# US 9,872,797 B2 · Laser-assisted thermal separation of tissue > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,872,797 B2 - Document ID: US9872797B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/408,220 - Filed: 2017-01-17 - Published: 2017-05-04 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2007-09-28 - Assignees: Excel-Lens, Inc. - Applicants: Excel-Lens, Inc. - Inventors: David H. Mordaunt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9872797B2 ## CPC - A61F 9/008: using laser - A61B 18/20: using laser - A61F 9/00834: {Inlays; Onlays; Intraocular lenses [IOL]} - A61F 9/00836: {Flap cutting} - A61F 9/0084: {Laser features or special beam parameters therefor} - A61F 9/009: Auxiliary devices making contact with the eyeball and coupling in laser light, {e.g. goniolenses (apparatus for eye examination A61B3/0008)} - A61F 2009/0087: {Lens} - A61F 2009/00887: {Cataract} - A61F 2009/00897: {Scanning mechanisms or algorithms} - 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) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A laser-assisted method for fully or partially separating tissue such as collagen containing tissue is provided. In one embodiment, the method pertains to a capsulorhexis whereby the laser-assisted method is applied to the lens capsule. A light-absorbing agent is added into or onto the tissue. A light beam with a wavelength capable of being absorbed by the light absorbing agent is then directed at the tissue to cause a thermal effect at the tissue following a predetermined closed curve with the goal to avoid irregularity or potential tears in the resulting rim of the tissue. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for treating tissue in the anterior lens capsule of an eye, the device comprising: a laser device programmed to direct a treatment laser beam along a predetermined closed curve on the anterior lens capsule in a single pass starting at an initial point interior to the closed curve, then along the closed curve, and then to a final point interior to the closed curve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the closed curve is circular or elliptical. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein a diameter of the closed curve is about 4 millimeters to about 5 millimeters. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising a laser device programmed to direct a visible laser beam along a visualization pattern on the anterior lens capsule to assist a user in selecting the location and size of the closed curve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the visualization pattern differs from the closed curve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the visualization pattern comprises discrete dots assisting in focusing the treatment laser beam. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising a laser device programmed to direct a visible laser beam along a visualization pattern on the anterior lens capsule to assist a user in selecting the location and size of the closed curve, wherein: the closed curve is circular or elliptical; and the visualization pattern differs from the closed curve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the visualization pattern comprises discrete dots assisting in focusing the treatment laser beam. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the treatment laser beam is a continuous wave laser beam. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the treatment laser beam is a pulsed laser beam. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising a laser device programmed to direct a visible laser beam along a visualization pattern on the anterior lens capsule to assist a user in selecting the location and size of the closed curve, wherein: the treatment laser beam is a continuous wave laser beam; the closed curve is circular or elliptical; and the visualization pattern differs from the closed curve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the visualization pattern comprises discrete dots assisting in focusing the treatment laser beam. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, comprising a laser device programmed to direct a visible laser beam along a visualization pattern on the anterior lens capsule to assist a user in selecting the location and size of the closed curve, wherein: the treatment laser beam is a pulsed laser beam; the closed curve is circular or elliptical; and the visualization pattern differs from the closed curve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the visualization pattern comprises discrete dots assisting in focusing the treatment laser beam. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the treatment laser beam diameter at the anterior lens capsule is 50 microns to 300 microns. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the treatment laser beam power, wavelength, and beam diameter at the anterior lens capsule are such that the treatment laser beam is absorbed by a light absorbing agent in or on the anterior lens capsule to cause a local temperature increase at the anterior lens capsule along the closed curve of between 50 degrees Celsius and 150 degrees Celsius without ablation of the anterior lens capsule. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein absorption of the treatment laser beam by the light absorbing agent causes a temperature increase at the anterior lens capsule along the closed curve of between 100 degrees Celsius and 120 degrees Celsius. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the treatment laser beam power, wavelength, and beam diameter at the anterior lens capsule are such that the treatment laser beam separates the anterior lens capsule along the closed curve to form an area of anterior lens capsule tissue inside the closed curve and an area of anterior lens capsule tissue outside the closed curve, the lens capsule tissue outside the closed curve defining the boundary of an opening in the anterior lens capsule. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the treatment laser beam power, wavelength, and beam diameter at the anterior lens capsule are such that the treatment laser beam forms a groove in the anterior lens capsule along the closed curve, and the groove does not penetrate the full thickness of the anterior lens capsule. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein absorption of the laser beam at the anterior lens capsule thermally transitions collagen in the anterior lens capsule tissue from a helical structure to an amorphous structure resulting in shrinkage or contraction of the tissue along the closed curve. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, in combination with a surgical contact lens that increases the numerical aperture with which the laser beam is focusable onto the anterior lens capsule thereby reducing exposure of the retina and the fovea of the eye to the laser beam.