and

e) said cutting head assembly structured to be removed from said positioning ring without interrupting said vacuum.

29. A surgical device for cutting across a cornea of an eye of a patient, said device comprising:

a) a positioning ring structured to be at least temporarily attached to a portion of the eye surrounding the cornea to be cut;

b) said positioning ring including a guide assembly defining a generally arcuate path;

c) said guide assembly including at least a post member structured to define an axis of rotation for said generally arcuate path;

d) a cutting head assembly including a cutting element for cutting the cornea;

e) said cutting head assembly structured to be selectively coupled to said post member in an orientation corresponding a left eye or a right eye, and to move over said positioning ring along said generally arcuate path.

30. A surgical device for cutting across a cornea of an eye of a patient, said device comprising:

a) a positioning ring structured to be at least temporarily attached to a portion of the eye surrounding the cornea to be cut by a vacuum;

b) said positioning ring including a guide assembly defining a generally arcuate path;

c) said guide assembly including at least a post member structured to define an axis of rotation for said generally arcuate path;

d) a cutting head assembly including a cutting element for cutting the cornea; and

e) said cutting head assembly structured to be removably coupled to said post member without interruption of said vacuum at said positioning ring and to move over said positioning ring along said generally arcuate path.

31. A surgical device for cutting across a cornea of either eye of a patient, said device comprising:

a positioning assembly structured to position the cornea of either eye in an exposed, cuttable orientation; and

a cutting head assembly including a cutting element for cutting the cornea, said cutting head assembly structured to move over the positioning assembly and cut the cornea of the selected eye to define a corneal flap secured at generally an upper region of the eye in generally aligned relation with a direction of normal post-operative blinking of the selected eye.

32. A surgical device for cutting across a cornea of either eye of a patient, said device comprising:

a) a positioning ring structured to be at least temporarily attached to a portion of the eye surrounding the cornea to be cut;

b) said positioning ring including a guide assembly, said guide assembly structured to define a cutting path which terminates at an upper portion of the cornea in generally aligned relation to a direction of normal post-operative blinking of either of the eyes on which said positioning ring is disposed;

c) a cutting head assembly including a cutting element for cutting the cornea, said cutting head assembly being structured to be driven across said positioning ring along said cutting path defined by said guide assembly towards said upper portion of the cornea of the eye on which said positioning ring is disposed; and

d) a drive assembly operably connected to said cutting head assembly for causing movement of said cutting head assembly across said positioning ring and for causing oscillating movement of said cutting element.

33. A surgical device for selectively cutting across a cornea of each eye of a patient, said device comprising:

a) a positioning ring structured to be selectively and at least temporary attached to a portion of the eye surrounding the cornea to be cut by a vacuum;

b) said positioning ring including a vacuum port through which said vacuum is applied;

c) said positioning ring further including a guide assembly defining a cutting path which terminates in generally aligned relation to a direction of normal post-operative blinking of the eye;

d) said guide assembly including at least a post member independent from said vacuum port and structured to define an axis of said cutting path; and

e) a cutting head assembly including a cutting element for cutting the cornea, said cutting head assembly being operatively coupled to said post member and structured and disposed to be selectively driven across said positioning ring along said cutting path which terminates generally in aligned relation with said direction of normal post-operative blinking of each of the eyes.

34. The surgical device of claim 33 wherein said cutting head assembly is removably coupled to said post member.