US3760807A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of reshaping the cornea to eliminate refractive errors
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-04-07
•
Granted: 1973-09-25
•
Expires: 1992-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A method of correcting refractive errors of the eye by changing the shape of the central segment of the cornea by softening the corneal tissue with drugs and reshaping the cornea to the surface of a concave mold.
Inventors
- 👤 C Neefe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/0008; A61F9/0017; A61F9/007; A61F9/013
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of making the eye emmetropic comprising the steps of applying selected non-permanent cornea softening medical chemical compounds to the cornea, providing a concave mold having a preselected central segment radius said concave central radius being equal to the convex radius required on the cornea to render the eye emmetropic and a peripheral curvature substantially equal to the peripheral corNeal curvature applying said mold to said cornea, molding the softened cornea to convex curvatures equal to the concave curvatures present on the concave mold and the preselected central curvature molded on the cornea being the curvature required to make the eye emmetropic, keeping the mold in place on the cornea until the medical compound is not active and the cornea has hardered, and removing the mold from the cornea.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of making the eye emmetropic comprising the steps of applying selected non-permanent cornea softening medical chemical compounds to the cornea, providing a concave mold having a preselected central segment radius said concave central radius being equal to the convex radius required on the cornea to render the eye emmetropic and a peripheral curvature substantially equal to the peripheral corNeal curvature applying said mold to said cornea, molding the softened cornea to convex curvatures equal to the concave curvatures present on the concave mold and the preselected central curvature molded on the cornea being the curvature required to make the eye emmetropic, keeping the mold in place on the cornea until the medical compound is not active and the cornea has hardered, and removing the mold from the cornea.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the said selected chemical compounds are contained within said peripheral segment of the concave mold and the release rate from the lens to the eye is controlled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said mold is provided with a central segment of transparent material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said central segment has a plano or zero refractive power.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said concave central mold segment has an aspheric surface which when molded on the convex corneal surface will correct the eye for spherical aberration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 3 wherein said transparent central segment is made having a preselected concave radius and a peripheral radius substantially the same as the peripheral corneal radius.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the selected chemical compound is proparacaine hydrochloride.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the selected chemical compound is chlorine of a quantity that does not produce excessive edema.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the selected chemical is a proteolytic enzyme.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the concave mold material is permeable to oxygen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the concave mold material is hydrophilic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the hardening of the cornea is accelerated by administring vitamin C.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |