Apparatus and method for restoring eyelid function
First Claim
1. An apparatus for implantation to restore eyelid function in a patient suffering from an inability to voluntarily raise the eyelid of the eye as desired, comprising:
- a housing;
means for biasing the eyelid to an open position held in said housing; and
means for connecting said biasing means to the eyelid.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided to restore eyelid function in a patient unable to voluntarily raise an eyelid. The apparatus includes a spiral torsion spring and pulley arrangement mounted in a housing that is implanted in the superior portion of the orbit of the eye. A wire connects the pulley to the eyelid. A spiral torsion spring provides the necessary spring force in tension to overcome the weight of the eyelid and draw the eyelid open. The natural muscles of eye closure are, however, sufficiently strong to overcome the spring tension thereby paying out wire from the pulley and closing the eye so as to provide normal blinking function. A position setting gear allows the biasing force of the spring to be selectively reduced sufficiently to allow the eye to remain closed for sleep or at other desired times. A method of treating ptosis is also disclosed.
12 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for implantation to restore eyelid function in a patient suffering from an inability to voluntarily raise the eyelid of the eye as desired, comprising:
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a housing; means for biasing the eyelid to an open position held in said housing; and means for connecting said biasing means to the eyelid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for restoring eyelid function in a patient suffering from ptosis, comprising the steps of:
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implanting a means for biasing the eyelid to an open position adjacent an afflicted eye of a patient; connecting the biasing means to the eyelid; and adjusting tension force provided by said biasing means to support the weight of the eyelid so as to normally maintain the eyelid in the open position while allowing the eyelid to blink to a closed position when muscles of eye closure function to produce a blink. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification