Ophthalmic aspirating/irrigating device

• US 4,891,044 A
• Filed: 01/04/1988
• Issued: 01/02/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coats Viyella Medical Limited (ConvaTec Group Plc)
• Original Assignee: Coats Viyella Medical Limited (ConvaTec Group Plc)
• Inventors: Mitchell, David
• Primary Examiner(s): KRUTER, JEROME
• Application Number:
  US07/141,604
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 604/27, 604/30, 604/35, 604/36, 604/38, 604/39, 604/43, 604/44, 604/48, 604/54
• US Class Current: 604/27
• 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

Abstract

An ophthalmic aspirating/irrigating device incorporates a needle comprising two tubes disposed in close proximity and terminating close to one another at the distal end of the device. The distal end of the needle is insertable into an eye to be treated while the proximal end of one tube is connected to a syringe by way of a valve device. The valve device contains two one way valves, one of which provides passage only from the syringe to a discharge opening and the second of which provides passage only in the direction from the tube to the syringe. The valves are of the type comprising two flexible lips normally in contact with one another and separable by a pressure rise across the valve to present an orifice. The valves are disposed such that when the device is in a vertical position with the needle projecting downwardly, the orifice of the one valve is located at a distance of at most 1 mm below the level of the orifice of the other valve.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic aspirating/irrigating device having, in use, a distal end and a proximal end and comprising a needle comprising two tubes disposed in close proximity, and terminating at one end close to one another at the distal end of the device, said one end of said tubes being insertable into an eye to be treated;

and a valve assembly connected between the other end of one tube and a syringe including a plunger, said valve assembly comprising a first one way valve means, comprising two flexible lips normally in contact with one another and separable by a pressure rise across the first valve means to present a first orifice, for providing passage only from the syringe to a discharge opening of the device and a second one way valve means, comprising two flexible lips normally in contact with one another and separable by a pressure rise across the second valve means to present a second orifice and disposed relative to said first valve means such that when the device is in a vertical position with the needle projecting downwardly the orifice of said first valve means is located at a distance of at most 1 mm below the level of the orifice of said second valve means, for normally providing passage only in the direction from said one tube to the syringe and for also providing passage of a small pressure wave, produced by momentarily depressing the plunger of the syringe, through the second valve means prior to the closing of said second valve means and the opening of the first valve means.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the two valves are incorporated within a body having a straight tubular portion containing the first valve and a branch containing the second valve.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the straight tubular portion is so arranged that the end adjacent the downstream end of the one way valve in said straight portion is a push fit on a nozzle portion of the syringe while the other end is formed as a spigot which is a push fit on a socket carrying the needle.