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US5269787A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus and method for capsulorhexis

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-12-17
•
Granted: 1993-12-14
•
Expires: 2011-12-17
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Abstract

Abstract Surgical apparatus and method for incising an aperture in the anterior capsule of the human eye. The apparatus for capsulorhexis comprises a shaft, a cutting member with a sharp cutting edge, and a fastener connecting the shaft to an ultrasonic power source. After making an initial incision in the eye, the surgeon uses the apparatus to make a smooth, continuous, curvilinear aperture in the anterior capsule of the eye.

Inventors

  • 👤 Charles H. Cozean, Jr.
  • 👤 Charles Cozean, III

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 09:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00736; A61F9/00754; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320068; A61B2017/320072; A61B2017/320074; A61B2017/320077

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 137 words
Apparatus for incising an aperture in the anterior capsule of the human eye comprising: a solid shaft having first and second ends; a cutting member attached to the shaft, said cutting member having first, second and third orthogonal axes wherein the first and second axes define a horizontal plane of said cutting member and the third axis defines the depth of said cutting member, said cutting member comprising a metal band having a physical configuration defined by the first and second axes, with the width of said band substantially equal to the length of said third axis, said metal band having at least one opening therein receiving said shaft therethrough and having a cutting edge; and means for connecting the first end of said shaft to an ultrasonic power source to impart motion to the cutting edge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 137 words
Apparatus for incising an aperture in the anterior capsule of the human eye comprising: a solid shaft having first and second ends; a cutting member attached to the shaft, said cutting member having first, second and third orthogonal axes wherein the first and second axes define a horizontal plane of said cutting member and the third axis defines the depth of said cutting member, said cutting member comprising a metal band having a physical configuration defined by the first and second axes, with the width of said band substantially equal to the length of said third axis, said metal band having at least one opening therein receiving said shaft therethrough and having a cutting edge; and means for connecting the first end of said shaft to an ultrasonic power source to impart motion to the cutting edge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cutting member is composed of a hardened metal alloy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the metal alloy is a titanium aluminum/vanadium alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the metal alloy is a stainless steel alloy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 13 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cutting member is circular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second end of the shaft terminates at the cutting member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein metal band has a second opening therein receiving the second end of the shaft therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cutting member is shaped like a "C".
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 22 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for connecting the shaft to the ultrasonic power source comprises a fastener.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 93 words
Apparatus for incising an aperture in the anterior capsule of the human eye comprising: a deformable, circular cutting member of a metal alloy, said member having a cutting edge and at least one opening therein; a solid shaft having first and second ends wherein the second end of the shaft is inserted through the opening in and terminates against said cutting member; and a fastener on the first end of said shaft adapted to connect said first end of said shaft to an ultrasonic power source to impart motion to the cutting edge.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 93 words
Apparatus for incising an aperture in the anterior capsule of the human eye comprising: a deformable, circular cutting member of a metal alloy, said member having a cutting edge and at least one opening therein; a solid shaft having first and second ends wherein the second end of the shaft is inserted through the opening in and terminates against said cutting member; and a fastener on the first end of said shaft adapted to connect said first end of said shaft to an ultrasonic power source to impart motion to the cutting edge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 94 words
Apparatus for incising an aperture in the anterior capsule of the human eye comprising: a deformable, circular cutting member of a metal alloy, said member having a cutting edge and at least two openings therein; a solid shaft having first and second ends said shaft attached to said circular cutting member such that said shaft passes through the openings in said cutting member; and a fastener on the first end of said shaft adapted to connect said first end of said shaft to an ultrasonic power source to impart motion to the cutting edge.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 94 words
Apparatus for incising an aperture in the anterior capsule of the human eye comprising: a deformable, circular cutting member of a metal alloy, said member having a cutting edge and at least two openings therein; a solid shaft having first and second ends said shaft attached to said circular cutting member such that said shaft passes through the openings in said cutting member; and a fastener on the first end of said shaft adapted to connect said first end of said shaft to an ultrasonic power source to impart motion to the cutting edge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 98 words
Apparatus for incising an aperture in the anterior capsule of the human eye comprising: a "C"-shaped cutting member of a metal alloy, said member having a cutting edge and at least one opening therein; a solid shaft having first and second ends, said shaft attached to said c-shaped cutting member such that wherein the second end of the shaft passes through the opening in said cutting member; and a fastener on the first end of said shaft adapted to connect said first end of said shaft to an ultrasonic power source to impart motion to the cutting edge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 98 words
Apparatus for incising an aperture in the anterior capsule of the human eye comprising: a "C"-shaped cutting member of a metal alloy, said member having a cutting edge and at least one opening therein; a solid shaft having first and second ends, said shaft attached to said c-shaped cutting member such that wherein the second end of the shaft passes through the opening in said cutting member; and a fastener on the first end of said shaft adapted to connect said first end of said shaft to an ultrasonic power source to impart motion to the cutting edge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 94 words
Apparatus for incising an aperture in the anterior capsule of the human eye comprising: a "C"-shaped cutting member of a metal alloy, said member having a cutting edge and at least two openings therein; a solid shaft having first and second ends, said shaft attached to said c-shaped cutting member such that wherein the shaft passes through the openings in said cutting member; and a fastener on the first end of said shaft adapted to connect said first end of said shaft to an ultrasonic power source to impart motion to the cutting edge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 94 words
Apparatus for incising an aperture in the anterior capsule of the human eye comprising: a "C"-shaped cutting member of a metal alloy, said member having a cutting edge and at least two openings therein; a solid shaft having first and second ends, said shaft attached to said c-shaped cutting member such that wherein the shaft passes through the openings in said cutting member; and a fastener on the first end of said shaft adapted to connect said first end of said shaft to an ultrasonic power source to impart motion to the cutting edge.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-12-13 1997-06-14 1997-12-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-12-13 2001-06-14 2001-12-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-12-13 2005-06-14 2005-12-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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