Patent US5533997A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5533997A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for performing presbyopia corrective surgery
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1994-06-29
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Granted: 1996-07-09
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Expires: 2014-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A process for surgically correcting presbyopia includes anesthetizing a patient and marking a portion of an eye of the patient which is to be ablated. At least a portion of the cornea is resected to expose the corneal stroma. An annular portion of the corneal stroma is then ablated using radiation from a laser beam. After ablation, the cornea is repositioned onto the eye. The cornea may be resected such that a portion of the cornea remains intact, and is folded back to expose the corneal stroma. Alternatively, a complete disk of the cornea may be removed from the eye, to thereby expose the corneal stroma. After exposure but before ablating, the corneal stroma should be dried to prevent uneven ablation which may occur if fluids are present on the stroma. The laser beam may be directed in a circular fashion until an annular ablation is formed, or a mask may be provided over a central area of the corneal stroma. To prevent edema, the ablated portion should be cleaned by brushing and irrigating. A system for surgically performing the presbyopia correction process also is described. This system includes a marker, a resector such as an automatic corneal shaper, and a laser for ablating the corneal stroma.
Inventors
- 👤 Luis A. Ruiz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:32
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/013; A61F9/008; A61F9/00802; A61F9/00804; A61F9/00808; A61F9/00817; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00872; A61F2009/00885; A61F2009/00895
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A process for surgically correcting presbyopia, comprising: anesthetizing a patient; resecting at least a portion of a cornea of an eye of the patient to expose a corneal stroma; ablating an annular portion of the corneal stroma using radiation from a laser beam, wherein during the ablating step, a central optic zone of the corneal stroma is left unablated; and repositioning the portion of the cornea onto the eye, wherein a central corneal curvature change is induced to thereby correct presbyopia in the patient.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A process for surgically correcting presbyopia, comprising: anesthetizing a patient; resecting at least a portion of a cornea of an eye of the patient to expose a corneal stroma; ablating an annular portion of the corneal stroma using radiation from a laser beam, wherein during the ablating step, a central optic zone of the corneal stroma is left unablated; and repositioning the portion of the cornea onto the eye, wherein a central corneal curvature change is induced to thereby correct presbyopia in the patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein in the resecting step, the cornea is resected such that a portion of the cornea remains intact, and the cornea is folded back to expose the corneal stroma.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein in the resecting step, the cornea is resected such that a disk of the cornea is removed from the eye, to thereby expose the corneal stroma.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 1, further including drying the corneal stroma after it has been exposed in the resecting step and before the ablating step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the ablating step is accomplished by directing the laser beam in a circular fashion until an annular ablation of a predetermined width and depth is provided.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the ablating step is accomplished by providing a mask over a central area of the corneal stroma to stop the radiation from the laser beam, and providing the laser beam with a predetermined diameter, such that an annular ablation of a predetermined width and depth is provided.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the ablating step is accomplished by providing a mask made from polymethyl methacrylate over a central area of the corneal stroma to stop the radiation from the laser beam, and providing the laser beam with a predetermined diameter, such that an annular ablation of a predetermined width and depth is provided.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the laser is a pulsed laser.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 1, further including cleaning the portion which was ablated after the ablating step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 9, wherein the cleaning step includes brushing and irrigating the portion which was ablated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein after the cornea is repositioned, drying the cornea by blowing air onto the cornea.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process for surgically correcting presbyopia according to claim 1, wherein the central optic zone has a diameter in the range of about 2-3 millimeters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process for surgically correcting presbyopia according to claim 12, wherein the annular portion which is ablated has an outer diameter not exceeding 3.5 millimeters.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process for surgically correcting presbyopia according to claim 1, wherein the annular portion which is ablated has an outer diameter not exceeding 3.5 millimeters.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
94 words
A system for surgically correcting presbyopia, comprising: means for resecting at least a portion of a cornea of an eye of a patient to expose a corneal stroma; and means for ablating an annular portion of the corneal stroma including a laser, wherein ablation takes place by irradiating the corneal stroma with radiation from the laser, wherein the means for ablating ablates the annular portion of the corneal stroma while leaving a central optic zone of the corneal stroma unablated, to thereby induce a central corneal curvature change to correct presbyopia in the patient.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
94 words
A system for surgically correcting presbyopia, comprising: means for resecting at least a portion of a cornea of an eye of a patient to expose a corneal stroma; and means for ablating an annular portion of the corneal stroma including a laser, wherein ablation takes place by irradiating the corneal stroma with radiation from the laser, wherein the means for ablating ablates the annular portion of the corneal stroma while leaving a central optic zone of the corneal stroma unablated, to thereby induce a central corneal curvature change to correct presbyopia in the patient.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 15, wherein the means for resecting includes a corneal shaper which partially resects the cornea such that an end portion of the cornea remains attached to a cornea base, to thereby produce a cornea flap.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 15, wherein the means for resecting includes a corneal shaper which completely removes a disk of the cornea to thereby expose the corneal stroma.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 15, further including means for drying the corneal stroma after it has been exposed by the means for resecting.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system according to claim 15, wherein the means for ablating includes a mask which is positioned over a central area of the corneal stroma to stop the radiation from the laser, and means for providing a predetermined diameter to a laser beam from the laser, such that an annular ablation of a predetermined width and depth is provided.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein the mask is made from polymethyl methacrylate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 15, wherein the laser is a pulsed laser.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 15, further including means for cleaning the portion which was ablated.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 22, wherein the means for cleaning includes a brush and means for irrigating the portion which was ablated.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system for surgically correcting presbyopia according to claim 15, wherein the means for ablating leaves the unablated central optic zone having a diameter in the range of about 2-3 millimeters.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system for surgically correcting presbyopia according to claim 24, wherein the means for ablating ablates the annular portion to a size having an outer diameter not exceeding 3.5 millimeters.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system for surgically correcting presbyopia according to claim 15, wherein the means for ablating ablates the annular portion to a size having an outer diameter not exceeding 3.5 millimeters.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
81 words
A process for surgically correcting presbyopia, comprising: resecting at least a portion of a cornea of an eye of a patient to expose a corneal stroma; ablating an annular portion of the corneal stroma using radiation from a laser beam, wherein during the ablating step, a central optic zone of the corneal stroma is left unablated; and repositioning the portion of the cornea onto the eye, wherein a central corneal curvature change is induced to thereby correct presbyopia in the patient.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
81 words
A process for surgically correcting presbyopia, comprising: resecting at least a portion of a cornea of an eye of a patient to expose a corneal stroma; ablating an annular portion of the corneal stroma using radiation from a laser beam, wherein during the ablating step, a central optic zone of the corneal stroma is left unablated; and repositioning the portion of the cornea onto the eye, wherein a central corneal curvature change is induced to thereby correct presbyopia in the patient.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process for surgically correcting presbyopia according to claim 27, wherein the central optic zone has a diameter in the range of about 2-3 millimeters.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process for surgically correcting presbyopia according to claim 28, wherein the annular portion which is ablated has an outer diameter not exceeding 3.5 millimeters.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process for surgically correcting presbyopia according to claim 27, wherein the annular portion which is ablated has an outer diameter not exceeding 3.5 millimeters.
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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) | 1999-07-09 | 2000-01-08 | 2000-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-09 | 2004-01-08 | 2004-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-09 | 2008-01-08 | 2008-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |