Eye therapy system
First Claim
1. A system for applying thermokeratoplasty to an eye, the system comprising:
- an electrical energy source; and
an electrical energy conducting element extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the energy conducting element electrically connected to the electrical energy source at the proximal end, the energy conducting element including;
an outer conductor extending to the distal end, the outer conductor including a plurality of moveable outer segments; and
an inner conductor extending to the distal end and disposed within the outer conductor, the inner conductor including a plurality of moveable inner segments, the outer conductor and the inner conductor being separated by a gap, the plurality of outer segments and the plurality of inner segments forming a total contact surface at the distal end, the total contact surface being positionable at a corneal surface of an eye such that an energy is applied to the eye according to the total contact surface to cause shrinkage of corneal tissue of the eye in response to the electrical connection between the energy conducting element and the electrical energy source,wherein each of the plurality of outer segments is individually and separately moveable and each of the plurality of inner segments is individually and separately moveable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical energy applicator in one embodiment extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The energy conducting applicator includes, at the proximal end, a connection to one or more electrical energy sources. The energy conducting applicator directs electrical energy from the one or more electrical energy sources to the distal end. The energy conducting applicator includes an outer conductor and an inner conductor extending to the distal end. The outer conductor and the inner conductor are separated by a gap. The outer conductor includes a plurality of moveable outer segments and the inner conductor includes a plurality of moveable inner segments. The plurality of outer segments and the plurality of inner segments form a total contact surface at the distal end. The total contact surface is positionable at a surface of an eye. The electrical energy is applied to the eye according to the total contact surface.
170 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A system for applying thermokeratoplasty to an eye, the system comprising:
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an electrical energy source; and an electrical energy conducting element extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the energy conducting element electrically connected to the electrical energy source at the proximal end, the energy conducting element including; an outer conductor extending to the distal end, the outer conductor including a plurality of moveable outer segments; and an inner conductor extending to the distal end and disposed within the outer conductor, the inner conductor including a plurality of moveable inner segments, the outer conductor and the inner conductor being separated by a gap, the plurality of outer segments and the plurality of inner segments forming a total contact surface at the distal end, the total contact surface being positionable at a corneal surface of an eye such that an energy is applied to the eye according to the total contact surface to cause shrinkage of corneal tissue of the eye in response to the electrical connection between the energy conducting element and the electrical energy source, wherein each of the plurality of outer segments is individually and separately moveable and each of the plurality of inner segments is individually and separately moveable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for applying thermokeratoplasty to an eye, the method comprising:
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positioning a total contact surface of an electrical energy conducting element at a corneal surface of an eye, the energy conducting element being operably connected to an electrical energy source at a proximal end and extending to the total contact surface at a distal end, the energy conducting element including; an outer conductor extending to the distal end, the outer conductor including a plurality of moveable outer segments; and an inner conductor extending to the distal end and disposed within the outer conductor, the inner conductor including a plurality of moveable inner segments, the outer conductor and the inner conductor being separated by a gap, the plurality of outer segments and the plurality of inner segments forming the total contact surface at the distal end; and applying energy from the electrical energy conducting element to the eye according to the total contact surface to cause shrinkage of corneal tissue of the eye, wherein each of the plurality of outer segments is individually and separately moveable and each of the plurality of inner segments is individually and separately moveable. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for applying thermokeratoplasty to an eye, the system comprising:
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an electrical energy source; and an electrical energy conducting element extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the energy conducting element electrically connected to the electrical energy source at the proximal end, the energy conducting element including; an outer conductor extending along a longitudinal axis to the distal end, the longitudinal axis being generally in a direction from the proximal end to the distal end, the outer conductor having an interior surface, the outer conductor including a plurality of moveable outer segments, the plurality of moveable outer segments being configured to be individually and separately moveable along the longitudinal axis; an inner conductor extending along the longitudinal axis to the distal end and disposed within the outer conductor, the inner conductor including a plurality of moveable inner segments, the plurality of moveable inner segments are configured to be individually and separately moveable along the longitudinal axis, the inner conductor having an exterior surface separated from the interior surface of the outer conductor by a gap, the gap extending entirely around the exterior surface of the inner conductor; and a flexible sheath-like structure of dielectric material covering the distal end configured to substantially inhibit an electrical current from the inner conductor and the outer conductor into the corneal tissue, the plurality of outer segments and the plurality of inner segments forming a total contact surface at the distal end, the total contact surface being positionable at a corneal surface of an eye such that a microwave energy is applied to the eye according to the total contact surface to cause shrinkage of corneal tissue of the eye in response to the electrical connection between the energy conducting element and the electrical energy source.
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Specification