[54] ROTATING BLADE CAPSULOTOMY INSTRUMENT AND METHOD OF PERFORMING A CAPSULOTOMY
[76] Inventor: Howard E. Lazerson, 935 Glenhaven Dr., Pacific Palisades, Calif. 90277
[21] Appl. No.: 52,795
[22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1993
Related U.S. Application Data
[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 992,610, Dec. 18, 1992, abandoned.
[51] Int. CI.* A61B 17/32
[52] U.S. Q 606/166; 606/170;
30/321
[58] Field of Search 606/107, 166, 167, 170,
606/171, 180; 30/317, 321
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,657,012 4/1987 Burgin 606/167
4,708,138 11/1987 Pazandak 606/107
4,766,896 8/1988 Pao 606/170
4,885,004 12/1989 Pao 604/22
5,156,607 10/1992 Kansas 606/170
5,203,865 4/1993 Siepser 606/166
5,217,476 6/1993 Wishinsky 606/107
5,222,960 6/1993 Poley 606/107
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
165657 12/1985 European Pat. Off. 606/166
Primary Examiner—Ralph Lewis
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Beehler & Pavitt
[57] ABSTRACT
An instrument and method for performing a capsulotomy where the instrument is in the form of a tubular probe through which irrigation fluid may be passed, the end of the probe carrying a thin blade pivotable about an axis transverse to the axis of the tubular probe, the blade being disposed eccentrically with reference to the axis, with its major trailing cutting edge located toward the rear of the blade and at a greater distance from the axis than the leading end of the blade so that, when the leading end of the blade is applied to cut the anterior wall of the capsule, the cutting is completed by the swiveling of the blade about the axis to follow the movement of the leading end. The method involves the use of this blade to perform a circular cut in the capsule wall through which the cataract may be drawn out.
18 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
