Variable resection keratoplasty method
US5507759A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 14, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 16, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 14, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F9/013
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A process for correcting the focusing aberrance of a patient's eye by sectioning one or more lamellar portions off the external surface of the cornea to either increase or decrease the external curvature of the cornea to an extent sufficient to correct said aberrance. A stabilizing vacuum ring is first placed against the cornea and around the area to be sectioned, a pressure plate presses a portion of the ordinarily curved surface of the cornea to be flat, then a blade is translated across the opening of the ring while the height of the pressure plate is varied. The resulting sinuous path of the blade through the corneal material cuts a section of varying thickness. A set of elliptical cams adjusts the height of the plate in relation to the ring during the translating movement. The cams determine the depth of the resection, and the radius of curvature along the sinuous path. The resected portions of the cornea are discarded. The simplified process requires only the natural regrowth of the epithelium over the resected area to complete the surgery.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.