Ophthalmic surgical device for accessing tissue and for performing a capsulotomy

A capsulotomy device for accessing a lens capsule through a cornea of an eye, the device comprising:

• a handpiece having a tip for insertion into an incision in the cornea of the eye;
• a sliding element slidably disposed for translation within the handpiece;
• a suction cup mounted to the handpiece;
• a compression mechanism associated with the suction cup and the handpiece to compress the suction cup for deployment into an anterior chamber of the eye, the suction cup configured to expand inside the anterior chamber into a cutting position on the lens capsule, the compression mechanism further comprising compression arms positioned on either side of the suction cup configured for movement inward toward each other to compress the suction cup and the cutting element mounted within the suction cup, wherein the compression arms are slidably attached to the sliding element for distal translation with the sliding element that presses the compression arms against internal walls of the handpiece to move the compression arms inward toward each other to compress the suction cup, and;
• a cutting element mounted to the suction cup for cutting a portion of the lens capsule.

A capsulotomy device for accessing a lens capsule through a cornea of an eye, the device comprising:

• a handpiece having a housing and a tip for insertion into an incision in the cornea of the eye;
• a sliding element slidably disposed for translation within the handpiece;
• a suction cup mounted to the handpiece;
• a compression mechanism associated with the suction cup and the handpiece to compress the suction cup for deployment into an anterior chamber of the eye, the suction cup configured to expand inside the anterior chamber into a cutting position on the lens capsule, the compression mechanism further comprising compression arms positioned on either side of the suction cup configured for movement inward toward each other to compress the suction cup and the cutting element mounted within the suction cup, wherein the compression arms are attached to the housing of the handpieces;
• a slidable member slidably attached to the housing for sliding distally over the compression arms for pressing the compression arms together to compress the suction cup;
• and
• a cutting element mounted to the suction cup for cutting a portion of the lens capsule.

A capsulotomy device for accessing a lens capsule through a cornea of an eye, the device comprising:

• a handpiece having a tip for insertion into an incision in the cornea of the eye;
• a sliding element slidably disposed for translation within the handpiece;
• a suction cup mounted to the handpiece;
• a compression mechanism associated with the suction cup and the handpiece to compress the suction cup for deployment into an anterior chamber of the eye, the suction cup configured to expand inside the anterior chamber into a cutting position on the lens capsule, the compression mechanism comprising compression arms positioned on either side of the suction cup configured for movement inward toward each other to compress the suction cup;
• a cutting element mounted to the suction cup for cutting a portion of the lens capsule;
• and
• the compression mechanism further comprising two insertion fingers, wherein the two insertion fingers are disposed at the tip of the handpiece for maintaining the compressed suction cup in a flattened position as it is translated out of the tip and into the anterior chamber.

A device for accessing a second layer of tissue behind a first layer of tissue for performing microsurgery or therapeutic work, the device comprising:

• a handpiece having a tip for insertion through an incision in the first layer of tissue;
• a sliding element slidably disposed for translation within the handpiece;
• a foldable structure mounted to the handpiece;
• compression arms positioned adjacent to the foldable structure and associated with the handpiece, the compression arms for compressing the foldable structure;
• a manipulation mechanism for manipulating the compression arms to compress the foldable structure for deployment past the first layer of tissue, the foldable structure expanding into an operational position on the second layer of tissue, wherein the manipulation mechanism comprises an arm base slidably attached to the sliding element for distal translation with the sliding element thereby pressing the compression arms against internal walls of the handpiece to move the compression arms inward toward each other to compress the foldable structure;
• and
• an operational element associated with the foldable structure for engaging in microsurgery or therapeutic work on the second layer of tissue.

A device for accessing a second layer of tissue behind a first layer of tissue for performing microsurgery or therapeutic work, the device comprising:

• a handpiece having a tip for insertion through an incision in the first layer of tissue;
• a sliding element slidably disposed for translation within the handpiece;
• a foldable structure mounted to the handpiece;
• compression arms positioned adjacent to the foldable structure and associated with the handpiece, the compression arms for compressing the foldable structure;
• a manipulation mechanism for manipulating the compression arms to compress the foldable structure for deployment past the first layer of tissue, the foldable structure expanding into an operational position on the second layer of tissue, wherein the manipulation mechanism comprises a slidable member slidably attached to the handpiece for sliding toward the foldable structure and over the compression arms positioned on either side of the foldable structure thereby pressing the compression arms together to compress the foldable structure;
• and
• an operational element associated with the foldable structure for engaging in microsurgery or therapeutic work on the second layer of tissue.