Microsurgical instrument

• US 8,187,293 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2006
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: Kirchhevel, G. Lamar
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine M
• Assistant Examiner(s): RYCKMAN, MELISSA K
• Application Number:
  US11/348,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20070185512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,304 Days
• Field of Search: 606/166, 606/167, 606/170, 606/171, 606/177, 606/180, 604/22
• US Class Current: 606/171
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00544 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2918 flexible handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/305 Tweezer like handles with tubular extensions, inner slidable actuating members and distal tools, e.g. microsurgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself
• 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

A microsurgical instrument including a cutting member and a base with an actuating mechanism that provides more efficient cutting of tissue.

Claims

1. A microsurgical instrument, comprising:

a cutting member having;

a tubular outer cutting member with a port for receiving tissue, said port having a distal cutting surface and a proximal cutting surface; and

a tubular inner cutting member disposed within said outer cutting member and having a third cutting surface; and

a base having an actuating mechanism for reciprocating actuation of said inner cutting member so that said inner cutting member opens and closes said port and cuts tissue disposed in said port, said actuating mechanism comprising;

a diaphragm chamber having a distal wall portion and a proximal wall portion;

a rigid center support disposed in said diaphragm chamber and having a rigid distal limiting surface and a rigid proximal limiting surface;

a flexible diaphragm coupled to said center support and said base;

a first pneumatic port for providing pressurized gas to a portion of said diaphragm chamber on a proximal side of said flexible diaphragm; and

a second pneumatic port for providing pressurized gas to a portion of said diaphragm chamber on a distal side of said flexible diaphragm;

whereby upon actuation of said inner cutting member via a pressure differential across said flexible diaphragm created using said first pneumatic port and said second pneumatic port, said rigid distal limiting surface contacts said distal wall portion when said third cutting surface is disposed proximate said distal cutting surface at an end of a cutting stroke in which said inner cutting member is moving in a distal direction, and said rigid proximal limiting surface contacts said proximal wall portion when said third cutting surface is disposed proximate said proximal cutting surface at an end of a return stroke in which said inner cutting member is moving in a proximal direction.

2. The microsurgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said instrument is a vitrectomy probe.

3. The microsurgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said diaphragm chamber, said center support, said flexible diaphragm, said first pneumatic port, and said second pneumatic port increase the cutting efficiency of said probe.

4. The microsurgical instrument of claim 1 wherein said rigid proximal limiting surface contacts said proximal wall portion when said third cutting surface is disposed at said proximal cutting surface at an end of a return stroke in which said inner cutting member is moving in a proximal direction.