US 8,991,401 B2 · Processes and apparatus for preventing, delaying or ameliorating one or more symptoms of presbyopia

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and processes for preventing or delaying presbyopia. More particularly, the present invention relates to processes and apparatus for ablating epithelial cells in the germinative zone or the pregerminative zone of the crystalline lens of the eye so that onset or progression of presbyopia or one or more symptoms is delayed or prevented. The present invention also relates to processes and apparatus for promoting formation of suture lines in the crystalline lens of the eye so that onset or progression of presbyopia or one or more symptoms is delayed or prevented. The present invention also relates to processes and apparatus for creating disruptions in the vitreous humor of the eye.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A process for preventing, delaying or ameliorating one or more symptoms of presbyopia in a patient, the process comprising promoting one or more of reproduction of epithelial cells, formation of fiber cells, or formation of sutures, in a crystalline lens of at least one eye of the patient,

wherein the process comprises one or more of:
identifying and/or protecting mitotically active epithelial cells, and ablating mitotically inactive epithelial cells in the germinative zone or the pregerminative zone of the crystalline lens;
creating one or more disruptions in the aqueous humor or the vitreous humor or both of the eye;
or
altering a balance of growth factors in the anterior humor or vitreous humor or both, in one or both eyes of the patient.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

12/935,484Filed 31 Mar 2009 · us provisional application

Priority

31 Mar 2008

Published

US 2011/0160622 A130 Jun 2011

Granted

31 Mar 2015

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

A61N 7/02
Ultrasound therapy: localised ultrasound hyperthermia
A61F 9/00825
Using laser: for photodisruption
A61F 9/0079
Methods or devices for eye surgery: using non-laser electromagnetic radiation, e.g. non-coherent light or microwaves
A61F 9/008
Methods or devices for eye surgery: using laser

Processes and apparatus for preventing, delaying or ameliorating one or more symptoms of presbyopia

Life of this patent

Processes and apparatus for preventing, delaying or ameliorating one or more symptoms of presbyopia

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16