Vitreous cutter

• US 5,284,472 A
• Filed: 10/30/1992
• Issued: 02/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abbott Medical Optics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zaleski, Edward, Sussman, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rafa, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/969,745
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22, 606/168-171, 128/751, 128/752, 128/755
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• 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

A vitreous-cutting surgical device is provided which includes a tubular sleeve having a port in a side wall thereof, proximate to a closed distal end of the tubular sleeve. A vacuum is used for drawing a portion of the vitreous to be cut f rom a body of vitreous into the port and a cutter sleeve, disposed within the tubular sleeve, is provided for cutting the vitreous drawn into the port. Cutting surfaces and a window in the cutter sleeve enable a preferably constant vacuum to be applied to the body of vitreous being cut during cutting thereof to eliminate, or substantially reduce, agitation of the remaining vitreous.

Claims

1. A vitreous-cutting surgical device comprising:

a tubular sleeve having means for defining a port in a side wall thereof proximate a closed distal end of said tubular sleeve;

vacuum means for drawing a portion of vitreous to be cut from a body of vitreous into said opening;

means for cutting the vitreous portion from the body of vitreous, said means for cutting vitreous comprising a cutter sleeve slidably disposed within said tubular sleeve, said cutter sleeve comprising opposite facing cutting surfaces formed into a distal end of the cutter sleeve, a first of said opposite facing cutting surfaces being disposed on the cutter sleeve distal end on a portion of a cutter sleeve circumference facing the tubular sleeve port and a second of said opposite facing cutting surfaces being disposed on a perimeter of the window formed into the cutting sleeve;

means for maintaining vacuum on said body of vitreous during cutting of the vitreous portion, said means for maintaining vacuum comprises a window formed into the cutting sleeve proximate the distal end thereof, said window facing the tubular sleeve port, said window being in vacuum communication through the cutting sleeve with the vacuum means, the tubular sleeve port and the cutter sleeve window being of equal area for enabling substantially constant vacuum to be drawn on said body and vitreous during cutting of the vitreous portion; and

driver assembly means for supporting said tubular sleeve at a proximal end thereof and piston means, disposed in said driver assembly means and attached to said cutter sleeve, for causing reciprocal movement of the cutter sleeve within the tubular sleeve.