Method and apparatus for preventing posterior capsular opacification

Claim 2

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye, said instrument comprising: an electrical energy source; a probe comprising an electrode electrically coupled to said electrical energy source, said probe having a distal end portion configured for insertion into said eye between an iris of said eye and said lens capsule; wherein the distal end portion is provided with a generally ellipsoidal shaped disk such that said distal end portion is connected to the center of one side of said disk, the other side of said disk defining an electrode for emitting electrical energy; and an insulating sleeve surrounding said distal end portion of said probe, said insulating sleeve defining an aperture therethrough whereby electrical energy delivered from said electrical energy source to said electrode is emitted outwardly from said probe through said aperture defined through said insulating sleeve, and whereby electrical energy is emitted outwardly from said probe in a directionally controlled manner.

Claim 3

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 1, wherein said insulating sleeve is constructed of silicone.

Claim 4

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 1, wherein said insulating sleeve is constructed of ceramic.

Claim 5

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 1, wherein a plurality of apertures are defined within said insulating sleeve.

Claim 6

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 1, wherein said distal end portion is straight and coaxially mounted to said probe.

Claim 7

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 1, wherein said distal end portion is bent to offset the distal end portion from the longitudinal axis of said probe.

Claim 8

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 1, wherein the disk has a plane which is offset and generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the probe.

Claim 9

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrode comprises: a first electrode electrically coupled to said electrical energy source; a second electrode coupled to said electrical energy source; and a non-conductive insulating material interposed between said first and second electrode to provide a bipolar probe, and whereby electrical energy is emitted outwardly from said probe from the first electrode to the second electrode.

Claim 10

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 8, wherein the distal end portion is provided with a generally ellipsoidal shaped disk such that said distal end portion is connected to the center of one side of said disk, the other side of said disk defining a generally flat surface, the first and second electrodes being provided on said surface and being separated by the non-conductive insulating material for emitting electrical energy from one electrode to the other electrode in a directionally controlled manner.

Claim 11

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 9, wherein the disk has an axis which is offset and generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the probe.

Claim 12

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 10, wherein the first electrode is provided about the periphery of the disk and the second electrode is spaced from and generally follows the same shape as the first electrode, the non-conductive insulating material being interposed between the first and second electrodes.

Claim 13

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 9, wherein said first electrode is provided with a plurality of branches and said second electrode is provided with a plurality of branches covering a majority of the flat surface of said disk such that said first and second electrodes are always separated by the non-conducting insulating material whereby electrical energy is emitted outwardly from said probe in a directionally controlled manner.

Claim 14

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye, said instrument comprising: an electrical energy source; a probe comprising an electrode electrically coupled to said electrical energy source, said probe having a distal end portion configured for insertion into said eye; wherein the distal end of the probe is configured for insertion into said eye between an iris of said eye and said lens capsule, said distal end portion being provided with a generally ellipsoidal shaped disk such that said distal end portion is connected to the center of one side of said disk, the other side of said disk defining an electrode for emitting electrical energy; and an insulating sleeve surrounding said distal end portion of said probe, said insulating sleeve defining an aperture therethrough whereby electrical energy delivered from said electrical energy source to said electrode is emitted outwardly from said probe through said aperture defined through said insulating sleeve, and whereby electrical energy is emitted outwardly from said probe in a directionally controlled manner to destroy residual lens epithelial cells within the lens capsule.

Claim 15

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye, said instrument comprising: an electrical energy source; a probe comprising an electrode electrically coupled to said electrical energy source, said probe having a distal end portion configured for insertion into said eye; wherein the distal end of the probe is configured for insertion into said eye between an iris of said eye and said lens capsule, said distal end portion being provided with a generally ellipsoidal shaped disk such that said distal end portion is connected to the center of one side of said disk, the other side of said disk defining an electrode for emitting electrical energy; and an insulating sleeve surrounding said distal end portion of said probe, said insulating sleeve defining an aperture therethrough whereby electrical energy delivered from said electrical energy source to said electrode is emitted outwardly from said probe through said aperture defined through said insulating sleeve, and whereby electrical energy is emitted outwardly from said probe in a directionally controlled manner to destroy residual lens epithelial cells within the lens capsule.

Claim 16

An instrument for destroying residual lens pithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 13, wherein a plurality of apertures are defined within said insulating sleeve.

Claim 17

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 13, wherein said distal end portion is straight and coaxially mounted to said probe.

Claim 18

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 13, wherein said distal end portion is bent to offset the distal end portion from the longitudinal axis of said probe.

Claim 19

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 13, wherein the disk has a plane which is offset and generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the probe.

Claim 20

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 13, wherein said electrode comprises: a first electrode electrically coupled to said electrical energy source; a second electrode coupled to said electrical energy source; and a non-conductive insulating material interposed between said first and second electrode to provide a bipolar probe, and whereby electrical energy is emitted outwardly from said probe from the first electrode to the second electrode.

Claim 21

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 18, wherein the distal end portion is provided with a generally ellipsoidal shaped disk such that said distal end portion is connected to the center of one side of said disk, the other side of said disk defining a generally flat surface, the first and second electrodes being provided on said surface and being separated by the non-conductive insulating material for emitting electrical energy from one electrode to the other electrode in a directionally controlled manner.

Claim 22

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 18, wherein the disk has an axis which is offset and generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the probe.

Claim 23

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 20, wherein the first electrode is provided about the periphery of the disk and the second electrode is spaced from and generally follows the same shape as the first lectrode, the non-conductive insulating material being interposed between the first and second electrodes.

Claim 24

An instrument for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye in accordance with claim 20, wherein said first electrode is provided with a plurality of branches and said second electrode is provided with a plurality of branches covering a majority of the flat surface of said disk such that said first and second electrodes are always separated by the non-conducting insulating material whereby electrical energy is emitted outwardly from said probe in a directionally controlled manner.