# US 8,771,300 B2 · Apparatuses and methods for forming incisions in ocular tissue > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,300 B2 - Document ID: US8771300B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/274,145 - Filed: 2011-10-14 - Published: 2012-02-09 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2007-11-02 - Assignees: Refocus Ocular, Inc. - Applicants: Rex O. Bare; Andrew J. Scherer; Timothy J. Payne; Mark A. Cox; Douglas C. Williamson - Inventors: Rex O. Bare; Andrew J. Scherer; Timothy J. Payne; Mark A. Cox; Douglas C. Williamson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771300B2 ## CPC - A61F 9/0133: {Knives or scalpels specially adapted therefor} - 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 tool includes a surgical blade configured to be moved to form an incision. The surgical tool also includes a wire configured to cause movement of the surgical blade. The surgical tool further includes an actuator configured to shorten a length of the wire to cause the movement of the surgical blade. The surgical tool could be configured to move the surgical blade in a first direction and then in a second direction in response to a single shortening of the wire. Also, the wire could represent a first wire, the surgical tool could include a second wire, and the surgical tool could be configured to move the surgical blade in a first direction in response to shortening the first wire and to move the surgical blade in a second direction in response to shortening the second wire. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical tool comprising: a surgical blade configured to be rotated to form an incision; a wire configured to cause bidirectional rotation of the surgical blade; and an actuator configured to shorten a length of the wire by applying an electrical current to the wire to cause the bidirectional rotation of the surgical blade; wherein the surgical tool is configured to rotate the surgical blade in a first direction and then in a second direction in response to a single shortening of the length of the wire. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the wire comprises a first wire, and wherein the surgical tool further comprises: a locomotive wheel configured to turn in response to the shortening of the length of the first wire; a plate coupled to a second wire, the second wire configured to rotate the surgical blade; and a locomotive arm coupled to the locomotive wheel and the plate, wherein rotation of the locomotive wheel causes the locomotive arm to move the second wire. ### Claim 3 The surgical tool of claim l wherein the surgical tool further comprises: a wireless transceiver configured to at least one of transmit data wirelessly and receive data wirelessly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the surgical tool further comprises: a projection configured to couple the surgical tool to an ocular fixation device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the surgical blade comprises a curved cutting blade configured to be rotated into scleral tissue of a patient's eye. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the wire comprises flexible nitinol. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The surgical tool of Claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a printed circuit board configured to apply the electrical current to the wire. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The surgical tool of claim 7, wherein the printed circuit board is further configured to trigger multiple audible, sensory, or visual notifications. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The surgical tool of claim 8, wherein the audible, sensory, or visual notifications include notifications that: the surgical tool is properly located and ready for use; the surgical blade is moving in the first direction; the surgical blade is moving in the second direction; a cycle of the surgical blade in the first and second directions has been interrupted; and the cycle of the surgical blade in the first and second directions has been successfully completed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The surgical tool of claim 7, wherein the printed circuit board is further configured to receive commands from an operator. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: shortening a length of a wire in a surgical tool by applying an electrical current to the wire; and imparting bidirectional rotation to a surgical blade of the surgical tool based on the shortening of the length of the wire; wherein imparting the bidirectional rotation to the surgical blade comprises rotating the surgical blade in a first direction and then in a second direction in response to a single shortening of the length of the wire. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of Claim 11, wherein the wire comprises flexible nitinol. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein: the wire comprises a first wire; and imparting the bidirectional rotation to the surgical blade comprises: turning a locomotive wheel in response to the shortening of the length of the first wire; moving a locomotive arm that is coupled to the locomotive wheel and to a plate; and moving a second wire coupled to the plate, the second wire causing the rotation of the surgical blade. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: placing a projection of the surgical tool into an ocular fixation device to mount the surgical tool on the ocular fixation device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the surgical blade comprises a curved cutting blade configured to be rotated into scleral tissue of a patient's eye. ### Claim 16 A system comprising: an ocular fixation device configured to be secured to ocular tissue of an eye; and a surgical tool configured to be mounted on the ocular fixation device, the surgical tool comprising: a surgical blade configured to be rotated to form an incision in the ocular tissue; a wire configured to cause bidirectional rotation of the surgical blade; and an actuator configured to shorten a length of the wire by applying an electrical current to the wire to cause the bidirectional rotation of the surgical blade; wherein the surgical tool is configured to rotate the surgical blade in a first direction and then in a second direction in response to a single shortening of the length of the wire. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the actuator comprises a printed circuit board configured to apply the electrical current to the wire. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the wire comprises a first wire, and wherein the surgical tool further comprises: a locomotive wheel configured to turn in response to the shortening of the length of the first wire; a plate coupled to a second wire, the second wire configured to rotate the surgical blade; and a locomotive atm coupled to the locomotive wheel and the plate, wherein rotation of the locomotive wheel causes the locomotive arm to move the second wire. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the surgical tool further comprises: a wireless transceiver configured to at least one of transmit data wirelessly and receive data wirelessly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the surgical tool further comprises: a projection configured to couple the surgical tool to the ocular fixation device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the surgical blade comprises a curved cutting blade configured to be rotated into scleral tissue of a patient's eye. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the wire comprises flexible nitinol.