Circular thermal capsulotomy tool and system

A tool for performing a capsulotomy, comprising;

• a main housing having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an extendable-retractable burning element for burning a lens, said burning element being coupled to said distal end of said main housing and adapted for being switched between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration;
• (a) an inner tube extending longitudinally through said main housing and extending from the distal end of said main housing, wherein said burning element is positioned at the end of said inner tube;
• (b) an outer tube that extends longitudinally through said main housing and that extends from said distal end of said main housing, wherein said inner tube is disposed inside of said outer tube, and wherein said inner tube is movable with respect to said outer tube for causing extending and retracting of said burning element;
• (c) a slidable shaping element, connected to said outer tube so that said shaping element is slidable thereon and encompassed by said burning element, said shaping element providing shaping of said burning element,
• (d) means for retaining the shape of the cornea;
• and
• (e) capsulotomy and movement control means coupled to the main housing for providing electrical current to the burning element and movement control for controlling extending and retracting of the burning element,
• wherein said retractable burning element is insertable into the eye through a small corneal incision when said burning element is in a retracted configuration, and said burning element is adapted to perform a capsulotomy of a predetermined size when it is in an extended configuration and an electrical current is applied to said burning element.

A method for operating a tool for performing a capsulotomy, comprising;

• providing a capsulotomy tool comprising:
• (a) a main housing having a proximal end and a distal end;
• (b) an extendable-retractable burning element for burning a lens, said burning element being coupled to said distal end of said main housing and adapted for being switched between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration;
• (c) an inner tube extending longitudinally through said main housing and extending from the distal end of said main housing, wherein said burning element is positioned at the end of said inner tube;
• (d) an outer tube that extends longitudinally through said main housing and that extends from said distal end of said main housing, wherein said inner tube is disposed inside of said outer tube, and wherein said inner tube is movable with respect to said outer tube for causing extending and retracting of said burning element;
• (e) a slidable shaping element, connected to said outer tube so that said shaping element is slidable thereon and encompassed by said burning element, said shaping element providing shaping of said burning element,
• (f) means for retaining the shape of the cornea;
• and
• (g) capsulotomy and movement control means coupled to the main housing for providing electrical current to the burning element and movement control for controlling extending and retracting of the burning element,
• inserting said retractable burning element into the eye through a small corneal incision when said burning element is in a retracted configuration;
• extending said burning element to an extended configuration of a predetermined size to perform a capsulotomy, and
• applying an electrical current to said burning element.