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:
Apr. 14, 1998
Filed:
May. 31, 1995
Michael Colvard, Pacific Palisades, CA (US);
Varouj D Amirkhanian, Glendale, CA (US);
HeeJung Koh Wescoat, Garden Grove, CA (US);
Judy E Mazza, El Toro, CA (US);
Colette Cozean, El Toro, CA (US);
Premier Laser Systems, Inc., Irvine, CA (US);
Abstract
An optical probe configured for insertion into the anterior chamber of an eye, adjacent to the cataractous lens of the eye, comprises an optical source, and an optical waveguide connected to deliver optical radiation from the source to the probe. The optical radiation is in the form of pulses which have a repetition rate, a wavelength and an optical energy selected to cause significant ablation-induced damage to the lens within an ablation zone, and significant acoustic-induced damage to the lens within an acoustic zone, such that the acoustic zone is significantly larger in size than the ablation zone. The acoustic zone is created by generating shock waves which radiate from the ablation zone and propagate through hard nuclear material of the cataractous lens, such that the nuclear material is microfractured. The microfractured lens material is significantly more reactive to the laser pulses than prior to microfracturing, and the hard nuclear material readily disintegrates into small fragments in response to application of laser pulses.