US 12,357,290 B2
Iris expander
Dana M. Cote, Boxford, MA (US); and James J. Hughes, Dracut, MA (US)
Assigned to BEAVER-VISITEC INTERNATIONAL (US), INC., Waltham, MA (US)
Filed by BEAVER-VISITEC INTERNATIONAL (US), INC., Waltham, MA (US)
Filed on Jun. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/849,053.
Application 17/849,053 is a continuation of application No. 16/565,961, filed on Sep. 10, 2019, granted, now 11,389,150.
Application 16/565,961 is a continuation of application No. 15/426,475, filed on Feb. 7, 2017, granted, now 10,433,828, issued on Oct. 8, 2019.
Application 15/426,475 is a continuation of application No. 14/553,642, filed on Nov. 25, 2014, granted, now 9,579,094, issued on Feb. 28, 2017.
Application 14/553,642 is a continuation of application No. 14/216,013, filed on Mar. 17, 2014, granted, now 8,900,136, issued on Dec. 2, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/788,350, filed on Mar. 15, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2022/0313237 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61F 9/007 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0231 (2013.01) [A61B 17/0293 (2013.01); A61F 9/007 (2013.01); A61F 9/00736 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00681 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00862 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00871 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00955 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An iris expander comprising:
a non-metallic, unitary, multi-segmented body which is expandable from a first state to a second state, said second state defining a larger footprint than said first state, said body being a closed loop defined by a plurality of segments connected by living hinges, said body having an inwardly-facing inner surface and an outwardly-facing outer surface, wherein said living hinges being formed by sections of said body between said segments which are thinner between said inner surface and said outer surface than adjacent portions of said body, wherein said living hinges define terminal ends of said segments, and, wherein, each said segment includes at least one lobe protruding outwardly from said outer surface and at least one aperture with a channel extending therefrom into a portion of said respective segment, said channel being spaced inwardly of both said inner surface and said outer surface.