Apparatus and method for removing an internal limiting membrane or epiretinal membrane
AssigneesCarl C Awh, Gregg D. Scheller, Eric D. Bass, Brad D. Niehoff
InventorsCarl C. Awh, Scheller D. Gregg, Bass Eric, Niehoff Brad
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Abstract
An ophthalmic surgical instrument is provided that includes a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end, a membrane removal instrument having an instrument proximal end attached to the handle distal end and an instrument distal end configured for engagement with an ophthalmic membrane, an aspiration port of the membrane removal instrument configured for engagement with at least a separated portion of the ophthalmic membrane with a suction force, and an aspiration lumen of the ophthalmic membrane removal instrument in operative communication with the aspiration port.
Claims20
A ophthalmic surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end;
- a membrane removal instrument having an instrument proximal end attached to the handle distal end and an instrument distal end configured for engagement with an ophthalmic membrane;
- an aspiration port of the membrane removal instrument configured for engagement with at least a separated portion of the ophthalmic membrane with a suction force;
- and
- an aspiration lumen of the ophthalmic membrane removal instrument in operative communication with the aspiration port.
An ophthalmic surgical instrument, comprising:
- a membrane removal instrument having an instrument proximal end and an instrument distal end configured for engagement with an ophthalmic membrane;
- a connector of the membrane removal instrument configured for detachable connection to a handle;
- an aspiration port of the membrane removal instrument configured for engagement with at least a separated portion of the ophthalmic membrane with a suction force;
- and
- an aspiration lumen of the membrane removal instrument in operative communication with the aspiration port.
A method of removing an ophthalmic membrane with a membrane removal instrument, comprising:
- inserting the membrane removal instrument into an eye;
- separating at least a portion of the ophthalmic membrane from a retina with the membrane removal instrument;
- engaging at least a portion of the ophthalmic membrane with an aspiration port of the membrane removal instrument with a suction force;
- and
- removing at least a portion of the ophthalmic membrane from the eye through an aspiration lumen of the membrane removal instrument with the suction force, the aspiration lumen of the membrane being in operative communication with the aspiration port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.