CYSTOTOME

n. Siast'o-tom. Lat., cystotomus (from KVITTIS, the bladder or a sac, and ri^vtiv, to cut). Fr., c. Ger., Cystotom, Steinme er (1st def.). 1. An instrument for making or enlarging an opening into the bladd_er in the operation of lithotomy. [E.] 2. An instrument invented, it is said, by I^afaye for dividing the anterior capsule of the crystalline lens in the extraction of cataract. It consists of a malleable steel shank which ends in a right-angled hook with a cutting edge. It is introduced through the corneal wound and acro and behind the pupil, and the capsule is more or le freely incised. Used in this sense, the word is often written cyst i to me. [F.] C. cach6 (Fr.). A c. (1st def.) with a concealed blade. [L, 57.] C. emporte-pifece [Rognetta]. Ger., stuckwegnehmender Capselschneider. A punch-like instrument devised by Rognetta for removing portions of the capsule of the crystalline lens in operations for cataract. [A, 322.] Double c. Fr., c. double. A two-bladed c. invented by Dupuytren for incising the bladder in bilateral lithotomy. [A, 301.] [s. 497]