Lenticular net instruments and methods of cataract surgery using a lenticular net

摘要

A lenticular net instrument comprises an elongate handle coupled with a lenticular net movable to contracted and expanded configurations via an actuator of the handle. The net in the contracted configuration has a narrow profile for insertion in and removal from a lens capsule through a small incision in the eye. The net is movable to the expanded configuration within the lens capsule between a cataractous nucleus and a ruptured capsular wall. The net has a plurality of openings therein of a size to prevent fragments of the cataractous nucleus produced by fragmentation with a fragmenting instrument from passing therethrough such that the fragments do not pass through the ruptured wall. A method of cataract surgery involves deploying a net between a cataractous nucleus and a ruptured capsular wall upon the occurrence of the rupture in the wall.