Distal Plastic End Infusion/Aspiration Tip

• US 20100121260A1
• Filed: 11/12/2008
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Ghannoum, Ziad R., Sussman, Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 9,351,871 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/35
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide ophthalmic surgical instruments. One embodiment provides an instrument including an infusion sleeve, aspiration tube, and infusion/aspiration tip. The sleeve can include a body defining an infusion channel. The tube can be in the infusion channel and define an aspiration channel. The tip can conform to the distal end of the tube. The tip can seal a gap between the sleeve and tube and can include a flange with a profile (e.g., a tapered portion) corresponding to the profile of the sleeve. The sleeve and tip can be keyed such that the sleeve directs fluid in one direction and the tip draws fluid perpendicularly from that direction. The tip'"'"'s aspiration channel can extend distally beyond its aspiration port. The tip can extend to a point adjacent to an infusion port of the sleeve. A disposable component (including an aspiration tube and infusion/aspiration tip) for use with instruments is provided.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic surgical instrument comprising:

an infusion sleeve comprising an elongated body defining an infusion channel and having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis along the length of the elongated body;

an aspiration tube defining an aspiration channel, having a proximal end and a distal end, and being positioned in the infusion channel; and

an infusion/aspiration tip formed of plastic coupled to and conforming to the distal end of the aspiration tube, wherein the infusion/aspiration tip is overmolded onto the aspiration tube.

2. The instrument of claim 1 wherein a gap exists between the distal end of the infusion sleeve and the distal end of the aspiration tube and wherein the infusion/aspiration tip seals the gap.

3. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the infusion/aspiration tip defines a tapered portion.

4. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the infusion sleeve defines an infusion port oriented to direct infusion fluid from the infusion channel in a first direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

5. The instrument of claim 4 wherein the infusion/aspiration tip defines an aspiration port oriented to draw material from the environment in a second direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and wherein the first and the second directions are perpendicular to each other.

6. The instrument of claim 5 wherein the aspiration tube defines an aspiration channel and wherein the infusion/aspiration tip defines an extension of the aspiration channel which extends distally beyond the aspiration port.

7. The instrument of claim 4 wherein the infusion/aspiration tip extends in a direction along the longitudinal axis to a point adjacent to the infusion port.

8. An ophthalmic surgical instrument comprising:

an infusion sleeve comprising an elongated body defining an infusion channel and having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis along the length of the elongated body, the infusion sleeve defining an infusion port oriented to direct infusion fluid from the infusion channel in a first direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

an aspiration tube defining an aspiration channel, having a proximal end and a distal end, and being positioned in the infusion channel; and

an infusion/aspiration tip defining a tapered portion and being coupled to and conforming to the distal end of the aspiration tube, wherein a gap exists between the distal end of the infusion sleeve and the distal end of the aspiration tube, wherein the infusion/aspiration tip seals the gap and wherein the infusion/aspiration tip defines an aspiration port oriented to draw material from the environment in a second direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and wherein the first and the second directions are perpendicular to each other, wherein the aspiration tube defines an aspiration channel and wherein the infusion/aspiration tip defines an extension of the aspiration channel which extends distally beyond the aspiration port, and wherein the infusion/aspiration tip extends in a direction along the longitudinal axis to a point adjacent to the infusion port.

9. A single use, disposable component to be coupled to an ophthalmic surgical instrument wherein the instrument includes an infusion sleeve comprising an elongated body defining an infusion channel and having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis along the length of the elongated body, the component comprising:

an aspiration tube defining an aspiration channel, having a proximal end and a distal end, and to be positioned in the infusion channel; and

an infusion/aspiration tip formed of plastic coupled to and conforming to the distal end of the aspiration tube, wherein the infusion/aspiration tip is overmolded onto the aspiration tube.

10. The disposable component of claim 9 wherein when the disposable component is coupled to the instrument a gap exists between the distal end of the infusion sleeve and the distal end of the aspiration tube and wherein the infusion/aspiration tip seals the gap.

11. The disposable component of claim 9 wherein the infusion/aspiration tip defines a tapered portion.

12. The disposable component of claim 9 wherein the infusion sleeve defines an infusion port oriented to direct infusion fluid from the infusion channel in a first direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

13. The instrument of claim 12 wherein the infusion/aspiration tip defines an aspiration port oriented to draw material from the environment in a second direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and wherein the first and the second directions are perpendicular to each other when the disposable component is coupled to the instrument.

14. The disposable component of claim 13 wherein the aspiration tube defines an aspiration channel and wherein the infusion/aspiration tip defines an extension of the aspiration channel which extends distally beyond the aspiration port.

15. The disposable component of claim 12 wherein the infusion/aspiration tip extends in a direction along the longitudinal axis to a point adjacent to the infusion port when the disposable component is coupled to the instrument.