US Patent:
20100152646, Jun 17, 2010
Inventors:
Reshma Girijavallabhan - Denville NJ, US
Douglas W. Lawrence - Southborough MA, US
Dana M. Cote - Boxford MA, US
International Classification:
A61B 17/32
A61M 5/31
Abstract:
A coordinated cutting and spreading mechanism within a syringe dilator sub-assembly is applied to an eye surface during an intravitreal injection to provide an access window free of the conjunctival layer and through which an injection needle can be inserted. The system and method comprises a dilator sub-assembly including both the cutting and spreading mechanism and the intravitreal injection needle, for use with a conventional syringe. The dilator sub-assembly includes a number of projections to secure points of the surface of the conjunctival layer, a cutting member to incise the conjunctival layer, and at least one deflectable projection to move during the intravitreal injection, spreading the incision, and creating a window opening in the conjunctival layer through which the intravitreal injection needle then enters. Upon removal of the device from the injection site, the deflectable projection is released and the window opening in the conjunctival layer is closed.