US 5,634,884 AGranted

Apparatus for inserting a pupil expander

AssigneeGraether Development Corporation

InventorJohn M. Graether

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A pupil expander insertion system for eye surgery includes a pupil expander insertion tool and an iris retracting glide. The insertion tool includes a housing having forward and rearward ends, a hollow chamber in which a piston is axially movable, and an aperture formed in the forward end that communicates with the hollow chamber. A retractable blade for holding a pupil expander in an elongated condition is journaled within the aperture and connected to the piston for longitudinal movement therewith. The forward end of the blade has a slot extending rearwardly, defining a pair of tines wherebetween the expander can be slidably inserted. A stationary hollow spatula surrounds the blade in the retracted position, contacting the pupil expander to slidingly urge it off the retracting blade. The glide has an elongated tongue with a folded tab on one end slidably inserted through a slot means in the other end.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A pupil expander insertion tool, comprising:

an elongated housing having forward and rearward longitudinal ends, and a hollow chamber within said housing;
a retractable blade for holding a pupil expander in an elongated condition, operably mounted in said hollow chamber for longitudinal slidable movement therewithin;
said housing having an aperture formed in the forward end thereof communicating with said hollow chamber;
said retractable blade including a forward portion and a rearward portion, the rearward portion slidably journaled within said aperture for selective slidable movement between an extended position projecting forwardly from the forward end, and a retracted position within said aperture;
an axially movable elongated piston slidably disposed in said hollow chamber and connected to said rearward portion of said blade for selectively sliding said blade between said retracted and extended positions;
said forward portion of said blade including a forward end having a slot formed therein extending rearwardly and defining a pair of forwardly projecting, substantially rigid tines which are substantially parallel to one another and wherebetween the pupil expander can be slidably inserted, said slot having a width;
said forward portion of said blade having a securing hole at a rearward end of said slot adapted to hold a strap of the pupil expander so that the pupil expander remains on said blade in the absence of outside forces, said securing hole having a diameter greater than said width of said slot;
and
an elongated hollow spatula having a forward end and a rearward end, said rearward end of said spatula being fixed to said forward end of said housing and laterally surrounding said retractable blade in said retracted position, such that when said blade is withdrawn to a retracted position by said piston the pupil expander held on said blade will be slidingly urged off said forward end of said blade by contact with said spatula.

6 more elements

A pupil expander insertion tool, comprising:

an elongated housing having forward and rearward longitudinal ends, and a hollow chamber within said housing;
a retractable blade for holding a pupil expander in an elongated condition, operably mounted in said hollow chamber for longitudinal slidable movement therewithin;
said housing having an aperture formed in the forward end thereof communicating with said hollow chamber;
said retractable blade including a forward portion and a rearward portion, the rearward portion slidably journaled within said aperture for selective slidable movement between an extended position projecting forwardly from the forward end, and a retracted position within said aperture;
an axially movable elongated piston slidably disposed in said hollow chamber and connected to said rearward portion of said blade for selectively sliding said blade between said retracted and extended positions;
said forward portion of said blade including a forward end having a slot formed therein extending rearwardly and defining a pair of forwardly projecting, substantially rigid parallel tines which are wherebetween the pupil expander can be slidably inserted;
said forward portion of said blade having a securing hole at a rearward end of said slot adapted to hold a strap of the pupil expander so that the pupil expander remains on said blade in the absence of outside forces;
and
an elongated hollow spatula having a forward end and a rearward end fixed to said forward end of said housing and laterally surrounding said retractable blade in said retracted position, such that when said blade is withdrawn to a retracted position by said piston the pupil expander held on said blade will be slidingly urged off said forward end of said blade by contact with said spatula;
said rearward portion of said blade having a generally circular cross-section and a plurality of generally radially extending barbs thereon for engaging said piston and preventing forward movement of said blade relative to said piston.

7 more elements

A pupil expander insertion tool, comprising:

an elongated housing having forward and rearward longitudinal ends, and a hollow chamber within said housing;
a retractable blade for holding a pupil expander in an elongated condition, operably mounted in said hollow chamber for longitudinal slidable movement therewithin;
said housing having an aperture formed in the forward end thereof communicating with said hollow chamber;
said retractable blade including a forward portion and a rearward portion, the rearward portion slidably journaled within said aperture for selective slidable movement between an extended position projecting forwardly from the forward end, and a retracted position within said aperture;
an axially movable elongated piston slidably disposed in said hollow chamber and connected to said rearward portion of said blade for selectively sliding said blade between said retracted and extended positions;
said forward portion of said blade including a forward end having a slot formed therein extending rearwardly and defining a pair of forwardly projecting, substantially rigid parallel tines which are wherebetween the pupil expander can be slidably inserted;
said forward portion of said blade having a securing hole at a rearward end of said slot adapted to hold a strap of the pupil expander so that the pupil expander remains on said blade in the absence of outside forces;
and
an elongated hollow spatula having a forward end and a rearward end fixed to said forward end of said housing and laterally surrounding said retractable blade in said retracted position, such that when said blade is withdrawn to a retracted position by said piston the pupil expander held on said blade will be slidingly urged off said forward end of said blade by contact with said spatula;
said spatula having opposite side surfaces, said side surfaces having forward and rearward ends, said forward end of said side surfaces having leading edges with arcuate rearwardly extending notches therein for selectively contacting and urging forward said pupil expander.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/416,324Filed 4 Apr 1995 · continuation in part
Priority: 18 Feb 1992
Granted: 3 Jun 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

A61B 17/0231
For holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors: for eye surgery
A61F 2/14
Prostheses implantable into the body: eye parts, e.g. lenses or corneal implants; Artificial eyes
A61F 2/1662
Intraocular lenses: instruments for inserting intraocular lenses into the eye
A61F 2/1664
Instruments for inserting intraocular lenses into the eye: for manual insertion during surgery, e.g. forceps-like instruments

Family

Serial836,361Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 18 Feb 1992
Serial959,055Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 9 Oct 1992
Serial77,273Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 17 Jun 1993
US 5,427,088 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,322,054 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,267,553 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,634,884 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.