A
surgical instrument for
ophthalmic surgery, allowing the user to form a uniform circular incision of the
anterior lens capsule of an eyeball, as part of an anterior
capsulotomy. The capsulectomy device of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has first and second ends, with a rotor emanating from one end, the rotor having a
cutting blade or bin situated at the distal end of the rotor, the rotor rotating in pivotal fashion up to 360 degrees, while simultaneously reciprocating the
cutting blade at a consistent
stroke so as to provide optimal incision edge and depth of the
anterior lens capsule of the eyeball. The device is
hand held and relatively compact, having provided therein a motor and gear reduction /
transmission system for driving the rotor and providing the reciprocating action to the
cutting blade or pin. The device further includes a power supply, which is illustrated as a separate component fed to the device via wire, as well as controls for initiating power, as well as varying the speed of the motor. Unlike the prior art systems, which generally have relied upon the skill of the surgeon to perform the radial incision by hand, the present
system provides a relatively easy and
uniform system for performing the radial incision which is believed to be
safer, more uniform, and less
time consuming than prior techniques.