Knife for cataract surgery

Claim 2

A surgical instrument comprising an elongated rigid shaft, a knife blade pivotally mounted on said shaft proximate one end thereof, the pivot axis of said blade extending substantially perpendicularly to said shaft, said blade having a cutting edge offset from and directed toward said blade pivot axis to provide a castering action of said blade in response to changes in direction of movement of said shaft end.

Claim 3

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shaft comprises a'hollow shaft through which fluid may be administered to or removed from the cutting region.

Claim 4

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein the distal end of said blade terminates in a sharp point.

Claim 5

The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said blade cutting edge is raked at an acute angle with respect to said blade pivot axis.

Claim 6

A knife for opthalmic surgery comprising a thin rigid elongated hollow shaft, means for manually manipulating said shaft attached to one end of said shaft, passage means in said means for manually manipulating said shaft for introducing a fluid into or evacuating a fluid from said hollow shaft, a knife blade pivotally mounted on said shaft proximate the distal end thereof, the pivot axis of said blade being substantially perpendicular to said shaft, said blade having a cutting edge offset from and directed toward the pivot axis of the blade to provide a castering action of said blade in -response to changes the direction of movement of said shaft end.

Claim 7

A knife for opthalmic surgery comprising a thin rigid elongated hollow shaft, means for manually manipulating said shaft attached to one end of said shaft, passage means in said means for manually manipulating said shaft for introducing a fluid into or evacuating a fluid from said hollow shaft, a knife blade pivotally mounted on said shaft proximate the distal end thereof, the pivot axis of said blade being substantially perpendicular to said shaft, said blade having a cutting edge offset from and directed toward the pivot axis of the blade to provide a castering action of said blade in -response to changes the direction of movement of said shaft end.

Claim 8

The invention as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for manually manipulating said shaft comprises a luerlock hub.

Claim 9

The invention as claimed in claim 5 wherein the distal end of said blade terminates in a sharp point.

Claim 10

The invention as claimed in claim 5 wherein said blade cutting edge is raked at an acute angle with respect to said blade pivot axis.

Claim 11

A knife for opthalmic surgery comprising a thin rigid elongated hollow shaft, a luerlock hub attached to one end of said shaft, said shaft being connected to said hub to permit fluid communication between the hub connector and the hollow shaft, a knife blade pivotally mounted on said shaft proximate the distal end thereof, the pivot axis of said blade being substantially perpendicular to said shaft, said blade comprising a substantially cylindrical shank portion pivotally disposed within a bore in said shaft, said blade having a cutting edge offset from the shaft pivot axis and raked at an acute angle thereto, said blade including a cutting edge directed toward the blade pivot axis, the pivotal mounting of the blade and the offset position of the cutting edge providing a castering action of the blade in response to changes in direction of movement of the shaft distal end.

Claim 12

A knife for opthalmic surgery comprising a thin rigid elongated hollow shaft, a luerlock hub attached to one end of said shaft, said shaft being connected to said hub to permit fluid communication between the hub connector and the hollow shaft, a knife blade pivotally mounted on said shaft proximate the distal end thereof, the pivot axis of said blade being substantially perpendicular to said shaft, said blade comprising a substantially cylindrical shank portion pivotally disposed within a bore in said shaft, said blade having a cutting edge offset from the shaft pivot axis and raked at an acute angle thereto, said blade including a cutting edge directed toward the blade pivot axis, the pivotal mounting of the blade and the offset position of the cutting edge providing a castering action of the blade in response to changes in direction of movement of the shaft distal end.

Claim 13

The invention as claimed in claim 9 wherein the distal end of said blade cutting edge terminates in a sharp point.