Cannula for use in corrective laser eye surgery
First Claim
1. A cannula for use in conjunction with a fluid source and operative to irrigate a corneal surface of an eye, comprising:
- (a) a connector adapted to attach to the fluid source, said connector oriented along a longitudinal axis; and
(b) an elongated hollow prong element having a proximal end supported by said connector and a distal tip opposite said proximal end, said prong element preformed to include an arcuate distal section formed in a plane along a curvature, wherein a contact surface of said arcuate distal section is oriented toward said longitudinal axis, said contact surface having a portion thereof which is adapted to be coextensive with the corneal surface of an eye, and wherein said prong element has a fluid passageway therein that is surrounded by a sidewall with the fluid passageway being in fluid communication with the fluid source when said connector is fastened thereto, said prong element having a port in said distal section that extends from the fluid passageway through said sidewall whereby fluid from the fluid source may be ejected out of the port and onto the corneal surface during use.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cannula for use in conjunction with a fluid source to irrigate a corneal surface of an eye, comprises a connector adapted to attach to the fluid source; and an elongated, hollow prong element having a proximal end supported by said connector and a distal tip opposite proximal end. The prong element includes an arcuate distal section formed in a plane along a curvature and having a fluid passageway therein that is surrounded by a sidewall with the fluid passageway being in fluid communication with the fluid source when the connector is fastened thereto. A port in the distal section of the prong extends from the fluid passageway through the sidewall whereby fluid from the fluid source may be ejected out of the port and onto the corneal surface during use.
-
Citations
36 Claims
-
1. A cannula for use in conjunction with a fluid source and operative to irrigate a corneal surface of an eye, comprising:
-
(a) a connector adapted to attach to the fluid source, said connector oriented along a longitudinal axis; and (b) an elongated hollow prong element having a proximal end supported by said connector and a distal tip opposite said proximal end, said prong element preformed to include an arcuate distal section formed in a plane along a curvature, wherein a contact surface of said arcuate distal section is oriented toward said longitudinal axis, said contact surface having a portion thereof which is adapted to be coextensive with the corneal surface of an eye, and wherein said prong element has a fluid passageway therein that is surrounded by a sidewall with the fluid passageway being in fluid communication with the fluid source when said connector is fastened thereto, said prong element having a port in said distal section that extends from the fluid passageway through said sidewall whereby fluid from the fluid source may be ejected out of the port and onto the corneal surface during use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. An apparatus adapted for use in irrigating a corneal surface during surgical procedures thereon, comprising:
-
(a) a syringe body including an elongated hollow barrel having a barrel interior surrounded by a barrel sidewall, an opening at a first end thereof and a connector tip opposite the opening, said connector tip having a bore therethrough in fluid communication with the barrel interior; (b) a plunger received in the barrel interior and moveable therein between a withdrawn position and a depressed position; and (c) a cannula supported by said connector tip and including; (i) a connector oriented along a longitudinal axis and having a first passageway therethrough and adapted to mount to the connector tip in fluid communication with the bore thereof; and (ii) an elongated hollow prong element having a proximal end secured to said connector and a distal tip opposite the proximal end, said prong element preformed to include an arcuate distal section formed in a plane along a curvature and defined by a radius in said plane that passes through said longitudinal axis, said prong element having a fluid passageway therein that is surrounded by a prong element sidewall, with the fluid passageway being in fluid communication with the barrel interior when said connector is fastened to the connector tip and having a port in said distal section that extends from the fluid passageway through said prong element sidewall whereby fluid received in the barrel interior when said plunger is in the withdrawn position may be ejected out of the port and onto the corneal surface by moving said plunger toward the depressed position. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A cannula for use in conjunction with a fluid source and operative to irrigate a corneal surface of an eye, comprising:
-
(a) a connector adapted to attach to the fluid source, said connector oriented along a longitudinal axis; and (b) an elongated hollow prong element having a proximal end supported by said connector and a distal tip opposite said proximal end, said prong element including an arcuate distal section formed in a plane along a curvature and defined by a radius in said plane that originates on one side of said longitudinal axis and terminates on an opposite side of said longitudinal axis, said prong element having a fluid passageway therein that is surrounded by a sidewall with the fluid passageway being in fluid communication with the fluid source when said connector is fastened thereto, said prong element having a port in said distal section that extends from the fluid passageway through said sidewall whereby fluid from the fluid source may be ejected out of the port and onto the corneal surface during use. - View Dependent Claims (32)
-
-
33. An apparatus adapted for use in irrigating a corneal surface during surgical procedures thereon, comprising:
-
(a) a syringe body including an elongated hollow barrel having a barrel interior surrounded by a barrel sidewall, an opening at a first end thereof and a connector tip opposite the opening, said connector tip having a bore therethrough in fluid communication with the barrel interior; (b) a plunger received in the barrel interior and moveable therein between a withdrawn position and a depressed position; and (c) a cannula supported by said connector tip and including; (i) a connector having a first passageway therethrough and adapted to mount to the connector tip in fluid communication with the bore thereof; and (ii) an elongated hollow prong element having a proximal end secured to said connector and a distal tip opposite the proximal end, said prong element preformed to include a linear proximal section connected at a juncture to an arcuate distal section formed in a plane along a curvature, said prong element having a fluid passageway therein that is surrounded by a prong element sidewall, with the fluid passageway being in fluid communication with the barrel interior when said connector is fastened to the connector tip and having a port in said distal section that extends from the fluid passageway through said prong element sidewall whereby fluid received in the barrel interior when said plunger is in the withdrawn position may be ejected out of the port and onto the corneal surface by moving said plunger toward the depressed position.
-
-
34. A cannula for use in conjunction with a fluid source and operative to irrigate a corneal surface of an eye, comprising:
-
(a) a connector adapted to attach to the fluid source, said connector oriented along a longitudinal axis; and (b) an elongated hollow prong element having a surrounding sidewall that includes a proximal end supported by said connector and a distal tip opposite said proximal end, said prong element including an arcuate distal section formed in a plane along a curvature, wherein said arcuate distal section has a first sidewall portion extending along a first radius of curvature to define a contact surface facing said longitudinal axis, and a second sidewall portion extending along a second radius of curvature that is larger than said first radius of curvature, and wherein said prong element has a fluid passageway therein that is surrounded by said sidewall with the fluid passageway being in fluid communication with the fluid source when said connector is fastened thereto, said prong element having a port in said distal section that extends from the fluid passageway through said sidewall whereby fluid from the fluid source may be ejected out of the port and onto the corneal surface during use. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
-
Specification