Keravision, Inc.

Origin Medsystems, Inc.

Applied Medical Resources Corporation

Bryan E Loomas

Mark L Mathis

Thomas A Silvestrini

John D Davis

Thomas A Kramer

James M Davenport

Tim J Kovac

John T To

John P Lunsford

Edwin J Hlavka

Lee Bolduc

Scott H Miller

A seal for use in a surgical instrument to provide a gas-tight seal with an instrument passed through the seal. The seal can form a gas-tight seal with an instrument having a diameter within a wide range of diameters. The seal comprises a seal body, an instrument seal, and a laterally-compliant seal mounting device. The seal body includes a bore through which the instrument is passed. The instrument seal is made of an elastic material and is disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis defined by the bore in the seal body. The instrument seal includes an instrument port through which the instrument is passed. The laterally-compliant seal mounting device mounts the instrument seal to the seal body, forms a gas-tight seal between the instrument seal and the seal body, and allows the instrument seal to move freely laterally in response to lateral movement of the instrument.

Gas-tight seal accomodating surgical instruments with a wide range of diameters

A disposable seal assembly for use with a reusable cannula, where the seal assembly is designed for use with the cannula during a single medical procedure and the cannula is designed for multiple uses (each time with a different seal assembly) during a number of medical procedures. The seal assembly includes both a flapper valve fluid seal (for sealing the cannula when no medical instrument is inserted through the seal assembly) and at least one instrument seal (for sealing the cannula when a medical instrument is inserted through the seal assembly). Preferably, the seal assembly has a body with a flange which can be snapped onto the cannula before use, and readily removed after use. Also preferably, the flapper valve has an over-centered hinge. In other embodiments, the invention is a seal assembly which includes at least one double instrument seal including a sacrificial flange and a sealing flange, and optionally also a flapper valve. The sealing flange seals the cannula when a medical instrument is inserted through the seal assembly even when the sacrificial flange has been cut during insertion of the instrument. In other embodiments, the invention is a system including a reusable cannula, and a disposable seal assembly of any of the described types which can be snapped onto the cannula before use and readily removed after use.

Reusable cannula with disposable seal

The intrastromal corneal ring is adjustable in thickness and has an elongated, flexible, preferably transparent or translucent body which forms a circle. The intrastromal corneal ring is of a size such that it can be inserted into a human eye and is comprised of a material which is compatible with human ocular tissue. The thickness of the ring can be adjusted so that it is not necessary to stock a plurality of different rings of different sizes to be used in connection with a method of adjusting the shape of the cornea of the eye. A plurality of different embodiments of intrastromal corneal rings are disclosed each of which are adjustable in terms of their thickness. The thickness may be adjusted prior to the insertion of the intrastromal corneal ring into the cornea and may not be further adjustable after insertion. However, in accordance with preferred embodiments the intrastromal corneal ring is inserted at a thickness which is believed to be proper and may thereafter be further adjusted in order to precisely define the desired thickness and thereby more precisely adjust the shape of the cornea and focus the light entering the eye on the retina.

Adjustable devices for corneal curvature adjustment

The intrastromal corneal ring is adjustable in thickness and has an elongated, flexible, preferably transparent or translucent body which forms a circle. The intrastromal corneal ring is of a size such that it can be inserted into a human eye and is comprised of a material which is compatible with human ocular tissue. The thickness of the ring can be adjusted so that it is not necessary to stock a plurality of different rings of different sizes to be used in connection with a method of adjusting the shape of the cornea of the eye. A plurality of different embodiments of intrastromal corneal rings, including a spiral shaped intrastromal corneal ring, are disclosed each of which are adjustable in terms of their thickness. The thickness may be adjusted prior to the insertion of the intrastromal corneal ring into the cornea and may not be further adjustable after insertion. However, in accordance with preferred embodiments the intrastromal corneal ring is inserted at a thickness which is believed to be proper and may thereafter be further adjusted in order to precisely define the desired thickness and thereby more precisely adjust the shape of the cornea and focus the light entering the eye on the retina.

Gas-tight seal accommodating surgical instruments with a wide range of

A cannula is extended through the wall of a body cavity by a trocar having a piercing head slidable through the cannula between a condition extending distally from the cannula and a condition retracted within the cannula. A latch releasably secures the piercing head in the extended condition against the force of a spring which normally biases the piercing head to the retracted condition. Resiliently biased plungers extend longitudinally of the piercing head for retraction in response to counterforce as the piercing head advances through the wall of a body passage and extension upon the release of the counterforce. Extension of the plungers upon release of the counterforce functions to release the piercing head for retraction.

Retracting tip trocar with plunger sensor

The intrastromal corneal ring (ICR) is adjustable in thickness and has an elongated, flexible, preferably transparent or translucent body which forms a circle. The ICR is of a size such that it can be inserted into a human eye and is comprised of a material which is compatible with human ocular tissue. The thickness of the ring can be adjusted so that it is not necessary to stock a plurality of different rings of different sizes to be used in connection with a method of adjusting the shape of the cornea of the eye. A plurality of different embodiments of ICRs are disclosed each of which are adjustable in terms of their thickness. The thickness may be adjusted prior to the insertion of the ICR into the cornea and may not be further adjustable after insertion. However, in accordance with preferred embodiments the ICR is inserted at a thickness which is believed to be proper and may thereafter be further adjusted in order to precisely define the desired thickness and thereby more precisely adjust the shape of the cornea and focus the light entering the eye on the retina.

A seal for use in a surgical instrument to provide a gas-tight seal with an instrument passed through the seal. The seal can form a gas-tight seal with an instrument having a diameter within a wide range of diameters. The seal comprises a seal body, an instrument seal, and a laterally-compliant seal mounting. The seal body includes a bore through which the instrument is passed. The instrument seal is made of an elastic material. The instrument seal extends radially outwards from an instrument port formed in the instrument seal through which the instrument is passed. The instrument port is substantially perpendicular to the axis. The instrument seal also extends axially from the instrument port in the direction opposite to that in which the instrument is passed through the instrument port. The laterally-compliant seal mounting mounts the instrument seal to the seal body, forms a gas-fight seal between the instrument seal and the seal body, and allows the instrument seal to move freely laterally in response to lateral movement of the instrument.

This invention is a surgical device for producing a generally circular, interlamellar pathway within the corneal stroma of the eye. The device is made up of three major components: a vacuum centering guide having an inner bore which fits at one end against the front of the eye, a barrel which fits within the inner bore of the centering guide and to which is attached the third major component, a generally circular dissecting ring. The dissecting ring is shaped in such way that when an eye surgeon twists the barrel to which the ring is attached, the ring moves through the interlamellar space in the stroma producing the desired channel or pathway. The centering guide may optionally include a ring having one or more pins which firmly engage the cornea's epiphilium. The constituent parts of the surgical device, particularly the dissecting ring, also form a part of this invention. A split ring, or intracorneal ring ('ICR'), is inserted into the intrastromal passageway produced by the inventive device. The ICR changes the shape of the cornea and, in doing so, provides a chosen measure of visual correction.

Corneal vacuum centering guide and dissector

A method for refractive correction of the eye in order to improve the vision of the eye while not adversely affecting its natural asphericity is described. The method involves determining the amount of correction necessary, selecting an intrastromal corneal ring (ICR) of appropriate thickness to obtain the necessary correction from a selection of ICRs of varying thickness, and inserting the ICR into the corneal stroma. The method may be useful for the correction of myopia and excessive astigmatism.

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Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Bryan E Loomas