# US 11,304,848 B2 · Apparatus for cutting a tissue section of an eye by laser radiation

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,304,848 B2
- Document ID: US11304848B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/815,948
- Filed: 2020-03-11
- Published: 2020-07-02
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2009-07-10
- Assignees: Alcon Inc.
- Applicants: Alcon Inc.
- Inventors: Christof Donitzky; Bernd Zerl; Thomas Deisinger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304848B2

## CPC

- A61F 9/009: Auxiliary devices making contact with the eyeball and coupling in laser light, {e.g. goniolenses (apparatus for eye examination A61B3/0008)}
- A61F 9/00825: {for photodisruption}
- A61F 2009/00872: {Cornea}
- 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)

## Abstract

An apparatus for cutting a tissue part of an eye by means of laser radiation includes a suction-ring unit (16) which is capable of being mounted onto the eye, with a ring axis (22), a mechanical interface unit (34) which is separate from the suction-ring unit (16), which is capable of being moved along the ring axis (22) in coupling contact with the latter, and which is capable of being mechanically coupled with optical means (70) which focus the laser radiation onto or into the tissue part (12) of the eye, and sealing means (44, 52) which upon movement of the interface unit (34) in coupling contact with the suction-ring unit (16) form a space (58) which is capable of being evacuated and which is delimited by sealing surfaces (46, 60) of the interface unit (34) and of the suction-ring unit (16) and of the sealing means (44, 52).

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for stabilizing an eye, comprising:
a suction-ring unit defining a central opening and a ring axis, the suction-ring unit comprising:
a suction ring comprising:
a plurality of sealing surfaces, each sealing surface configured to contact a sclera of the eye but not a cornea of the eye such that the sealing surfaces and the sclera define a suction chamber that does not come into contact with the cornea; and
a first evacuation channel configured to evacuate the suction chamber to create a first vacuum in the suction chamber, the first vacuum coupling the suction-ring unit to the sclera to allow the cornea to receive laser radiation from a laser device while free from contact with the apparatus and free from contact with the first vacuum; and
an insertion funnel extending from the suction ring along the ring axis; and
an interface unit separate from the suction-ring unit and configured to:
be inserted at least partially into the insertion funnel into coupling contact with the suction-ring unit, but does not touch the cornea, to allow the cornea to receive the laser radiation while free from contact with the apparatus; and
couple to optics that focus the laser radiation towards the cornea through the central opening of the suction-ring unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, the insertion funnel further comprising:
a plurality of ring seals, wherein the ring seals, an outer surface of the interface unit, and an inner surface of the insertion funnel are configured to form a space when the interface unit is inserted at least partially into the central opening into coupling contact with the suction-ring unit; and
a second evacuation channel configured to evacuate the space to create a second vacuum to couple the interface unit with the suction-ring unit, the second vacuum not applied to the cornea.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the interface unit is frustoconical.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an inner surface of the insertion funnel is frustoconical.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for detecting a relative position of the interface unit to the suction-ring unit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the sensor is configured to send a signal when the insertion funnel touches the interface unit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the sensor is coupled to the suction-ring unit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the laser device includes at least one evacuation pump in communication with the first and second evacuation channels.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:
the at least one evacuation pump comprises a first and a second evacuation pump;
the first evacuation pump is in communication with the first evacuation channel; and
the second evacuation pump is in communication with a second evacuation channel of the insertion funnel.