Method and apparatus for ablating and removing cataract lenses
First Claim
1. A method for surgically removing a cataract from the anterior chamber of a mammal'"'"'s eye, by using a laser, which laser applies pulse energy to the cataract, wherein the cataract is in a cataractous crystalline lens that includes a lens nucleus of crystalline material in which the cataract is formed covered by a cortex, the cataractous crystalline lens being disposed within a capsular bag in the anterior chamber of the eye, the method comprising:
- a) making incisions into the anterior chamber and capsular bag;
b) passing through the incisions an end of a line including an optical fiber, the optical fiber having an unshielded distal end, the optical fiber having the laser optically coupled thereto;
c) positioning the end of the line adjacent the cataract so that the unshielded distal end of the optical fiber is adjacent the cataractous crystalline lens;
d) energizing the optical fiber with short pulses to a predetermined threshold level sufficient to ablate the crystalline material of the lens nucleus into particles, while the lens nucleus remains in position; and
e) while energizing the optical fiber, irrigating with a liquid the lens being ablated and aspirating the liquid with the particles entrained therein to remove the crystalline material and thus the cataract from the eye by applying suction to the liquid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for removing cataracts in which a flexible line preferably 1 mm or less in diameter is inserted through an incision into the anterior chamber until its end is adjacent the cataract. Coherent radiation, preferably at a frequency between 193 and 351 nm, is coupled to the cataract by an optical fiber in the line. An irrigation sleeve provided about the fiber and an aspiration sleeve extending partially around the irrigation sleeve conduct irrigating liquid to and remove ablated material from the anterior chamber and form with the optical fiber the flexible line.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for surgically removing a cataract from the anterior chamber of a mammal'"'"'s eye, by using a laser, which laser applies pulse energy to the cataract, wherein the cataract is in a cataractous crystalline lens that includes a lens nucleus of crystalline material in which the cataract is formed covered by a cortex, the cataractous crystalline lens being disposed within a capsular bag in the anterior chamber of the eye, the method comprising:
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a) making incisions into the anterior chamber and capsular bag; b) passing through the incisions an end of a line including an optical fiber, the optical fiber having an unshielded distal end, the optical fiber having the laser optically coupled thereto; c) positioning the end of the line adjacent the cataract so that the unshielded distal end of the optical fiber is adjacent the cataractous crystalline lens; d) energizing the optical fiber with short pulses to a predetermined threshold level sufficient to ablate the crystalline material of the lens nucleus into particles, while the lens nucleus remains in position; and e) while energizing the optical fiber, irrigating with a liquid the lens being ablated and aspirating the liquid with the particles entrained therein to remove the crystalline material and thus the cataract from the eye by applying suction to the liquid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification