Apparatus to facilitate removal of cataracts of from the eyes

• US 8,142,388 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mario P. Gomez
• Original Assignee: Mario P. Gomez
• Inventors: Gomez, Mario P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Jackie
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHELL, LAURA C
• Application Number:
  US12/587,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22, 604/272, 604/264, 604/275, 604/294, 606/107, 606/167, 606/169
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/804 using Laval or Venturi jet pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/85 with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/058 with ultrasound therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes

Abstract

This apparatus is a device for removal of cataracts from the eyes of patient. The apparatus includes a hand piece, with an irrigation water line, a vacuum line and a power line provided therein, are all connected with the hand piece. Within the hand piece the vacuum line is attached to a tube, identified as the horn, concentric with the outer shell of the hand piece. Through a hooks and slider joint, bayonet type or threaded joint in the front end, the horn connects with a surgical needle. At the front end of the irrigation tube it discharges water into a chamber, which irrigation water passes between the needle and an outer sleeve and into the anterior chamber of the eye. Ultrasonic waves transmitted to the horn are conveyed to the tip of the needle where the axial vibrations of the tip may be used to comminute cataract material.

Claims

1. An apparatus to facilitate removal of cataracts from the eyes, said apparatus including a hand piece for grasping by the physician during performance of a cataract operation, said hand piece including a horn to convey ultrasonic waves generated by the transducer to the back end of a needle, said needle interconnected with the front end of the horn, the needle being applicable for transmission of ultrasonic waves to the cataract, and to provide for a very high frequency alternating force at the needle tip to fracture the cataracts, the front end of the horn having external threads to facilitate its joining with the back end of the needle, and the back end of the needle having internal threads to provide for their threaded engagement onto the horn threads, and an annealed nickel washer provided at the interface between the front end of the horn and the back end of the needle, said nickel washer provided for eliminating any gaps between the front end of said horn and the back end of said needle, and to occupy all space without any air gaps at the interface thereof, the front end of the horn having a front face, the back end of the needle having a back face, and said nickel washer being located and compressed intermediate thereof to facilitate and enhance the uniform flow of the ultrasonic waves therethrough without any significant temperature increase and uncontrolled heating for the apparatus needle, and through such threaded connection providing for the transmission of a higher percentage of ultrasonic waves through the needle and to the cataracts for fracture and removal;

said apparatus including a venturi nozzle at the tip of the needle, to increase a vacuuming force of the suction water at the tip of the needle to facilitate the vacuum removal of the pieces of fractured cataract from the eves anterior chamber during the performance of an operation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein the front end of the horn includes a front face, the back end of the needle includes a back face, and said nickel washer being magnetized and annealed, and compressed between the two said faces for enhancing the transmission of ultrasonic waves through the apparatus during its usage.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 and wherein the front end of the horn includes a front face, the back end of the needle includes a back face, and said magnetized nickel washer compressed between the two said faces to enhance the transmission of ultrasonic waves through the apparatus during its usage.