Microsurgical probe

• US 7,600,405 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2006
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Ketner, Dale E. Jr., Maurer, Robert S. Jr., Martin, Randall R., Burkman, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TOLAN, EDWARD THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US11/520,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20070093793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 72/67, 72/69, 72/75, 72/80, 721/12, 721/15, 721/18, 721/20, 721/21, 721/23, 721/25, 721/26, 72/84, 721/02, 604/22, 606/4, 606/107, 606/170, 606/171
• US Class Current: 72/75
• 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 9/00763 with rotating or reciprocating cutting elements, e.g. concentric cutting needles atherectomy cutting instruments A61B17/3207; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 22/14 Spinning
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 41/045 Closing
• CPC Class Codes: B21G 1/08 of hollow needles or needles with hollow end, e.g. hypodermic needles, larding-needles B21G1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B21J 5/063 Friction heat forging friction heat riveting B21J15/027
• CPC Class Codes: B21K 21/14 closed or substantially-closed ends, e.g. cartridge bottoms
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/0046 the extremity of a small piece being welded to a base, e.g. cooling studs or fins to tubes or plates
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/02 Pressure butt welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/16 taking account of the properties of the material to be welded
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/06 Tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 33/006 for cylindrical workpieces

Abstract

Microsurgical probes having a distal tip with a flat outer surface and a flat inner surface, and methods of forming such probes, are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of forming a vitrectomy probe, comprising;

disposing a tubular needle within a collet;

rotating said collet and said needle at high speed;

providing a tool having a generally flat distal surface with a convex spherical projection extending from said generally flat distal surface;

contacting an edge of a distal end of said needle with said convex, spherical projection; and

moving said tool across said distal end of said needle from said edge to slightly past a centerline of said needle so that said distal end of said needle is formed into a closed distal tip having a flat outer surface and a flat inner surface.