TRACTION-LIMITING VITRECETOMY PROBE

• US 20160143780A1
• Filed: 11/20/2014
• Published: 05/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: Gunn, Nicholas Max
• Granted Patent: US 10,111,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320783 through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320028 with reciprocating movements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320032 Details of the rotating or oscillating shaft, e.g. using a flexible shaft
• 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

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are described for selectively generating an aspiration flow within a surgical instrument. Particularly, the disclosure describes example vitrectomy probes operable to selectively generate an aspiration flow in relation to operation of the cutter of the vitrectomy probe.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprising:

a body;

a cutter coupled to the body, the cutter comprising;

an outer cutting member comprising a port;

an inner cutting assembly slideable within the outer cutting member, the inner cutting assembly comprising;

an inner cutting member; and

a valve selectable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and

a motor operable to reciprocate the inner cutting assembly between an extended position and a retracted position.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to close when the inner cutting assembly is in the extended position, and the valve is configured to open when the interior cutting assembly is in the retraced position.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the body comprises a chamber and wherein the motor is at least partially disposed in the chamber.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the motor comprises a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is displaced into the retracted position by a first pneumatic pressure.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the valve is configured to close in response to the first pneumatic pressure.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the valve is configured to open upon removal of the first pneumatic pressure.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises:

a tubular member defining an opening; and

a resilient member disposed on the tubular member and overlaying the opening.

8. A method of operating a surgical instrument comprising:

forming an occlusion within a portion of an inner cutting member;

retracting the inner cutting member within an outer cutting member in a first direction;

removing the occlusion formed within the portion of the inner cutting member; and

extending the inner cutting member within an outer cutting member in a second direction opposite the first direction.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein forming an occlusion within a portion of an inner cutting member comprises closing a valve coupled to the inner cutting member.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein closing the valve coupled to the inner cutting member comprises applying a pneumatic pressure to at least a portion of the valve.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein removing the occlusion formed within the portion of the inner cutting member comprises opening the valve coupled to the inner cutting member.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein opening the valve coupled to the inner cutting member comprises removing an applied pneumatic pressure from at least a portion of the valve.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein retracting the inner cutting member within an outer cutting member in a first direction comprises applying a pneumatic pressure to a side of a diaphragm coupled to the inner cutting member.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein extending the inner cutting member within an outer cutting member in a second direction opposite the first direction comprises applying a pneumatic pressure to a side of a diaphragm coupled to the inner cutting member.

15. A vitrectomy probe comprising:

a body;

a cutter extending from the body, the cutter comprising;

an outer cutting member; and

an inner cutting member slideable within the outer cutting member between an extended position and a retracted position;

a diaphragm coupled to the inner cutting member and disposed within a chamber formed in the body and dividing the chamber into a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion, the diaphragm moveable in a first direction to retract the inner cutting member in response to a first pneumatic pressure introduced into the first chamber portion; and

a first valve coupled to the inner cutting member, at least a portion of the valve disposed in the first chamber portion and adapted to close upon introduction of the first pneumatic pressure into the first chamber portion.

16. The vitrectomy probe of claim 15, further comprising an inner cutting assembly, the inner cutting assembly comprising the inner cutting member, a tubular member, and the first valve.

17. The vitrectomy probe of claim 16, wherein the inner cutting assembly defines a passageway therethrough.

18. The vitrectomy probe of claim 17, wherein the first valve is operable to form a closure within the passageway.

19. The vitrectomy probe of claim 15 further comprising a second valve disposed in the body adjacent to an end of the inner cutting assembly opposite the inner cutting member.

20. The vitrectomy probe of claim 19, wherein the second valve is adapted to close upon introduction of a second pneumatic pressure into the second chamber portion.