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Internal limiting membrane rake

  • US 7,731,728 B2
  • Filed: 04/14/2005
  • Issued: 06/08/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An internal limiting membrane rake for microsurgical applications, the rake being sizably configured for insertion into an eye, and engagement with and selective removal of intraocular membrane, the rake comprising:

  • a rake body having an opening;

    a slide member slidable within the rake body opening; and

    a plurality of tines extendable via the slide member through the opening in the rake body, the plurality of tines being attached to the slide member so as to spread apart relative to one another during extension via the slide member and to draw together during retraction into the rake body opening, wherein each tine includes;

    at least one tissue engaging element provided at one end of the tine, each tissue engaging element extending in an extension direction, the at least one tissue engaging element including a tissue engagement feature configured for removal of membrane from the outer surface of an eye retina, wherein the tissue engagement feature comprises at least one sharp barb;

    wherein the extension directions of the plurality of tissue engaging elements are configured for contemporaneous engagement of the plurality of tissue engaging elements with the outer surface of the retina from a single direction; and

    wherein the plurality of tines are configured to graspably retain the removed membrane from the outer surface of the eye retina.

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