Surgery – Specula – Retractor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-10
2001-09-04
Smith, Jeffrey A. (Department: 3732)
Surgery
Specula
Retractor
C600S219000, C600S225000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283913
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lid speculum that can be used to retract an eyelid of an eye.
2. Prior Art
Lid speculums are typically used to retract an eyelid when performing an ophthalmic procedure. For example, the eyelid is retracted when performing a phacoemulsification or LASIK procedure. Unfortunately, lid speculums of the prior art do not operate in an anatomically correct manner. Prior art speculums tend to create pressure points that cause patient discomfort.
FIGS. 1
a-j
show a conventional lid speculum
1
retracting an eyelid E. The lid speculum
1
has a pair of blades
2
that pivot about a pivot axis
3
. In order to have the blades
2
essentially parallel when opened, the speculum is placed on the patient in a manner that creates an anatomically incorrect angle, as shown in
FIGS. 1
b
and
1
d
. This results in a kinked and uncomfortable pressure point
4
in both the upper and lower eyelids.
The blades
2
maintain a constant two-dimensional plane of orientation as they are opened, pulling directly from each other, as indicated by the arrows in
FIG. 1
c
, instead of following the contour of the globe. The blades
2
are parallel when initially open but then become oblique and create a pressure point
5
at the kinked tarsal plate. It would be desirable to provide a lid speculum that would operate in a more anatomically correct manner than speculums of the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the present invention is a lid speculum that has a pair of blades that rotate about an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is essentially parallel with a line that intersects the medial canthi and the lateral canthi of an eye.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2438646 (1948-03-01), Pulliam
patent: 2702540 (1955-02-01), Debeh
patent: 4321916 (1982-03-01), McKee
patent: 5341798 (1994-08-01), Grounauer
patent: 5433190 (1995-07-01), Sunalp
patent: 5618261 (1997-04-01), Nevyas
patent: 114051 (1918-03-01), None
patent: 1076081 (1984-02-01), None
Irell & Manella LLP
Smith Jeffrey A.
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