Device and method for marking the cornea

Abstract

A device and method for marking corneal tissue. The device includes an ink reservoir portion and an ink resist portion. The ink reservoir portion is annular in shape and the ink resist portion occupies a central area within the annular shape. The ink reservoir portion and the ink resist portion are sized and structured to interface with the central cornea and to apply ink to the corneal tissue. The method includes applying ink to the cornea in an annular pattern.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A device for marking an anterior corneal surface, comprising:
 an ink reservoir portion and an ink resist portion;   the ink reservoir portion being annular in shape and the ink resist portion occupying a central area within the annular shape; and   the ink reservoir portion and the ink resist portion being sized and structured to interface with the anterior corneal surface and to apply ink to corneal tissue.   
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the ink reservoir portion has an outside diameter between 3.2 and 4.4 millimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the ink reservoir portion has an outside diameter of 3.6 millimeters. 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the ink resist portion has a diameter of between 1.0 and 2.2 millimeters. 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the ink resist portion has a diameter of 1.8 millimeters. 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the ink reservoir portion further comprises an absorbent material adapted to absorb and release ink. 
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a well corneal ink applicator, the well corneal ink applicator further comprising a peripheral ring portion and a central ink resist portion, the peripheral ring portion and the central ink resist portion being separated by an annular intervening space. 
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising an applicator tip having tonometer coupling portion including a coupling barrel adapted for coupling the applicator tip to a Goldmann tonometer. 
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising an applicator tip and a slit lamp coupling portion, the slit lamp coupling portion being adapted to support and couple the applicator tip to a slit lamp biomicroscope. 
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising an applicator tip and a holder portion adapted to permit hand holding of the device. 
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a mirror operably coupled to the holder portion and positioned and directed to facilitate self administration on ink to the anterior corneal surface. 
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a digital camera or hand held digital device operably coupled to the holder portion and positioned and directed to facilitate self administration of ink to the anterior corneal surface. 
     
     
         14 . A method of creating a small aperture optical structure in a corneal epithelium of an eye, comprising:
 applying surgical ink to a portion of the corneal epithelium not deeper than a basement membrane of the corneal epithelium of a patient in an annular pattern surrounding a central uninked portion thereby creating an optical effect of the small aperture optical structure;   wherein the annular pattern and the central uninked portion have a center point; and   applying the surgical ink to a portion of the corneal epithelium that has been surgically removed from the cornea.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising locating the center point at a location coinciding with a visual axis of the eye. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising locating the center point at a location proximate an axis coinciding with a center of the pupil of the eye. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising applying the surgical ink such that the central uninked portion has a diameter of between 1.0 and 2.2 millimeters. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising applying the surgical ink such that the central uninked portion has a diameter of 1.6 millimeters. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising applying the surgical ink such that the annular pattern has an outside diameter of between 3.2 and 4.4 millimeters. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising applying the surgical ink such that the annular pattern has an outside diameter of 3.6 millimeters. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising applying the surgical ink to an anterior surface of the corneal epithelium. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising reinserting the portion of the corneal epithelium to which surgical ink has been applied into the cornea. 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising storing the portion of the corneal epithelium for a period of time and reinserting the portion of the corneal epithelium into the cornea at a later time.