US5269795A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trephine device for removing anterior epithelial cells from corneal surfaces
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-07-03
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Granted: 1993-12-14
•
Expires: 2011-07-03
Abstract
Abstract A trephine device for removing anterior epithelial cells from a corneal surface, typically prior to laser excimer reshaping of a portion of the corneal surface, comprises a housing having upper and lower end portions, removal means integral to the housing, and means for activating and deactivating the removal means. The removal means may have at least one cutting surface adapted to conform substantially to the shape of the cornea, with the cutting surface contacted with the cornea at a pressure sufficient to remove the anterior epithelial cells without affecting underlying corneal tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric J. Arnott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:21
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/013; A61F9/008; A61F9/00802; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00872
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A trephine device for removing anterior epithelial cells from a corneal surface, the device comprising: (a) a housing having upper and lower portions; (b) cutting means for removing the epithelial cells, said cutting means being integral to the lower portion of the housing and having at least one cutting surface adapted to conform substantially to the shape of the corneal surface, said cutting surface being effective to remove epithelial cells in a substantially circular area corresponding in size to an end of the lower portion of the housing remote from the upper portion of the housing; and (c) means for activating and deactivating the cutting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A trephine device for removing anterior epithelial cells from a corneal surface, the device comprising: (a) a housing having upper and lower portions; (b) cutting means for removing the epithelial cells, said cutting means being integral to the lower portion of the housing and having at least one cutting surface adapted to conform substantially to the shape of the corneal surface, said cutting surface being effective to remove epithelial cells in a substantially circular area corresponding in size to an end of the lower portion of the housing remote from the upper portion of the housing; and (c) means for activating and deactivating the cutting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 1, further comprising means for providing and controlling power to the cutting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 1, in which the cutting means are oscillating cutting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 1, in which the cutting means are rotatable cutting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 4, in which the rotatable cutting means comprise a motor residing in the housing and a shaft having a first end affixed to the motor and a second end affixed to the cutting surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 4, in which the rotatable cutting means comprise a pair of intersecting wires of curved shape adapted to the shape of the corneal surface and affixed at each end to a rotatable ring support member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 6, in which the rotatable cutting means comprise a motor to drive a rotatable lower end of the housing and a rotatable ring support member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device according to claim 1, in which the means for activating the cutting means comprise a pressure-exerting member integral to the housing which exerts a pressure upon the cutting surface sufficient to remove the anterior epithelial cells without affecting underlying corneal tissue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 8, in which the pressure exerting member is a spring-loaded member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 8, in which the pressure exerting member is a fluid-containing member.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
42 words
A device according to any one of claims 8-10, in which pressure sensing means are interconnected with the pressure-exerting member, the pressure sensing means acting cooperatively to activate and deactivate the cutting means in correspondence with predetermined first and second pressure signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 8, further comprising sighting means positioned at the upper end portion of the housing across the open interior portion thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 12, in which the sighting means has at least on lens for image magnification of the corneal surface and cutting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 1, in which the housing has at least one aperture located in a side wall of the housing, said at least one aperture located a fixed distance from the lower end of the housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 14, in which anterior epithelial cells removed from the cornea by the removal means are projected through at least one aperture and deposited on the peripheral surface of the cornea.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
81 words
A trephine device for removing anterior epithelial cells from a corneal surface, the device comprises: (a) a housing having upper and lower portions; (b) removal means for removing the epithelial cells integral to the lower portion of the housing; and (c) means for activating and deactivating the removal means, wherein the housing as an interior portion open along a central axis between the upper and lower housings, the open portion permitting viewing therethrough of the removal means and the corneal surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
A trephine device for removing anterior epithelial cells from a corneal surface, the device comprises: (a) a housing having upper and lower portions; (b) removal means for removing the epithelial cells integral to the lower portion of the housing; and (c) means for activating and deactivating the removal means, wherein the housing as an interior portion open along a central axis between the upper and lower housings, the open portion permitting viewing therethrough of the removal means and the corneal surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 16, wherein the removal means is a cutting means having at least one cutting surface adapted to conform substantially to the shape of the corneal surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device according to claim 17, in which the means for activating the removal means comprises a pressure exerting member integral to the housing which exerts a pressure upon the cutting surface sufficient to remove the anterior epithelial cells without affecting the underlying corneal tissue.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 17, wherein the cutting means is a rotatable cutting means.
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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 |