US5810834A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tip formation for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye
Assignee: Bausch and Lomb Inc
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Filing: 1996-10-07
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Granted: 1998-09-22
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Expires: 2016-10-07
Abstract
Abstract A tip formation for an instrument for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye is formed at the distal end of a cannula. The cannula has a lumen which directs the flexible membrane through an incision and into the eye. The distal end is beveled so as to provide ease of entry into the incision and to orient the discharge opening for the flexible membrane at an inclination to the longitudinal axis of the lumen. The cannula walls about the beveled end are tapered to form a smaller sized end without impeding the advance of the membrane.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas M. Heyman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/14; A61F2/16; A61F2/1662; A61F2/1678
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A tip formation for an instrument for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye, said tip formation comprising a cannula having a lumen for directing the flexible membrane into an eye, a beveled free end including a front edge and a rear edge, and an opening in said beveled free end for discharging the flexible membrane from said lumen, said cannula having a first generally uniform portion immediately rearward of said rear edge and a second portion between said front and rear edges converging toward said front edge at a greater rate than said first portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A tip formation for an instrument for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye, said tip formation comprising a cannula having a lumen for directing the flexible membrane into an eye, a beveled free end including a front edge and a rear edge, and an opening in said beveled free end for discharging the flexible membrane from said lumen, said cannula having a first generally uniform portion immediately rearward of said rear edge and a second portion between said front and rear edges converging toward said front edge at a greater rate than said first portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A tip formation in accordance with claim 1 in which said discharge opening has an area which is substantially equal to or greater than a perpendicular cross-sectional area of said lumen in said first portion at said rear edge of said discharge opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A tip formation in accordance with claim 1 in which said first portion of said cannula extends along a longitudinal axis of said cannula, and said beveled free end is inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A tip formation in accordance with claim 1 in which said first portion of said cannula includes opposing wall portions which are substantially parallel to one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A tip formation in accordance with claim 1 in which said second portion of said cannula converges the entire distance between said rear edge and said front edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tip formation in accordance with claim 1 in which said second portion of said cannula substantially conforms to a cone segment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A tip formation in accordance with claim 1 in which said first portion of said cannula includes opposing wall portions that converge toward said rear edge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
123 words
A tip formation for an instrument for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye, said tip formation comprising a cannula having a lumen for directing a flexible membrane into an eye, a beveled free end defining a discharge opening for said lumen, said discharge opening including a rear edge and a front edge, a first wall portion immediately rearward of said rear edge, and a second wall portion between said front edge and said rear edge, said second wall portion being inclined relative to said first wall portion, and said discharge opening having an area which is larger than or substantially equal to a perpendicular cross-sectional area of said lumen in said first wall portion at said rear edge of said discharge opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
123 words
A tip formation for an instrument for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye, said tip formation comprising a cannula having a lumen for directing a flexible membrane into an eye, a beveled free end defining a discharge opening for said lumen, said discharge opening including a rear edge and a front edge, a first wall portion immediately rearward of said rear edge, and a second wall portion between said front edge and said rear edge, said second wall portion being inclined relative to said first wall portion, and said discharge opening having an area which is larger than or substantially equal to a perpendicular cross-sectional area of said lumen in said first wall portion at said rear edge of said discharge opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A tip formation in accordance with claim 8 in which said second wall portion of said cannula converges the entire distance between said rear edge and said front edge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A tip formation in accordance with claim 8 in which said first portion of said cannula includes opposing wall portions that converge toward said rear edge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
109 words
An instrument for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye, said instrument comprising: a reducing structure for reducing a cross-sectional size of the flexible membrane; and a tip formation including a cannula having a lumen for directing the flexible membrane into an eye, a beveled free end including a front edge and a rear edge, and an opening in said free end for discharging the flexible membrane from said lumen, said cannula having a first generally uniform portion immediately rearward of said rear edge, and a second portion between said front edge and said rear edge converging toward said front edge at a greater rate than said first portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
109 words
An instrument for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye, said instrument comprising: a reducing structure for reducing a cross-sectional size of the flexible membrane; and a tip formation including a cannula having a lumen for directing the flexible membrane into an eye, a beveled free end including a front edge and a rear edge, and an opening in said free end for discharging the flexible membrane from said lumen, said cannula having a first generally uniform portion immediately rearward of said rear edge, and a second portion between said front edge and said rear edge converging toward said front edge at a greater rate than said first portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
An instrument in accordance with claim 11 in which said discharge opening has an area which is substantially equal to or greater than said perpendicular cross-sectional area of said lumen in said first portion at said rear edge of said discharge opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
An instrument in accordance with claim 11 in which said first portion of said cannula extends along a longitudinal axis, and said beveled free end is inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
An instrument in accordance with claim 11 in which said first portion of said cannula includes opposing wall portions which are substantially parallel to one another.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
An instrument in accordance with claim 11 in which second portion of said cannula converges along the entire distance between said rear edge and said front edges.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
An instrument in accordance with claim 11 in which said second portion of said cannula substantially conforms to a cone segment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
An instrument in accordance with claim 11 which further includes a plunger for advancing the flexible membrane through said lumen and into the eye.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
An instrument in accordance with claim 11 which further includes an insertion device and a cartridge removably received in said insertion device, wherein said cartridge includes said reducing structure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
An instrument in accordance with claim 18 wherein said tip formation is formed as a part of said cartridge.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
An instrument in accordance with claim 11 in which said first portion of said cannula includes opposing wall portions that converge toward said rear edge.
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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) | 2001-09-21 | 2002-03-23 | 2002-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-21 | 2006-03-23 | 2006-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-21 | 2010-03-23 | 2010-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |