Patent ID: 9271868
Filing Date: 2016-03-01
CPC Classification: A61B,A61F

Claim Text:
1. A surgical device for performing a capsulotomy, the device comprising: a single continuous cutting element including an annular ring shape with a cross section having an inner edge and an outer edge, the cutting element configured for cutting tissue of a lens capsule of an eye to excise a patch of the tissue from the lens capsule for removal from the eye, wherein the cutting element is collapsible to a shape for insertion through an incision in a tissue layer to access the lens capsule for cutting, and wherein the cutting element is configured to return, after the insertion, to the annular ring shape held by the cutting element prior to the insertion; two electrical leads attached to the cutting element such that, when an electrical pulse is applied, the electrical pulse is capable of traveling around the entire annular ring shape of the cutting element such that a steam explosion is generated around a bottom edge of the cutting element to cut the patch of tissue free from the lens capsule by stretching the patch of tissue to apply tensile stress; and an arm attached to the cutting element and configured for manipulating the cutting element.