The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 09, 1987
Filed:
Feb. 13, 1984
Alvin E Reynolds, Tulsa, OK (US);
Kera Associates, Los Altos, CA (US);
Abstract
A system for adjusting the curvature of the cornea of the eye involves inserting a plastic split end adjusting ring into the stroma of the cornea by first making a first incision in the cornea above the corneal ring at about the eight millimeter chord, then inserting one end of a metal split end dissecting ring into the incision with the trailing end of the dissecting ring remaining outside the cornea. The one end of the dissecting ring has a transverse hole therein near its tip end. The dissecting ring is held by a magnetic holding and rotating device which has a concave end surface and circular groove therein for receiving the metal dissecting ring and for holding it in a circular shape. As the holder is rotated the inserted end of the metal ring is magnetically forced to follow rotation of the holder thus the dissecting ring is inserted in a circular path within the stroma. A sled shaped end portion of the dissecting ring causes the moving inserted end of the dissecting ring to be biased upwardly toward the anterior of the stroma as the dissecting ring is rotatably inserted therein. When the inserted end of the dissecting ring reaches the first incision its rotation is stopped and a second incision is made over the transverse hole in the dissecting ring perpendicular to and intersecting one edge of the first incision. The plastic adjusting member also has a transverse hole near its one sled shaped end which is placed next to the first incision. A connecting link member is inserted through the holes in the ends of the respective dissecting and adjusting rings to releasably join the two rings, the rotational direction of the holding tool is then reversed which 'backs out' the dissecting ring and at the same time pulls in behind it the plastic adjusting ring. When the now joined ends of the two rings are rotated back around to the insertion point, the now withdrawn dissecting ring is released from the adjusting ring. A corneascope type image of the corneal topography is displayed on a visual surface and compared to a desired target image. Adjustment is then made in the relative position of the ends of the adjusting ring to change the shape of the cornea to bring the image of the present shape into coincidence with the desired shape whereupon the two ends of the adjusting ring are fixedly joined to maintain the desired shape.