US5683592A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical cutting tool
Assignee: BTG International Ltd
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Filing: 1994-02-25
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Granted: 1997-11-04
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Expires: 2014-02-25
Abstract
Abstract This invention concerns a method of fabricating a surgical cutting tool and a tool fabricated by such method. The surgical cutting tool (20) comprises a base (21) and an upstanding cutting blade (22), fabricated by locating a mask (32) of a shape corresponding to that of the required cutting blade on the surface of a substrate (31) and etching the substrate from its exposed surface and undercutting the mask from the edges thereof to thereby for a cutting edge of an upstanding cutting blade (22) in the substrate under at least a part of the mask. The tool of the invention is particularly suitable for cutting thin membranes within the human or animal body and has specific application in extracapsular cataract extraction operations, where accurate cutting of the thin membrane of the eye's lens capsule is required.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Shiayle Bartholomew
- 👤 Graham John Ensell
- 👤 Shih Jung Eric Yang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:19
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00736; A61F9/00754
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of fabricating a surgical cutting tool comprising a base and an upstanding cutting blade of non-metallic material, said method comprising the steps of: locating a mask of a shape corresponding to that of the required cutting blade on a surface of a non-metallic substrate, and etching the substrate from its exposed surface and undercutting the mask from the edges thereof to thereby form a curing edge of an upstanding curing blade in the substrate under at least a part of the mask.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of fabricating a surgical cutting tool comprising a base and an upstanding cutting blade of non-metallic material, said method comprising the steps of: locating a mask of a shape corresponding to that of the required cutting blade on a surface of a non-metallic substrate, and etching the substrate from its exposed surface and undercutting the mask from the edges thereof to thereby form a curing edge of an upstanding curing blade in the substrate under at least a part of the mask.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1, whereby said mask is located on said surface of the substrate by etching a layer of inorganic material previously applied to said surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 2, whereby said layer of inorganic material is etched photolithographically.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 2, in which the inorganic material is selected from the group consisting of aluminium, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride and any combination of these three materials.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the substrate is a silicon wafer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according claim 1, in which the substrate is a quartz wafer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the part of the mask under which the cutting blade is formed is of generally circular annular form.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the part of the mask under which the cutting blade is formed is of generally elliptical annular form.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the part of the mask under which the cutting blade is formed is of generally triangular form.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the part of the mask under which the cutting blade is formed is of generally rectangular form.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the mask is shaped such that the etching process produces a serrated upstanding cutting blade.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the mask comprises support elements which support the part of the mask under which the cutting blade is formed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the step of etching the substrate comprises a first stage of wet etching and a subsequent stage of dry plasma etching.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, in which further etching is carried out to produce an aperture through the base of the cutting tool.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1, in which further etching is carried out to produce a support member for the cutting tool, by which the tool may be manipulated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
A surgical cutting tool fabricated by the method of claim 1.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tool according to claim 16 comprising a substantially circular cutting blade suitable for use in cutting the membrane of an eye lens capsule.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB989082A
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FR2588751A1
Cited
GB2227362A
Cited
US4968585A
Cited
JPH03103400A
Cited
JPH0483887A
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US5248383A
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US5156607A
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US5302234A
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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) | 2000-11-03 | 2001-05-05 | 2001-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-03 | 2005-05-05 | 2005-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-03 | 2009-05-05 | 2009-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |