Ultrasonic probe tip

• US 4,816,018 A
• Filed: 06/15/1987
• Issued: 03/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ultramed Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ultramed Corporation
• Inventors: Parisi, Tulio
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US07/062,243
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 604/27, 604/28, 604/31, 604/51, 604/73, 604/247
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22009 reduced or prevented
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32008 preventing clogging of suction channel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320084 Irrigation sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic

Abstract

An ultrasonic probe tip is provided with improved characteristics for removing material during surgery on a cataract or the like, and reducing the removed material into smaller particles. The tip includes a body section and a cutting section with a passage extending through both sections. Aspiration is provided to the passage means through a collector passageway within a smooth, cylindrical head. An annular sharpened edge on the cutting section removes the material and emulsifies the particles. The cutting section is an enlarged chamber to receive a core stream of liquid from the operation site drawn into and defined by the smaller passage in the body section to generate vortex action clearing the operation site, reducing the size of the particles to prevent clogging and prevent cavitation. The interior surface of the enlarged chamber can be roughened, such as by etching, in order to provide additional emulsification action. The tip is fabricated of titanium and used on conventional ultrasonic handpieces.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic probe tip for removing unwanted material and reducing said material into smaller particles for aspiration comprising;

a body section and a distal section said body and distal sections being adapted to receive ultrasonic vibratory energy from a source and to convey said vibratory energy to said material disposed in coupled relationship to the body section, the body section being spaced from the distal section in the direction of removal of the unwanted material;

an annular edge on said distal section to remove the material and reduce such material to smaller particles; and

passage means extending through said body and distal sections and communicating with the annular edge for the withdrawal of the particles from the tip by aspiration, said passage means having vortex action generating means including a relatively small diameter passage disposed in said body section and an extended and enlarged chamber disposed in said distal section and communicating directly with said relatively small diameter passage in said body section in the direction of movement of the smaller particles of the unwanted material through the passage means;

said relatively small diameter passage defining a core stream drawn into and through said extended and enlarged passage in said distal section whereby vortex action is generated in the enlarged chamber by boundary layer effect to clear the unwanted material, assist in reducing the size of the particles to prevent clogging in said passage means and to prevent cavitation.

2. The probe tip of claim 1 wherein the inner surface of said enlarged chamber in said distal section is roughened to further assist in reducing the size of the particles.

3. The probe tip of claim 2 wherein the roughened surface in said enlarged chamber is etched.

4. The probe tip of claim 1 wherein said tip has an annular cross-sectional shape of a substantially constant outer diameter in the body section and in the distal section for optimizing the ultrasonic action.

5. The probe tip of claim 4 wherein said tip includes a head with a smooth cylindrical surface.

6. The probe tip of claim 1 wherein said tip is made from titanium.

7. A method of ultrasonically removing unwanted material and reducing said material into smaller particles comprising the steps of:

providing a hollow tube including a passage at one end of the tube for particle aspiration and further including an enlargement of the passage at the other end of the tube and further including a sharpened annular edge at the end of the passage for particle aspiration, the passage communicating with the sharpened annular edge;

ultrasonically vibrating the hollow tube;

engaging the material with the sharpened annular edge of the vibrating tube for removing the material and reducing said material into smaller particles;

introducing a liquid to the vicinity of the unwanted material to provide irrigation of such material; and

generating a core stream of the liquid through the passage in the tube adjacent said tube end to generate a vortex action in the passage by boundary layer effect in the enlargement in the passage to clear the unwanted material, assist in reducing the size of the particles to prevent clogging in said passage and prevent cavitation.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the passage has a substantially uniform diameter and communicates directly with the enlargement in the passage to provide for a circulation of the particles in a vortex ring in the space beyond and around the end of the tube and an impact of particles against the shaprened annular edge of the tube for a cutting of the particles into particles of reduced size.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein is provided the additional step of roughening the surface inside the enlargement in the passage at the other end of the tube to facilitate the cutting of the particles.

10. Apparatus for removing a cataract from the eye of a patient wherein a saline solution is introduced to the patient'"'"'s eye comprising:

means for generating energy at an ultrasonic frequency,

a probe tip attached to said energy generating means, said tip having an interior passage and a cutting edge, said energy generating means vibrating the tip at the ultrasonic frequency, the interior passage communicating with the cutting edge,

the interior passage having a first particular diameter at an end displaced from the cutting edge and an enlargement in a portion of the probe tip at an end adjacent the cutting edge, the enlargement of the passage having a second particular diameter and communicating directly with the interior passage of the first particular diameter and having a sufficient axial length to generate a clearance and a circulating area of particles around the cutting edge of the tip to assure maximum cutting of the particles by the cutting edge, and

means for aspirating the saline solution and particles of the cataract from the patient'"'"'s eye.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said enlargement of the passage is of a diameter and axial length relative to the passage of the first particular diameter to emulsify the particles in said passage.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the energy-generating means, the probe tip and the aspirating means are in axial alignment.

13. In combination for use in removing a cataract from a patient'"'"'s eye:

means for providing vibrations at an ultrasonic frequency,

a probe tip coupled to the vibrating means for vibration at the ultrasonic frequency and having a cutting edge,

a passage, said passage extending through said probe tip and communicating with the cutting edge and having a substantially uniform diameter at the end of the probe tip displaced from the operative end, and

and an enlargement in the passage at the operative end of the probe tip adjacent the cutting edge and communicating directly with the passage of substantially uniform diameter to provide a clearance and a circulating area with a vortex action in the enlargement for enhancement of the cutting action and for an emulsifying action on the particles during the vibration of the probe tip at the ultrasonic frequency.

14. In the combination as set forth in claim 13, wherein the enlargement in the passage at the operative end of the probe tip has a diameter and an axial length to facilitate movement of particles against the cutting edge for enhanced cutting action.

15. In the combination set forth in claim 14, wherein the outer diameter of the probe tip is substantially constant.

16. In the combination as set forth in claim 15, wherein the surface defining the enlargement in the passage in the probe tip is roughened.

17. In the combination set forth in claim 13, wherein said enlargement of the passage is defined by an inner wall roughened to facilitate the emulsifying action on the particles.

18. A probe tip for use in removing a cataract from the eye of a patient comprising:

a cylindrical tube adapted to be vibrated by ultrasonic vibration in intra-operative use,

a cutting edge provided at one end of the tube, and

a passage extending through the tube and communicating with the cutting edge, said passage having a first diameter at the end adjacent the cutting edge and a second diameter at the end removed from the cutting edge, said first diameter being greater than the second diameter, the portion of the passage with the first diameter communicating directly with the portion of the passage with the second diameter whereby, upon an ultrasonic vibration of the tube, a clearance and a circulation area are provided around the cutting edge to facilitate the formation of the removed portions of the cataract into particles.

19. The probe tip as set forth in claim 18, wherein said first passage includes an interior wall having a roughened surface.

20. The probe tip as set forth in claim 19, wherein said probe tip is fabricated from titanium.

21. The probe tip as set forth in claim 18, wherein said cutting edge of the tube is hardened and the outer diameter of the tube is substantially constant.