Ophthalmic incisional procedure instrument and method

Abstract

An incisional instrument and method of use for creating accurate, reproducible surgical incisions. An exemplary embodiment includes an incisional instrument configured for attachment to a patient's eye and for use performing arcuate limbal relaxing incisions (LRIs). The incisional instrument is made up of two coaxial, interconnecting pieces: a docking piece and a cutting piece. The docking piece includes a suction mechanism and is configured for being secured to a patient's eye just outside the corneal limbus. The cutting piece is configured to fit flush within the docking piece and includes cutting blades and one or more handles for rotating the cutting piece relative to the docking piece. When assembled, the cutting blades extend beyond the proximal end of the docking piece by a length equal to the desired depth of LRIs to be cut. The incisional instrument further includes measurement markings for properly positioning and measuring incisions.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . An ophthalmic incisional instrument for making limbal relaxing incisions (LRIs) on a patient's eye having a sclera, a cornea, and a corneal limbus, the instrument comprising:
 a docking piece having proximal and distal ends and a receiver extending between said docking piece ends;   said docking piece proximal end configured for placement on the sclera of said patient's eye;   said docking piece comprising an open center accommodating alignment of said docking piece on said sclera of said patient's eye;   a cutting piece having proximal and distal ends and a rotational axis extending between said cutting piece ends;   said cutting piece configured for insertion into said docking piece receiver and for rotation relative to said docking piece about said rotational axis in an assembled configuration of the instrument;   said cutting piece mounting two cutting blades, each cutting blade extending proximally from said docking piece proximal end a fixed extension length approximately equal to a desired LRI incisional depth with said instrument in said assembled configuration;   said docking piece further comprising a suction chamber open at said docking piece proximal end;   wherein said docking piece is configured for releasable attachment to the sclera of said patient's eye via sub-atmospheric pressure in said suction chamber;   said docking piece receiver comprises a larger opening portion at said docking piece distal end and a smaller opening portion proximally from said larger opening portion forming a step portion;   said step portion providing a mechanical stop for said cutting piece in said assembled configuration preventing further extension of said cutting blades into said patient's eye beyond said fixed extension length; and   said cutting blades configured for forming arcuate LRIs in said patient's eye coaxial to said rotational axis.   
     
     
         2 . The incisional instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said docking piece further comprises an open center accommodating alignment of said docking piece on said sclera of said patient's eye.   
     
     
         3 . The incisional instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said docking piece further comprises a side opening to said suction chamber; and   said suction chamber side opening is configured for sealable attachment to a sub-atmospheric pressure source.   
     
     
         4 . The incisional instrument according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 said sub-atmospheric pressure source comprises a syringe.   
     
     
         5 . The incisional instrument according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 said sub-atmospheric pressure source comprises a vacuum; and   said sealable attachment comprises tubing configured for connecting said vacuum to said suction chamber via a sealed connection through said side opening.   
     
     
         6 . The incisional instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said cutting blades are positioned in 180-degree opposed relation; and   said cutting blades are configured for making symmetrical incisions of equal length, depth, and curvature.   
     
     
         7 . The incisional instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said cutting piece further comprises a handle on said cutting piece distal end; and   said handle accommodates efficient rotation of said cutting piece relative to said docking piece.   
     
     
         8 . The incisional instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said docking piece further comprises measurement markings on the distal side of said docking piece;   said cutting piece further comprises a reference marking for aligning with said docking piece measurement markings; and   said measurement markings and said reference marking accommodate measurement of incisions.   
     
     
         9 . The incisional instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said cutting blades are detachable; and   said cutting blades are configured for detachment and for replacement with cutting blades of a desired alternative length.   
     
     
         10 . An ophthalmic method for making limbal relaxing incisions (LRIs) on a patient's eye having a sclera, a cornea, and a corneal limbus with an incisional instrument including a docking piece having proximal and distal ends, a suction chamber open at the docking piece proximal end, and a receiver extending between the docking piece ends; the docking piece receiver including a larger opening portion at the docking piece distal end and a smaller opening portion proximally from said larger opening portion forming a step portion; a cutting piece having proximal and distal ends and a rotational axis extending between the cutting piece ends; the cutting piece configured for insertion into the docking piece receiver and for rotation relative to the docking piece about the rotational axis in an assembled configuration of the instrument; and the cutting piece mounting two cutting blades, each cutting blade extending proximally from the docking piece proximal end a fixed extension length approximately equal to a desired LRI incisional depth with the instrument in the assembled configuration; the method comprising the steps of:
 aligning said docking piece proximal end on the sclera of said patient's eye;   applying sub-atmospheric pressure to said suction chamber, attaching said docking piece to said sclera of said patient's eye;   aligning said cutting piece with said docking piece and said patient's eye as desired;   placing said cutting piece within said docking piece receiver in said assembled position, inserting said cutting blades into said patient's eye at desired LRI locations;   said step portion stopping said cutting piece and preventing further extension of said cutting blades into said patient's eye beyond said fixed extension length;   rotating said cutting piece relative to said docking piece about said rotational axis a desired direction and length, forming arcuate LRIs in said patient's eye coaxial to said rotational axis; and   removing said cutting piece and said docking piece from said patient's eye.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said docking piece further comprises an open center accommodating alignment of said docking piece on said sclera of said patient's eye.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
 removing sub-atmospheric pressure from said docking piece suction chamber.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said cutting blades are positioned in 180-degree opposed relation; and   said cutting blades are configured for making symmetrical incisions of equal length, depth, and curvature.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said docking piece further comprises measurement markings on the distal side of said docking piece;   said cutting piece further comprises a reference marking for aligning with said docking piece measurement markings; and   said measurement markings and said reference marking accommodate measurement of incisions.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
 marking said desired LRI locations on said patient's eye; and   matching up said cutting blades with said marked desired LRI locations when placing said cutting piece within said docking piece.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said cutting blades are detachable, the method further comprising the steps of:
 detaching said cutting blades; and   replacing said detached cutting blades with cutting blades of a desired alternative length.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said rotating said cutting piece relative to said docking piece about said rotational axis comprises holding said docking piece with a first hand and rotating said cutting piece relative to said docking piece about said rotational axis with a second hand.