Stepped microkeratome blade holder
View Patent ↗A blade holder 16 includes a bottom surface 18 for attachment to a blade 30 . A top surface 20 interfaces with a drive-pin 32 of a microkeratome 38 . A drive slot 22 is formed in the top surface 20 for engagement with the drive-pin 32 for allowing oscillation of the blade holder 16 . A plurality of steps 24 are formed in the top surface 20 , and rise from the drive slot 22 toward at least one side 26 of the blade holder 16.
1. A blade holder for attachment to a microkeratome blade comprising:
a bottom surface for attachment to the blade;
a top surface for interfacing with a drive-pin of a microkeratome;
a drive slot formed in the top surface for engagement with the drive-pin for allowing oscillation of the blade holder;
a plurality of steps formed in the top surface and rising from the drive slot toward at least one side of the blade holder; and
wherein a width of each step is less than a diameter of rotation of the drive-pin for ensuring that the drive-pin is directed toward the drive slot.
2. The blade holder of claim 1 , wherein the step widths ensure that the drive-pin will be engaged in the drive slot within three revolutions of the drive-pin after the drive-pin contacts the top surface.
3. The blade holder of claim 1 , wherein three steps are formed from the drive slot towards at least one side of the blade holder.
4. A microkeratome cutting blade assembly comprising:
a cutting blade; and
a blade holder attached to the cutting blade, the blade holder including:
a bottom surface attached to the blade;
a top surface for interfacing with a drive-pin of a microkeratome;
a drive slot formed in the top surface for engagement with the drive-pin;
a plurality of steps forming the top surface and rising from the drive slot toward opposing sides of the blade holder; wherein a width of each step ensure that the drive-pin will be engaged in the drive slot within three revolutions of the drive-pin after the drive-pin contacts the top surface; and
wherein three steps are formed from the drive slot towards each opposing side of the blade holder.
5. A microkeratome system comprising:
a drive-pin having a diameter of revolution;
a cutting blade assembly held within the microkeratome including:
a cutting blade; and
a blade holder attached to the cutting blade, the blade holder including:
a bottom surface attached to the blade;
a top surface for interfacing with the drive-pin;
a drive slot formed in the top surface for engagement with the drive-pin for oscillating the cutting blade assembly; and
a plurality of steps formed in the top surface and rising from the drive slot toward at least one side of the blade holder;
a motor for rotating the drive-pin, and
wherein a width of each step is less than a diameter of rotation of the drive-pin for ensuring that the drive-pin is directed toward the drive slot.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the step widths ensure that the drive-pin will be engaged in the drive slot within three revolutions of the drive-pin after the drive-pin contacts the top surface.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein three steps are formed from the drive slot towards the at least one side of the blade holder.