US5465737A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Treatment of presbyopia and other eye disorders
Assignee: Refocus Ocular Inc
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Filing: 1995-01-30
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Granted: 1995-11-14
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Expires: 2015-01-30
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 is accomplished by suturing to the sclera a relatively rigid band having a diameter slightly greater than that of the sclera in the region of the ciliary body, by weakening the sclera overlying the ciliary body, by surgical procedures or treatment with enzymes, heat or radiation, whereby intraocular pressure expands the weakened sclera, or by surgical alloplasty. The effective working distance of the ciliary muscle can also be increased by shortening the zonules by application of heat or radiation, by repositioning one or both insertions of the ciliary muscle or by shortening the ciliary muscle. Presbyopia is also arrested according to the invention by inhibiting the continued growth of the crystalline lens by application of heat, radiation or antimitotic drugs to the epithelium of the lens. Primary open angle glaucoma and/or ocular hypertension can be prevented/and or treated by increasing the effective working range of the ciliary muscle according to the invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald A. Schachar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/14; A61F2/16; A61F2/1613; A61F2/1624; A61F2/147; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00781
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of increasing the amplitude of accommodation in a human eye having a crystalline lens and a ciliary muscle comprising increasing the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle by decreasing the equatorial diameter of the crystalline lens of the eye by using a surgical procedure selected from the group consisting of shrinking said crystalline lens and ablating said crystalline lens.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of increasing the amplitude of accommodation in a human eye having a crystalline lens and a ciliary muscle comprising increasing the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle by decreasing the equatorial diameter of the crystalline lens of the eye by using a surgical procedure selected from the group consisting of shrinking said crystalline lens and ablating said crystalline lens.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of treating presbyopia in a human eye having a crystalline lens and a ciliary muscle comprising increasing the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle by decreasing the equatorial diameter of the crystalline lens of the eye by using a surgical procedure selected from the group consisting of shrinking said crystalline lens and ablating said crystalline lens.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of treating presbyopia in a human eye having a crystalline lens and a ciliary muscle comprising increasing the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle by decreasing the equatorial diameter of the crystalline lens of the eye by using a surgical procedure selected from the group consisting of shrinking said crystalline lens and ablating said crystalline lens.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of treating hyperopia in a human eye having a crystalline lens and a ciliary muscle comprising increasing the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle by decreasing the equatorial diameter of the crystalline lens of the eye by using a surgical procedure selected from the group consisting of shrinking said crystalline lens and ablating said crystalline lens.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of treating hyperopia in a human eye having a crystalline lens and a ciliary muscle comprising increasing the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle by decreasing the equatorial diameter of the crystalline lens of the eye by using a surgical procedure selected from the group consisting of shrinking said crystalline lens and ablating said crystalline lens.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of treating primary open angle glaucoma in a human eye having a crystalline lens and a ciliary muscle comprising increasing the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle by decreasing the equatorial diameter of the crystalline lens of the eye by using a surgical procedure selected from the group consisting of shrinking said crystalline lens and ablating said crystalline lens.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of treating primary open angle glaucoma in a human eye having a crystalline lens and a ciliary muscle comprising increasing the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle by decreasing the equatorial diameter of the crystalline lens of the eye by using a surgical procedure selected from the group consisting of shrinking said crystalline lens and ablating said crystalline lens.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of treating ocular hypertension in a human eye having a crystalline lens and a ciliary muscle comprising increasing the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle by decreasing the equatorial diameter of the crystalline lens of the eye by using a surgical procedure selected from the group consisting of shrinking said crystalline lens and ablating said crystalline lens.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of treating ocular hypertension in a human eye having a crystalline lens and a ciliary muscle comprising increasing the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle by decreasing the equatorial diameter of the crystalline lens of the eye by using a surgical procedure selected from the group consisting of shrinking said crystalline lens and ablating said crystalline lens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said surgical procedure is irradiating said lens with a laser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said laser is a gaseous laser.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said laser is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide lasers, helium-neon lasers, helium-cadmium lasers, argon ion lasers, krypton ion lasers, xenon lasers, nitrous oxide lasers, iodine lasers, holmium doped yttrium-aluminum garnet lasers, yttrium lithium fluoride lasers, excimer lasers, chemical lasers, harmonically oscillated lasers, dye lasers, nitrogen lasers, neodymium lasers, erbium lasers, ruby lasers, titanium-sapphire lasers and diode lasers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is a carbon dioxide laser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is a helium-neon laser.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is a helium-cadmium laser.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is an argon ion laser.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is a krypton ion laser.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is a xenon laser.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is a nitrous oxide laser.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is an iodine laser.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is a holmium doped yttrium-aluminum garnet laser.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is an yttrium lithium fluoride laser.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is an excimer laser.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is a chemical laser.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is an harmonically oscillated laser.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is a dye laser.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is a nitrogen laser.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is a neodymium laser.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is an erbium laser.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is a ruby laser.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is a titanium-sapphire laser.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said laser is a diode laser.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surgical procedure is application of ionizing radiation.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said ionizing radiation is x-radiation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said ionizing radiation is electron-beam radiation.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said ionizing radiation is proton-beam radiation.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surgical procedure is heating said lens.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said lens is heated by irradiation with infrared radiation.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said lens is heated by irradiation with an infrared laser.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said lens is heated by application of ultrasonic radiation.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surgical procedure is mechanically ablating said lens.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 37 wherein said lens is ablated by application of a magnetically actuated ablator.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surgical procedure is shrinking said lens using a chemical compound capable of shrinking said lens.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 39 wherein said chemical compound is injected into said lens.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 39 wherein said chemical compound is formaldehyde.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 41 wherein said formaldehyde is in the form of an aqueous solution of formaldehyde in water.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 39 wherein said chemical compound is glutaraldehyde.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-11-13 | 1999-05-15 | 1999-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-13 | 2003-05-15 | 2003-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-13 | 2007-05-15 | 2007-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |