US5354331A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Treatment of presbyopia and other eye disorders
Assignee: Refocus Ocular Inc
•
Filing: 1992-07-15
•
Granted: 1994-10-11
•
Expires: 2012-07-15
Abstract
Abstract Presbyopia and hyperopia are treated by a method which increases the amplitude of accommodation by increasing the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle in the presbyopic eye. The effective working distance of the ciliary muscle can be increased by expanding the sclera in the region of the ciliary body. This expansion may be accomplished by suturing to the sclera in the region of the ciliary body a relatively rigid band having a diameter slightly greater than that of the sclera in that region. The scleral expansion band comprises anterior and posterior rims and a web extending between the rims, the anterior rim having a smaller diameter than the posterior rim.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald A. Schachar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/14; A61F2/147; A61F2/15; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00781; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0008; A61F2220/0016
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 65
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A scleral expansion band adapted for fastening to the sclera of a human eyeball in the region of the ciliary body, said band comprising an anterior rim and a posterior rim, said anterior rim being sized to lie adjacent the anterior portion of a segment of the sclera of the human eyeball overlying the ciliary body of said eyeball and said posterior rim being sized to lie adjacent the posterior portion of said scleral segment, and rigid structural means extending between said rims and spacing said rims apart so that said anterior rim will lie outside said anterior portion of said scleral segment when said posterior rim lies outside said posterior portion of said scleral segment, at least one of said anterior rim, said posterior rim and said rigid structural means having a diameter greater than the exterior diameter of said scleral segment adjacent thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A scleral expansion band adapted for fastening to the sclera of a human eyeball in the region of the ciliary body, said band comprising an anterior rim and a posterior rim, said anterior rim being sized to lie adjacent the anterior portion of a segment of the sclera of the human eyeball overlying the ciliary body of said eyeball and said posterior rim being sized to lie adjacent the posterior portion of said scleral segment, and rigid structural means extending between said rims and spacing said rims apart so that said anterior rim will lie outside said anterior portion of said scleral segment when said posterior rim lies outside said posterior portion of said scleral segment, at least one of said anterior rim, said posterior rim and said rigid structural means having a diameter greater than the exterior diameter of said scleral segment adjacent thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 1 wherein said posterior rim has a generally circular configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 1 wherein said anterior rim has a generally circular configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 2 wherein said diameter of said posterior rim is about 20 millimeters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 3 wherein said diameter of said anterior rim is from about 14.5 millimeters to about 18.0 millimeters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 1 wherein said rigid structural means is a web extending between said anterior rim and said posterior rim.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 6 wherein said web is provided with at least one hole for the passage of a suture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 7 wherein said body of said band is provided with a plurality of holes spaced about the body of the band.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 8 wherein the plurality of holes are spaced equidistantly around the body of the band.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 8 wherein said web is provided with a total of sixteen equidistantly spaced holes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 1 wherein said band is provided with at least one clip for fastening the band to the sclera of an eye.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 1 wherein said band is provided with at least one rigid pin extending from at least one of said anterior rim, said posterior rim and said web for engaging the sclera adjacent to said rim.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 12 wherein said band is provided with a plurality of said pins.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 12 wherein at least some of said rigid pins extend from said band in an anterior direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 12 wherein at least some of said rigid pins extend from said band in a posterior direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 12 wherein at least some of said rigid pins extend from said band in an anterior direction and some of said pins extend from said band in a posterior direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 12 wherein said band is provided with a plurality of said pins and a plurality of holes for passing sutures.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 12 wherein at least some of said rigid pins extend from said band in a generally tangential direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 18 wherein said tangentially directed pins are provided with sharpened extremities for piercing and engaging the sclera.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 1 wherein said band is provided with means for adjusting the circumference of said band.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 20 wherein said means for adjusting the circumference is a tangential screw.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 1 wherein said band is made of a physiologically acceptable metal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 22 wherein said band is made of metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, platinum, gold, tantalum, stainless steel, and physiologically acceptable alloys.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 1 wherein said band is made of a ceramic material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 24 wherein said ceramic is selected from the group consisting of porcelain, alumina, silica, silicon carbide, and high-strength glasses.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 1 wherein said band is made of a synthetic resin.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 26 wherein said synthetic resin is selected from the group consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate), polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and silicone resins.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 1 wherein said band is made of a reinforced composite material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 18 wherein said reinforced composite material is a glass-fiber reinforced synthetic resin.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 28 wherein said reinforced composite material is a carbon-fiber reinforced material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 28 wherein said reinforced composite material is carbon-fiber reinforced carbon.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
127 words
A scleral expansion band adapted for suturing to the sclera of a human eyeball in the region of the ciliary body, said band comprising a thin frustoconical band having an anterior rim and a posterior rim, said anterior rim having a generally circular shape, said anterior rim being sized to lie adjacent the anterior portion of a segment of the sclera of the human eyeball overlying the ciliary body of said eyeball and having a first diameter, said posterior rim having a generally circular shape, said posterior rim being sized to lie adjacent the posterior portion of said scleral segment and having a second diameter, said first diameter being less than said second diameter, and a rigid web extending between said anterior rim and said posterior rim.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
127 words
A scleral expansion band adapted for suturing to the sclera of a human eyeball in the region of the ciliary body, said band comprising a thin frustoconical band having an anterior rim and a posterior rim, said anterior rim having a generally circular shape, said anterior rim being sized to lie adjacent the anterior portion of a segment of the sclera of the human eyeball overlying the ciliary body of said eyeball and having a first diameter, said posterior rim having a generally circular shape, said posterior rim being sized to lie adjacent the posterior portion of said scleral segment and having a second diameter, said first diameter being less than said second diameter, and a rigid web extending between said anterior rim and said posterior rim.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 32 wherein said diameter of said posterior rim is about 20 millimeters.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 32 wherein said diameter of said anterior rim is from about 14.5 millimeters to about 18.0 millimeters.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 32 wherein said web is provided with at least one hole for the passage of a suture.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 35 wherein said body of said band is provided with a plurality of holes spaced about the body of the band.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 36 wherein the plurality of holes are spaced equidistantly around the body of the band.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 36 wherein said web is provided with a total of sixteen equidistantly spaced holes.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 32 wherein said band is provided with at least one clip for fastening the band to the sclera of an eye.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
41 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 32 wherein said band is provided with at least one rigid pin extending from at least one of said anterior rim, said posterior rim and said web for engaging the sclera adjacent to said rim.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 40 wherein said band is provided with a plurality of said pins.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 40 wherein at least one of said rigid pins extends from said band in an anterior direction.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
23 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 40 wherein at least one of said rigid pins extends from said band in a posterior direction.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
38 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 40 wherein at least one of said rigid pins extends from said band in an anterior direction and at least one of said pins extends from said band in a posterior direction.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
26 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 40 wherein said band is provided with a plurality of said pins and a plurality of holes for passing sutures.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
24 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 40 wherein at least one of said rigid pins extends from said band in a generally tangential direction.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
24 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 46 wherein said tangentially directed pin is provided with a sharpened extremity for piercing and engaging the sclera.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
26 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 46 wherein said band is provided with a plurality of pins extending from said band in a generally tangential direction.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
30 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 48 wherein said band is provided with a plurality of pins extending from the interior surface of said web in a generally tangential direction.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
23 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 47 wherein said band is provided with a plurality of pins extending in a generally tangential direction.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
30 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 50 wherein said band is provided with a plurality of pins extending from the interior surface of said web in a generally tangential direction.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
21 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 32 wherein said band is provided with means for adjusting the circumference of said band.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
18 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 52 wherein said means for adjusting the circumference is a tangential screw.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
17 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 32 wherein said band is made of a physiologically acceptable metal.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
30 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 54 wherein said band is made of metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, platinum, gold, tantalum, stainless steel, and physiologically acceptable alloys.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
16 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 32 wherein said band is made of a ceramic material.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
25 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 56 wherein said ceramic is selected from the group consisting of porcelain, alumina, silica, silicon carbide, and high-strength glasses.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
16 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 32 wherein said band is made of a synthetic resin.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
26 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 58 wherein said synthetic resin is selected from the group consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate), polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and silicone resins.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
17 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 32 wherein said band is made of a reinforced composite material.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
18 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 60 wherein said reinforced composite material is a glass-fiber reinforced synthetic resin.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
17 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 60 wherein said reinforced composite material is a carbon-fiber reinforced material.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
16 words
The scleral expansion band of claim 60 wherein said reinforced composite material is carbon-fiber reinforced carbon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2952023A
Cited
US3454966A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-10 | 1998-04-11 | 1998-10-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-10 | 2002-04-11 | 2002-10-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-10 | 2006-04-11 | 2006-10-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |