US 12,453,574 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 Jul. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/348,895.
Application 17/111,490 is a division of application No. 16/009,501, filed on Jun. 15, 2018, granted, now 10,864,013, issued on Dec. 15, 2020.
Application 18/348,895 is a continuation of application No. 17/111,490, filed on Dec. 3, 2020, granted, now 11,730,508.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/520,333, filed on Jun. 15, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0346415 A1, Nov. 2, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 9/007 (2006.01); A61B 17/3203 (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)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A separation device for separating tissue in an eye comprising:
a body including one or more air supply channels configured to receive air; and
a plurality of needles extending from the body, each of the plurality of needles defining a passageway that has a distal opening spaced apart from the body, the distal opening of each of the plurality of needles configured to be positioned within the tissue of the eye, the passageway of each of the plurality of needles being in fluid communication with the one or more air supply channels,
wherein the one or more air supply channels of the body are configured to direct the air into the passageway and out of the distal opening of each of the plurality of needles, wherein the air applies a pressure to separate the tissue of the eye when the distal opening of each of the plurality of needles is positioned in the tissue of the eye.