CORNEAL EPITHELIAL POCKET FORMATION SYSTEMS, COMPONENTS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A corneal epithelial pocket formation system, comprising:
- a cutting head; and
a blade coupled to the cutting head at an orientation effective in maintaining a viable separated pocket defining portion of corneal epithelium of an eye of a patient during formation of a corneal epithelial pocket of the eye, the blade comprising a cutting edge surface at the distal end of the blade effective in separating the corneal epithelium from an area of the underlying Bowman'"'"'s membrane of the eye substantially without leaving residual corneal epithelial cells in contact with Bowman'"'"'s membrane in the area that may result in corneal epithelial cell growth between a corneal implant located in the corneal epithelial pocket and the underlying Bowman'"'"'s membrane.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Corneal epithelial pocket formation systems include a cutting head and a blade coupled to the cutting head. The blade is coupled to the cutting head at an orientation that is effective in maintaining a viable separated pocket defining portion of corneal epithelium of an eye of a patient during formation of a corneal epithelial pocket of the eye. The blade includes a cutting edge surface at its distal end. The cutting edge surface is effective in separating the corneal epithelium from the underlying Bowman'"'"'s membrane of the eye without leaving residual corneal epithelial cells in contact with Bowman'"'"'s membrane that may result in corneal epithelial cell growth between a corneal implant located in the corneal epithelial pocket and the underlying Bowman'"'"'s membrane. Versions of the present systems include spring loaded blade holders, which may be removable from the cutting head. Versions also can include applanators. Packages containing spring loaded blade holders and blades, and disposable blades useful with the present systems are also described. The components, including disposable components, can be used to produce the present systems, and the present systems and components can be used in methods of enhancing or correcting a patient'"'"'s vision.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A corneal epithelial pocket formation system, comprising:
-
a cutting head; and a blade coupled to the cutting head at an orientation effective in maintaining a viable separated pocket defining portion of corneal epithelium of an eye of a patient during formation of a corneal epithelial pocket of the eye, the blade comprising a cutting edge surface at the distal end of the blade effective in separating the corneal epithelium from an area of the underlying Bowman'"'"'s membrane of the eye substantially without leaving residual corneal epithelial cells in contact with Bowman'"'"'s membrane in the area that may result in corneal epithelial cell growth between a corneal implant located in the corneal epithelial pocket and the underlying Bowman'"'"'s membrane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A corneal epithelial pocket formation system, comprising:
-
a suction ring comprising a cornea contacting portion and a spaced apart cutting head guidance portion; a cutting head in contact with the cutting head guidance portion of the suction ring, the cutting head comprising an applanator configured to provide an applanation area on a cornea of an eye during a corneal epithelial pocket forming procedure, a spring loaded blade holder, and a blade extending from the spring loaded blade holder at an angle of about 0°
from a straight line extending along a longitudinal guidance path of the blade, the blade having a distal end portion that comprises a cutting edge surface defining a maximum width of the blade, and a proximal end portion defining a width less than the distal end portion; anda housing comprising a motor configured to provide movement of the blade, the movement including transverse oscillating movement of the blade which causes the cutting edge surface to oscillate, the movement is effective to form an epithelial pocket having a maximum transverse dimension less than a minimum transverse dimension of the applanation area provided by the applanator.
-
-
16. A method for producing a corneal epithelial pocket formation system, comprising:
-
providing a corneal epithelial pocket forming blade retained by a spring loaded blade holder, the blade comprising a cutting edge surface at the distal end of the blade effective in separating a portion of corneal epithelium of an eye of a patient from the underlying Bowman'"'"'s membrane of the eye during formation of a corneal epithelial pocket, substantially without leaving residual corneal epithelial cells in contact with Bowman'"'"'s membrane that may result in corneal epithelial cell growth between a corneal implant located in the corneal epithelial pocket and the underlying Bowman'"'"'s membrane; and engaging the blade holder with a cutting head of a motorized device so that the blade is provided at an orientation effective in maintaining a viable separated pocket defining portion of corneal epithelium of an eye of a patient during formation of a corneal epithelial pocket of the eye.
-
-
17. A method for enhancing vision of a patient, comprising:
-
forming a corneal epithelial pocket in an eye of a patient using a corneal epithelial pocket formation system, comprising; a cutting head; and a blade coupled to the cutting head at an orientation effective in maintaining a viable separated pocket defining portion of corneal epithelium of an eye of a patient during formation of a corneal epithelial pocket of the eye, the blade comprising a cutting edge surface at the distal end of the blade effective in separating the corneal epithelium from an area of the underlying Bowman'"'"'s membrane of the eye substantially without leaving residual corneal epithelial cells in contact with Bowman'"'"'s membrane in the area that may result in corneal epithelial cell growth between a corneal implant located in the corneal epithelial pocket and the underlying Bowman'"'"'s membrane. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
-
19. A package, comprising:
-
a corneal epithelial pocket forming blade; and a spring loaded blade holder removably engageable with a cutting head of a motorized device, the blade holder being structured to retain the corneal epithelial pocket forming blade at an orientation effective in maintaining a viable separated pocket defining a portion of corneal epithelium of an eye of a patient during formation of a corneal epithelial pocket of the eye when the blade holder is engaged with the cutting head. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
-
21. A blade for a corneal epithelial pocket formation system, comprising:
-
a distal end portion and an adjacent proximal portion; and a cutting edge surface located at a distal end of the blade effective in separating a portion of corneal epithelium of an eye of a patient from an underlying Bowman'"'"'s membrane of the eye during formation of a corneal epithelial pocket, substantially without leaving residual corneal epithelial cells in contact with the Bowman'"'"'s membrane that may result in corneal epithelial cell growth between a corneal implant located in the corneal epithelial pocket and the underlying Bowman'"'"'s membrane, wherein the adjacent proximal portion is located in the corneal epithelial pocket during formation thereof and has a width less than the width of the distal end portion.
-
Specification