Surgery – Instruments – Means for removing – inserting or aiding in the removal or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-08
2001-05-08
Mancene, Gene (Department: 3732)
Surgery
Instruments
Means for removing, inserting or aiding in the removal or...
C600S236000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06228093
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device for protecting organs of the eye which are situated in the region of the anterior chamber of the eye during eye lens surgery by means of a tunnel placed in the cornea/sclera region in the anterior chamber.
During eye lens surgery, particularly cataract operations, in certain eye types, complications in the form of a prolapse of the iris or the loss of pigment in the tissue of the iris occur if the instrument, such as a phacoprobe, which is used in the operation, comes in contact with the tissue. These difficulties occur mainly in narrow pupils, for example, after miotic therapy or in hyperopic eyes with temporarily flat anterior chambers. The above-mentioned difficulties may also arise when a pressure is present from the rear during surgery; this may occur during local anesthesia of asthmatic patients or adipose patients.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device of the initially mentioned type by which a careful treatment is achieved during eye lens surgery, particularly during a cataract operation.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing a device of the initially mentioned type which has a push-in part which can be pushed through the tunnel into the anterior chamber of the eye at a push-in length which at least partially but in particular essentially covers the iris. This push-in part is connected with a holding part which can be supported outside the tunnel on the exterior surface of the eye in the region of the sclera. The holding part preferably has supporting surfaces which are supported laterally of the exterior tunnel end on the exterior surface of the cornea or sclera. The push-in part and the holding part are constructed in one piece from a flexible foil and, more particularly, are punched from a foil web. The edges formed during punching are rounded off by polishing. The push-in part has a smaller width in the area which is situated inside the tunnel during the operation than at the forward end which projects approximately 3 mm into the anterior chamber. The reduction in width ensures that, during the operation, rinsing and cooling liquid, which is required during phaco-emulsification, can flow laterally through the tunnel and out. As a result of the widened forward end of the push-in part, a protection surface is made as large as possible and, during the operation, particularly during the phaco-emulsification within the scope of a cataract operation, protects the iris situated below the push-in part from contact with a surgical instrument, such as a phacoprobe, which is guided on the top side of the push-in part into the anterior chamber. This facilitates guiding of the surgical instrument, particularly of the tip of the phacoprobe, to the treatment site into the posterior chamber without contact with the iris. Since the push-in part is connected on its rearward end with the holding part, which is supported on the exterior side of the eye, fixing of the push-in part is achieved during surgery. The push-in part introduced into the anterior chamber also prevents a prolapse of the tissue of the iris through the tunnel opening.
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Evenson, McKeown, Edwards & Lenahan P.L.L.C.
Karin Tomalla
Mancene Gene
Priddy Michael B.
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