Liquefracture handpiece tip

• US 6,589,201 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2000
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Manufacturing Limited (Alcon Incorporated)
• Inventors: Padget, Martin J., Sussman, Glenn, Cohen, Donald M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam, Ann Y
• Application Number:
  US09/525,196
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 604/27, 604/114, 604/35, 604/22, 604/19, 604/28, 604/30, 604/48, 604/500, 604/521, 604/43, 604/44, 604/113, 604/131, 604/151, 604/153, 604/289-291, 604/294, 604/246, 604/247
• US Class Current: 604/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3203 Fluid jet cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320084 Irrigation sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/044 the surgical action being effected by a circulating hot fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/046 in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00736 Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments A61F9/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00763 with rotating or reciprocating cutting elements, e.g. concentric cutting needles atherectomy cutting instruments A61B17/3207; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463

Abstract

A surgical handpiece having two coaxial tubes or channels mounted within a body. The first tube is used for aspiration and is smaller in diameter than the second tube so as to create an annular passage between the first and second tube. The annular passage communicates with a pumping chamber formed between two electrodes. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the annular passage. The distal end of the annular gap is sealed by sealing together the distal ends of the first and second tube and a plurality or orifices or ports may be formed near the seal. As the expanding gas is propelled down the annular gap, the gas/liquid stream is forced out of the distal orifices in a controlled and directed manner. The distal end of the first and second tubes may contain a bend.

Claims

1. A tip for a liquefracture handpiece, comprising:

a) an inner aspiration tube coaxially mounted within an outer tube so as to form an annular gap between the inner tube and the outer tube, the annular gap being fluidly connected to a boiling chamber;

b) distal ends on the inner tube and the outer tube, the distal ends each containing a bend and sealing the annular gap; and

c) at least one discharge orifice in the distal end of the inner tube, the orifice in fluid communication with the annular gap.

2. The tip of claim 1 wherein the bend is at an angle of between 0°

and approximately 90°

.

3. The tip of claim 1 wherein the bend is at an angle of between 0°

and approximately 60°

.

4. The tip of claim 1 wherein the bend is at an angle of between 0°

and approximately 20°

.