Microkeratome and method of performing corneal resections
First Claim
1. A microkeratome for performing a lamellar keratotomy of an ocular globe, comprising:
- a guide ring for placement on the ocular globe such that the globe'"'"'s cornea protrudes therethrough, said guide ring includes an upwardly extending pivot post;
means for temporarily fixing said guide ring to the ocular globe;
a blade suitable for corneal resections;
a cutting head for carrying said blade over said guide ring through a cutting path defined by said guide ring;
an adjustable cornea compression device connected to said cutting head for at least partially compressing the cornea ahead of said blade so as to set the corneal resection to a desired shape and thickness;
means for driving said cutting head and said cornea compression device across said guide ring, whereby said blade cuts at least partially through the cornea to perform the lamellar keratotomy, said driving means including an output shaft that extends downwardly through said cutting head for engagement with the pivot post to constrain the output shaft against rotation relative to the pivot post, and means for applying a torque to the output shaft within said cutting head, whereby said cutting head and said cornea compression device are rotated about the output shaft by said driving means over said guide ring at a controlled speed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microkeratome and related surgical methods for performing lamellar keratotomies are provided. The microkeratome includes a guide ring assembly for placement on the eyeball, or ocular globe such that the globe'"'"'s cornea protrudes therethrough. The guide ring can be temporarily fixed to the ocular globe, immobilizing the eyeball relative to the instrument. A cutting blade suitable for corneal resections is carried in a cutting head over the guide ring through a cutting path defined by the guide ring. An adjustable float head, also generally known as a plaque, is connected to the cutting head for at least partially compressing the cornea ahead of the blade, so as to set the desired thickness of the corneal resection. The cutting head and float head can be driven across the guide ring, whereby the blade cuts at least partially through the cornea to perform the lamellar keratotomy. Various surgical corrections are obtainable through the use of arcuate and oblique plaques, as an alternative to planar plaques or float heads, where appropriate.
58 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A microkeratome for performing a lamellar keratotomy of an ocular globe, comprising:
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a guide ring for placement on the ocular globe such that the globe'"'"'s cornea protrudes therethrough, said guide ring includes an upwardly extending pivot post; means for temporarily fixing said guide ring to the ocular globe; a blade suitable for corneal resections; a cutting head for carrying said blade over said guide ring through a cutting path defined by said guide ring; an adjustable cornea compression device connected to said cutting head for at least partially compressing the cornea ahead of said blade so as to set the corneal resection to a desired shape and thickness; means for driving said cutting head and said cornea compression device across said guide ring, whereby said blade cuts at least partially through the cornea to perform the lamellar keratotomy, said driving means including an output shaft that extends downwardly through said cutting head for engagement with the pivot post to constrain the output shaft against rotation relative to the pivot post, and means for applying a torque to the output shaft within said cutting head, whereby said cutting head and said cornea compression device are rotated about the output shaft by said driving means over said guide ring at a controlled speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A microkeratome for performing a lamellar keratotomy of an ocular globe, comprising:
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a guide ring for placement on the ocular globe such that the globe'"'"'s cornea protrudes therethrough, said guide ring including an upwardly extending pivot post; means for temporarily fixing said guide ring to the ocular globe; a blade suitable for corneal resections; a cutting head for carrying said blade over said guide ring through a cutting path; a float head connected to said cutting head for at least partially compressing the cornea ahead of said blade so as to set the corneal resection to a predetermined shape and thickness; and means for driving said cutting head and said float head across said guide ring, including an output shaft that extends downwardly through said cutting head for engagement with the pivot post to constrain the output shaft against rotation relative to the pivot post, and means for applying a torque to the output shaft within said cutting head, whereby said cutting head and said float head are rotated about the output shaft by said driving means over said guide ring at a controlled speed and said blade cuts at least partially through the cornea to perform the lamellar keratotomy. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of performing corneal resections for a lamellar keratotomy, comprising the steps of:
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fixing a guide ring to an ocular globe about the globe'"'"'s cornea so that the cornea extends through and above the guide ring; applying a torque to the guide ring at a fixed point thereon to pivot a leading float head and a trailing cutting blade across the guide ring about the fixed point on the guide ring so that the float head sweeps in an arcuate path and compresses the cornea into a shape that complements the float head'"'"'s lower surface and the blade sweeps in an arcuate path through a plane beneath the float head'"'"'s lower surface so as to perform a corneal resection. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification