IP Library Granted Patent US 11,717,439
Granted Patent B2
US 11,717,439 · App. 16/884,335 · Granted Aug 8, 2023

Rotational cutter

Inventors: Niccolo Maschio (Winterthur, CH); Niels Alexander Abt (Wintherthur, CH); Reto Grueebler (Greifensee, CH); Philipp Schaller (Stein am Rhein, CH); Timo Jung (Winterthur, CH); Rodolfo Wolfer (Schaffhausen, CH)
Assignee: Alcon Inc.
A61F9/00763
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,717,439
App. No.
16/884,335
Granted
Aug 8, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a rotational cutter for delaminating a membrane from a retina of an eye. The rotational cutter may comprise a first shaft and a second shaft comprising a blade portion, wherein the second shaft is coupled to a driver that is configured to at least partially rotate the second shaft relative to the first shaft, wherein rotating the second shaft rotates the blade portion for delaminating the membrane. The rotational cutter may also comprise a bottom portion configured to interface with a surface of the retina, wherein the bottom portion comprises one or more curved edges.

Claims (19)

1. A rotational cutter for delaminating a membrane from a retina of an eye, comprising:

a first shaft;

a second shaft comprising a blade portion, wherein the second shaft is coupled to a driver that is configured to at least partially rotate the second shaft relative to the first shaft, wherein rotating the second shaft rotates the blade portion for delaminating the membrane; and

a bottom portion configured to interface with a surface of the retina, wherein the bottom portion comprises one or more curved edges;

wherein:

the blade portion comprises upper teeth; and

the first shaft comprises:

an exposed portion configured to interface with the surface of the retina, the exposed portion having a curved back surface extending continuously from a proximal end of the exposed portion to the bottom portion; and

a second blade portion including the bottom portion, wherein the second blade portion comprises lower teeth;

wherein the lower teeth comprise a plurality of teeth between a left-most outer tooth and an opposing right-most outer tooth, wherein the left-most outer tooth has a greater height on a right side of the left-most outer tooth than a left side of the left-most outer tooth and the right-most outer tooth has a greater height on a left side of the rightmost outer tooth than a right side of the right-most outer tooth;

wherein the left-most outer tooth and the right-most outer tooth have a curved bottom edge extending between their respective left and right sides.

2. The rotational cutter of claim 1 , wherein the first shaft is an inner shaft and wherein the second shaft is an outer shaft that at least partially houses the first shaft.

3. The rotational cutter of claim 1 , wherein the driver being configured to at least partially rotate the second shaft relative to the first shaft comprises:

the driver being configured to rotate the second shaft in a first direction with respect to the first shaft causing the blade portion to slide in the first direction with respect to the second blade portion;

the driver being configured to rotate the second shaft in a second direction, with respect to the first shaft causing the blade portion to slide in the second direction with respect to the second blade portion.

4. The rotational cutter of claim 3 , wherein the driver being configured to at least partially rotate the second shaft relative to the first shaft comprises the driver being configured to at least partially rotate the second shaft relative to the first shaft in an oscillating manner.

5. The rotational cutter of claim 4 , wherein:

rotation of the second shaft in the first direction ends when a first outer tooth of the upper teeth is aligned with a first outer tooth of the lower teeth; and

rotation of the second shaft in the second direction ends when a second outer tooth of the upper teeth is aligned with a second outer tooth of the lower teeth.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2020
From: MASCHIO, NICCOLO; ABT, NIELS ALEXANDER; GRUEEBLER, RETO; JUNG, TIMO; WOLFER, RODOLFO
To: ALCON GRIESHABER AG
Reel/Frame 054315/0848 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2020
From: SCHALLER, PHILIPP
To: ALCON GRIESHABER AG
Reel/Frame 054315/0870 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2020
From: ALCON GRIESHABER AG
To: ALCON INC.
Reel/Frame 054315/0892 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62854582 · May 30, 2019
Related Publication 20200375797A1 · Dec 3, 2020
Cited By (2)
US 12,496,737 US 12,539,236