Claims for Patent: 6,720,314

Summary for Patent: 6,720,314

Title:	Use of a vital dye for facilitating surgical procedures for cataract extraction
Abstract:	Methods for performing a capsulorhexis are disclosed wherein a dye is used to stain a lens capsule of an eye. The dye is capable of staining tissue without diffusing through the tissue. Compositions including dyes that are useful in the methods are also disclosed.
Inventor(s):	Melles; Gerrit Reinold J. (3071 MJ Rotterdam, NL)
Assignee:
Application Number:	09/708,386
Patent Claims:	1. A method for performing a capsulorhexis, comprising the steps of: surgically opening an eye; aspirating an ocular fluid from the eye; filling an anterior chamber of the eye with air; applying trypan blue onto an outer surface of a lens capsule; producing a selectively stained lens capsule without substantially staining intraocular structures compared to the stained lens capsule; visually distinguishing the selectively stained lens capsule from underlying lenticular material while surgically opening the lens capsule; and surgically removing lens substance. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the lens capsule is the anterior lens capsule. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method is part of a surgical procedure for cataract extraction. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the trypan blue is added directly to the anterior lens capsule. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the trypan blue comprises a physiologically compatible solution including salt between 0.8% and 1.0% by weight. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, sodium phosphate, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein trypan blue is applied onto a posterior lens capsule. 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the trypan blue is added directly to the posterior lens capsule.