Capsularhexis device with retractable bipolar electrodes

• US 8,157,797 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2009
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Boukhny, Mikhail, Chon, James
• Primary Examiner(s): BOUCHELLE, LAURA A
• Application Number:
  US12/351,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20100179544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• Field of Search: 606/48, 606/49, 606/32, 606/37, 606/39, 606/41, 606/45, 606/113
• US Class Current: 606/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00754 for cutting or perforating the anterior lens capsule, e.g. capsulotomes

Abstract

A capsularhexis device includes a loop-shaped cutting portion formed from flexible, superelastic metal strips separated by an insulating layer, and configured so that the cutting portion may be retracted into a tubular insertion cartridge for insertion into and removal from the eye, and extended from the insertion cartridge for the capsularhexis procedure. In its extended configuration, the cutting portion forms a cutting loop such that a free end of the cutting loop is proximate a connecting end of the cutting loop, with the connecting end joined to a shaft portion. The shaft portion extends into the insertion capsule, and is used to move the cutting portion in and out of the insertion cartridge.

Claims

1. A capsularhexis device, comprising:

a tubular insertion cartridge having a proximal end for engagement to a handpiece and a distal end for insertion into an eye;

a shaft portion configured for longitudinal translation within the tubular insertion cartridge and comprising first and second electrical leads for electrical connection to an external power source; and

a cutting portion having a connecting end, joined to the shaft portion, and a free end, the cutting portion comprising first and second superelastic electrode layers separated by an electrically insulating layer and electrically connected to the first and second electrical leads, respectively;

wherein the capsularhexis device has an extended configuration, in which the cutting portion is external to the tubular insertion cartridge and forms a cutting loop with a gap in a periphery of the cutting loop, and a retracted configuration, in which the cutting portion is contained substantially within the insertion cartridge such that the connecting end is farther from the distal end of the insertion cartridge than a remainder of the cutting portion;

wherein the first and second superelastic electrode layers comprise first and second elongated superelastic strips, each having a length approximately equal to or greater than the perimeter of the cutting loop, a thickness, and a height; and

wherein the first and second superelastic strips sandwich the insulation layer for at least a portion of the length and height of the superelastic strips.

2. The capsularhexis device of claim 1, wherein the superelastic electrode layers are formed from a nickel titanium alloy.

3. The capsularhexis device of claim 1, wherein the height of the first and second superelastic electrode layers exceeds the thickness of the first and second superelastic electrode layers.

4. The capsularhexis device of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the tubular insertion cartridge is configured to be inserted into an incision less than 2 millimeters in length when the capsulorhexis device is in the retracted configuration.

5. The capsularhexis device of claim 1, wherein the first and second superelastic electrode layers are configured to cauterize a lens capsule of the eye by applying a high-frequency electrical current.

6. The capsularhexis device of claim 1, wherein the first superelastic electrode layer has a rectangular cross section.

7. The capsularhexis device of claim 1, wherein the height of the first and second superelastic electrode layers approximately equals the thickness of the first and second superelastic electrode layers.

8. The capsularhexis device of claim 1, wherein the cutting loop is approximately circular.

9. The capsularhexis device of claim 1, wherein the cutting loop is approximately circular.

10. The capsularhexis device of claim 1, wherein the gap in the periphery of the cutting loop is spanned by an insulating layer.

11. The capsularhexis device of claim 1, wherein the cutting loop is configured to be placed against an anterior lens capsule in the eye.