Patent US4047532A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4047532A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum forcep and method of using same
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-04-21
•
Granted: 1977-09-13
•
Expires: 1995-04-21
Abstract
Abstract A suction forcep used to grasp an artificial lens and implant same in the human eye following cataract surgery comprises a smooth, flexible suction head mounted on a stem-like handle connected to a controlled vacuum source, the lens being held against the suction head by a partial vacuum maintained therein while the lens is positioned beneath the partially withdrawn cornea of an eye in alignment with the pupil thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack L. Phillips
- 👤 Timothy E. Dickinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/0061; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/14; A61F2/16; A61F2/1662; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/30; A61B2017/306
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A vacuum forcep for attachment to a controlled variable vacuum source for temporarily holding an artificial lens and inserting the lens beneath the partially withdrawn cornea of the human eye and adjacent the iris, the forcep including an elongated essentially straight hollow stem having a longitudinal axis, the exterior of the stem defining a handle for manipulation by an operating surgeon, the stem being essentially rigid; a flexible suction head having a shank portion disposed on one end of the stem and defining a cavity communicating with the hollow stem; the suction head having a hollow face extending from the shank portion and communicating with the cavity in the shank portion and comprising a yielding, generally radially outwardly extending substantially annular lip of outside diameter less than that of the human cornea and a radial cross-sectional area greater than that of the shank portion, the face defining an angle greater than 0° and less than 60° with the extension of the axis of the stem past the face; and the suction head having a smoothly contoured rear surface on the side generally opposite from the face, whereby an artificial lens may be vacuum grasped by the face of the suction head, positioned with the eye beneath a partially withdrawn cornea and maintained in place until release is affected by abating vacuum in the head.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
A vacuum forcep for attachment to a controlled variable vacuum source for temporarily holding an artificial lens and inserting the lens beneath the partially withdrawn cornea of the human eye and adjacent the iris, the forcep including an elongated essentially straight hollow stem having a longitudinal axis, the exterior of the stem defining a handle for manipulation by an operating surgeon, the stem being essentially rigid; a flexible suction head having a shank portion disposed on one end of the stem and defining a cavity communicating with the hollow stem; the suction head having a hollow face extending from the shank portion and communicating with the cavity in the shank portion and comprising a yielding, generally radially outwardly extending substantially annular lip of outside diameter less than that of the human cornea and a radial cross-sectional area greater than that of the shank portion, the face defining an angle greater than 0° and less than 60° with the extension of the axis of the stem past the face; and the suction head having a smoothly contoured rear surface on the side generally opposite from the face, whereby an artificial lens may be vacuum grasped by the face of the suction head, positioned with the eye beneath a partially withdrawn cornea and maintained in place until release is affected by abating vacuum in the head.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The vacuum forcep of claim 1 wherein the stem has an annular end wall and the cavity on the head completely embraces the end wall such that the suction head joins the stem at a position at least as radially inward as the end wall to eliminate any possibility of contact of the end wall with a lens grasped by the suction head.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The vacuum forcep of claim 1 wherein the extension of the axis passes through the annular lip, whereby rotational adjustment of the stem in the operation procedure affects the rotation of the head about the axis of the stem with little accompanying translational motion of the head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vacuum forcep of claim 1 wherein the extension of the axis of the stem passes through the central region of the area circumscribed by the annular lip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The vacuum forcep of claim 1 wherein the head flares outwardly at an intermediate position to define the lip and the cavity in the head flares outwardly in accordance with the outward flaring of the head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
The vacuum forcep of claim 1 wherein the flexible suction head is molded and has one edge extending beyond an opposite edge of the suction head such that a somewhat laterally directed and radially asymmetric suction cavity is defined by the suction head and the rear surface of the suction head joining the one edge and the shank is continuous and protuberance free to permit the unhindered passage of the forcep through a cut of minimal extent made in the lumbus region of the eye.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The vacuum forcep of claim 1 wherein the suction head is composed of a soft, medical grade transparent elastomer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vacuum forcep of claim 1 wherein the suction head comprises a resilient material molded onto the end of the rigid stem.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The vacuum forcep of claim 1 wherein the angle between the face of the head and the extension of the axis of the stem past the face of the head is between 22° and 40° .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The vacuum forcep of claim 1 wherein the stem is rigid and cylindrical and includes a length of flexible tubing connected to the stem on the remote end thereof from the suction head, the tubing, stem, and suction head forming a disposable unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
The vacuum forcep of claim 1 wherein the controlled variable vacuum source is connected to the hollow stem for providing a vacuum at the suction head for vacuum gripping an artificial lens by the face of the suction head to position the artificial lens with the eye beneath a partially withdrawn cornea and to maintain the artificial lens in place until release is effected by abating the vacuum from the controlled source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vacuum forcep of claim 11 wherein the controlled vacuum source includes means remote from the suction head and stem to abate the vacuum pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vacuum forcep of claim 12 wherein the pressure abatement means comprises a valve operable to vent the suction head and stem to atmospheric pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2224575A
Cited
US2379629A
Cited
US2555076A
Cited
US3074407A
Cited
US3589363A
Cited
US3608946A
Cited
US3926192A
Cited
US3913148A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-09-12 | 1981-03-14 | 1981-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-12 | 1985-03-14 | 1985-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-12 | 1989-03-14 | 1989-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |