EP0422112B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combined microwave heating and surface cooling of the cornea
Assignee: Dartmouth College
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Filing: 1989-06-27
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Granted: 1996-02-07
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Expires: 2009-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A non-invasive method and apparatus of reshaping the cornea to correct hyperopia, keratoconus, or myopia is described. The central stroma of the cornea is heated by microwave electromagnetic energy to the shrinkage temperature of collagen. The microwave applicator for heating stroma comprises an open-ended, coaxial antenna driven at 2450 MHz with apparatus for surface cooling of the cornea by flow of saline transverse to the antenna axis.
Inventors
- 👤 B. Stuart Trembly
- 👤 Ralph E. Crump
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:47
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/0079; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61F9/013; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/02; A61N5/04; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00029; A61F7/00; A61F2007/0054; A61F2007/0056; A61F2007/0059; A61F2007/0063; A61F9/008; A61F2009/00853; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00872
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
An applicator for selectively heating portions of the eye including antenna means (16) for radiating microwave energy, and cooling means (18) for cooling said heated portions of the eye during radiation of said microwave energy characterized in that antenna means (16) is capable of radiating microwave energy in a pattern to apply a portion of said energy at a predetermined depth within the cornea of the eye to elevate the temperature of the cornea tissue at said depth to shrink such tissue, said cooling means (18) is arranged to cool said heated portion of the eye by flowing fluid over the outer surface of the cornea to prevent excessive temperature elevation of the cornea tissue, said cooling means including an applicator tube (60) having a sidewall and a first opening at one end connected to a source (24) of cooling fluid, said antenna means (16) extending along a central axis, a first opening (50) disposed along said sidewall of said applicator tube adapted to receive said antenna means (16), a cornea-conforming opening (43) disposed along said sidewall of said applicator tube (60) substantially opposite said first opening, and spacing means (26) for separating said antenna means (16) from said cornea, said spacing means (26) having at least one channel extending at least partly therethrough substantially transverse to said central axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
An applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna means (16) has a distal end and a proximal end and comprises a coaxial cable (14) having inner and outer spaced apart conductors coaxial to said central axis and the spacing means (26) is disposed coaxial to said cable at the distal end thereof to permit flow of said fluid over said cornea from said cooling means in a path transverse the axis of said cable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
An applicator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spacing means (26) comprises a standoff member having a main body having a first end and a second end extending along a longitudinal axis, said first end of said member being adapted to receive said antenna means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An applicator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said spacing means further comprises cornea retention means (28) coupled to said second end of said standoff member for minimizing bulging of the cornea.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An applicator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first opening (50) receives said spacing means, said spacing means placing said antenna means in close proximity with said second opening and said cornea.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
An applicator as claimed in claim 1 further including a housing (42) disposed over the circular opening (50) in said applicator tube (60) with an opening (48) therein for receiving said spacing means (26), said housing opening and said spacing means forming a fluid-tight seal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An applicator as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cornea retention means comprises a plurality of cross-members (28) extending across the second end of the standoff member transverse the central axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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