Patent ID: 8425473

Claim:
An apparatus for use with an eye comprising: a first elongated tubular member having a proximal and a distal end and a lumen passing from said proximal end to said distal end wherein said distal end is shaped and dimensioned for access to the tissue of the retina; a second elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end, disposed within said lumen of said first tubular member, said second tubular member having a passage therethrough from said proximal end to said distal end; an annular space within the lumen of said first elongated tubular member, annularly surrounding said second elongated tubular member; and a blocking member disposed within said annular space, said blocking member having a configuration to allow passage of gases and fluids, and to block entry of tissues into said first elongated tubular member through said annular space with a blocking member distal end that extends beyond said annular space at the distal end of said first elongated tubular member to prevent injury to tissue within the eye by being caused to compress and retract into the distal end of said first elongated tubular member upon reduction of pressure within said annular space; the distal end of said second elongated tubular member having a pointed tip; said distal end of said first elongated tubular member being open-ended and adapted to seal upon placement from within the eye in contact of said distal end of said first elongated tubular member with the surface of a tissue layer and upon reduction of pressure within said annular space to allow said pointed tip of said second elongated tubular member to pierce said tissue layer, whereby upon withdrawal of said first elongated tubular member sealed to said tissue layer, said tissue layer detaches from other tissues underlying said tissue layer to form a pocket under said tissue layer accessible to penetration into said pocket by the pointed tip of said second elongated tubular member through said tissue layer without damage to said underlying other tissues.