Method and apparatus for facilitating removal of a corneal graft

• US 6,425,905 B1
• Filed: 11/29/2000
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Med-Logics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Med-Logics Incorporated
• Inventors: Guimaraes, Ricardo, Hughes, Gregg, Ross, Rod
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Application Number:
  US09/726,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 606/166, 606/107
• US Class Current: 606/166
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/142 Cornea, e.g. artificial corneae, keratoprostheses or corneal implants for repair of defective corneal tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand caps with means for protecting the eyes A42B1/018; visors for helmets A42B3/22; retractors A61B17/02; manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; appliances to aid invalids to move about A61H3/00; exercisers for the eyes A61H5/00; eye baths A61H35/02; sunglasses or goggles having the same features as spectacles G02C
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to an artificial chamber that can support and pressurize a donor cornea to extract a corneal graft. The artificial chamber has a stationary stem that is adapted to support a cornea. The stem has an inner channel that allows air to pressurize the cornea. The artificial chamber has an outer cap that can be moved in a downward direction to secure the cornea. The cap has an opening that exposes a portion of the cornea to allow for the extraction of a corneal graft. The outer cap is attached to an outer sleeve that is moved by rotation of a cam. The chamber includes a spring that exerts a clamping force onto the cornea. The clamping force can be adjusted by rotating an adjustment wheel. The adjustable spring force allows an operator to set a desired clamping force that is then repeated for each grafting procedure.

Claims

1. An artificial chamber that can support a cornea to create a corneal graft, comprising:

a stand;

a stem attached to said stand, said stem having a pedestal portion adapted to support the cornea and an air channel that can be in fluid communication with the cornea;

an outer sleeve;

a cap attached to said outer sleeve; and

,

an actuator that can create relative movement between said outer sleeve and said cap, and said stem.

2. The artificial chamber of claim 1, further comprising a spring that exerts a biasing force on said stem.

3. The artificial chamber of claim 2, further comprising an adjustment wheel that is coupled to said spring.

4. The artificial chamber of claim 1, wherein said actuator includes a cam.

5. The artificial chamber of claim 1, wherein said cap has an opening.

6. The artificial chamber of claim 3, wherein said outer sleeve has an opening that provides access to said adjustment wheel.

7. An artificial chamber that can support a cornea to create a corneal graft, comprising:

a stand;

a stem attached to said stand, said stem having a pedestal portion adapted to support the cornea and an air channel that can be in fluid communication with the cornea;

an outer sleeve that can move relative to said stem;

a cap attached to said outer sleeve, said cap having an opening that can expose a portion of the cornea;

a spring that exerts a biasing force on said stem; and

,

a cam that can be rotated to move said cap into the cornea.

8. The artificial chamber of claim 7, further comprising an adjustment wheel that is coupled to said spring.

9. The artificial chamber of claim 8, wherein said outer sleeve has an opening that provides access to said adjustment wheel.

10. A method for removing a corneal graft from a cornea, comprising:

placing the cornea on a stem;

actuating an actuator to move an outer sleeve and a cap relative to the stem until the cap engages and secures the cornea;

pressurizing the cornea; and

,

removing a corneal graft from the cornea.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the outer sleeve and the cap are moved by rotating a cam.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising moving the cap away from the cornea and removing the cornea from the stem.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising adjusting a spring force that is exerted by the stem onto the cornea.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the spring force is adjusted by rotating an adjustment wheel.