Three bar cross action lens implantation forceps

Claim 1

An apparatus for intraocular implantation of a plastic lens in the eye lens zone from which a natural lens has been removed via surgical incision in the corneoscleral limbus, said apparatus comprising a) a surgical forceps having two arms and blades projecting beyond portions of said arms defining a cross-over locus, the blades clamping the plastic lens to be implanted, b) said blades including first and second spaced blades carried by one arm, and a third blade carried by the other arm, providing three-point stable support for the lens, c) said blades extending in horizontal parallel planes, wherein each of said first, second and third blades has a longitudinal axis, a lateral width of each of said first, second and third blades with respect to said longitudinal axis being substantially equal, said arms extending upwardly and away from the blades in generally the same direction from said cross-over locus, said one arm extending above the other arm, said first and second blades extending in the same horizontal primary plane which is spaced below the horizontal secondary plane in which said third blade extends.

Claim 2

An apparatus for intraocular implantation of a plastic lens in the eye lens zone from which a natural lens has been removed via surgical incision in the corneoscleral limbus, said apparatus comprising a) a surgical forceps having two arms and blades projecting beyond portions of said arms defining a cross-over locus, the blades clamping the plastic lens to be implanted, b) said blades including first and second spaced blades carried by one arm, and a third blade carried by the other arm, providing three-point stable support for the lens, c) said blades extending in horizontal parallel planes, wherein each of said first, second and third blades has a longitudinal axis, a lateral width of each of said first, second and third blades with respect to said longitudinal axis being substantially equal, said arms extending upwardly and away from the blades in generally the same direction from said cross-over locus, said one arm extending above the other arm, said first and second blades extending in the same horizontal primary plane which is spaced below the horizontal secondary plane in which said third blade extends.

Claim 10

The method of intraocular implantation of a plastic lens in the eye lens zone from which a natural lens has been removed via a surgical incision in the corneoscleral limbus, the method employing a surgical forceps having blades clamping the plastic lens to be implanted, said blades including first and second blades projecting horizontally beyond one portion of one arm and a third blade projecting horizontally beyond a second portion of a second arm, wherein each of said first, second and third blades has a longitudinal axis, the lateral width of each of said first, second and third blades with respect to said longitudinal axis being substantially equal, said arms projecting upwardly and away from the blades, one arm above the other, said method including the steps: a) effecting clamping of the lens by the blades by manipulation of said forceps, including said arm portions, by variable squeezing of said arms so that said first and second blades engage first side of the lens and the third blade has a tip which deflects the lens inwardly at a second opposite side thereof, thereby to provide stable three point support for the lens, and then manipulating the forceps to introduce the clamped plastic lens and the blades through said incision and into said zone, b) thereafter further manipulating the forceps by increased squeezing together of said arms to spread apart the blades, thereby releasing the plastic lens to accommodate to said zone, and thereafter effecting relatively closing together the blades by decreased squeezing together of said arms, c) and withdrawing the relatively closed-together blades from said zone and via said incision.

Claim 11

The method of intraocular implantation of a plastic lens in the eye lens zone from which a natural lens has been removed via a surgical incision in the corneoscleral limbus, the method employing a surgical forceps having blades clamping the plastic lens to be implanted, said blades including first and second blades projecting horizontally beyond one portion of one arm and a third blade projecting horizontally beyond a second portion of a second arm, wherein each of said first, second and third blades has a longitudinal axis, the lateral width of each of said first, second and third blades with respect to said longitudinal axis being substantially equal, said arms projecting upwardly and away from the blades, one arm above the other, said method including the steps: a) effecting clamping of the lens by the blades by manipulation of said forceps, including said arm portions, by variable squeezing of said arms so that said first and second blades engage first side of the lens and the third blade has a tip which deflects the lens inwardly at a second opposite side thereof, thereby to provide stable three point support for the lens, and then manipulating the forceps to introduce the clamped plastic lens and the blades through said incision and into said zone, b) thereafter further manipulating the forceps by increased squeezing together of said arms to spread apart the blades, thereby releasing the plastic lens to accommodate to said zone, and thereafter effecting relatively closing together the blades by decreased squeezing together of said arms, c) and withdrawing the relatively closed-together blades from said zone and via said incision.