Vacuum forcep and method of using same
OwnerJack L. Phillips, Timothy E. Dickinsoninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A suction forcep used to grasp an artificial lens and implant same in the human eye following cataract surgery comprises a smooth, flexible suction head mounted on a stem-like handle connected to a controlled vacuum source, the lens being held against the suction head by a partial vacuum maintained therein while the lens is positioned beneath the partially withdrawn cornea of an eye in alignment with the pupil thereof.
Claims13
A vacuum forcep for attachment to a controlled variable vacuum source for temporarily holding an artificial lens and inserting the lens beneath the partially withdrawn cornea of the human eye and adjacent the iris, the forcep including
- an elongated essentially straight hollow stem having a longitudinal axis, the exterior of the stem defining a handle for manipulation by an operating surgeon, the stem being essentially rigid;
- a flexible suction head having a shank portion disposed on one end of the stem and defining a cavity communicating with the hollow stem;
- the suction head having a hollow face extending from the shank portion and communicating with the cavity in the shank portion and comprising a yielding, generally radially outwardly extending substantially annular lip of outside diameter less than that of the human cornea and a radial cross-sectional area greater than that of the shank portion, the face defining an angle greater than 0.degree. and less than 60.degree. with the extension of the axis of the stem past the face;
- and
- the suction head having a smoothly contoured rear surface on the side generally opposite from the face, whereby an artificial lens may be vacuum grasped by the face of the suction head, positioned with the eye beneath a partially withdrawn cornea and maintained in place until release is affected by abating vacuum in the head.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.