# US 10,441,462 B1 · Ophthalmic surgical instruments and methods of use thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,462 B1 - Document ID: US10441462B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/401,164 - Filed: 2019-05-02 - Published: 2019-11-07 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-03 - Applicants: Richard Mackool - Inventors: Richard Mackool - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441462B1 ## CPC - A61F 9/00736: {Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments (A61F9/008 takes precedence)} - A61F 9/00754: {for cutting or perforating the anterior lens capsule, e.g. capsulotomes} - A61F 9/00745: {using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic} - A61B 17/32: Surgical cutting instruments ({A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467;} implements for ligaturing and cutting {A61B17/122, A61B17/12; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133}) - A61B 17/32056: {Surgical snare instruments (for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26)} - A61F 9/0133: {Knives or scalpels specially adapted therefor} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An ophthalmic surgical instrument includes a housing and a snare operably coupled to the housing. The snare is configured to transition between an insertion configuration and a deployed configuration, in which the snare is sized to encircle lenticular tissue. The ophthalmic surgical instrument is designed to prevent elevation and/or tilting of the lenticular tissue as the snare transitions toward the insertion configuration to divide the lenticular tissue. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ophthalmic surgical instrument for severing a lens of an eye, comprising: an elongated shaft including: a proximal end portion; and a distal end portion defining an opening, the distal end portion being offset from the proximal end portion; and a snare extending along the elongated shaft and including a cutting segment disposed adjacent the opening and configured to move between a contracted configuration and a dilated configuration, in which the cutting segment assumes a diameter approximating a diameter and shape of a lens, wherein the cutting segment is configured to sever the lens upon moving toward the contracted configuration, wherein the elongated shaft further includes an intermediate portion extending between the proximal and distal end portions, the intermediate portion being angled relative to the proximal and distal end portions, wherein the proximal end portion defines a first longitudinal axis, the distal end portion defines a second longitudinal axis that is parallel with the first longitudinal axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the elongated shaft has a bent proximal segment and a bent distal segment, the intermediate portion extending between the bent proximal and distal segments. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate segment is curved or linear. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the proximal end portion defines a first longitudinal axis and the distal end portion defines a second longitudinal axis that is parallel and out of alignment with the first longitudinal axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the distal end portion has a length from about 3.5 mm to about 12 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The ophthalmic surgical instrument according to claim 5, wherein the distal end portion has a length of about 6 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the distal end portion has a bottom portion configured to be oriented toward a human eye, and an upper portion, the bottom portion defining the opening therein. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The ophthalmic surgical instrument according to claim 7, wherein the upper portion has a concave inner surface overlapping the looped segment and the opening. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ophthalmic surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the opening has a length that is less than about half of a length of the cutting segment when the cutting segment is in the dilated configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The ophthalmic surgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein a majority of the length of the cutting segment is disposed out of alignment with the opening when the cutting segment is in the dilated configuration. ### Claim 11 An ophthalmic surgical instrument for severing a lens of an eye, comprising: a handle; an elongated shaft extending distally from the handle and including a distal end portion defining an opening, the distal end portion being angled relative to a proximal portion of the elongated shaft that is disposed proximally of the distal end portion; and a snare operably coupled to the housing and including a looped segment configured to move between a contracted configuration and a dilated configuration, in which the looped segment assumes a diameter approximating a diameter and shape of a lens, wherein the looped segment is configured to sever the lens upon moving toward the contracted configuration, wherein the distal end portion has a bottom portion configured to be oriented toward a human eye, and an upper portion, the bottom portion defining the opening therein, the upper portion having a concave inner surface overlapping the looped segment and the opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The ophthalmic surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the distal end portion is bent relative to the proximal portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The ophthalmic surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the proximal portion includes: a proximal end portion coupled to the handle; and an intermediate portion disposed between and interconnecting the proximal end portion and the distal end portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The ophthalmic surgical instrument according to claim 13, wherein the distal end portion is bent relative to the intermediate portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The ophthalmic surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein the intermediate portion is bent relative to the proximal end portion in an opposite direction as the distal end portion is bent relative to the intermediate portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The ophthalmic surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the opening has a length that is less than about half of a length of the looped segment when the looped segment is in the dilated configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The ophthalmic surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein a majority of the length of the looped segment is disposed out of alignment with the opening when the looped segment is in the dilated configuration.