GB2179859A - Device for ophthalmosurgery - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for ophthalmosurgery comprises a holder (1), a cutting tool (5) and at least one cam (9) mounted on the holder (1) rotatably in a plane situated lengthwise the cutting tool (5) and featuring its contour so shaped as to suit the profile of the incision to be made. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for ophthalmosurgery The invention relates generally to surgical instruments and more specifically it concerns devices for ophthalmosurgery.

The invention can find application for making blind incisions, for a preset depth and of a preset shape, in the cornea during surgery on the eye aimed at modifying its refraction.

One prior-art device for ophthalmosurgery is known to comprise a holder carrying a cutting tool which is longitudinally movable. The device comprises also a spherical-type stop adapted to interact with the corneal surface during surgery (cf., e.g., USSR Inventor's Certificate No. 959,779, Class A 61 F 9/00, 1979).

The device suffers from the following disadvantages: too low quality of ophthalmosurgery carried out, waste of time during surgery and the danger of the cornea perforation.

Another device for ophthalmosurgery is known in the art, comprising a holder carrying a cutting tool which is longitudinally traversable, and a stop made as an L-shaped bracket (cf., e.g., USSR Inventor's Certificate No.

1,016,882, Class A 61 F 9/00, 1982).

However, said device suffers from the following disadvantages: ~inadequately high quality of surgery on the eye accounted for by the fact that the construction of the device fails to provide an incision along a required ideal curve, whereby the cornea is incised stepwise in zones so that the straight linearity of the incision might be upset, as well as axial alignment of the steps; ~the aforementioned stepwise incisions in the cornea result in an increased duration of the operative cycle due to repeated insertion of the cutting tool into the incision being made, after having extended the tool for a required length.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for ophthalmosurgery, comprising a holder, a cutting element fast with the holder, and at least one cam mounted on the holder for contacting the corneal surface of an eye during surgery, said cam being rotatable about an axis to the profile of the incision to be made. A device for ophthalmosurgery embodying the invention may cut down the duration of the operative cycle and provide a better quality of microsurgery on the eye due to an incision being made in the cornea along a required ideal curve. A device embodying the invention may also provide conditions necessary for the ophthalmosurgeon to shape the visible margins of the corneal incision.

In a preferred embodiment two coaxially arranged cams are set parallel to each other on pivots arranged perpendicular to the plane in which the cutting tool is situated.

It may also be expedient that the device be provided with two cams inclined at an equal angle to the plane of the cutting element.

It is advantageous that the cams be springloaded in the plane of their rotation and be detachable.

A full understanding of the invention and its advantages may be gained from the following description of embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a general schematic view, partly in section, of a device for ophthalmosurgery, according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view of the same device, showing the stop with two cams as seen along the arrow A, according to the invention; and Figure 3 is a view of the same device, representing the stop with two cams in an angular position as shown along the arrow A, according to the invention.

The device for ophthalmosurgery comprises a hollow holder 1 (Fig. 1) carrying an index mark 2, a micrometer screw 3 at one of the holder end, said screw having a scale 4, as well as a cutting tool 5 at the opposite end of the holder 1. Located close to the cutting tool 5 is a stop 6 adapted to interact with the corneal surface.

The stop 6 comprises a bar 7, a pivot 8 and at least one cam 9 set on the pivot 8 rotatably in a plane situated lengthwise the cutting tool 5.

The contour of the cam 9 is so shaped as to suit the profile of the incision to be made in the cornea. The stop 6 is made fast on the holder 1 through a latch 10.

Besides, the holder 1 carries a spring-actuated rod 11 having a retainer 12 through which the cutting tool in the form of a safety rather blade is held to the rod 11, the latter being adapted to interact with the micrometer screw 3.

The cam 9 is spring-loaded in the plane of its rotation with a spring 13 and is detachable, for which purpose the cam 9 is set on the pivot 8, which is square with the plane of the cutting tool 5.

In case of different curvature of the cornea, with a view to exerting a uniformly distributed cutting force thereon, the stop 6 is provided with two coaxially arranged cams 9 and 14 (Fig. 2) set parallel to each other on the pivots 8, which are square with the plane of the cutting tool 5.

It is with the purpose of shaping visible margins of the corneal incision that cams 15 (Fig. 3) are set at the same angle to the plane of the cutting tool 5.

The cams 15 as well as the cams 14 and 9 (Figs. 1, 2) are detachable and are loaded with the spring 13.

The device operates as follows.

A A required contour of the cam 9 or of the cams 9 and 14 to be applied in surgery is selected, whereupon the thus-choosen cam is set on the pivot 8 of the stop 6. Then the thus-assembled stop 6 is locked in place on the holder 1 with the aid of the latch 10 so that the cam 9 (14) be located in a plane situated lengthwise the cutting tool 5 secured in the retainer 12. Next one should rotate the screw 3 in order to set the cutting tool 5 flush with the surface of the cam 9.

Thereupon one should take readings of the index mark 2 on the scale 4, after which the screw 3 is to be rotated for the cutting tool 5 to extend for a preset length corresponding to the depth of incision at the initial point of cutting, whereby the cutting tool 5 gets ready completely for surgery.

Then one should proceed to make an incision. To this end the cornea is to be pierced at the initial point with the aid of the cutting tool 5 until the surface of the cam 9 (14) gets in contact with the corneal surface, and an incision is made therein along a preset line. In this case the surface of the cam 9 (14) rolls over the corneal surface, thus establishing a required depth of incision at every cutting point. Upon withdrawal of the device from the cornea the cam 9(14) returns into the initial position by virtue of the torsion spring 13.

Application of the device disclosed in the invention makes it possible to cut down duration of the operative cycle approximately two times.

Such a reduction of the operating time is accounted for by the fact that construction of the device provides for a single-stage insertion of the cutting tool into the incision being made.

In addition, the quality of surgery performed is improved due to the fact that application of the device involved enables one to make an incision along an ideal curve rather than making stepwise incision in the cornea within separate zones. Such performance of a incision rules out disturbance of its straight linearity.

Claims (6)

1. A device for ophthalmosurgery, comprising a holder, a cutting element fast with the holder, and at least one cam mounted on the holder for contacting the corneal surface of an eye during surgery, said cam being rotatable about an axis transverse to the cutting element and being shaped according to the profile of the incision to be made.

2. A device according to Claim 1, comprising two coaxial cams, said cams being mounted parallel to each other on pivots arranged perpendicular to the plane in which the cutting element is positioned.

3. A device according to Claim 1, comprising two cams mounted on pivots inclined at an equal angle to the plane of the cutting element.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the cams are spring-loaded in the plane of their rotation.

5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the cams are detachable.

6. A device for ophthalmosurgery substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.