Method and device for determining placement of keratotomy incisions
OwnerGary W. Hallinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A keratotomy incision is formed in a cornea manipulating an RK knife so that its blade extends a preselected depth into a preselected point on the cornea. Sufficient force is applied by a surgeon's fingers to the knife to advance its blade in a preselected direction. Advancement of the blade is halted when resistance of the cornea against the blade exceeds a certain level. A signal representative of the resistance is produced by a strain gauge or transducer in or on the knife. The level of the resistance is indicated on a display or audibly in response to the signal.
Claims13
A method of making an incision in a cornea, comprising the steps of:
- (a) manipulating an RK knife so that a blade thereof extends a particular depth into the cornea at a particular point on the cornea;
- (b) applying sufficient force to the RK knife to advance the blade in a particular direction;
- and
- (c) halting movement of the blade in the particular direction when resistance of the cornea against a leading edge of the blade exceeds a particular level.
A method of making an incision in a cornea, comprising the steps of:
- (a) manipulating an RK knife so that a blade thereof extends a particular depth into the cornea at a particular point on the cornea;
- (b) applying sufficient force to the RK knife to advance the blade in a particular direction;
- and
- (c) halting movement of the blade in the particular direction when stria are observed on a surface of the cornea immediately ahead of the blade.
A method of making an incision in a cornea, comprising the steps of:
- (a) manipulating an RK knife so that a blade thereof extends a particular depth into the cornea at a particular point on the cornea;
- (b) applying a force to the RK knife sufficient to advance the blade in a particular direction along the cornea to form the incision;
- (c) producing an electrical signal in response to the force, the electrical signal being representative of the amount of the force and thereby being representative of the level of resistance force exerted by the cornea against the blade;
- (d) if the force exceeds a predetermined resistance force value, producing an indicating signal indicating that the force exceeds the predetermined resistance force value.
An apparatus for determining the length of an incision in a cornea, comprising in combination:
- (a) an RK knife having a blade adapted to extend preselected depth into the cornea;
- (b) a transducer connected to the RK knife and producing a first electrical signal representative of force applied to the blade to advance it through the cornea;
- (c) an analyzing device receiving the first electrical signal, determining if the amount of force exceeds a predetermined resistance level, and if the amount of force exceeds the predetermined resistance level, producing a second electrical signal indicating that the amount of force exceeds the predetermined resistance level;
- and
- (d) an indicating device adapted to respond to the second electrical signal to produce information indicating that the amount of force exceeds the predetermined resistance level, whereby advancing of the blade in the cornea can be halted in response to the information to thereby establish the length of the incision.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.