Abstract: A surgical instrument, includes an elongate housing having two housing parts. Disposed between the housing parts is a support arm having one axial end connected to the housing parts. A functional unit is secured to the other axial end of the support arm and includes a rod and an operating member acted upon by the rod, when the housing parts are squeezed together. A force-transmitting unit having an adjusting member is operatively connected to the rod, for translating a movement of the housing parts in a direction substantially transverse to the support arm, as the housing parts are squeezed together, into a linear axial movement of the adjusting member, to thereby actuate the operating member.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for ophthalmologic microsurgery for improving the drainage of the aqueous humor in the eye of a living being, wherein the device has an endoscope connected to a monitor screen and includes a tube-shaped probe adapted for insertion into an eye, and one or more channels co-axially disposed therein and provided with optical elements for focusing and transmitting images from the viewing field in the eye, and wherein the probe houses a surgical tool which is movable in axial direction and about the longitudinal axis so that by means of the oscillating and/or vibrating tool a passageway can be opened in the tissue of the trabecular meshwork for connecting the anterior chamber with the Schlemm's canal.

Abstract: A method for improving the draining of aqueous humor in an eye of a living being and a device for widening the Schlemm's canal is described wherein a first incision is made in a lamellar section of the sclera to form a first scleral flap which is then folded upwards in the direction of the cornea, thereby creating a recess in the sclera.

Abstract: A device for use in a surgical procedure on an eye of a living being, includes a retraction member, destined for insertion into the anterior chamber of the eye. The retraction member has a hook-shaped engagement part for retracting the iris, whereby at least the engagement part of the retraction member is made of a deformable material with shape memory. Thus, the retraction member is insertable into the anterior chamber with the engagement part exhibiting a substantially straight configuration, and subsequently the engagement part is able to recover its original hook-shaped configuration as a consequence of its material characteristics.

Abstract: A cutting device for ophthalmologic surgery in the eye of a living being specifically for suctioning, cutting and removing portions of the vitreous humor of the eye and/or tissue particles, includes a housing and a probe disposed thereon for insertion into the vitreous humor with the probe including a guide tube with a suction opening at its distal end and an inner tube co-axially inserted therein which is slideably movable in axial direction relative to the suction opening, and a control member configured to translate a rotational movement of the drive into a linear movement of the inner tube to thereby move the inner tube in the guide tube in the direction of the longitudinal axis from the resting position to the closing position and back to the resting position while preventing a linear movement of the inner tube at rotating drive when the inner tube is in the resting position.

Abstract: A method for improving a drainage of aqueous humor in an eye of a living being and a device for maintaining the drainage of aqueous humor are described, wherein a first incision is made in a lamellar section of the sclera to form a first scleral flap which is then folded upwards in the direction of the cornea, thereby creating a recess in the sclera. A second scleral flap is formed by incising a second lamellar section in the area of the recess and lifted upwardly in the direction of the first sclera flap, thereby creating a second recess and exposing a portion of the Schlemm's canal for permitting injection of a highly viscous medium. At least one support element is implanted in the lumen of the Schlemm's canal on each of both sides of the second recess and, optionally, in the exposed portion of the Schlemm's canal, whereby each of the support elements is made of a material that is decomposable by the tissue of the Schlemm's canal and/or aqueous humor.

Abstract: Method for improving aqueous humor drainage in an eye with a Schlemm's canal in which eye the aqueous humor secreted by the ciliary body is drained through the subsequent outflow pathways and to a device to maintain aqueous humor drainage. A medium injected in the form of a hydrophilic liquid or a biocompatible gaseous medium or a mixture of the hydrophilic liquid and the gaseous medium into Schlemm's canal, which is microsurgically exposed at one or more locations, locally expands Schlemm's canal by the increased pressure. With a support element subsequently implanted in the lumen of Schlemm's canal, the inner walls of the canal are supported and permanently held in an expanded position, whereby unimpeded drainage of the aqueous humor from Schlemm's canal through the subsequent outflow pathways is ensured.

Abstract: An instrument for use in ophthalmic surgery, includes an elongated body portion having one end formed with an engagement member for insertion through an incision into the anterior chamber of the eye for retracting the iris. A fixation member is slidably secured to the body portion for positioning and fixing the body portion in place. The body portion is made of a flexible polymeric material having a hue which contrasts a hue of the iris, at least along an area starting from the engagement member to at least half the length of the body portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for focusing a light flux, includes a light source, and a light-conducting system which guides light radiating from the light source along a first light-conducting passageway oriented in a direction of the path of light, and along a second light-conducting passageway extending at an angle to the first light-conducting passageway. The light conducting system includes a first optical lens which is positioned at an entry side into the first light-conducting passageway, a deflector which is positioned at an exit side of the first light-conducting passageway for deflecting visible light into the second light-conducting passageway, and an optical assembly which is disposed in the second light-conducting passageway. The optical assembly is formed by an dimming disk, adjustable with respect to the second light-conducting passageway, for selective control of light intensity of the visible radiation, and a second optical lens for focusing the deflected radiation.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical device for pulverizing the lens nucleus in the eye and for removing particles of the macerated lens nucleus from the eye of a living being, includes a housing which supports a mounting that receives at its forward end a guide tube. Set within the guide tube is a tubular probe which has one end carrying a cutting element and another end operatively connected to a motor for rotating the tubular probe together with the cutting element and/or moving the tubular probe together with the cutting element in axial direction relative to the stationary guide tube.

Abstract: An iris retractor for use in ophthalmic surgery, includes an elongated body portion for insertion through an incision in the eye to retract the iris, with the body portion including two parallel shafts secured to each other along a common longitudinal edge wherein each shaft has at least one end formed with a hook-shaped member. The shafts of the body portion are so joined together that the hook-shaped members diverge from the longitudinal edge downward at an angle to one another to exhibit a .LAMBDA.-shaped configuration, and exhibit parallel shanks which are spaced from each other at a distance, the dimension of which depends on the angle between the hook-shaped members.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical device for macerating the lens nucleus in the eye and for removing particles of the macerated lens nucleus from the eye of a living being, includes a hand-held housing with a head piece attached at one axial end of the housing and supporting a guide tube. Disposed in the guide tube is a tubular probe which is operatively connected to a motor drive and projects beyond the guide tube with its tip to carry a cutting element in form of at least two rotatable wing-like blades oriented approximately transversely to the longitudinal axis of the guide tube. By means of the drive, the tubular probe is rotatable relative to the stationary guide tube about the longitudinal axis and movable at a high frequency in direction of the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An aspiration and irrigation system of an ophthalmologic device for performing surgical operations on an eye of a living being, includes an irrigation unit for conducting a fluid under pressure to the eye via a first passageway, and an aspiration unit for simultaneous removal of fluid and/or tissue from the eye via a second passageway. The aspiration unit includes a two-stage pump system with a primary vacuum pump producing suction to effect a withdrawal of fluid and/or tissue from the eye through the second passageway and a secondary vacuum pump positioned downstream of the primary pump in a third passageway in communication with the second passageway, for boosting the suction pressure produced by the primary pump.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical instrument operates a tool such as a scissors, a forceps or a knife. The instrument has an actuator with a generally cylindrical actuation surface; the actuator is operated by pressure applied to any point on the surface. The resulting instrument can be easily rotated about its axis whether in the operated or unoperated states.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical device for macerating the lens nucleus in the eye and for removing particles of the macerated lens nucleus from the eye of a living being, includes a hand-held housing with a head piece attached at one axial end of the housing and supporting a guide tube. Disposed in the guide tube is a tubular probe which is operatively connected to a motor drive and projects beyond the guide tube with its tip to carry a cutting element in form of at least two rotatable wing-like blades oriented approximately transversely to the longitudinal axis of the guide tube. By means of the drive, the tubular probe is rotatable relative to the stationary guide tube about the longitudinal axis and movable at a high frequency in direction of the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Apparatus for microsurgical operations on the eye of a living being includes a housing having a compartment which receives a carrier module having a first support structure for conducting a passageway for supply of an irrigation fluid to a surgical site, a second support structure spaced laterally from the first support structure for conducting a second passageway for withdrawal of material from the surgical site, and at least one catch. The compartment which is subdivided in sections by spaced partition walls houses a pump for peristaltically transporting material in the second passageway, an interrupter unit for controlling the fluid flow through the first passageway, and a pull-in and locking mechanism which is engageable with the catch for pulling the carrier module into the compartment in a snap-like manner and releasably securing the carrier module therein such that the interrupter unit is in engagement with the first passageway and the pump is in engagement with the second passageway.