OPHTHALMIC VALVED TROCAR CANNULA

• US 20110152774A1
• Filed: 11/22/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Patnala, Anil K., Martin, Michael M., Lopez, Jose Luis
• Granted Patent: US 8,277,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/165.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3462 with means for changing the diameter or the orientation of the entrance port of the cannula, e.g. for use with different-sized instruments, reduction ports, adapter seals expandable cannulas A61B17/3417
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

In various embodiments, a trocar cannula may be configured for insertion into an eye to facilitate insertion and removal of instruments during surgery. The cannula may be affixed to an overcap (to inhibit rotation of the overcap relative to the cannula) that includes a seal. In some embodiments, the seal may be overmolded into the overcap or may include a wafer that is fixed between the cannula and the overcap to inhibit rotation relative to the cannula and the overcap. In some embodiments, the cannula and overcap may snap together through a tab/slot interface in a permanent fashion such that the cannula and overcap may not be separated without damaging the cannula or overcap. In some embodiments, a vent cannula may be receivable in the slit of the seal for allowing fluids to vent from the eye through the cannula (which may include an indentation to frictionally engage the vent).

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a cannula configured for insertion into an eye;

an overcap affixed to the cannula, wherein the overcap is configured not to rotate relative to the cannula; and

a seal between the cannula and the overcap, wherein the seal is configured to allow passage of surgical tools into the cannula through a slit in the seal while inhibiting fluid flow through the seal when a surgical tool is not present in the seal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seal comprises silicone overmolded into a depression in the overcap.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the silicone is molded into holes in the overcap to inhibit rotation of the seal relative to the overcap.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seal comprises a silicon wafer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the cannula includes at least one tab;

wherein the overcap includes at least one slot; and

wherein the overcap is affixed to the cannula by receiving the at least one tab in the at least one slot.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vent cannula configured to slide into the slit of the seal for allowing fluids to vent from the eye through the cannula.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the cannula comprises at least one indentation to frictionally engage a portion of the vent when the vent is inserted into the cannula.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the overcap comprises a guide slot, wherein the guide slot is configured to receive a guide from a trocar handle and wherein interaction between the guide slot and the guide inhibit rotation of the overcap relative to the handle during insertion of the cannula into an eye.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein securing the seal to the overcap comprises molding silicone into a depression of the overcap.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the seal comprises a silicone wafer and wherein securing the seal to the overcap comprising placing the silicone wafer between the overcap and cannula prior to affixing the overcap to the cannula.

18. The method of claim 8,

wherein forming the overcap comprises forming at least one slot in the overcap;

wherein forming the cannula comprises forming at least one tab in the cannula; and

wherein affixing the overcap to the cannula comprises receiving the at least one tab into the at least one slot.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a handle;

a trocar blade coupled to the handle;

a trocar cannula affixed to an overcap that comprises a seal molded onto the overcap, wherein the seal includes a slit configured to receive the trocar blade therethrough, wherein the trocar blade is configured to pierce an eye to push the cannula into the eye;

wherein the overcap is configured not to rotate relative to the cannula;

wherein the seal is configured to allow passage of surgical tools into the cannula through a slit in the seal while inhibiting fluid flow through the seal when a surgical tool is not present in the seal; and

wherein the handle further comprises a guide and wherein the overcap further comprises a guide slot, wherein the guide slot is configured to receive the guide from the handle and wherein interaction between the guide slot and the guide inhibit rotation of the overcap relative to the handle during insertion of the cannula into an eye.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the seal comprises silicone overmolded into a depression in the overcap.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the silicone is molded into holes in the overcap to inhibit rotation of the seal relative to the overcap.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the seal comprises a silicon wafer.

13. The apparatus of claim 9,

wherein the cannula includes at least one tab;

wherein the overcap includes at least one slot; and

wherein the overcap is affixed to the cannula by receiving the at least one tab in the at least one slot.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cannula comprises at least one indentation to frictionally engage a portion of the vent when the vent is inserted into the cannula.

15. A method, comprising:

forming an overcap;

forming a cannula;

securing a seal to the overcap;

affixing the overcap to the cannula.