Apparatus and method for corneal marking

Abstract

A corneal marking system, and methods for its use, has a tilt-detecting device attached to a corneal marker, adapted to produce a signal when the corneal marker is in a horizontal position. Use of measurement devices may be coordinated between the marker and a level-measuring device positioned on a patient's head. Devices capable of measuring one, two or three axes are used and processors are provided to evaluate the data produced by the devices and provide a physician with a signal that the positions of the patient's head and the marker are such that an accurate marking procedure can be performed.

1 . A marking apparatus for marking a cornea of a patient, said marking apparatus comprising:
 a handle having a proximal end and a distal end;   a mounting platform attached to said handle distal end;   a tilt detector attached to said mounting platform for detecting a spatial orientation of said marking apparatus with respect to a selected datum, said tilt detector configured to indicate the orientation of said marking apparatus;   wherein said tilt detector is an electronic level sensor having at least one light provided thereon to indicate the spatial orientation of said marking apparatus with respect to a selected datum, said electronic level sensor and said at least one light carried on said mounting platform;   a corneal marker attached to said platform for marking said cornea,   said corneal marker configurable to be located at a selected orientation with respect to said selected datum.   
     
     
         2 . The marking apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said selected datum is a true horizontal plane. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The marking apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said at least one light of said electronic level sensor is configured to produce visual signals as said electronic level sensor moves with respect to said datum. 
     
     
         6 . The marking apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said electronic level sensor has an audible signal-generator configured to produce characteristic audibly-detectable signals as said electronic level sensor moves with respect to said datum. 
     
     
         7 . The marking apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said handle and said platform meet at an angle. 
     
     
         8 . The marking apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein handle and said corneal marker meet at an angle. 
     
     
         9 . The marking as recited in  claim 1  wherein said platform is positioned intermediate said corneal marker and said handle. 
     
     
         10 . The marking apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said handle is configured to form a grip intermediate said proximal and distal ends. 
     
     
         11 . The marking apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said datum is selected from at least one of an x-axis; a y-axis; and a z-axis. 
     
     
         12 . The marking apparatus as recited in  claim 11  further comprising:
 a summarizer configured to compare the orientation of said marking apparatus with respect to said at least one axis to a table of calculated values; 
 and said summarizer further configured to generate at least one of an audio and a visual signal when the orientation of said marking apparatus meets a predetermined threshold with respect to said table of calculated values. 
 
     
     
         13 . The marking apparatus as recited in  claim 12  wherein said summarizer comprises a computer program. 
     
     
         14 . The marking apparatus as recited in  claim 12  wherein said at least one of an audio and a visual signal varies in response to a comparison of the orientation of said marking apparatus to said table of calculated values. 
     
     
         15 . The marking apparatus as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a focusing lamp positioned on said marking apparatus for being viewed by a patient when said apparatus is in a position to mark a cornea of the patient. 
 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method for marking the cornea of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) obtaining the marking apparatus of  claim 1 ;   (b) positioning a patient to mark a cornea of the patient;   (c) manipulating said marking apparatus until said tilt detector indicates the orientation of said marking apparatus; and   (d) bringing said marking apparatus into contact with the cornea to create a mark on the cornea.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  further including the step of:
 selecting said datum to be a true horizontal plane. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  further including the step of:
 activating a focusing lamp on said marking apparatus to focus the eye of the patient on said lamp. 
 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled)