IP Library Granted Patent US 7,922,736
Granted Patent B2
US 7,922,736 · App. 11/729,465 · Granted Apr 12, 2011

Stepped microkeratome blade holder

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 7,922,736
App. No.
11/729,465
Granted
Apr 12, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

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.

Claims (29)

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.

Assignments (17)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2025
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BAUSCH HEALTH IRELAND LIMITED; BAUSCH HEALTH COMPANIES INC.; BAUSCH HEALTH, CANADA INC.; TECHNOLAS PERFECT VISION GMBH; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS LUXEMBOURG S.A R.L.; VALEANT PHARMA POLAND SPOLKA Z ORGANICZONA ODPOWIEDZIALNOSCIA; VALEANT SP. Z.O.O.
Reel/Frame 073637/0222 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2025
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ATON PHARMA, INC.; BAUSCH & LOMB INCORPORATED; BAUSCH & LOMB PHARMA HOLDINGS CORP.; COMMONWEALTH LABORATORIES, LLC; DOW PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, INC.; ECR PHARMACEUTICALS CO., INC.; LABORATOIRE CHAUVIN S.A.S.; MEDICIS PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION; ONPHARMA INC.; ORAPHARMA, INC.; PRECISION DERMATOLOGY, INC.; SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, LTD.; SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; SANTARUS, INC.; SOLTA MEDICAL, INC.; SYNERGETICS USA, INC.; TECHNOLAS PERFECT VISION GMBH; VALEANT CANADA LP; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS NORTH AMERICA LLC; WIRRA IP PTY LIMITED; VALEANT PHARMA POLAND SP. Z O.O.; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS LUXEMBOURG S.A R.L.; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS IRELAND LIMITED
Reel/Frame 073637/0001 →
OMNIBUS PATENT SECURITY RELEASE AGREEMENT (REEL/FRAME 057821/0800) Recorded Nov 2, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
To: TECHNOLAS PERFECT VISION GMBH; BAUSCH + LOMB IRELAND LIMITED
Reel/Frame 061884/0514 →
OMNIBUS PATENT SECURITY RELEASE AGREEMENT (REEL/FRAME 045444/0634) Recorded Nov 2, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
To: BAUSCH & LOMB INCORPORATED; LABORATOIRE CHAUVIN S.A.S.; TECHNOLAS PERFECT VISION GMBH; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Reel/Frame 061872/0295 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN SPECIFIED PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 045444/0299) Recorded Oct 26, 2022
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: BAUSCH & LOMB INCORPORATED; TECHNOLAS PERFECT VISION GMBH; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES; PF CONSUMER HEALTHCARE 1 LLC; LABORATOIRE CHAUVIN S.A.S.
Reel/Frame 061779/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN SPECIFIED PATENTS (REEL/FRAME 036400/0711) Recorded Oct 26, 2022
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: BAUSCH & LOMB INCORPORATED; TECHNOLAS PERFECT VISION GMBH
Reel/Frame 061775/0826 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2021
From: BAUSCH & LOMB IRELAND LIMITED; BAUSCH HEALTH COMPANIES INC.; DR. GERHARD MANN CHEM.-PHARM. FABRIK GMBH; TECHNOLAS PERFECT VISION GMBH
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057821/0800 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: BAUSCH HEALTH IRELAND LIMITED; BAUSCH HEALTH COMPANIES INC.; BAUSCH HEALTH, CANADA INC.; TECHNOLAS PERFECT VISION GMBH; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS LUXEMBOURG S.À R.L.; VALEANT PHARMA POLAND SPOLKA Z OGRANICZONA ODPOWIEDZIALNOSCIA; VALEANT SP. Z O. O.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049672/0652 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2018
From: ATON PHARMA, INC.; BAUSCH & LOMB INCORPORATED; BAUSCH & LOMB PHARMA HOLDINGS CORP.; COMMONWEALTH LABORATORIES, LLC; DOW PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, INC.; ECR PHARMACEUTICALS CO., INC.; LABORATOIRE CHAUVIN S.A.S.; MEDICIS PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION; ONPHARMA INC.; ORAPHARMA, INC.; PRECISION DERMATOLOGY, INC.; SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, LTD.; SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; SANTARUS, INC.; SOLTA MEDICAL, INC.; SYNERGETICS USA, INC.; TECHNOLAS PERFECT VISION GMBH; VALEANT CANADA LP; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS NORTH AMERICA LLC; WIRRA IP PTY LIMITED; VALEANT PHARMA POLAND SP. Z O.O.; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS LUXEMBOURG S.A R.L.; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS IRELAND LIMITED
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045444/0634 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2018
From: ATON PHARMA, INC.; BAUSCH & LOMB INCORPORATED; BAUSCH & LOMB PHARMA HOLDINGS CORP.; COMMONWEALTH LABORATORIES, LLC; DOW PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, INC.; ECR PHARMACEUTICALS CO., INC.; LABORATOIRE CHAUVIN S.A.S.; MEDICIS PHARMACEUTICAL CORPORATION; ONPHARMA INC.; ORAPHARMA, INC.; PRECISION DERMATOLOGY, INC.; SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, LTD.; SALIX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.; SANTARUS, INC.; SOLTA MEDICAL, INC.; SYNERGETICS USA, INC.; TECHNOLAS PERFECT VISION GMBH; VALEANT CANADA LP; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS NORTH AMERICA LLC; WIRRA IP PTY LIMITED; VALEANT PHARMA POLAND SP. Z O.O.; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS LUXEMBOURG S.A R.L.; VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS IRELAND LIMITED
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045444/0299 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2017
From: TECHNOLAS PERFECT VISION GMBH
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
Reel/Frame 043251/0910 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 20, 2015
From: TECHNOLAS PERFECT VISION GMBH; DR. GERHARD MANN CHEM-PHARM. FABRIK GMBH
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036400/0711 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2012
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: BAUSCH & LOMB INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 028726/0142 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 1, 2010
From: TECHNOLAS GMBH OPHTHALMOLOGISCHE SYSTEME; 20/10 PERFECT VISION AG
To: TECHNOLAS PERFECT VISION GMBH
Reel/Frame 024627/0038 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2009
From: BAUSCH & LOMB INCORPORATED
To: TECHNOLAS GMBH OPHTHALMOLOGISHE SYSTEME
Reel/Frame 022543/0759 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 16, 2007
From: BAUSCH & LOMB INCORPORATED; B&L CRL INC.; B&L CRL PARTNERS L.P.; B & L DOMESTIC HOLDINGS CORP.; B&L FINANCIAL HOLDINGS CORP.; B&L SPAF INC.; B&L VPLEX HOLDINGS, INC.; BAUSCH & LOMB CHINA, INC.; BAUSCH & LOMB INTERNATIONAL INC.; BAUSCH & LOMB TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION; BAUSCH & LOMB REALTY CORPORATION; BAUSCH & LOMB SOUTH ASIA, INC.; SIGHT SAVERS, INC.; WILMINGTON MANAGEMENT CORP.; WILMINGTON PARTNERS L.P.; B&L MINORITY DUTCH HOLDINGS LLC; IOLAB CORPORATION; RHC HOLDINGS, INC.; WP PRISM, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE
Reel/Frame 020122/0722 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 5, 2007
From: BARRILE-JOSEPHSON, CRAIG A.; HALECKI, PETER J.; DOBNER, MICHAEL H.
To: BAUSCH & LOMB INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 019526/0196 →