PHACOEMULSIFICATION TIP

• US 20170027750A1
• Filed: 05/25/2016
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William F. Wiley
• Original Assignee: William F. Wiley
• Inventors: Wiley, William F.
• Granted Patent: US 11,033,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00709 Instruments for removing foreign bodies for removal of intra-ocular material A61F9/00736
• 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: A61F 9/00754 for cutting or perforating the anterior lens capsule, e.g. capsulotomes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/84 Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis

Abstract

A phacoemulsification tip, including an aspiration tube presenting a cutting tip at a distal end. The aspiration tube has a tube wall presenting an internal face and an external face. The internal face supports at least one internally extending internal ridge. The internal ridge presents an internal distal face, an internal proximal face and an internal apex. The internal distal face meets the internal face at an acute angle measured internally. The internal ridge is structured to engage lens fragments separated from a crystalline lens to enhance proximal movement of the lens fragments and to inhibit distal movement of the lens fragments through the aspiration tube.

Claims

1. A phacoemulsification tip, comprising:

an aspiration tube presenting a cutting tip at a distal end thereof;

the aspiration tube having a tube wall presenting an internal face and an external face;

the internal face supporting at least one internally extending internal ridge;

the internal ridge presenting an internal distal face, an internal proximal face and an internal apex;

the internal distal face meeting the internal face at an acute angle measured internally; and

the internal ridge being structured to engage lens fragments separated from a crystalline lens during phacoemulsification to enhance proximal movement of the lens fragments and to inhibit distal movement of the lens fragments through the aspiration tube.

2. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one outwardly extending external ridge supported by the external face.

3. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal ridge is oriented annularly and circumferentially.

4. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal ridge is continuous.

5. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal ridge is interrupted.

6. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal ridge comprises a helical internal ridge.

7. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal ridge comprises multiple internal ridge structures.

8. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 2, wherein the external ridge is oriented annularly and circumferentially.

9. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 2, wherein the external ridge is continuous.

10. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 2, wherein the external ridge is interrupted.

11. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 2, wherein the external ridge comprises a helical external ridge.

12. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proximal face of the internal ridge is concave in cross section.

13. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proximal face of the internal ridge is convex in cross section.

14. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 2, wherein the proximal face of the external ridge is concave in cross section.

15. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 2, wherein the proximal face of the external ridge is convex in cross section.

16. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal proximal face intersects the internal face at an obtuse or right angle measured internally.

17. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an ultra sonic resonator that vibrates the aspiration tube torsionally or elliptically.

18. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an ultra sonic resonator that vibrates the aspiration tube torsionally or elliptically.

19. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal proximal face is convex and the apex is convexly curved.

20. The phacoemulsification tip as claimed in claim 1, further comprising pumping structures, the pumping structures having curved distal face and a flat proximal face.

21. A method of phacoemulsification comprising:

contacting a crystalline lens of any eye with an aspiration tube presenting a cutting tip at a distal end thereof;

wherein the aspiration tube has a tube wall presenting an internal face and an external face, the internal face supporting at least one internally extending internal ridge;

the internal ridge presenting an internal distal face, an internal proximal face and an internal apex;

the internal distal face meeting the internal face at an acute angle measured internally; and

engaging lens fragments separated from the crystalline lens during phacoemulsification with or proximate the internal ridge to enhance proximal movement of the lens fragments and to inhibit distal movement of the lens fragments through the aspiration tube.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising contacting the crystalline lens with external ridges of the aspiration tube to enhance engagement of the aspiration tube with crystalline lens.

23. The method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising vibrating the aspiration tube longitudinally, torsionally or elliptically.