Minimal pulsation ophthalmic probe

• US 10,369,046 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2016
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: McDonell, Brian W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Julian W
• Application Number:
  US15/284,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20170020728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00736 Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments A61F9/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00763 with rotating or reciprocating cutting elements, e.g. concentric cutting needles atherectomy cutting instruments A61B17/3207; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016

Abstract

An ophthalmic apparatus for performing an ocular surgery may include an ophthalmic probe body having an inner cutting member at least partially disposed within and moveable relative to an aspiration tube within the probe body to facilitate flow of aspiration fluid. A motor within the body may be configured to actuate the inner cutting member relative to the aspiration tube.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic apparatus for performing an ocular surgery, comprising:

an ophthalmic probe body with a handle portion graspable by a user;

an aspiration port on a proximal portion of the probe body;

an aspiration tube, coupled to the aspiration port, disposed within the probe body and having a lumen arranged to contact aspiration fluid flowing therethrough;

a cutter extending from a distal portion of the probe body and comprising a first cutting member and a second cutting member, the first cutting member being at least partially disposed within and moveable relative to the second cutting member, the first cutting member having a lumen having a first diameter, the second cutting member having a distal end with a port formed therein for receiving patient tissue, the first cutting member configured to be axially displaceable within the second cutting member to sever the patient tissue received in the second cutting member port, wherein the first cutting member also moves within a portion of the lumen of the aspiration tube; and

a motor within the distal portion of the probe body, on an opposite side of the probe body as the aspiration port, wherein the motor is connected directly to the first cutting member to actuate the first cutting member relative to the second cutting member and the lumen of the aspiration tube;

a pneumatic port adjacent the aspiration port on the proximal portion of the probe body; and

a pneumatic channel, inside the probe body, coupled to the pneumatic port and configured to deliver air to at least one side of the motor;

wherein the pneumatic channel runs along a majority of a length of the probe body.

2. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor is disposed between the aspiration tube and the second cutting member.

3. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lumen of the aspiration tube has a diameter larger than an outer diameter of the first cutting member.

4. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second cutting member and the aspiration tube are statically connected to the probe body.

5. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cutting member, the second cutting member, and the aspiration tube form an aspiration pathway configured to aspirate the tissue cut during the ocular surgery.

6. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cutting member is coaxial with the second cutting member and the lumen of the aspiration tube.

7. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cutter seal affixed to the second cutting member, the cutter seal configured to prevent fluid from passing between the first cutting member and the second cutting member.

8. An ophthalmic apparatus for performing an ocular surgery, comprising:

an ophthalmic probe body with a handle portion graspable by a user;

an aspiration port on a proximal portion of the probe body;

a first stationary aspiration tube, coupled to the aspiration port, having a first aspiration lumen disposed within the probe body, the first aspiration lumen arranged to contact aspiration fluid flowing therethrough;

a cutting assembly comprising an axially displaceable cutting member forming a second aspiration lumen, the cutting member movably disposed within a portion of the first aspiration lumen, the first and second aspiration lumens configured to aspirate fluid through the probe body; and

a motor within a distal portion of the probe body, on an opposite side of the probe body as the aspiration port, configured to actuate the cutting member relative to the first aspiration lumen;

a pneumatic port adjacent the aspiration port on the proximal portion of the probe body; and

a pneumatic channel, inside the probe body, coupled to the pneumatic port and configured to deliver air to at least one side of the motor;

wherein the pneumatic channel runs along a majority of a length of the probe body.

9. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first stationary aspiration tube and the cutting assembly form an aspiration pathway configured to aspirate tissue cut during the ocular surgery.

10. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 8, wherein the lumen of the aspiration tube has a diameter larger than an outer diameter of the axially displaceable cutting member.

11. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 8, wherein the motor is disposed between the first stationary aspiration tube and an outer cutting member of the cutting assembly, wherein the motor is configured to actuate the axially displaceable cutting member inside the outer cutting member.

12. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first aspiration lumen and the outer cutting member are statically connected to the probe body.

13. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 11, wherein the axially displaceable cutting member is coaxial with the first aspiration lumen and the second aspiration lumen.

14. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a cutter seal affixed to the axially displaceable cutting member.