US5323788A — Overlapping split ring device for corneal curvatu…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 130 words

A method for adjusting the shape of the cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of: cutting an initial incision into the cornea of the eye; continuing, from the initial incision, to create an annular subsurface channel in the cornea; inserting into the initial incision an end of an intrastromal corneal ring comprised of an elongated, flexible, circular body member having a first and second end portion which end portions overlap each other; progressively moving the inserted end of the ring through the initial incision into the annular channel until the ring is fully inserted in the annular channel; and allowing the first and second end portions to overlap each other in the channel in a manner so as to provide a ring with a substantially smooth and continuous surface.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 130 words

A method for adjusting the shape of the cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of: cutting an initial incision into the cornea of the eye; continuing, from the initial incision, to create an annular subsurface channel in the cornea; inserting into the initial incision an end of an intrastromal corneal ring comprised of an elongated, flexible, circular body member having a first and second end portion which end portions overlap each other; progressively moving the inserted end of the ring through the initial incision into the annular channel until the ring is fully inserted in the annular channel; and allowing the first and second end portions to overlap each other in the channel in a manner so as to provide a ring with a substantially smooth and continuous surface.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 73 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second end portions have first and second surfaces facing each other and which surfaces have notches and protuberances thereon which notches and protuberances are positioned in such a manner that when brought together the protuberances on the first surface fit within the notches on the second surface and the protuberances on the second surface fit within the notches on the first surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second end portions of the ring are tapered toward their respective ends with the first end portion being tapered in a direction opposite to that of the second end portion such that when the end portions fit together they form the substantially smooth and continuous surface.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 62 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end portion of the ring forms a receiving socket and the second end portion forms an insertable plug sized and configured so as to be securely insertable within the socket, and the plug is securely inserted within the socket so as to form the ring with a substantially smooth and continuous surface.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end portion includes physical configurations which correspond with and allow direct attachment to physical configurations on the second end portion such that when the first and second end portions are overlapped and forced together they become attached by means of directly intermeshing physical configurations.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 113 words

A method for adjusting the shape of the cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of: cutting an initial incision into the cornea of the eye; continuing, from the initial incision, to create an annular channel in the cornea by means of a corneal stromal separation blade on a first end of an intrastromal corneal ring forced annually into the cornea, the ring being comprised of an elongated, flexible, circular body member having a first end portion which terminates with the stromal separation blade and a second end portion which terminates with a receiving socket for the blade; forcing the entire ring into the channel; and placing the blade into the receiving socket.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 113 words

A method for adjusting the shape of the cornea of an eye, comprising the steps of: cutting an initial incision into the cornea of the eye; continuing, from the initial incision, to create an annular channel in the cornea by means of a corneal stromal separation blade on a first end of an intrastromal corneal ring forced annually into the cornea, the ring being comprised of an elongated, flexible, circular body member having a first end portion which terminates with the stromal separation blade and a second end portion which terminates with a receiving socket for the blade; forcing the entire ring into the channel; and placing the blade into the receiving socket.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 68 words

An intrastromal corneal ring for changing the refractive correction of a human eye and thereby improving the vision of the eye, comprising an elongated, flexible, circular body member of a biocompatible material sized to be placed in the cornea of a human eye having a first and a second overlapping end portions which overlap each other in a manner which forms a substantially smooth and continuous ring surface.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 68 words

An intrastromal corneal ring for changing the refractive correction of a human eye and thereby improving the vision of the eye, comprising an elongated, flexible, circular body member of a biocompatible material sized to be placed in the cornea of a human eye having a first and a second overlapping end portions which overlap each other in a manner which forms a substantially smooth and continuous ring surface.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 51 words

The intrastromal corneal ring as claimed in claim 7, wherein the end portions include opposing surfaces sized and configured such that when the end portions overlap each other shapes of the opposing surfaces mesh to each other in a manner so as to provide for a smooth and continuous ring surface.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 34 words

The intrastromal corneal ring as claimed in claim 7, wherein shapes are corresponding notches and protuberances shaped and positioned such that when the end portions overlap each other the protuberances fit into opposing notches.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 48 words

The intrastromal corneal ring as claimed in claim 8, wherein the end portions of the ring are tapered toward their end, with the first and second end portions being tapered in opposite directions such that when the ends fit together they form the substantially smooth and continuous surface.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 55 words

The intrastromal corneal ring as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first end portion of the ring forms a receiving socket and the second end portion forms an insertable plug and the plug is securely inserted within the socket so as to form a complete circle and thereby provide the substantially smooth and continuous surface.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 45 words

The intrastromal corneal ring as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first end portion is terminated with a blade for stromal separation and the second end portion includes a socket which securely receives the blade so as to form the substantially smooth and continuous surface.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

The intrastromal corneal ring of claim 7 wherein the thickness of the body member is between 0.05 and 1.5 mm.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 42 words

The intrastromal ring of claim 7 wherein the ring is comprised of a biocompatible, nontoxic, biologically benign material, has a diameter in the range of 0.5 mm to 10 mm and a thickness in the range of 0.05 mm to 1.5 min.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 28 words

The intrastromal ring as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first and second overlapping ends have terminal ends and the terminal ends are smooth and blunt in shape.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 79 words

An intrastromal corneal ring for changing the refractive correction of a human eye and thereby improving the vision of the eye, comprising: an elongated, flexible, circular body member having a first and a second end portion which end portions have reduced external circumferences as compared with the body of the ring; and a tubular interconnecting portion having an internal diameter which is equal to or slightly small than the external circumferences of the end portions interconnecting said end portions.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 79 words

An intrastromal corneal ring for changing the refractive correction of a human eye and thereby improving the vision of the eye, comprising: an elongated, flexible, circular body member having a first and a second end portion which end portions have reduced external circumferences as compared with the body of the ring; and a tubular interconnecting portion having an internal diameter which is equal to or slightly small than the external circumferences of the end portions interconnecting said end portions.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 53 words

The intrastromal ring as claimed in claim 16, wherein the body member and interconnecting portion are each comprised of a biocompatible, nontoxic, biologically benign material, and form a ring having a diameter in the range of 0.5 mm to 10 mm and a thickness in the range of 0.05 mm to 1.5 mm.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-06-27	1997-12-27	1998-06-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-06-27	2001-12-27	2002-06-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-06-27	2005-12-27	2006-06-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Overlapping split ring device for corneal curvature adjustment

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