Removal of tissue
First Claim
1. A method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a fragmenting tip having fragmenting surfaces through an opening in the eye into the lens of an eye having a cataract and a capsular wall wherein the tip has at least one movable fragmenting surface;
moving the fragmenting surface in a first direction and in at least a second direction by a shaft mounted to the fragmenting tip for movement therewith;
the step of moving the fragmenting surface in a first direction including the step of rotating the shaft within bearings wherein the fragmenting surface is rotated; and
the step of moving the fragmenting surface in a second direction including the step of moving the fragmenting surface at an ultrasonic frequency;
positioning the fragmenting tip to impact the tissue of the cataract while it is moving at a velocity higher than the fragmenting velocity with respect to the capsular wall and at an angle to the cataract;
whereby the cataract is fragmented but not the capsular wall; and
aspirating the fragmented tissue.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
To reduce damage to surrounding tissue while fragmenting some tissue such as for example not damaging the capsular wall while removing the lens during cataract removal surgery or not damaging artery or vein walls during bypass surgery while freeing the artery or vein to be transplanted, an incision is made for the insertion of surface-discriminating, rotating, fragmenting handpiece. The surface-discriminating fragmenting handpiece fragments and permits aspiration of the tissue without damaging the surrounding wall by fragmenting surfaces of higher inertia material but moving at a rate of speed and having openings between them of such a size that the more integrated lower mass, more flexible and smoother tissue is moved away from the fragmenting zone and the higher mass, lower flexibility or rougher tissue is fragmented.
44 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
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inserting a fragmenting tip having fragmenting surfaces through an opening in the eye into the lens of an eye having a cataract and a capsular wall wherein the tip has at least one movable fragmenting surface; moving the fragmenting surface in a first direction and in at least a second direction by a shaft mounted to the fragmenting tip for movement therewith; the step of moving the fragmenting surface in a first direction including the step of rotating the shaft within bearings wherein the fragmenting surface is rotated; and the step of moving the fragmenting surface in a second direction including the step of moving the fragmenting surface at an ultrasonic frequency; positioning the fragmenting tip to impact the tissue of the cataract while it is moving at a velocity higher than the fragmenting velocity with respect to the capsular wall and at an angle to the cataract;
whereby the cataract is fragmented but not the capsular wall; andaspirating the fragmented tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus for removing tissue from a patient comprising:
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means for fragmenting and aspirating tissue having an operative tip; said means for fragmenting and separating tissue comprising means for repeatedly moving the operative tip under the control of an electrical signal at a low power level in a first direction and in at least a second direction; and
at an angle to the tissue;said operative tip having at least one fragmenting edge with open spaces of less than 10 millimeters; the means for moving the fragmenting surface in a first direction including a rotatable shaft and means for rotating the rotatable shaft; said rotatable shaft and operative tip being connected for movement together wherein said fragmenting surface is rotated; and the means for moving the fragmenting surface in a second direction including means for moving the fragmenting surface at an ultrasonic frequency. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification