Surgical instrument and method for cutting the lens of an eye

Claim 2

A ophthalmic surgical instrument for cutting the lens of an eye comprising: a first support member having first and second ends; a second support member having first and second ends; said support members being interconnected for movement between an open position and a closed position; a wire loop extending from said first end of said first support member; and a plate member interconnected to said first end of said second support member and being disposed adjacent to said wire loop, such that in said open -position of said support members, said wire loop is spaced apart from said plate member to receive the lens therebetween and in the closed position of said support members, said wire loop contacts said plate member to cut the lens disposed between said wire loop and said plate member by pressing the lens against said plate member and cutting the lens with said wire loop.

Claim 3

The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said support members are adapted for support in a hand of a user.

Claim 4

The surgical instrument of claim 1 and further including: means for biasing said support members in the open position.

Claim 5

The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said support members first ends are hingedly attached and said support members second ends are spaced apart.

Claim 6

The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said plate member includes a recessed groove for receiving said wire loop in the closed position of said support members.

Claim 7

The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said plate member further includes: a channel having a plurality of apertures; and an irrigation source connected to said plate member channel for dispensing irrigating fluid to the eye through said plurality of apertures from said irrigating source.

Claim 8

The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said wire loop is shaped to form an arcuate cut in the lens periphery.

Claim 9

The surgical instrument of claim 1 and further including: means interconnected to said plate member for aspirating cut portions of the lens.

Claim 10

An ophthalmic surgical instrument for cutting the lens of an eye comprising: a first handle member having first and second ends; a second handle member having first and second ends; said handle members being adapted for support in a hand of a user wherein said first ends of said handle members are hingedly attached and said second ends of said handle members are spaced apart for movement between an open position and a closed position; a wire having first and second ends, said wire ends interconnected to said first end of said first handle member to form a loop; and a plate member interconnected to said first end of said second handle member, said plate member including a groove for receiving said wire loop, and being disposed to mate with said wire loop when said handle members are in said closed position to cut the lens disposed between said wire loop and said plate member by pressing the lens against said plate member to thereby cut a semicircular portion of the periphery of the lens with said wire loop, said wire loop being spaced apart from said plate member in said open position of said handle members to thereby receive the lens between said wire loop and said plate member.

Claim 11

An ophthalmic surgical instrument for cutting the lens of an eye comprising: a first handle member having first and second ends; a second handle member having first and second ends; said handle members being adapted for support in a hand of a user wherein said first ends of said handle members are hingedly attached and said second ends of said handle members are spaced apart for movement between an open position and a closed position; a wire having first and second ends, said wire ends interconnected to said first end of said first handle member to form a loop; and a plate member interconnected to said first end of said second handle member, said plate member including a groove for receiving said wire loop, and being disposed to mate with said wire loop when said handle members are in said closed position to cut the lens disposed between said wire loop and said plate member by pressing the lens against said plate member to thereby cut a semicircular portion of the periphery of the lens with said wire loop, said wire loop being spaced apart from said plate member in said open position of said handle members to thereby receive the lens between said wire loop and said plate member.

Claim 12

The surgical instrument of claim 9 and further including: an irrigation source connected to said plate member for dispensing irrigating fluid to the eye.

Claim 13

The surgical instrument of claim 10 and further including: means interconnected to said plate member for aspirating cut portions of the lens from the eye.

Claim 14

The surgical instrument of claim 9 and further including: means for biasing said handle members in said open position.

Claim 15

The surgical instrument of claim 12 wherein said biasing means includes a spring extending between said handle members.

Claim 18

The method of claim 14 and further including: allowing the lens to drop back into the posterior chamber of the eye; rotating the lens so that an uncut portion of the lens periphery lies adjacent to the incision; cutting an additional lens portion utilizing the surgical instrument by closing the handle members of the surgical instrument to remove an additional semicircular portion of the periphery of the lens.

Claim 19

The method of claim 15 and further including: repeatedly rotating and cutting additional portions of the lens periphery until the entire periphery of the lens has been cut; and inserting a snare instrument into the eye to remove the remaining central portion of the lens.

Claim 20

The method of claim 16 and further including: cutting the central portion of the lens with the snare instrument and removing the cut portion through the incision.

Claim 21

The method of claim 14 and further including the step of irrigating the eye by providing an irrigation fluid from a source through the plate member.

Claim 22

The method of claim 14 and further including the step of: aspirating the eye by providing an aspiration source adjacent to the plate member.