Capsulectomy surgical instrument

• US 4,766,897 A
• Filed: 06/16/1987
• Issued: 08/30/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heinz Smirmaul
• Original Assignee: Heinz Smirmaul
• Inventors: Smirmaul, Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US07/062,865
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22, 128/305, 128/751-755, 128/305.1, 128/310, 30/263, 30/272 R, 30/276, 30/274
• US Class Current: 606/107
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00754 for cutting or perforating the anterior lens capsule, e.g. capsulotomes
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0133 Knives or scalpels specially adapted therefor

Abstract

An ophthalmic surgical instrument (10) is provided for incising the anterior lens capsule of the crystalline lens of an eye. The surgical instrument (10) includes a handle (12) adapted for support in a hand of a user. A tubular member (16) extends from the handle (12) and terminates in a loop (18). A circular cutting device (20) is rotatably mounted within the loop (18). A flexible elongate wire (24) is disposed within the tubular member (16) and is interconnected to the circular cutting device (20) and the handle (12) such that the circular cutting device (20) is rotated upon compression of the handle (12).

Claims

1. An ophthalmic surgical instrument for incising the anterior lens capsule of the crystalline lens of an eye comprising:

a handle adapted for support in a hand of a user;

a elongated tubular means having first and second ends, said first end being attached to said handle and said second end terminating in a loop;

a circular cutting blade interconnected to said loop, such that said circular cutting blade is supported by and is rotatable within said loop; and

a flexible elongate wire having first and second ends and being disposed within said elongated tubular member, said first end thereof being interconnected to said handle and said second end thereof being interconnected to said circular cutting blade, such that upon compression of said handle, said wire is retracted within said handle for rotating said cutting blade around a predetermined angle within said loop.

2. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said handle further includes:

means for temporarily deforming said flexible elongate wire within said handle to cause said flexible elongate wire to be retracted within said handle.

3. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said handle includes:

means for biasing said flexible elongate wire to return said flexible elongate wire to a nonretracted position.

4. An ophthalmic surgical instrument for incising the anterior lens capsule of the crystalline lens of an eye comprising:

a handle adapted for support in a hand of a user;

a elongated tubular member having first and second ends, said first end being attached to said handle and said second end terminating in a loop;

said tubular member loop including a slotted aperture;

a circular cutting blade slidably mounted within said loop for rotation therein;

a flexible elongate wire having first and second ends and being disposed within said tubular member, said first end thereof being interconnected to said handle and said second end thereof being interconnected to said circular cutting blade;

means for attaching said flexible elongate wire second end to said cutting blade, such that upon compression of said handle, said flexible elongate wire is retracted within said handle to cause rotation of said cutting blade within said loop around a predetermined angle.

5. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 4 and further including:

biasing means attached to said handle and to said flexible elongate wire for urging said flexible elongate wire to a nonretracted position after compression of said handle.

6. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 4 wherein said slotted aperture extends for approximately the entire circumference of said loop.