1. A device for performing corneal freezing comprising:
an elongate member having an inner inward and return flow line system through which a cryogenic fluid flows to and from an expansion chamber, respectively;
at a first end, a sealed cryoprobe tip;
at a second end, a thermal insulating handle;
wherein said cryoprobe tip is fixed and comprises a concave epithelial surface contact member in thermal communication with said expansion chamber.
2. The device according to claim 1 wherein a size of said concave epithelial surface contact member is between 1-10 mm in diameter.
3. The device according to claim 2 wherein the size of said concave epithelial surface contact member is between 1-5 mm.
4. The device according to claim 3 wherein the size of said concave epithelial surface contact member is selected from one of the following options: 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, or 5 mm, or 1 mm\xb10.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, or 0.9 mm, 2 mm=0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, or 0.9 mm, 3 mm\xb10.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, or 0.9 mm, 4 mm\xb10.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, or 0.9 mm, and 5 mm\xb10.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, or 0.9 mm.
5. The device according to claim 1 wherein a radius of curvature of said concave epithelial surface contact member is between 6-14 mm.
6. The device according to claim 5 wherein the radius of curvature of said concave epithelial surface contact member is selected from one of the following options: 7-9 mm, 7.6-8.6 mm including all 0.1 mm integers therebetween, 6-8 mm, and 6.1 mm-7.5 mm including all 0.1 mm integers therebetween.
7. The device according to claim 1 wherein said concave epithelial surface contact member is fabricated from fine gauge stainless steel.
8. The device according to claim 1 wherein said device comprises a cryoprobe tip contiguous with said elongated member.
9. The device according to claim 1 wherein said cryoprobe tip is releasably attached to said elongate member.
10. The device according to claim 1 wherein said elongate member is thermally insulated along a substantial part of its length such that the cryoprobe tip contact surface is preferentially cooled.
11. The device according to claim 1 wherein said device comprises a supply of cryogenic liquid of a finite amount and said device further includes a pump for circulating said liquid to and from the tip and the supply.
12. The device according to claim 11 wherein said supply is removably attached to said device so that said device can be periodically refilled with said supply of liquid.
13. The device according to claim 12 wherein the device is manufactured from materials that are disposable.
14. A device according to claim 10 wherein the device is adapted such that the inner flow line system can be connected to a coolant reservoir or supply, for delivery and retrieval of the cryogenic coolant.
15. The device according to claim 14 wherein said coolant is a compressed cryogenic liquid.
16. A releasable cryoprobe tip for attaching to a device for performing corneal freezing comprising:
at a first end, a releasable attachment means;
at a second end, a concave epithelial surface contact member.
17. The releasable cryoprobe tip according to claim 16 wherein said cryoprobe tip also comprises the whole or a part of an expansion chamber which is in thermal communication with said tip.
18. The releasable cryoprobe tip according to claim 17 wherein said tip also comprises a flow line adapted to be connected to a flow line system for cryogenic fluid provided in said device for performing corneal freezing.
19. A kit of parts for use in a device for performing corneal freezing comprising a plurality of releasable cryoprobe tips having, at a first end, a releasable attachment means and, at a second end, a concave epithelial surface contact member.
20. The kit of parts according to claim 19 wherein said tips are of different sizes and so of different diameters andor angles of curvature.
21. A method for performing corneal freezing comprising:
a) providing a cryoprobe wherein said device comprises an elongate member having an inner inward and return flow line system through which a cryogenic fluid flows to and from an expansion chamber, respectively, the cryoprobe including at a first end a sealed cryoprobe tip and, at a second end, a thermal insulating handle; wherein said cryoprobe tip is fixed and comprises a concave epithelial surface contact member thermally connected with said expansion chamber;
b) providing a supply of cryogenic fluid which is arranged to flow to said expansion chamber, wherein it decompresses and cools down the cryoprobe tip in thermal communication therewith; and
c) applying the concave surface contact member of said cryoprobe tip against the surface of the cornea to be treated;
d) whereby a freezing stimulus is applied for removal of underlying corneal cells.
22. The method according to claim 21 wherein said device is used to remove corneal endothelial cells in the treatment of corneal endothelial disorders selected from the group consisting of bullous keratopathy, Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, hereditary endothelial dystrophy, irodocorneal endothelial syndrome and secondary corneal endothelialopathies.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A drinking assembly comprising;
a cup including a base and a wall extending upwardly from said base for receiving a fluid,
an integral straw disposed along said wall for conveying the fluid from said base,
a lid including a locking mechanism for mating with said cup to establish an assembled position of said drinking assembly,
said lid defining an orifice aligned with said integral straw in said assembled position, and
a flexible straw disposed within said orifice and having a nipple portion extending to an inlet end disposed in abutting relationship with said integral straw in said assembled position to establish a compression fit between said flexible straw and said integral straw for sealing fluid communication therebetween.
2. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible straw defines a groove for seating said flexible straw within said orifice.
3. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said flexible straw includes a locking tab extending outwardly from said nipple portion between said groove and said inlet end to define an annular shoulder for engaging said lid in said assembled position to prevent said flexible straw from exiting said orifice.
4. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said flexible straw includes an annular rib extending outwardly from said nipple portion and disposed adjacent said groove and opposite said locking tab for engaging said lid in said assembled position to further retain said flexible straw within said orifice.
5. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said lid includes a cavity extending along a cavity axis and said flexible straw having a straw portion extending from said nipple portion and being bendable to establish a stored position of said flexible straw defined by said straw portion disposed within said cavity and along said cavity axis.
6. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said cavity extends from a first end to a second end to define a cavity length and said straw portion extends from said nipple portion to an outlet end to define a straw length being less than said cavity length.
7. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 5, further including a plurality of ribs disposed within said cavity for securing said removable straw in said stored position.
8. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said straw portion being cylindrical to define a straw diameter and said cavity including an open portion disposed about said first end and having an open portion width sized larger than said straw diameter for providing access to said outlet end of said flexible straw in said stored position.
9. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 1, further including;
said wall of said cup extending upwardly from said base to a lip,
said lid including a top surface, and
said locking mechanism including a flange extending downwardly from said top surface to a flange end for receiving said lip within said flange in said assembled position.
10. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein said cup includes a recess disposed below said lip and said flange includes a projection extending inwardly from said flange end and disposed within said recess for establishing mechanical interlocking relationship between said lip and said cup in said assembled position.
11. A drinking assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cup includes an alignment tab disposed in aligned relationship with said integral straw and said lid defines a notch disposed in aligned relationship with said orifice for receiving said alignment tab in said assembled position to establish said aligned relationship between said orifice and said integral straw.
12. A stackable lid for abutting and stacking with identical lids, said stackable lid comprising;
a top surface,
a cavity extending downwardly from said top surface and between a first end and a second end,
said cavity defining an orifice disposed about one of said ends,
a flexible straw disposed within said orifice and having a nipple portion extending downwardly from said orifice, and
said cavity having an open portion disposed about said other of said ends for receiving a nipple portion of the identical lid being stacked in alternating relationship.
13. A stackable lid as set forth in claim 12, wherein said nipple portion extends from said orifice to an inlet end to define a nipple length and said cavity extends from said top surface to a cavity surface to define a cavity height being larger than said nipple length for disposing said cavity surface in spaced relationship with the nipple portion of the identical stacked lid.
14. A stackable lid as set forth in claim 13, wherein said cavity extends along a cavity axis to define a cavity length and said flexible straw having a straw portion extending from said nipple portion to an outlet end to define a straw length being less than said cavity length and said flexible straw being bendable to dispose said straw portion within said cavity and along said cavity axis to establish a stored position of said flexible straw.
15. A stackable lid as set forth in claim 14, wherein said straw portion being cylindrical to define a straw diameter being less than said cavity height for storing said flexible straw below said top surface in said stored position to prevent said flexible straw from abutting a cavity surface of the identical stacked lid.
16. A stackable lid as set forth in claim 14, further including a plurality of ribs extending inwardly from said cavity wall in spaced an aligned relationship about said cavity axis A for securing said flexible straw in said stored position.
17. A stackable lid as set forth in claim 12, wherein said flexible straw defines a groove extending inwardly and circumferentially about said nipple portion for seating said flexible straw within said orifice.
18. A lid of the type for mating with a drinking cup having a lip and an integral straw, said stackable lid comprising;
a top surface,
a flange extending downwardly from said top surface for mating with the lip of the drinking cup to establish an assembled position of said stackable lid,
said lid defining an orifice aligned with the integral straw in said assembled position, and
a flexible straw disposed within said orifice and having a nipple portion being elastic and extending to an inlet end disposed in abutting relationship with the integral straw in said assembled position to establish a compression fit between said flexible straw and the integral straw.
19. A lid as set forth in claim 18, wherein said flexible straw defines a groove for seating said flexible straw within said orifice and having a straw portion extending from said nipple portion to an outlet end.
20. A lid as set forth in claim 19, wherein said flexible straw includes a locking tab extending outwardly from said nipple portion between said groove and said inlet end to define an annular shoulder for engaging said top surface to prevent said straw from exiting said orifice in said assembled position.