US 11,730,508 B2
Systems and methods for separating tissue in corneal transplant procedures
Jerry W. Barker, Gretna, VA (US); Douglas C. Drabble, Winston-Salem, NC (US); and Yousuf Khalifa, Smyrna, GA (US)
Assigned to CORNEAGEN INC., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by CorneaGen Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Dec. 3, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/111,490.
Application 17/111,490 is a division of application No. 16/009,501, filed on Jun. 15, 2018, granted, now 10,864,013.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/520,333, filed on Jun. 15, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0085357 A1, Mar. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 17/3203 (2006.01); A61F 9/007 (2006.01); A61F 2/14 (2006.01); A61B 17/30 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/3203 (2013.01) [A61F 2/142 (2013.01); A61F 9/007 (2013.01); A61B 2017/306 (2013.01); A61B 2017/32035 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for separating tissue in an eye, comprising:
positioning a body of a separation device on a surface of an eye such that a plurality of needles extending from the body move into tissue of the eye,
wherein the body of the separation device is configured to receive air from one or more air supplies and comprises one or more air supply channels,
wherein each needle includes a proximal opening, a distal opening, and a passageway extending between the proximal opening and the distal opening,
wherein the proximal openings of the needles are coupled to the one or more air supply channels, and
wherein the distal openings of the needles are spaced from the body of the separation device to be positioned in the tissue of the eye when the body is positioned over the surface of the eye;
coupling the body of the separation device to one or more air supplies;
operating the one or more air supplies to deliver air to the one or more air supply channels; and
creating pressure sufficient to separate tissue in the eye.