Eye aspirating device and method of use

• US 7,141,047 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas John
• Original Assignee: Thomas John
• Inventors: John, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Cris L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Han, Mark K
• Application Number:
  US10/323,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 604294-302, 604/264, 604/30, 604/313, 604/48, 604/93.01, 604/268, 604/265, 604/500, 604/521, 604/523, 604/540, 604/541, 604/543, 604/902, 606/4, 606/5, 606/1
• US Class Current: 604/541
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/84 Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/902 Suction wands

Abstract

An aspirating device for an eye includes a tubular member having a predetermined length that enables the tubular member to fit into an open eye and to rest on the surface of the eyeball adjacent one of the eyelids. The tubular member has one or a plurality of spaced openings therein along its length that allow liquid on the surface of the eyeball to be drawn into the tubular member upon the application of suction to the tubular member.

Claims

1. A method that substantially eliminates pooling of blood and any other liquids on a patient'"'"'s eyeball surface during surgery to provide an optimal view of a surgical field, said method including the steps of, with the eyelids of the patient open,

(a) placing a flexible tubular member having a plurality of spaced openings therein on the surface of the eyeball adjacent one eyelid, said tubular member having an aspiration port therein and a length that enables said tubular member to fit into the open eye, said length being substantially equal to the width of the eye of the patient,

(b) positioning said tubular member on the eyeball surface snugly against an inner edge of an open eyelid with the spaced openings oriented inward away from the eyelid to enable blood and any other liquids to be drawn into the tubular member,

(c) bending said flexible tubular member to conform said tubular member'"'"'s shape to the curvature of said inner edge of the eyelid,

(d) positioning an end of said extension tube nearby a corner of the eye with said extension tube extending outward from said corner of the eye,

(e) placing the aspiration port in communication with a source of suction through the extension tube which is connected to the aspiration port to draw said blood and any other liquids into the tubular member through the openings, and

(f) placing another end of the extension tube into a holding chamber at a remote location that collects said blood and any other liquids exiting the extension tube, said holding chamber being in communication with the source of suction.

2. The method of claim 1 where said source of suction is from 30 inches of Hg to 45 inches of Hg.

3. The method of claim 1 where said tubular member has an inside diameter of from 0.305 mm to 0.325 mm and an outside diameter from 0.635 mm to 0.655 mm and length of from 6 cm to 7.5 cm, and said spaced openings each have a diameter from 0.15 mm to 0.18 mm, and the number of said openings is from 2 to 3 per cm, said openings being substantially equally spaced apart.

4. The method of claim 1 where the extension tube comprises a flexible plastic tube having a length of from 120 cm to 180 cm.

5. A method that substantially eliminates pooling of blood and any other liquids on a patient'"'"'s eyeball surface during implanting an intraocular lens, said method including the steps of, with the eyelids of the patient open,

(a) placing a flexible tubular member having a plurality of spaced openings therein on the surface of the eyeball adjacent one eyelid, said tubular member having an aspiration port therein and a length that enables said tubular member to fit into the open eye, said length being substantially equal to the width of the eye of the patient,

(b) positioning said tubular member on the eyeball surface snugly against an inner edge of an open eyelid with the spaced openings oriented inward away from the eyelid to enable blood and any other liquids to be drawn into the tubular member,

(c) bending said flexible tubular member to conform said tubular member'"'"'s shape to the curvature of said inner edge of the eyelid,

(d) positioning an end of said extension tube nearby a corner of the eye with said extension tube extending outward from said corner of the eye,

(e) placing the aspiration port in communication with a source of suction through the extension tube which is connected to the aspiration port to draw said blood and any other liquids into the tubular member through the openings, and

(f) placing another end of the extension tube into a holding chamber at a remote location that collects said blood and any other liquids exiting the extension tube, said holding chamber being in communication with the source of suction.

6. The method of claim 5 where said source of suction is from 30 inches of Hg to 45 inches of Hg.

7. The method of claim 5 where said tubular member has an inside diameter of from 0.305 mm to 0.325 mm and an outside diameter from 0.635 mm to 0.65 5 mm and length of from 6 cm to 7.5 cm, and said spaced openings each have a diameter from 0.15 mm to 0.18 mm, and the number of said openings is from 2 to 3 per cm, said openings being substantially equally spaced apart.

8. The method of claim 5 where the extension tube comprises a flexible plastic tube having a length of from 120 cm to 180 cm.