Phacoemulsification device having rounded edges
First Claim
1. A phacoemulsification needle, comprising:
- a hollow member having an inner surface defining a lumen, an outer surface, and a distal end tip;
wherein an outer diameter of the distal end tip does not exceed an outer diameter of the outer surface of the hollow member adjacent to the distal end tip; and
wherein said distal end tip has an outer edge portion and an inner edge portion, and wherein said outer and inner edge portions are rounded to eliminate any sharp edges, said rounded inner edge portion providing a smooth, rounded transition between said distal end tip and said lumen to maintain the integrity of intraocular structures that are aspirated into the lumen during a surgical procedure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A phacoemulsification needle is disclosed having a hollow member with an inner surface, an outer surface, and a distal end tip. The distal end tip has an outer edge portion and an inner edge portion both of which are rounded to eliminate any sharp edges. The needle can be used to deliver ultrasonic energy to a surgical site, such as a cataract, to emulsify unwanted tissue and to aspirate the tissue through the lumen of the hollow member without using any sharp surfaces for cutting. The rounded outer and inner edge portions of the distal end tip of the needle increase the safety of the surgical procedure by reducing the risk of damage to the capsule or other intraocular structures or tissues near the surgical site. This improvement in safety has allowed the development of new needle configurations to improve the efficiency of phacoemulsification, several of which are disclosed herein.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A phacoemulsification needle, comprising:
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a hollow member having an inner surface defining a lumen, an outer surface, and a distal end tip; wherein an outer diameter of the distal end tip does not exceed an outer diameter of the outer surface of the hollow member adjacent to the distal end tip; and wherein said distal end tip has an outer edge portion and an inner edge portion, and wherein said outer and inner edge portions are rounded to eliminate any sharp edges, said rounded inner edge portion providing a smooth, rounded transition between said distal end tip and said lumen to maintain the integrity of intraocular structures that are aspirated into the lumen during a surgical procedure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of performing phacoemulsification, comprising the steps of:
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providing a phacoemulsification needle comprising a hollow member having an inner surface defining a lumen, an outer surface, and a distal end tip having an outer diameter that does not exceed an outer diameter of the outer surface of the hollow member adjacent to the distal end tip, said distal end tip having outer and inner edge portion which are rounded to eliminate any sharp edges, said rounded inner edge portion providing a smooth, rounded transition between said distal end tip and said lumen to maintain the integrity of intraocular structures that are aspirated into the lumen during a surgical procedure; and using the phacoemulsification needle to deliver ultrasonic energy to emulsify unwanted tissue at a surgical site and to aspirate the unwanted tissue through the hollow member without using a sharp surface to cut the unwanted tissue. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A phacoemulsification instrument, comprising:
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a source of ultrasonic energy; a plurality of ribs arranged in a pattern and extending from said source of ultrasonic energy, whereby said ribs can be used to transmit ultrasonic forces independent of each other for removing material in close proximity to respective distal tips of the ribs; and an outer sleeve separate from said plurality of ribs positioned over and supporting said plurality of ribs; wherein said plurality of ribs are each driven independently by individual transducers. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A phacoemulsification needle, comprising:
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a hollow member having an inner surface defining a lumen, an outer surface, and a distal end tip; wherein said distal end tip comprises an initial cutting surface that defines an outermost extent of said distal end tip and does not exceed an outer diameter of the outer surface of the hollow member adjacent to the distal end tip; and wherein said distal end tip has an outer edge portion and an inner edge portion, and wherein said outer and inner edge portions are rounded to eliminate any sharp edges, said rounded inner edge portion providing a smooth, rounded transition between said distal end tip and said lumen to maintain the integrity of intraocular structures that are aspirated into the lumen during a surgical procedure.
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23. A phacoemulsification needle, comprising:
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a hollow member having an inner surface defining a lumen, an outer surface, and a distal end tip; wherein said outer surface is substantially cylindrical, and an outer diameter of the distal end tip does not exceed an outer diameter of the cylindrical outer surface adjacent to the distal end tip; and wherein said distal end tip has an outer edge portion and an inner edge portion, and wherein said outer and inner edge portions are rounded to eliminate any sharp edges, said rounded inner edge portion providing a smooth, rounded transition between said distal end tip and said lumen to maintain the integrity of intraocular structures that are aspirated into the lumen during a surgical procedure.
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24. A phacoemulsification needle, comprising:
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a hollow member having an inner surface defining a lumen, an outer surface, and a distal end tip; wherein a distal portion of said hollow member is flared such that an outer diameter of the outer surface increases in a direction toward said distal end tip, and said outer surface is free of any bulbous structure protruding outwardly from the hollow member adjacent to the distal end tip; and wherein said distal end tip has an outer edge portion and an inner edge portion, and wherein said outer and inner edge portions are rounded to eliminate any sharp edges, said rounded inner edge portion providing a smooth, rounded transition between said distal end tip and said lumen to maintain the integrity of intraocular structures that are aspirated into the lumen during a surgical procedure.
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Specification