Capsulotomy device

Abstract

A surgical device and procedure for accessing tissue to perform microsurgery, including a capsulotomy of a lens capsule of an eye. The device includes a handpiece with a tip for insertion into an incision. A sliding element is disposed within the handpiece and a suction cup is mounted to the sliding element. The sliding element can be translated to move the suction cup into and out of the handpiece. A compression mechanism associated with the suction cup and the handpiece compresses the suction cup for deployment through the tip of the handpiece. The suction cup can expand inside the anterior chamber into a cutting position. A cutting element mounted to the suction cup is used to cut a portion and to remove the portion. The cutting element may be mounted to a cutting element support structure in a way that prevents heating of the device.

Description

[0001] Inventor: CHRISTOPHER GUILD KELLER [0002] Cross References to Related Applications [0003] This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 550,111, filed October 21, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. technical field [0004] The present invention relates generally to tissue microsurgery, and more particularly to procedures and devices for accessing tissue through another tissue layer to cut or otherwise manipulate tissue. For example, the procedures and devices may be used to deliver ophthalmic surgical devices through the cornea to the anterior lens capsule membrane in the anterior chamber of the eye. Background technique [0005] Lens cataracts are a leading cause of blindness worldwide, and surgical treatment by cataract removal is the treatment of choice. A cataract is a cloud that forms within the lens of the eye or its enclosure. The formation of opaque areas within the lens blocks light fro...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Microsurgical instruments are often not compact enough, or not streamlined enough in shape to make it difficult for physicians to minimize incision size, or there may be a risk of tearing or other damage at the incision site

Cutting elements or other sharp parts are sometimes exposed during insertion, requiring great precision from the physician and creating a further risk of collateral injury to tissue when inserting the instrument through the incision

In addition, such insertions often require multiple steps and sometimes complex manipulation of instruments by the physician, leaving little room for error

Once inserted, instruments are often not easy to maneuver and physicians are forced to handle and move multiple individual parts in a small space

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