Patent ID: 6042594
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A positioning assembly for retaining and positioning a cornea of a patient's eye for cutting during a surgical operation, said assembly comprising:a) a positioning segment defining an aperture sized to receive and expose the cornea to be cut;b) a suctioning assembly operably coupled to said positioning segment for temporarily attaching said positioning segment to a portion of the eye surrounding the cornea to be cut; andc) a suction enhancement assembly structured to improve attachment of said positioning segment to the patient's eye,d) said suctioning enhancement assembly defining a suction channel disposed in operative communication with said suctioning assembly such that a suction force generated by said suctioning assembly is applied through said suction channel,e) said suction enhancement assembly defining at least one suction port in operative communication with said suction channel such that said suction force applied through said suction channel at least temporarily attaches the portion of the eye surrounding the cornea to be cut to the positioning segment at at least said suction port.