Apparatus and methods for prevention of age-related macular degeneration and other eye diseases
First Claim
1. A surgery method of preventing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by reducing the rigidity of the sclera of an eye, whereby a removal means is used to remove portion of the sclera tissue in a predetermined pattern to reduce the risk factors of AMD selected from the group consisting of low blood flow and high pressure in the choriocapillaris and formation of drusen in the suretinal space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Surgical apparatus and surgical methods are proposed for the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and other eye diseases such as glaucoma by removal of the sclera tissue to reduce its rigidity and increase the flood flow and decrease pressure in the choriocapillaris. The disclosed preferred embodiments of the system consists of a tissue ablation means and a control means of ablation patterns and a fiber delivery unit. The basic laser beam includes UV lasers and infrared lasers having wavelength ranges of (0.15-0.36) microns and (0.5-3.2) microns and diode lasers of about 0.98, 1.5 and 1.9 microns. AMD and CNV are prevented, delayed or reversed by using an ablative laser to ablate the sclera tissue in a predetermined patterns outside the limbus to increase the elasticity of the sclera tissue surrounding the eye globe The surgery apparatus also includes non-laser device of radio frequency wave, electrode device, bipolar device and plasma assisted device
89 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A surgery method of preventing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by reducing the rigidity of the sclera of an eye, whereby a removal means is used to remove portion of the sclera tissue in a predetermined pattern to reduce the risk factors of AMD selected from the group consisting of low blood flow and high pressure in the choriocapillaris and formation of drusen in the suretinal space.
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7. A surgical apparatus to remove a portion of the sclera tissue of an eye comprising
(a) a tissue removal means, and (b) a control means of predetermined ablation pattern, whereby AMD can be prevented by reducing the rigidity of the sclera.
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21. A surgical apparatus to remove a portion of the sclera tissue of an eye comprising:
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(c) a tissue ablation means, and (d) a control means of predetermined ablation pattern, whereby glaucoma can be prevented or treated by decreasing the intraocular pressure of the treated eye. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification