Corneagen Inc.

Douglas C Drabble

Jerry W Barker

Yousuf Khalifa

Timothy G Baldwin

Matthew Giegengack

Peter R Andrews

A device for separating tissue in an eye includes a body configured to be positioned on the eye surface. The body receives air from one or more air supplies. The body includes one or more air supply channels. The separation device includes a plurality of needles extending from the body. Each needle includes a proximal opening, a distal opening, and a passageway extending between the proximal and distal openings. The proximal openings of the needles are coupled to the one or more air supply channels. The distal openings of the needles are spaced from the body to be positioned in eye tissue. The one or more air supply channels direct the air from the one or more air supplies into the proximal openings, through the passageways, and out the distal openings of the needles and into the eye tissue. The air applies a pressure to separate the eye tissue.

Systems and methods for separating tissue in corneal transplant procedures

Corneal transplant procedures may involve suturing an implant of healthy corneal tissue to a recipient cornea. The sutures may cause unwanted deformation of the corneal implant and the recipient cornea. A supporting structure may be embedded into the corneal implant to enhance the stability of the corneal implant and the recipient cornea and to reduce the likelihood of unwanted deformation when the corneal implant is sutured to the recipient cornea. According to one embodiment, a corneal implant includes donor corneal tissue extracted from a donor cornea. The donor corneal tissue includes an interior channel formed at a depth below an anterior surface. The corneal implant includes a supporting structure formed from non-tissue material and positioned in the channel.

Systems and methods for corneal transplants

A device for manipulating an implant includes a handle coupled to a guide extending from the handle to a distal end. The device includes an engagement mechanism disposed at the distal end of the guide and configured to engage an implant. The device includes a first actuator disposed on the handle and coupled to the engagement mechanism. The first actuator causes the engagement mechanism to engage the implant. The device includes an air chamber disposed in an interior chamber of the handle and configured to hold air. The device includes a lumen coupled to the air chamber and extending along the guide to the distal end. The lumen includes an air channel extending through the lumen. The device includes a second actuator disposed on the handle. The second actuator causes the air chamber to deliver the air, via the air channel, to the distal end.

Devices and methods for implanting corneal tissue

A dissection system for corneal transplants includes a housing including a contact side to be positioned against a cornea. The housing includes an interior passageway with an opening at the contact side. The dissection system includes a blade assembly disposed in the interior passageway. The blade assembly includes a first blade and a second blade. The first blade includes a first cutting edge and the second blade includes a second cutting edge. The first blade and the second blade are movable relative to the housing such that the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge extend through the opening of the housing and out of the interior passageway. The first cutting edge produces a first cut in the cornea. The second cutting edge produces a second cut in the cornea. The first cut and the second cut define a volume of tissue for removal from the cornea.

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Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America

Douglas C Drabble