Phacophotolysis method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A process for removing cataractous lens tissue and substitution thereof with a lens replacement material utilizing a surgical instrument which comprises the steps ofa) injecting a therapeutic photosensitive agent into the cataractous lens tissue of a human or animal eye, b) allowing a predetermined amount of time to elapse, dependent upon cataractous lens tissue density and amount of penetration of the therapeutic photosensitive agent, c) exposing the therapeutic photosensitive substance to a source of light energy for a predetermined period of time and wavelength causing the lens to microfracture and liquefy, d) evacuating the liquefied lens tissue with a surgical instrument, and e) injecting lens replacement material within the human'"'"'s or animal'"'"'s lens capsule through said surgical instrument to reconstitute the lens tissue intralenticular space and serve as a refracting medium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process and apparatus for removing cataractous lens tissue (22) in a human or animal eye and substitution of the lens with replacement material (48) utilizing an apparatus in the form of a surgical instrument (42). The process contains the steps of injecting a therapeutic photosensitive agent (20) into the lens tissue, allowing a predetermined amount of time to elapse, exposing the photosensitive substance to a source of light energy at a predetermined period of time and wavelength causing the lens to microfracture and liquefy. Following this procedure the liquefied lens tissue is evacuated with the surgical instrument, and a lens replacement material is injected into the lens capsule (28) through the surgical instrument to reconstitute the intralenticular space and serve as a refracting medium. The dual cannula surgical instrument consists of a hollow cylindrical body (52) with a parallel shank (58) and a tapered section (60) on one end. An outer hollow needle (62) attached to the tapered section and an inner hollow needle (64) is axially disposed within the body and outer needle with both needles terminating at the same end. The opposite end of the body is in communication with an aspiration and infusion apparatus for withdrawing decomposed cataractous lens tissue under negative pressure and for supplying irrigation fluids.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A process for removing cataractous lens tissue and substitution thereof with a lens replacement material utilizing a surgical instrument which comprises the steps of
a) injecting a therapeutic photosensitive agent into the cataractous lens tissue of a human or animal eye, b) allowing a predetermined amount of time to elapse, dependent upon cataractous lens tissue density and amount of penetration of the therapeutic photosensitive agent, c) exposing the therapeutic photosensitive substance to a source of light energy for a predetermined period of time and wavelength causing the lens to microfracture and liquefy, d) evacuating the liquefied lens tissue with a surgical instrument, and e) injecting lens replacement material within the human'"'"'s or animal'"'"'s lens capsule through said surgical instrument to reconstitute the lens tissue intralenticular space and serve as a refracting medium.
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37. A process for removing cataractous lens tissue and substitution with a lens replacement material in a human or animal which comprises the steps of:
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a) injecting into the cataractous lens tissue an effective amount of therapeutic photosensitive agent, b) exposing the therapeutic photosensitive substance to a source of light energy causing the lens to liquefy, c) evacuating the liquefied lens tissue with a surgical instrument, and d) injecting lens replacement material within the intralenticular space of a human or animal eye to reconstitute the lens and serve as a refracting medium.
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38. A dual cannula surgical instrument for introducing a therapeutic photosensitive agent into lens tissue of a human or animal eye, evacuating decomposed lens tissue while simultaneously maintaining intralenticular pressure and introducing a lens replacement material comprising:
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a) a hollow cylindrical body having a first end and a second end, b) said body having a parallel shank and a tapered section on the second end, c) an outer hollow needle is attached to the tapered section of the second end, d) an inner hollow needle axially disposed within the body and outer needle, said inner needle terminating at the body'"'"'s second end, for introducing fluids and tubular items into the lens capsule, e) said body second end in communication with an aspiration and infusion apparatus for withdrawing decomposed cataractous lens tissue under negative pressure and injection of a therapeutic photosensitive agent and a lens replacement material, and, f) an internal divider disposed within the body contiguous with both the body and the inner hollow needle permitting dual function of the instrument simultaneously including infusion and aspiration functions of fluid materials. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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Specification