Bi-manual phacoemulsification apparatus and method

• US 20040153093A1
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Advanced Medical Optics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Medical Optics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Donovan, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US10/355,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20040153093A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/108
• 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 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/85 with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208

Abstract

Apparatus for the removal of intraocular tissue from an eye includes an unsleeved vibrated needle insertable through a first eye incision into the intraocular tissue for emulsifying same. The needle is ultrasonically vibrated for emulsifying the intraocular tissue in a manner preventing substantial heat damage to the eye and a combined aspiration/irrigation needle or separate aspiration and irrigation needles are provided for both introducing irrigation fluid into the eye and aspirating emulsified intraocular tissue and irrigation fluid from the eye.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the removal of intraocular tissue from an eye, said apparatus comprising:

an unsleeved vibrated needle insertable through a first eye incision into said intraocular tissue for emulsifying said intraocular tissue;

means for providing ultrasonic energy to said unsleeved vibrated needle effective for emulsifying said intraocular tissue in a manner preventing substantial heat damage to said eye; and

an aspiration/irrigation needle insertable through a second eye incision for providing both irrigation fluid into said eye and aspirating emulsified intraocular tissue and the irrigation fluid from the eye.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said intraocular tissue is selected from a group consisting of cataractous lens tissue, vitreous, blood clots, fibrin membrane and exudates.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said unsleeved vibrated needle has a solid cross-section.

4. Apparatus for the removal of intraocular tissue from an eye, said apparatus comprising:

an unsleeved vibrated needle insertable through a first eye incision into said intraocular tissue for emulsifying said intraocular tissue;

means for providing ultrasonic energy to the vibrated needle effective for emulsifying said intraocular tissue in a manner preventing substantial heat damage to said eye;

an irrigation needle insertable through a second eye incision for providing irrigation fluid into said eye; and

an aspiration needle insertable through a third eye incision for aspirating emulsified intraocular tissue and the irrigation fluid from the eye.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said intraocular tissue is selected from a group consisting of cataractous lens tissue, vitreous, blood clots, fibrin membrane and exudates.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said unsleeved vibrated needle has a solid cross-section.

7. Apparatus for the removal of lens tissue from a lens capsule, said apparatus comprising:

an unsleeved vibrated needle insertable through a first incision into said lens capsule for emulsifying lens tissue;

means for providing ultrasonic energy to the vibrated needle effective for emulsifying said lens tissue in a manner preventing substantial heat damage to first; and

an aspiration/irrigation needle insertable through a second incision into said lens capsule for both providing irrigation fluid into said lens capsule and aspirating emulsified lens tissue and irrigation fluid from said lens capsule.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said unsleeved vibrated needle has a solid cross-section.

9. Apparatus for the removal of lens tissue from a lens capsule, said apparatus comprising:

an unsleeved vibrated needle insertable through a first incision into said lens capsule for emulsifying lens tissue;

means for providing ultrasonic energy to the vibrated needle effective for emulsifying said lens tissue in a manner preventing substantial heat damage to said eye;

an irrigation needle insertable through a second incision into said lens capsule for providing irrigation fluid into said lens capsule; and

an aspiration needle insertable through a third incision into said lens capsule for aspirating emulsified lens tissue and the irrigation fluid from said lens capsule.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said unsleeved vibration needle has a solid cross-section.

11. A method for the removal of intraocular tissue from an eye, the method comprising the steps of:

making a first incision into said eye;

making a second incision into said eye;

inserting an unsleeved needle through said first incision into said intraocular tissue;

inserting an aspiration/irrigation needle through said second incision;

vibrating said unsleeved needle in a manner effective for emulsifying said intraocular tissue while preventing substantial heat damage to said eye;

providing irrigation fluid into said eye through said aspiration/irrigation needle; and

aspirating emulsified intraocular tissue and the irrigation fluid from said eye through said aspiration/irrigation needle.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said method further comprises selection of intraocular tissue from a group consisting of cataractous lens tissue, vitreous, blood clots, fibrin membrane and exudates.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein the step of making the first incision comprises the first incision with a maximum dimension of about 2.0 mm.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein the step of making the second incision comprises making the second incision with a maximum dimension of about 1.5 mm.

15. A method for the removal of intraocular tissue from an eye, the method comprising the steps of:

making a first incision into said eye;

making a second incision into said eye;

making a third incision into said eye;

inserting an unsleeved needle through said first incision into said intraocular tissue;

inserting an irrigation needle through said second incision;

inserting an aspirating needle through said third incision;

vibrating said unsleeved needle in a manner effective for emulsifying said intraocular tissue while preventing substantial heat damage to said eye;

providing irrigation fluid into said eye through said irrigation needle; and

aspirating emulsified intraocular tissue and the irrigation fluid from said eye through said aspiration needle.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein said method further comprises selection of intraocular tissue from a group consisting of cataractous lens tissue, vitreous, blood clots, fibrin membrane and exudates.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of making the first incision comprises the first incision with a maximum dimension of about 2.0 mm.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the step of making the second incision comprises making the second incision with a maximum dimension of about 1.5 mm.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the step of making the third incision comprising making the third incision with a maximum dimension of about 1.5 mm.