Ophthalmologic surgical probe

• US 6,488,695 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2000
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Hickingbotham, Dyson W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nerbun, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORAN, KATHERINE M
• Application Number:
  US09/641,066
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 606/206, 606/166, 606/174, 606/169, 606/170, 606/171, 606/13
• US Class Current: 606/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/30 Surgical pincettes without pivotal connectionsfor holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483; wound clamps A61B17/08 ; hand-held gripping tools without pivotal connections in general B25B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2918 flexible handles

Abstract

A probe having an actuation handle made from springy material having a memory. Squeezing the handle causing the actuation device to elongate, thereby causing movement in the probe tip. The probe handle of the present invention may be held and actuated in any position.

Claims

1. A probe, comprising:

a) an actuation handle having a first diameter and a first length in its relaxed state and a second diameter and a second length in its compressed state, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter and the second length being longer than the first length;

b) an actuation sleeve fixed to the distal end of the actuation handle;

c) an end sleeve fixed to the proximal end of the actuation sleeve;

d) a nose cone having an actuation tube received on the distal end of the actuation sleeve; and

e) a probe tip telescopically received through the actuation tube and the actuation sleeve and fixed to the end sleeve so that compression of the actuation handle causes the actuation tube to reciprocate over the probe tip.

2. The probe of claim 1 further comprising an adjusting screw received in the end sleeve and a return spring received on the adjusting screw.

3. The probe of claim 1 wherein probe tip is a forceps.

4. The probe of claim 1 further comprising an actuation handle extension capable of alternatively extending the length of the actuation handle or covering the actuation tube and probe tip.

5. A probe, comprising:

a) an actuation handle having a first diameter and a first length in its relaxed state and a second diameter and a second length in its compressed state, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter and the second length being longer than the first length;

b) an actuation sleeve fixed to the distal end of the actuation handle;

c) an end sleeve fixed to the proximal end of the actuation sleeve;

d) a nose cone having an actuation tube received on the distal end of the actuation sleeve; and

e) a probe tip having a forceps telescopically received through the actuation tube and the actuation sleeve and fixed to the end sleeve so that compression of the actuation handle causes compression of the forceps.