An apparatus and method for safely cannulating a retinal blood vessel is described.
The apparatus consists of a micropipette/microcannula, micromanipulator and positioner
mounted to a base, which is attached to a wrist rest commonly used in eye surgery.
The micropipette/microcannula is connected to tubing such that a medication may
be injected through the micropipette/microcannula into the blood vessel or conversely,
a small quantity of material may be removed from a blood vessel. Alternatively,
a catheter, wire or stent may be placed through the micropipette/microcannula to
treat or diagnose an area remote from the insertion site. The ability to cannulate
a retinal blood vessel should be efficacious in the treatment of vein and artery
occlusion, ocular tumors and other retinal, vascular and optic nerve disorders
that would benefit from diagnosis and/or treatment.
