# US 5,699,810 A · Procedure for removal of soft eye tissue > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,699,810 A - Document ID: US5699810A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/339,243 - Filed: 1994-11-10 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1994-11-10 - Inventors: Ioannis G. Pallikaris - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5699810A ## CPC - A61F 9/013: {Instruments} for compensation of ocular refraction (A61F9/008 takes precedence){; Instruments for use in cornea removal, for reshaping or performing incisions in the cornea} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A surgical procedure and device are used to precisely remove soft tissue from the eye. For example, a corneal epithelial layer is removed from the eye as part of a photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) or phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) procedure. In the procedure, the epithelial layer is abraded, under irrigation, using a relatively soft and pliable rotating abrading surface. The device used to perform the procedure is a hand-held rotary brush having semi-rigid plastic bristles with flat polished ends. In another embodiment, a rotating abrading surface is provided by open cells of a sponge material, instead of a brush. In this manner, the epithelium can be abraded away within a few seconds in a precisely defined area without causing mechanical damage to the underlying stromal layer. In a further application, the tool is used to remove a so-called pseudo-membrane formed during laser ablation of the corneal stroma during PRK or PTK. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A procedure for removing a corneal epithelial layer from an eye, comprising: exposing a corneal surface of the eye; rotating a relatively soft and pliable abrading surface about a tool axis; applying the rotating abrading surface to the corneal surface until the corneal epithelial layer has been abraded away, while leaving an underlying stromal layer wholly intact. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A procedure according to claim 1, wherein the relatively soft and pliable abrading surface is provided by bristle tips of a rotating brush. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A procedure according to claim 2, wherein the bristle tips are made of plastic. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A procedure according to claim 3, wherein the rotating brush has a circular shape centered about said tool axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A procedure according to claim 4, wherein said brush has a diameter of 4-10 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A procedure according to claim 1, wherein the relatively soft and pliable abrading surface is rotated by a hand-held instrument while said abrading surface is manually applied to the cornea. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A procedure according to claim 1, further comprising the step of softening the corneal epithelium before the rotating abrading surface is applied to the exposed cornea. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A procedure according to claim 7, wherein the corneal epithelium is softened by applying to the eye drops containing an anesthetic. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A procedure according to claim 1, wherein the rotating abrading surface is applied to the exposed cornea for no more than 5 seconds. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A procedure according to claim 1, wherein the relatively soft and pliable abrading surface is rotated at 4000-6000 rpm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A procedure according to claim 1, wherein the relatively soft and pliable abrading surface is provided by open cells of a sponge material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A procedure according to claim 1, which includes a step of irrigating the eye with a liquid while the rotating abrading surface is applied to the exposed cornea. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A procedure according to claim 1, wherein said procedure is performed as part of a corneal laser ablation procedure including the subsequent step of ablating the underlying stromal layer in a controlled manner by impinging a laser beam thereon. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A procedure according to claim 13, wherein said corneal laser ablation procedure is PRK. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A procedure according to claim 13, wherein said corneal laser ablation procedure is PTK. ### Claim 16 A procedure for removing soft tissue from an eye, comprising: exposing a soft tissue of the eye; rotating a relatively soft and pliable abrading surface provided by plastic bristle tips of a rotating brush about a tool axis; and applying the rotating abrading surface to the soft tissue until said soft tissue has been abraded away. ### Claim 17 A procedure for removing soft tissue from an eye, comprising: exposing a soft tissue of the eye; rotating a relatively soft and pliable abrading surface on the end of a hand-held instrument while said abrading surface is manually applied to the eye; and applying the rotating abrading surface to the soft tissue until said soft tissue has been abraded away. ### Claim 18 A procedure for removing soft tissue from any eye, comprising: exposing a soft tissue of the eye; rotating a relatively soft and pliable abrading surface provided by open cells of a sponge material about a tool axis; and applying the rotating abrading surface to the soft tissue until said soft tissue has been abraded away. ### Claim 19 A procedure for removing soft tissue from an eye, comprising: exposing a soft tissue of the eye; rotating a relatively soft and pliable abrading surface about a tool axis; and applying the rotating abrading surface to the soft tissue until said soft tissue has been abraded away including removal of the soft tissue of the pseudo-membrane formed on a stromal layer by photoablation.