Opthalmic surgical blade having hard single bevel edges

US6056764A · kind A · utility

Inventor

• Thomas C. Smith · Raleigh, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 18, 1998
• Grant date: May 2, 2000
• Expiry date: Mar 18, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F9/0133
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A blade has a proximal end and a distal end and a central axis of elongation. The proximal end is generally rectangular cubic with a flat profile having top and bottom surfaces and short sidewalls, with each sidewall made up of two edges meeting to define an angle of approximately 100.degree. to 140.degree.. The apex of this angle is unsharpened and these sidewalls comprise guide means for guiding movements of the blade through an opening created by the cutting surfaces located on the distal end thereof. The distal end of the blade includes a cutting surface made up of a sharp pointed tip with the cutting edges proximal of the tip defining an angle of 75.degree. to 85.degree.. Two angled surfaces extend laterally and proximally to either side of the tip, each making an angle of 22.degree. to 27.degree. with the bottom surface of the blade. The tip is located between the planes defined by the top and bottom surfaces of the blade. The inventive blade is made from diamond. However, materials such as stainless steel, sapphire, ruby, cubic zirconia, pure or composite ceramics, ceramic metal composites, and titanium alloys can be substituted for the diamond.