US5304169A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for collagen shrinkage
Assignee: RJW ACQUISTIONS LC D/B/A 20/20 TECHNOLOGIES Inc
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Filing: 1992-08-17
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Granted: 1994-04-19
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Expires: 2012-08-17
Abstract
Abstract A method for shrinkage of collagen tissue by application of coherent infrared energy, in which the threshold shrinkage temperature is substantially reduced by application of a reagent such as lysozyme to the tissue prior to heating. The method is especially useful in ophthalmology for shape modification of a cornea, and is enhanced by using a corneal collagen shield as a carrier and delivery agent for the reagent and an admixed anaesthetic.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce J. Sand
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61F2009/00853; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00872
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
41 words
A method for shrinking collagen tissue, comprising the application of a reagent to the tissue to reduce threshold shrinkage temperature, followed by irradiation of the tissue with energy having a wavelength in the range of about 1.80 to about 2.55 microns.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
41 words
A method for shrinking collagen tissue, comprising the application of a reagent to the tissue to reduce threshold shrinkage temperature, followed by irradiation of the tissue with energy having a wavelength in the range of about 1.80 to about 2.55 microns.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 in which the reagent is lysozyme.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 in which the reagent is selected from a group consisting of hyaluronidase and beta-naphthalene-sulphuric acid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 in which the reagent is selected from a group consisting of solutions of urea, calcium chloride and periodic acid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 in which the reagent is selected to produce a lowering of the threshold temperature at which shrinkage occurs by at least about 10° C.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
21 words
The method as defined in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, in which the collagen tissue is corneal collagen tissue.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
20 words
The method as defined in any one of the claims 1-5 in which the energy is supplied by a laser.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
28 words
The method as defined in any one of the claims 1-5 in which the energy is supplied by a laser and the collagen tissue is corneal collagen tissue.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
44 words
The method as defined in any one of the claims 1-5 wherein the irradiation is caused to raise the temperature of the collagen tissue sufficient to cause the tissue to shrink but not so high as to cause any substantial damage to the tissue.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
51 words
The method as defined in any one of claims 1-5 wherein the irradiation is caused to raise the temperature of the collagen tissue sufficient to cause the tissue to shrink but not so high as to cause any substantial damage to the tissue and the energy is supplied by a laser.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
52 words
The method as defined in any one of the claims 1-5 wherein the irradiation is caused to raise the temperature of the collagen tissue sufficient to cause the tissue to shrink but not so high as to cause any substantial damage to the tissue and the collagen tissue is corneal collagen tissue.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
58 words
The method as defined in any one of claims 1-5 wherein the irradiation is caused to raise the temperature of the collagen tissue sufficient to cause the tissue to shrink but not so high as to cause any substantial damage to the tissue, the energy is supplied by a laser, and the collagen tissue is corneal collagen tissue.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
A keratoplasty method for shape modification of a cornea, comprising the application of a reagent to stromal collagen tissue of the cornea to reduce the threshold shrinkage temperature of the tissue to a range substantially above body temperature and below about 60° C., followed by irradiation of the tissue with energy of infrared wavelength corresponding to corneal-collagen absorption coefficients in the range of about 15 to about 120 cm -1 thereby heating and shrinking the tissue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
76 words
A keratoplasty method for shape modification of a cornea, comprising the application of a reagent to stromal collagen tissue of the cornea to reduce the threshold shrinkage temperature of the tissue to a range substantially above body temperature and below about 60° C., followed by irradiation of the tissue with energy of infrared wavelength corresponding to corneal-collagen absorption coefficients in the range of about 15 to about 120 cm -1 thereby heating and shrinking the tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 in which the reagent is lysozyme.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13 in which the reagent is selected from a group consisting of hyaluronidase and beta-naphthalene-sulphuric acid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13 in which the reagent is selected from a group consisting of solutions of urea, calcium chloride and periodic acid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 13 in which the reagent is selected to produce a lowering of the threshold temperature at which shrinkage occurs by at least about 10° C.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
19 words
The method as defined in any one of claims 13-17 in which the energy is supplied by a laser.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
59 words
The method as defined in any one of claims 13-17 wherein the irradiation is caused to raise the temperature of the corneal collagen tissue sufficient to cause the corneal tissue to shrink but not so high as to cause any substantial damage to any of the corneal tissue, an outer epithelial corneal layer or an inner endothelial corneal layer.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
67 words
The method as defined in any one of claims 13-17 wherein the irradiation is caused to raise the temperature of the corneal collagen tissue sufficient to cause the corneal tissue to shrink but not so high as to cause any substantial damage to any of the corneal tissue, an outer epithelial corneal layer or an inner endothelial corneal layer, and the energy is supplied by a laser.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
83 words
A keratoplasty method for shape modification of a cornea, comprising the steps of selecting a reagent which is effective in reducing a threshold shrinkage temperature of collagen tissue of the cornea, impregnating a corneal collagen shield with the reagent, applying the shield to the cornea to dispense the reagent into the corneal collagen tissue, and irradiating the cornea with energy having a wavelength in the range of 1.80 to 2.55 microns to effect heating and shrinkage and portions of the corneal collagen tissue.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
83 words
A keratoplasty method for shape modification of a cornea, comprising the steps of selecting a reagent which is effective in reducing a threshold shrinkage temperature of collagen tissue of the cornea, impregnating a corneal collagen shield with the reagent, applying the shield to the cornea to dispense the reagent into the corneal collagen tissue, and irradiating the cornea with energy having a wavelength in the range of 1.80 to 2.55 microns to effect heating and shrinkage and portions of the corneal collagen tissue.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 21, and further comprising the step of mixing the reagent with an ophthalmic anaesthetic before the step of impregnating the shield.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 22 in which the energy is supplied by a laser.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 23 in which the energy is applied to the cornea in repetitive pulses.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 24 in which the energy is applied to spaced-apart zones in the cornea to effect an overall corneal shape change with corrects a refractive error.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 25 in which the reagent is lysozyme.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 25 in which the reagent is selected from a group consisting of hyaluronidase and beta-naphthalene-sulphuric acid.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 25 in which the reagent is selected from a group consisting of solutions of urea, calcium chloride and periodic acid.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 25 in which the anaesthetic is selected from a group consisting of tetracaine and proparacaine.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 25 in which the step of irradiating and shrinking the collagen tissue is followed by application of beta-aminoproprionitrile to the tissue.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
59 words
The method as defined in any one of claims 21-30 wherein the irradiation is caused to raise the temperature of the corneal collagen tissue sufficient to cause the corneal tissue to shrink but not so high as to cause any substantial damage to any of the corneal tissue, an outer epithelial corneal layer or an inner endothelial corneal layer.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of reshaping the curvature of a cornea, comprising the steps of: applying to collagen tissue within the cornea a reagent that causes a threshold temperature above which the collagen tissue will shrink to be reduced from a normal threshold shrinkage temperature that exists without use of the reagent, providing a source of energy within a wavelength range of about 1.80 to about 2.55 microns, exposing the collagen tissue to said energy in a manner to raise the temperature thereof sufficient to cause the collagen tissue to shrink while maintaining its temperature below said normal threshold shrinkage temperature, thereby to cause the curvature of the cornea to be reshaped.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of reshaping the curvature of a cornea, comprising the steps of: applying to collagen tissue within the cornea a reagent that causes a threshold temperature above which the collagen tissue will shrink to be reduced from a normal threshold shrinkage temperature that exists without use of the reagent, providing a source of energy within a wavelength range of about 1.80 to about 2.55 microns, exposing the collagen tissue to said energy in a manner to raise the temperature thereof sufficient to cause the collagen tissue to shrink while maintaining its temperature below said normal threshold shrinkage temperature, thereby to cause the curvature of the cornea to be reshaped.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 32 in which the reagent is lysozyme.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 32 in which the reagent is selected from a group consisting of hyaluronidase and beta-naphthalene-sulfuric acid.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 32 in which the reagent is selected from a group consisting of solutions of urea, calcium chloride and periodic acid.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 32 in which the reagent is selected to produce a lowering of the threshold temperature at which shrinkage occurs by at least about 10° C.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
28 words
The method as defined in any one of claims 32-36 wherein the energy source providing step includes the step of providing a laser that generates coherent infrared energy.
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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) | 1997-04-18 | 1997-10-18 | 1998-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-18 | 2001-10-18 | 2002-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-18 | 2005-10-18 | 2006-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |