Modular design for ophthalmic surgical probe

• US 8,038,692 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: Valencia, Salomon, Auld, Jack R., Lopez, Jose Luis
• Primary Examiner(s): LANG, AMY T
• Application Number:
  US11/554,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20080172077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 606166-171, 606/107, 600/562, 600/564, 600/568, 604/22
• US Class Current: 606/166
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• 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

Abstract

An ophthalmic surgical probe having a modular drive assembly and a skin that is removable from the drive assembly. This design simplifies probe manufacturing and provides greater manufacturing flexibility.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic surgical probe with a modular construction, comprising:

a skin having a distal opening and a proximal opening;

an engine having a body, and a drive shaft support member and a drive shaft extending axially away from said engine;

a needle holder having a bushing disposed therein and a proximal opening for removably engaging said drive shaft support member;

a needle having a needle coupling rigidly coupled thereto, said needle coupling removably engaging said bushing; and

a cutter having a cutter coupling rigidly coupled thereto, said cutter being slidably disposed within said needle, and said cutter coupling removably engaging said drive shaft;

whereby;

said drive shaft support member, said drive shaft, and said cutter coupling are operably disposed within said needle holder;

said needle holder is received through said proximal opening of said skin so that said drive shaft support member, said needle holder, and said cutter coupling are disposed entirely within said skin;

said needle extends through said distal opening of said skin; and

said skin is removably engaged to said body of said engine.

2. The ophthalmic surgical probe of claim 1 wherein said engine comprises a pneumatic engine.

3. The ophthalmic surgical probe of claim 1 wherein said engine comprises an electric engine.

4. The ophthalmic surgical probe of claim 1 wherein said probe is a vitrectomy probe.

5. The ophthalmic surgical probe of claim 1 whereby said probe facilitates changing to different gages of said needle during manufacturing of said probe.