cystotome

Noun

cystotome (plural cystotomes)

1. Any of a class of surgical knives for making incisions in the urinary bladder.
2. Any of a class of surgical knives for making incisions in the ocular lens.
   • In the ordinary capsulotomy some of the difficulties come from the instrument itself but more and greater ones from the conditions under which it must be used. The straight capsulotome is kept sharp with difficulty. It cuts only when drawn toward the operator, at right angles to this it simply...1911 July, Homer E. Smith, “Preliminary Capsulotomy—an Improved Method for the Extraction of the Immature Cataractous Lens. [abstract]”, in The Journal of Ophthalmology, Otology and Laryngology...
   • Then, again, the capsule may be insufficiently incised, or not opened at all. The surgeon generally discovers this failure when, on pressure, he finds that the lens moves slightly but makes no actual progress towards a complete exit. In that event, a very sharp cystotome should be used a second...1911, Casey Albert Wood, “Chapter VIII: Extraction of the senile type of cataract”, in Casey Albert Wood, editor, A System of Ophthalmic Operations, volume 2, Cleveland Press, page 1176

   Synonyms:

   capsulotome