Microsurgical instrument
First Claim
1. A microsurgical instrument for performing selective trabeculectomy in the surgical treatment of glaucoma, said instrument including an elongated, flexible probe means having a first end and a second end, and a cutting member attached to said probe means at a point spaced apart from said first end, said cutting member includingtwo knife blades which are separated so as to fit into the scleral groove of the eye wall in which trabecular meshwork is embedded and which protrude in different transverse directions from the probe means in order to extend from said groove into the anterior chamber of the eye, thus embracing a strip of said trabecular meshwork, each said knife blade providing a first edge which faces said first end of said probe means and a second edge which faces away from said first end of said cutting means, at least said first edge being sharp for cutting, andat least one catching device located between said two knife blades at a point spaced farther from said first end of said probe than said cutting edges of said knife blades, each catching device retaining thereon trabecular tissue which has been cut by said knife blades.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microsurgical instrument for performing selective trabeculectomy in surgical treatment of glaucoma includes a flexible probe (A) and a cutting member (C) fixed to the same. The cutting member comprises two knife blades (C1,C2) protruding in different directions from the probe and each providing at least one sharp edge (E1,E2) turned towards a free end of the probe.
The instrument is designed to be pulled between two incisions in the eye wall with the probe foremost through the Canal of Schlemm at the transition between cornea and sclera, thereby cutting away the inner wall of the canal and the corresponding part of the trabecular meshwork located in the canal. The aqueous humour of the eye then gains access to the outer wall of the Canal of Schlemm with its drainage outlets leading out of the eye.
254 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A microsurgical instrument for performing selective trabeculectomy in the surgical treatment of glaucoma, said instrument including an elongated, flexible probe means having a first end and a second end, and a cutting member attached to said probe means at a point spaced apart from said first end, said cutting member including
two knife blades which are separated so as to fit into the scleral groove of the eye wall in which trabecular meshwork is embedded and which protrude in different transverse directions from the probe means in order to extend from said groove into the anterior chamber of the eye, thus embracing a strip of said trabecular meshwork, each said knife blade providing a first edge which faces said first end of said probe means and a second edge which faces away from said first end of said cutting means, at least said first edge being sharp for cutting, and at least one catching device located between said two knife blades at a point spaced farther from said first end of said probe than said cutting edges of said knife blades, each catching device retaining thereon trabecular tissue which has been cut by said knife blades.
Specification