Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
254 words
Corneal press apparatus for trephining corneal tissue, said press comprising: a) a modular cutting block for holding a specimen of corneal tissue in a concave position; b) a base support member, said base support member including means for securely holding said modular cutting block in position wherein said cutting block holds said specimen of corneal tissue in position centered about a defined axis; c) two guide posts attached to said base and rising therefrom, said guide posts being positioned in offset parallel alignment relative to said defined axis; d) a collet mount, said collet mount being slidably mounted onto said guide posts, said collet mount including collet-mounting means for receiving and securely holding a collet in centered alignment about said defined axis; e) a threaded drive mechanism mechanically linking said collet mount to said base support member such that the operation of said threaded drive causes said collet mount to slide along said guide posts; and f) a collet, said collet being holdably receivable by said collet-mounting means, said collet including trephine-mounting means for receiving and securely holding a trephine in centered alignment about said defined axis; whereby the operation of said threaded drive, with said collet being received and securely held by said collet-mounting means, and said received collet further receiving and securely holding a trephine in centered alignment about said defined axis, causes the trephine to move along said defined axis in centered alignment thereabout to precisely cut a specimen of corneal tissue positioned on said cutting block about said defined axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
254 words
Corneal press apparatus for trephining corneal tissue, said press comprising: a) a modular cutting block for holding a specimen of corneal tissue in a concave position; b) a base support member, said base support member including means for securely holding said modular cutting block in position wherein said cutting block holds said specimen of corneal tissue in position centered about a defined axis; c) two guide posts attached to said base and rising therefrom, said guide posts being positioned in offset parallel alignment relative to said defined axis; d) a collet mount, said collet mount being slidably mounted onto said guide posts, said collet mount including collet-mounting means for receiving and securely holding a collet in centered alignment about said defined axis; e) a threaded drive mechanism mechanically linking said collet mount to said base support member such that the operation of said threaded drive causes said collet mount to slide along said guide posts; and f) a collet, said collet being holdably receivable by said collet-mounting means, said collet including trephine-mounting means for receiving and securely holding a trephine in centered alignment about said defined axis; whereby the operation of said threaded drive, with said collet being received and securely held by said collet-mounting means, and said received collet further receiving and securely holding a trephine in centered alignment about said defined axis, causes the trephine to move along said defined axis in centered alignment thereabout to precisely cut a specimen of corneal tissue positioned on said cutting block about said defined axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The corneal press apparatus of claim 1 additionally including a set of modular collets, each of said collets being holdably receivable by said collet-mounting means, each of said collets including trephine-mounting means for receiving and securely holding a trephine of a specifically defined diameter in centered alignment about said defined axis, said set of collets collectively including means for holding trephines of defined diameters over a range of expected diameter cuts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
124 words
The corneal press apparatus of claim 2 in which said collet mount defines an alignment sight hole therethrough, said alignment sight hole being in alignment with said defined axis, and where said set of collets each define a collet sight hole therethrough which is aligned with said defined axis when said collet is properly mounted onto said collet mount, whereby the alignment with said defined axis of a trephine mounted onto said collet that has, in turn, been mounted onto said collet mount, can be visually inspected by looking through said alignment sight hole and said collet sight hole at a specimen of corneal tissue positioned on said cutting block, and whereby said specimen can be illuminated by directing light through said sight holes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
124 words
The corneal press apparatus of claim 1 in which said collet mount defines an alignment sight hole therethrough, said alignment sight hole being in alignment with said defined axis, and where said set of collets each define a collet sight hole therethrough which is aligned with said defined axis when said collet is properly mounted onto said collet mount, whereby the alignment with said defined axis of a trephine mounted onto said collet that has, in turn, been mounted onto said collet mount, can be visually inspected by looking through said alignment sight hole and said collet sight hole at a specimen of corneal tissue positioned on said cutting block, and whereby said specimen can be illuminated by directing light through said sight holes.