Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A hand supported instrument for assisting in the formation of ophthalmological incisions comprising a plate member having opposing side walls, opposing end walls, the distance between said end walls forming a length dimension, the distance between said side walls forming a width dimension, said length dimension being greater than said width dimension, said plate member having a bottom surface adapted to rest upon the surface of the human eye, said bottom surface being curved so as to conform to the normally curved surface of the human eye, no more than one longitudinally oriented slot extending through said plate to serve as a guide for a knife blade positioned in said slot, said plate member having a top surface spaced from said bottom surface by the thickness of said plate member and serving as means for controlling penetration of said knife blade through said slot, the thickness of said plate member varying from a minimum at a first end of said slot to a maximum at the other end of said slot, and means comprising a handle connected to said plate member at an end wall thereof closest to said second end of said slot for holding said plate member in a desired position on the human eye.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A hand supported instrument for assisting in the formation of ophthalmological incisions comprising a plate member having opposing side walls, opposing end walls, the distance between said end walls forming a length dimension, the distance between said side walls forming a width dimension, said length dimension being greater than said width dimension, said plate member having a bottom surface adapted to rest upon the surface of the human eye, said bottom surface being curved so as to conform to the normally curved surface of the human eye, no more than one longitudinally oriented slot extending through said plate to serve as a guide for a knife blade positioned in said slot, said plate member having a top surface spaced from said bottom surface by the thickness of said plate member and serving as means for controlling penetration of said knife blade through said slot, the thickness of said plate member varying from a minimum at a first end of said slot to a maximum at the other end of said slot, and means comprising a handle connected to said plate member at an end wall thereof closest to said second end of said slot for holding said plate member in a desired position on the human eye.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hand supported instrument according to claim 1 further comprising hinge means for connecting said handle to said plate member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hand supported instrument according to claim 2 wherein said handle is removably connected to said plate member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The hand supported instrument according to claim 1 wherein the length of said slot is between 3 millimeters and 7 millimeters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The hand supported instrument according to claim 4 wherein the width of said slot is sufficient to accommodate therein a knife blade.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The hand supported instrument according to claim 1 wherein the radius of longitudinal curvature of said bottom surface is between 7 and 10 millimeters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The hand supported instrument according to claim 1 further comprising means on said top surface of said plate for supporting said knife blade at a desired angle to the surface of the eye.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The hand supported instrument according to claim 7 wherein said means for supporting said knife blade comprises a pair of raised guide rails extending parallel to said slot, one of said rails positioned on one side of said slot, the other of said rails positioned on the other side of said slot, whereby a knife blade extending through said slot is guided by said rails.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hand supported instrument according to claim 1 further comprising means for visual positioning of said plate member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The hand supported instrument according to claim 9 wherein said visual positioning means comprises a cut out through said plate at its thick end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The hand supported instrument according to claim 9 wherein said visual positioning means comprises said plate member being transparent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The hand supported instrument according to claim 1 further comprising fixation means carried on the bottom surface of said plate member for fixing the position of said plate member when in use.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The hand supported instrument according to claim 12 wherein said fixation means comprises at least one prong downwardly extending from the bottom surface of said plate member for partially penetrating the globe of the eye.