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US4840175A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for modifying corneal curvature

Assignee: Bausch and Lomb Surgical Inc
•
Filing: 1988-01-22
•
Granted: 1989-06-20
•
Expires: 2008-01-22
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for modifying the curvature of a live cornea via use of an excimer laser. The live cornea has a thin layer removed therefrom leaving an exposed internal surface thereon. Then, either the surface or thin layer is exposed to the laser beam along a predetermined pattern to ablate desired portions. The thin layer is then replaced onto the surface. Ablating a central area of the surface or thin layer makes the cornea less curved, while ablating an annular area spaced from the center of the surface or layer makes the cornea more curved. The desired predetermined pattern is formed by use of a variable diaphragm, a rotating orifice of variable size, a movable mirror or a movable fiber optic cable through which the laser beam is directed towards the exposed internal surface or removed thin layer.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gholam A . Peyman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 15:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61F9/00802; A61F9/00804; A61F9/00817; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00872

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 98 words
A method of modifying the curvature of a patient's live cornea comprising the steps of removing a thin layer from the front of the live cornea and thereby exposing an internal surface thereof, directing a laser beam onto the exposed internal surface in a predetermined pattern to ablate, and therefrom remove, a three-dimensional portion thereof, and replacing the originally removed thin corneal layer back onto the ablated internal surface of the live cornea from which the thin corneal layer was removed, the removing, directing and replacing steps taking place without freezing the internal surface or the thin layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 98 words
A method of modifying the curvature of a patient's live cornea comprising the steps of removing a thin layer from the front of the live cornea and thereby exposing an internal surface thereof, directing a laser beam onto the exposed internal surface in a predetermined pattern to ablate, and therefrom remove, a three-dimensional portion thereof, and replacing the originally removed thin corneal layer back onto the ablated internal surface of the live cornea from which the thin corneal layer was removed, the removing, directing and replacing steps taking place without freezing the internal surface or the thin layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the replacing step includes the step of suturing the thin corneal layer to the cornea.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the directing step comprises the step of directing the laser beam at the center of the internal surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the directing step includes the step of radially outwardly increasing the exposure of the laser beam on the internal surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the directing step comprises the step of directing the laser beam in an annular pattern onto the internal surface.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4469098A Cited
US4461294A Cited
US4445892A Cited
US4665913A Cited
US4718418A Cited
US4729372A Cited
US4732148A Cited
US4669466A Cited
US4648400A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-06-19 1992-12-19 1993-06-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-06-19 1996-12-19 1997-06-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-06-19 2000-12-19 2001-06-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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