US4346482A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Living contact lens
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-01-22
•
Granted: 1982-08-31
•
Expires: 2001-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A contact lens (14) for insertion into the cornea (20) of a patient is provided. The contact lens (14) includes a circular portion of a donor cornea (10) anteriorly curved for correction of the patient's vision. The contact lens (14) is posteriorly ground (16) to correspond to the curvature of the patient's eye. The posterior portion (16) of the lens (14) includes a depending axially posteriorly directed integral ring (18) for insertion into and retention by the patient's cornea (20).
Inventors
- 👤 Jerald L. Tennant
- 👤 Heinz J. Smirmaul
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:52
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02C; G02C7/00; G02C7/02; G02C7/04; A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/14; A61F2/147; A61F2/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A contact lens for insertion into the cornea of a patient comprising: a circular portion of a donor cornea having an anterior surface and a posterior surface, said anterior surface being curved for correction of the patient's vision; said circular portion posterior surface being ground to correspond to the curvature of the patient's eye; and said circular portion having a depending axially posteriorly directed ring, said ring being integral with said posterior surface of said circular portion and having a height less than the thickness of the patient's cornea for insertion into and retention by the patient's cornea.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A contact lens for insertion into the cornea of a patient comprising: a circular portion of a donor cornea having an anterior surface and a posterior surface, said anterior surface being curved for correction of the patient's vision; said circular portion posterior surface being ground to correspond to the curvature of the patient's eye; and said circular portion having a depending axially posteriorly directed ring, said ring being integral with said posterior surface of said circular portion and having a height less than the thickness of the patient's cornea for insertion into and retention by the patient's cornea.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for performing refractive keratoplasty on a patient's eye comprising the steps of: molding the anterior surface of a donor cornea for correction of the patient's vision; grinding the posterior surface of a donor cornea to correspond to the curvature of the patient's eye; grinding an axially posteriorly directed integral ring into the posterior surface of the donor cornea; removing the epithelial layer of the cornea of the patient's eye; cutting a groove in the patient's cornea for receiving the ring; and inserting the ring of the donor cornea into the groove of the patient's cornea for positively affixing the donor cornea into the patient's cornea.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for performing refractive keratoplasty on a patient's eye comprising the steps of: molding the anterior surface of a donor cornea for correction of the patient's vision; grinding the posterior surface of a donor cornea to correspond to the curvature of the patient's eye; grinding an axially posteriorly directed integral ring into the posterior surface of the donor cornea; removing the epithelial layer of the cornea of the patient's eye; cutting a groove in the patient's cornea for receiving the ring; and inserting the ring of the donor cornea into the groove of the patient's cornea for positively affixing the donor cornea into the patient's cornea.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4126904A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-08-30 | 1986-03-01 | 1986-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-08-30 | 1990-03-01 | 1990-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-08-30 | 1994-03-01 | 1994-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |