US5484432A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collagen treatment apparatus
Assignee: RJW ACQUISTIONS LC D/B/A 20/20 TECHNOLOGIES Inc
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Filing: 1994-04-14
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Granted: 1996-01-16
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Expires: 2014-04-14
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for controlled thermal shrinkage of collagen tissue by irradiation with coherent energy in the wavelength band of 1.80 to 2.55 microns as generated by a laser. A specific application to ophthalmological corneal reshaping is described. An apparatus for shrinkage of collagen tissue by application of coherent infrared energy, in which the threshold shrinkage temperature is substantially reduced by application of a reagent such as lysozyme to the tissue prior to heating. The apparatus is especially useful in ophthalmology for shape modification of a cornea, and is enhanced by using a corneal collagen shield is provided as a carrier and delivery agent for the reagent and an admixed anaesthetic.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce J. Sand
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22082; A61B2017/22087; A61F2009/00853; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00872
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
40 words
Apparatus for shrinking collagen tissue, comprising means for applying a reagent to the tissue to reduce threshold shrinkage temperature, and means for irradiating the tissue with energy having a wavelength in a range of about 1.80 to about 2.55 microns.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus for shrinking collagen tissue, comprising means for applying a reagent to the tissue to reduce threshold shrinkage temperature, and means for irradiating the tissue with energy having a wavelength in a range of about 1.80 to about 2.55 microns.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus for shrinking collagen tissue, comprising means for applying a reagent to the tissue to reduce threshold shrinkage temperature, and means for irradiating the tissue with energy of infrared wavelength corresponding to corneal-collagen absorption coefficients in a range of about 15 to about 120 cm -1 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus for shrinking collagen tissue, comprising means for applying a reagent to the tissue to reduce threshold shrinkage temperature, and means for irradiating the tissue with energy of infrared wavelength corresponding to corneal-collagen absorption coefficients in a range of about 15 to about 120 cm -1 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the reagent includes lysozyme.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the reagent includes a chemical selected from a group consisting of hyaluronidase, lysozyme and beta-naphthalene-sulfuric acid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the reagent includes a chemical selected from a group consisting of solutions of urea, calcium chloride and periodic acid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the reagent includes a chemical selected to produce a lowering of the threshold temperature at which shrinkage occurs by at least about 10° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the collagen tissue is corneal collagen tissue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the irradiation means is a laser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the irradiation means includes means for irradiating the tissue with energy such that the temperature of the collagen tissue is raised sufficiently to cause the tissue to shrink but not so high as to cause any substantial damage to the tissue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus for modifying the shape of a cornea comprising means for applying a reagent to stromal collagen tissue of the cornea to reduce the threshold shrinkage temperature of the tissue to a range substantially above body temperature and below about 60° C., and means for irradiating the tissue with energy having a wavelength in a range of about 1.80 to 2.55 microns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus for modifying the shape of a cornea comprising means for applying a reagent to stromal collagen tissue of the cornea to reduce the threshold shrinkage temperature of the tissue to a range substantially above body temperature and below about 60° C., and means for irradiating the tissue with energy having a wavelength in a range of about 1.80 to 2.55 microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus for modifying the shape of a cornea comprising means for applying a reagent to stromal collagen tissue of the cornea to reduce the threshold shrinkage temperature of the tissue to a range substantially above body temperature and below about 60° C., and means for irradiating the tissue with energy of infrared wavelength corresponding to corneal-collagen absorption coefficients in a range of about 15 to about 120 cm -1 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus for modifying the shape of a cornea comprising means for applying a reagent to stromal collagen tissue of the cornea to reduce the threshold shrinkage temperature of the tissue to a range substantially above body temperature and below about 60° C., and means for irradiating the tissue with energy of infrared wavelength corresponding to corneal-collagen absorption coefficients in a range of about 15 to about 120 cm -1 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to either claim 10 or 11 wherein the reagent includes lysozyme.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to either claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the reagent includes a chemical selected from a group consisting of hyaluronidase, lysozyme and beta-naphthalene-sulfuric acid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to either claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the reagent includes a chemical selected from a group consisting of solutions of urea, calcium chloride and periodic acid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to either claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the reagent includes a chemical selected to produce a lowering of the threshold temperature at which shrinkage occurs by at least about 10° C.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to either claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the irradiation means is a laser.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to either claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the irradiation means includes means for irradiating the tissue with energy such that the temperature of the corneal collagen tissue is raised sufficiently to cause the corneal tissue to shrink but not so high as to cause any substantial damage to an inner endothelial corneal layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to either claim 10 or 11 wherein the application means includes a corneal collagen shield impregnated with the reagent, the corneal collagen shield capable of being applied to the cornea and dispensing the reagent into the corneal collagen tissue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to either claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the application means includes a corneal collagen shield impregnated with a mixture of the reagent and an ophthalmic anaesthetic.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to either claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the application means includes a corneal collagen shield impregnated with an anaesthetic selected from a group consisting of tetracaine and proparacaine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to either claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the irradiation means includes means for delivering energy to the cornea in repetitive pulses.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to either claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the irradiation means includes means for delivering energy to spaced-apart zones in the cornea to effect an overall corneal shape change which corrects a refractive error.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to either claim 10 or wherein the irradiation means includes means for delivering coherent infrared energy to the tissue.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to either claim 10 or 11 wherein the application means includes means for applying beta-aminoproprionitrile to the tissue after reagent application to and irradiation of the tissue.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-15 | 1999-07-17 | 2000-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-15 | 2003-07-17 | 2004-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-15 | 2007-07-17 | 2008-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |