Ultrasonic needle for surgical emulsification
First Claim
1. A hollow surgical emulsification needle having an inner and an outer surface and a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is to be attached to an ultrasonic handpiece to receive ultrasonic energy, said inner surface forming a passage having an inlet port at said distal end into which tissue is to be drawn for emulsification and having formed therein a plurality of individual concave recesses spaced apart and facing the opposite side of said passage each of which produces, during operation in response to the ultrasonic energy, a generally cone shaped focus of cavitation bubbles directed proximally within said passage to emulsify the tissue drawn into said passage.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an improved needle for use in the surgical emulsification of tissue such as cataracts, wherein the inner surface of the needle comprises one or more concave recesses. Such recesses are referred to herein as "cavitation generators". During the emulsification process, the cavitation generator produces a focus of cavitation bubbles directed toward a point interior to the body of the needle, thereby facilitating the emulsification of tissue within the needle as well as the aspiration of fluid from the operative field, while simultaneously protecting surrounding tissues from cavitation bubble-mediated damage. In preferred embodiments of the invention, a plurality of cavitation generators are located within the distal end of the surgical emulsification needle. Such cavitation generators may be incorporated into any existing emulsification needle (including but not limited to phacoemulsification needle) design.
97 Citations
11 Claims
- 1. A hollow surgical emulsification needle having an inner and an outer surface and a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is to be attached to an ultrasonic handpiece to receive ultrasonic energy, said inner surface forming a passage having an inlet port at said distal end into which tissue is to be drawn for emulsification and having formed therein a plurality of individual concave recesses spaced apart and facing the opposite side of said passage each of which produces, during operation in response to the ultrasonic energy, a generally cone shaped focus of cavitation bubbles directed proximally within said passage to emulsify the tissue drawn into said passage.
- 9. A hollow surgical emulsification needle having an inner and an outer surface and a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal end is to be attached to an ultrasonic handpiece to receive ultrasonic energy and said inner surface defines a linear passage between said distal and proximal ends, a plurality of concave recesses formed in said inner surface spaced apart and facing toward the longitudinal axis of said passage and each of which produces, during operation in response to the ultrasonic energy, a generally cone shape focus of cavitation bubbles directed proximally within said passage.
Specification