US5676679A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for implanting an artifical meshwork in glaucoma surgery
Assignee: University of Miami
•
Filing: 1996-06-13
•
Granted: 1997-10-14
•
Expires: 2016-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A method and device which is used to insert an implant in order for treating an eye with glaucoma in order to lower the intraocular pressure of the eye. The implant is an artificial meshwork. The implant is attached to a guide knife which is inserted into the anterior chamber of the eye. The knife is then removed leaving the implant in place. During the operation, a prismatic lens with c-shaped vacuum ring is used to help assist the surgeon in viewing the anterior chamber of the eye and stabilizing the eye.
Inventors
- 👤 Gabriel Simon
- 👤 Jean-Marc Legeais
- 👤 William Lee
- 👤 Jean-Marie Parel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:57
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61F9/00781; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3209; A61B17/3211; A61B17/3213; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/361; A61B2090/3616; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00865; A61F2009/00868; A61F2009/00885; A61F2009/00891; A61F9/009; A61F9/013; A61F9/0133
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A guide knife assembly for inserting a filter member into an eye, comprising: a guide knife apparatus, including: a handle portion; a blade portion projecting distally from a distal end of said handle portion, said blade portion terminating distally in a sharp distal end, said blade portion having first and second major side surfaces; a flange element having proximal and distal ends and first and second generally parallel, major side faces, said flange element being coupled to one of said blade portion and said handle portion and extending distally in side by side generally parallel relation to said blade portion such that the first major side face thereof is in parallel, opposed facing relation to said first major side surface of said blade portion and defining a filtering member receiving space therebetween; and a filtering member mounted to said guide knife apparatus so that at least a portion of said filtering member is disposed in said filter element receiving space, said filtering member comprising a sheet of polymer material which has been folded to define a front portion and a back portion, side edges of said front portion being coupled to respective side edges of the back portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A guide knife assembly for inserting a filter member into an eye, comprising: a guide knife apparatus, including: a handle portion; a blade portion projecting distally from a distal end of said handle portion, said blade portion terminating distally in a sharp distal end, said blade portion having first and second major side surfaces; a flange element having proximal and distal ends and first and second generally parallel, major side faces, said flange element being coupled to one of said blade portion and said handle portion and extending distally in side by side generally parallel relation to said blade portion such that the first major side face thereof is in parallel, opposed facing relation to said first major side surface of said blade portion and defining a filtering member receiving space therebetween; and a filtering member mounted to said guide knife apparatus so that at least a portion of said filtering member is disposed in said filter element receiving space, said filtering member comprising a sheet of polymer material which has been folded to define a front portion and a back portion, side edges of said front portion being coupled to respective side edges of the back portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A guide knife assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blade portion has a window which allows light to pass therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A guide knife assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blade portion is made at least in part from a transparent substance selected from the group consisting of plastic, sapphire, diamond, and glass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A guide knife assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flange element has a width smaller than that of the blade portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A guide knife assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blade portion has a sharp point so as to be capable of piercing the sclera of an eye.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A guide knife assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle portion has a release mechanism to facilitate release of the filtering member when it is in a desired position in the eye.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A guide knife assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein edges of said blade portion are sharp and straight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A guide knife assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein edges of said blade portion are sharp and convexly curved.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A guide knife as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said flange, said handle, and said blade is configured so as to include structure for limiting proximal displacement of said filtering member in said space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A guide knife as in claim 1, wherein said flange is substantially immovable relative to said blade portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
142 words
A guide knife apparatus for inserting a filtering member into an eye, comprising: a handle portion; a blade portion projecting distally from a distal end of said handle portion, said blade portion terminating distally in a sharp distal end, said blade portion having first and second major side surfaces; a flange element having proximal and distal ends and first and second generally parallel, major side faces, said flange element being coupled to one of said blade portion and said handle portion and extending distally in side by side generally parallel relation to said blade portion such that the first major side face thereof is in parallel, opposed facing relation to said first major side surface of said blade portion so as to define a filtering member receiving space therebetween; and wherein the blade has a window which allows light to pass therethrough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
142 words
A guide knife apparatus for inserting a filtering member into an eye, comprising: a handle portion; a blade portion projecting distally from a distal end of said handle portion, said blade portion terminating distally in a sharp distal end, said blade portion having first and second major side surfaces; a flange element having proximal and distal ends and first and second generally parallel, major side faces, said flange element being coupled to one of said blade portion and said handle portion and extending distally in side by side generally parallel relation to said blade portion such that the first major side face thereof is in parallel, opposed facing relation to said first major side surface of said blade portion so as to define a filtering member receiving space therebetween; and wherein the blade has a window which allows light to pass therethrough.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
170 words
A guide knife for inserting a filtering member into an eye, comprising: a handle portion; a blade portion projecting distally from a distal end of said handle portion, said blade portion terminating distally in a sharp distal end, said blade portion having first and second major side surfaces; a flange element having proximal and distal ends and first and second generally parallel, major side faces, said flange element being coupled to one of said blade portion and said handle portion and extending distally in side by side generally parallel relation to said blade portion such that the first major side face thereof is in parallel, opposed facing relation to said first major side surface of said blade portion so as to define a filtering member receiving space therebetween; and wherein the flange has a maximum width measured across the widest portion of one of the major side faces which is smaller than a maximum width of the blade measured across the widest portion of one of the major side surfaces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
170 words
A guide knife for inserting a filtering member into an eye, comprising: a handle portion; a blade portion projecting distally from a distal end of said handle portion, said blade portion terminating distally in a sharp distal end, said blade portion having first and second major side surfaces; a flange element having proximal and distal ends and first and second generally parallel, major side faces, said flange element being coupled to one of said blade portion and said handle portion and extending distally in side by side generally parallel relation to said blade portion such that the first major side face thereof is in parallel, opposed facing relation to said first major side surface of said blade portion so as to define a filtering member receiving space therebetween; and wherein the flange has a maximum width measured across the widest portion of one of the major side faces which is smaller than a maximum width of the blade measured across the widest portion of one of the major side surfaces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A guide knife as claimed in claim 12, wherein the handle has a release mechanism to facilitate release of the filtering member when it is in a desired position in the eye.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4347091A
Cited
US4402681A
Cited
US4424335A
Cited
US4470159A
Cited
US4580563A
Cited
GB2156685A
Cited
US5041133A
Cited
US4617081A
Cited
US4722724A
Cited
US4806382A
Cited
US4969869A
Cited
US4909799A
Cited
US4936825A
Cited
US4986831A
Cited
FR2638349A1
Cited
US4946436A
Cited
US4968296A
Cited
SU1718913A1
Cited
WO1991012037A1
Cited
US5041081A
Cited
US5178604A
Cited
US5037379A
Cited
US5064435A
Cited
US5190555A
Cited
US5370650A
Cited
US5222967A
Cited
US5222967B1
Cited
US5368597A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-10-13 | 2001-04-14 | 2001-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-13 | 2005-04-14 | 2005-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-13 | 2009-04-14 | 2009-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |