HANDPIECE FOR THE PHACOEMULSIFICATION OF AN EYE LENS

• US 20150196426A1
• Filed: 03/27/2015
• Published: 07/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Kuebler, Christoph, Wehner, Wolfram, Rein, Karlheinz
• Granted Patent: US 10,016,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0093 Ultrasound system, e.g. for inducing coagulation during 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 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/76 Handpieces specially for suction-irrigation A61M1/774, aspiration tips A61M1/84
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/058 with ultrasound therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes

Abstract

The invention relates to a handpiece for the phacoemulsification of an eye lens, having a needle with an aspiration line arranged therein for transporting an aspiration fluid and at least one drive element for generating a longitudinal wave, wherein the drive element is arranged in such a way that the longitudinal wave can be coupled directly into the aspiration fluid.

Claims

1. A handpiece for the phacoemulsification of an eye lens, the handpiece comprising:

a needle;

an aspiration line configured to transfer an aspiration fluid;

said aspiration line being arranged within said needle;

at least one drive element configured to generate a longitudinal wave; and

,

said at least one drive element being arranged so as to enable said longitudinal wave to be coupled directly into said aspiration fluid.

2. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein said at least one drive element is arranged within said aspiration line and can be brought into direct contact with the aspiration fluid.

3. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein said at least one drive element includes piezoelectric elements.

4. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein said at least one drive element has an annular shape.

5. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein:

said needle has a distal end; and

,

said needle has a funnel-shaped region with a tapering end oriented toward said distal end.

6. The handpiece of claim 5, wherein:

said aspiration line defines a center axis;

said funnel-shaped region in cross section defines an inner wall contour; and

,

said inner wall contour is curved with respect to said center axis with a center of curvature in such a manner that said center of curvature is oriented toward said tapering end of said funnel-shaped region.

7. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein:

said needle has a distal end; and

,

said distal end has an inner diameter lying in a range of 0.4 mm to 1.1 mm.

8. The handpiece of claim 1, wherein said needle has a distal end made of polymer plastic.