Method for collagen shrinkage
First Claim
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1. A method for shrinking collagen tissue, comprising the application of a reagent to the tissue to reduce threshold shrinkage temperature, followed by irradiation of the tissue with energy having a wavelength in the range of about 1.80 to about 2.55 microns.
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Abstract
A method for shrinkage of collagen tissue by application of coherent infrared energy, in which the threshold shrinkage temperature is substantially reduced by application of a reagent such as lysozyme to the tissue prior to heating. The method is especially useful in ophthalmology for shape modification of a cornea, and is enhanced by using a corneal collagen shield as a carrier and delivery agent for the reagent and an admixed anaesthetic.
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Citations
37 Claims
- 1. A method for shrinking collagen tissue, comprising the application of a reagent to the tissue to reduce threshold shrinkage temperature, followed by irradiation of the tissue with energy having a wavelength in the range of about 1.80 to about 2.55 microns.
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13. A keratoplasty method for shape modification of a cornea, comprising the application of a reagent to stromal collagen tissue of the cornea to reduce the threshold shrinkage temperature of the tissue to a range substantially above body temperature and below about 60°
- C., followed by irradiation of the tissue with energy of infrared wavelength corresponding to corneal-collagen absorption coefficients in the range of about 15 to about 120 cm-1 thereby heating and shrinking the tissue.
- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- 21. A keratoplasty method for shape modification of a cornea, comprising the steps of selecting a reagent which is effective in reducing a threshold shrinkage temperature of collagen tissue of the cornea, impregnating a corneal collagen shield with the reagent, applying the shield to the cornea to dispense the reagent into the corneal collagen tissue, and irradiating the cornea with energy having a wavelength in the range of 1.80 to 2.55 microns to effect heating and shrinkage and portions of the corneal collagen tissue.
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32. A method of reshaping the curvature of a cornea, comprising the steps of:
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applying to collagen tissue within the cornea a reagent that causes a threshold temperature above which the collagen tissue will shrink to be reduced from a normal threshold shrinkage temperature that exists without use of the reagent, providing a source of energy within a wavelength range of about 1.80 to about 2.55 microns, exposing the collagen tissue to said energy in a manner to raise the temperature thereof sufficient to cause the collagen tissue to shrink while maintaining its temperature below said normal threshold shrinkage temperature, thereby to cause the curvature of the cornea to be reshaped. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification