Patent US4662881A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4662881A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Epikeratophakia process
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1986-01-21
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Granted: 1987-05-05
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Expires: 2006-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A process for practicing refractive surgery on a patient's eye by grafting a donor cornea shaped into a lenticle to the front of the patient's cornea. The periphery of the donor cornea is chamfered to a bevelled edge and a corresponding slanted peripheral corneal groove is cut into the patient's cornea. The bevelled edges of the lenticle is then inserted into the groove and then sutured to the patient's cornea.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee T. Nordan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:17
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/14; A61F2/147; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/013; A61F9/0133
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A process for practicing an epikeratophakia operation on a patient's cornea which comprise the steps of: forming a prosthetic lenticle by removing the anterior section of cornea from a donor's organ by slicing through the substantia propria cornea in a plane perpendicular to the axis of vision; shaping the prosthetic lenticle by carving its posterior face into a dome having a radius corresponding to the hyperopic or myopic correction required by the patient; chamfering the periphery of the prosthetic lenticle to create a peripheral wall intercepting the edge of said dome and slanting outwardly toward said axis of vision; cutting a shallow slanted peripheral groove in the patient's cornea, the outer wall of said groove being congruent with the chamfered wall of the prosthetic lenticle; inserting the edge of the prosthetic lenticle into said peripheral groove; and suturing said edge to the patient's cornea.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A process for practicing an epikeratophakia operation on a patient's cornea which comprise the steps of: forming a prosthetic lenticle by removing the anterior section of cornea from a donor's organ by slicing through the substantia propria cornea in a plane perpendicular to the axis of vision; shaping the prosthetic lenticle by carving its posterior face into a dome having a radius corresponding to the hyperopic or myopic correction required by the patient; chamfering the periphery of the prosthetic lenticle to create a peripheral wall intercepting the edge of said dome and slanting outwardly toward said axis of vision; cutting a shallow slanted peripheral groove in the patient's cornea, the outer wall of said groove being congruent with the chamfered wall of the prosthetic lenticle; inserting the edge of the prosthetic lenticle into said peripheral groove; and suturing said edge to the patient's cornea.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said step of cutting a peripheral groove comprise rotating a cutting blade along a conical plane having it apex on the patient's axis of vision anteriorly to the surface of said patient's cornea, and advancing said blade into said cornea along said conical plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 2, wherein said blade is advanced into said cornea to a depth of 0.2 to 0.4 millimeters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the steps of shaping and chamfering the prosthetic lenticle comprise freezing the lenticle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 4, wherein said shaping and chamfering is done on a cryogenic lathe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 5, wherein the edge of the prosthetic lenticle forms an angle with said axis of vision of between 15 and 25 degrees.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
A prosthetic lenticle for installation in front of a patient's cornea which is removed from the anterior portion of a donor's cornea and whose posterior face is carved to form a concave surface corresponding to the patient's required refractive correction, wherein said lenticle has its periphery chamfered to form a slanted edge intercepting said concave surface and defining a conical plane having its apex on the axis of vision of the lenticle ahead of its anterior surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
A prosthetic lenticle for installation in front of a patient's cornea which is removed from the anterior portion of a donor's cornea and whose posterior face is carved to form a concave surface corresponding to the patient's required refractive correction, wherein said lenticle has its periphery chamfered to form a slanted edge intercepting said concave surface and defining a conical plane having its apex on the axis of vision of the lenticle ahead of its anterior surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The prosthetic lenticle claimed in claim 7, wherein said conical surface forms an angle between 15 and 25 degrees with said axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
133 words
A process for practicing an epikeratophakia operation on a patient's cornea which comprises the steps of: forming a prosthetic lenticle having the shape of a spherical segment generally commensurate with the patient's cornea; shaping the prosthetic lenticle by carving its posterior face into a dome having a radius corresponding to the hyperopic or myopic correction required by the patient; chamfering the periphery of the prosthetic lenticle to create a peripheral wall intercepting the edge of said dome and slanting outwardly toward the axis of vision of said lenticle; cutting a shallow slanted peripheral groove in the patient's cornea, the outer wall of said groove being congruent with the chamfered wall of the prosthetic lenticle; inserting the edge of the prosthetic lenticle into said peripheral groove; and suturing said edge to the patient's cornea.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
A process for practicing an epikeratophakia operation on a patient's cornea which comprises the steps of: forming a prosthetic lenticle having the shape of a spherical segment generally commensurate with the patient's cornea; shaping the prosthetic lenticle by carving its posterior face into a dome having a radius corresponding to the hyperopic or myopic correction required by the patient; chamfering the periphery of the prosthetic lenticle to create a peripheral wall intercepting the edge of said dome and slanting outwardly toward the axis of vision of said lenticle; cutting a shallow slanted peripheral groove in the patient's cornea, the outer wall of said groove being congruent with the chamfered wall of the prosthetic lenticle; inserting the edge of the prosthetic lenticle into said peripheral groove; and suturing said edge to the patient's cornea.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 9, wherein said step of cutting a peripheral groove comprise rotating a cutting blade along a conical plane having it apex on the patient's axis of vision anteriorly to the surface of said patient's cornea, and advancing said blade into said cornea along said conical plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-05-04 | 1990-11-03 | 1991-05-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-05-04 | 1994-11-03 | 1995-05-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-05-04 | 1998-11-03 | 1999-05-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |