Ophthalmic lens removal method and apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for endocapsular reduction of the lens of a mammalian eye, the apparatus comprising:
- a handpiece having an axis extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end of the handpiece;
an elongate tubular housing included in the handpiece and disposed at the proximal end of the handpiece;
a probe included in the handpiece and extending from the housing to the distal end of the handpiece, the probe being adapted for insertion into the lens capsule;
a shaft rotatable within the tubular housing and extending through the probe to the distal end of the handpiece;
bearing means for supporting said shaft within the housing along at least one line of contact, said bearing means creating a channel extending along the probe;
a V-ring face seal positioned within said housing in contact with said shaft for sealing said channel;
reducing means coupled to the shaft at the distal end of the handpiece for reducing the object when the object is in general contact with the reducing means; and
the reducing means being configured to create a fluid flow within the lens capsule to move the lens into contact with the lens reducing means.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for reducing the size of an object disposed in a generally closed fluid medium includes a handpiece having an axis extending from a housing at a proximal end to a probe at an opposing distal end. A reducer at the distal end of the probe is adapted for insertion into the fluid medium where it is rotatable to reduce in size the object. The reducer is configured to create a fluid flow in the fluid medium so that the handpiece can be maintained laterally and axially stationary while the object is moved by the fluid flow into contact with the reducer. An associated method includes the steps of rotating the rotary member at a speed sufficient to reduce the size of the object, and in a manner to produce a flow of the fluid sufficient to move the object into the rotary member.
78 Citations
33 Claims
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1. Apparatus for endocapsular reduction of the lens of a mammalian eye, the apparatus comprising:
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a handpiece having an axis extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end of the handpiece; an elongate tubular housing included in the handpiece and disposed at the proximal end of the handpiece; a probe included in the handpiece and extending from the housing to the distal end of the handpiece, the probe being adapted for insertion into the lens capsule; a shaft rotatable within the tubular housing and extending through the probe to the distal end of the handpiece; bearing means for supporting said shaft within the housing along at least one line of contact, said bearing means creating a channel extending along the probe; a V-ring face seal positioned within said housing in contact with said shaft for sealing said channel; reducing means coupled to the shaft at the distal end of the handpiece for reducing the object when the object is in general contact with the reducing means; and the reducing means being configured to create a fluid flow within the lens capsule to move the lens into contact with the lens reducing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A surgical reducer for endocapsular reduction of the lens of a mammalian eye, comprising:
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a probe having an axis extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end; an elongate tubular housing included in the probe, the housing having a generally cylindrical inner surface including a particular surface extending generally radially of the axis; a shaft rotatable within the tubular housing and extending to the distal end of the probe; means rotatable with the shaft to create a force against the particular surface for forming a seal with the particular surface, the force having a magnitude which decreases with increasing rotation of the shaft; a cutting tip coupled to the shaft at the distal end of the probe and tip shielding means disposed about said probe such that said cutting tip may be alternately (a) covered by said shielding means to facilitate introduction of the probe through the lens capsule, and (b) protruding outside of said shielding means such that said cutting tip may contact and reduce lens matter within said lens capsule. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A surgical reducer for reducing and removing the lens of a mammalian eye, comprising:
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a power controller providing a power signal on a power line; a drive motor coupled to the power line and responsive to the power signal to provide rotary power; a handpiece; a housing included in the handpiece and receiving the rotary power from the drive motor; a probe included in the handpiece and extending from the housing to a rotary lens reducing tip; means for defining a channel between the drive motor and the probe; a drive shaft disposed in the channel for conveying the rotary power to the tip of the probe; means for introducing a fluid through the channel to the rotary tip of the probe; means fixed to the drive shaft for sealing the channel; and tip shielding means disposed about said probe such that said lens reducing tip may be alternately a) covered by said shielding means to facilitate introduction of the probe through the lens capsule, and b) protruding outside of said shielding means so as to contact and reduce said lens within said lens capsule. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for endocapsular reduction and removal of a lens from a mammalian eye, said method comprising the steps of:
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A) providing a rotary lens reducing device, said device comprising; i) a rotating head member; ii) a protective sheath sized and configured to cover said rotating head member, said sheath being alternately moveable, relative to said rotating head member, between; a) a first position whereat said rotating head is covered by said protective sheath; and b) a second position whereat said rotating head protrudes out of said protective sheath; iii) said rotating head being configured such that, when held in a substantially stationary position within the lens capsule, and rotated at sufficient velocity, said rotating head will concomitantly i) reduce lens matter which comes into contact with said head and ii) draw a flow of fluid toward said rotating head so as to cause the entire lens to be drawn into contact with the stationarily positioned rotating head; B) initially positioning the tubular sheath of said device in said first position; C) inserting the distal end of said tubular sheath into the lens capsule; D) moving the tubular sheath of said device to said second position, thereby causing said rotary head to become exposed within said lens capsule; E) maintaining said device such that said rotating head member remains in a axially stationary position; F) causing said rotating head to rotate at sufficient velocity to effect complete reduction of the lens while said device remains in said substantially stationary position; G) removing the reduced lens matter from the interior of the lens capsule; H) returning said tubular sheath to said first position; and I) extracting the rotary lens reducing device from the eye. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A device for reducing a cataract-affected lens within the lens capsule of a mammalian eye, said device comprising:
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a rotatable shaft; a rotating lens reducing and fluid-flow generating head mounted on said rotatable shaft, said head being configured such that, when rotated at sufficient velocity and held in a substantially stationary position within the lens capsule of the eye, the rotation of said head will reduce lens matter coming into contact therewith while concomitantly drawing a flow of fluid toward said head; said head comprising an impeller configured to cause the entire lens to be drawn into contact with said head while said head remains in said substantially stationary position within the lens capsule; a protective sheath mounted on said device and alternately positionable relative to said rotating head between; i) a first position wherein said rotating head is covered by said sheath; and ii) a second position wherein said rotating head protrudes outside of said sheath. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification