Technique for laser-cutting an endothelial corneal graft

US10085887B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Novartis AG · CH

Inventors

• Christof Donitzky · Eckental, DE
• Theo Seiler · Erlangen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 28, 2013
• Grant date: Oct 2, 2018
• Expiry date: Oct 28, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2009/00853
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for preparing an endothelial corneal graft is provided. The method comprises: providing a donor cornea; irradiating the donor cornea from an endothelial side thereof with laser radiation to cause a photodisruption in tissue of the donor cornea at a focal point of the radiation; and moving the focal point of the radiation to form an endothelial graft in the donor cornea. By irradiating the donor cornea from the endothelial side thereof, instead of the epithelial side, to cut the endothelial graft, optical inhomogeneities which may develop after death in stromal tissue of the donor cornea leave the laser cutting process substantially unaffected.