Multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle

• US 8,287,484 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Medical Optics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Rockley, Paul W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHELL, LAURA C
• Application Number:
  US11/416,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20070260199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,359 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22, 604/264, 604/272, 604/239, 604/273, 604/274, 604/27, 604/19, 606/107, 606/166, 606/167, 606/169
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic

Abstract

In one aspect of the invention, a multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle comprises a needle body disposed about a centerline and has a lumen disposed therein. The lumen has a first cross-sectional area that is normal to the centerline. The needle further comprises a distal tip comprising an arcuate surface and a face with a port therein. The port has a second cross-sectional area in a plane generally parallel to the face and is in fluid communication with an internal cavity that has a third cross-sectional area normal to the centerline, the internal cavity being in fluid communication with the lumen. The needle is configured such that the third cross-sectional area is greater than either the first cross-sectional area or the second cross-sectional area. In another aspect of the invention, the needle comprises a plurality of fins projecting inwardly from the lumen.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle, comprising:

a needle body disposed about a centerline and having a lumen disposed therein, the lumen having a surface and a first cross-sectional area normal to the centerline;

a proximal end adapted for attachment to a phacoemulsification handpiece; and

a distal tip comprising an arcuate surface and a face with a port therein, the port having a second cross-sectional area in a plane generally parallel to the face and being in fluid communication with an internal cavity, the internal cavity having a third cross-sectional area normal to the centerline and being in fluid communication with the lumen, and the internal cavity having a surface portion disposed about the port, the distal tip comprising a continuous surface free of discontinuities extending from the surface of a distal portion of the lumen to a perimeter of the port to a distal portion of the needle body;

the third cross-sectional area being greater than the first cross-sectional area and greater than the second cross-sectional area.

2. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1, wherein the second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area.

3. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1, wherein the port has a diameter that is less than about 0.5 mm.

4. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1, wherein the port has a diameter that is between about 0.2 mm and about 0.4 mm.

5. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1, wherein the cavity is configured to emulsify cortical material when at least a portion of a lens capsule is invaginated within the cavity.

6. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1, wherein internal cavity comprises a distal face that is disposed at an angle to the centerline.

7. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 6, wherein the distal face is flat.

8. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 6, wherein the distal face is curved in at least one axis.

9. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 6, wherein the distal face is configured to focus phacoemulsification power toward a volume disposed about the centerline.

10. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1, wherein the distal tip further comprises:

a rounded bottom portion having a surface area configured for polishing an eye lens capsule;

a top portion comprising a flat surface disposed from a location at or near the centerline to a location at a distal end of the needle body; and

a port disposed in the flat surface, the port communicating with the needle body lumen.

11. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1, wherein the needle further comprises a distal tip comprising:

a flat surface disposed at an acute angle relative to the centerline;

a port disposed within the flat surface and communicating with the needle body lumen;

a continuous surface free of discontinuities comprising the flat surface, a distal portion of the lumen, and a distal portion of the needle body.

12. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1, wherein the distal tip has an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the needle body.

13. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1, further comprising a proximal lumen proximal to and coaxial with needle body lumen, the proximal lumen having a cross-sectional area that is greater than the first cross-sectional area of the needle body lumen.

14. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1, wherein needle body lumen has a longitudinal length that is greater than an outer diameter of the needle body.

15. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1, wherein the face is flat.

16. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 15, wherein the face is disposed as an angle from the centerline that is between about 25 degrees and 65 degrees.

17. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1, wherein the lumen comprises a primary surface having a first diameter, wherein the lumen comprises at least three fins having isolated distal ends protruding inwardly from the primary surface, wherein the fins are configured such that a circle passing through the distal ends of the fins has a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, and wherein the fins each comprise a longitudinal extent along the centerline that is greater than the first diameter.

18. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 17, wherein each of the fins further comprises a distal face that is disposed at an angle to the centerline.

19. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 18, wherein each of the distal faces is flat.

20. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 18, wherein the faces are configured to focus phacoemulsification power toward a volume disposed about the centerline.

21. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 17, wherein the second diameter is less than half of the first diameter.

22. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 17, wherein the circle has an area that is less than a cross-sectional area of the port.

23. A method of removing the natural lens of an eye, comprising:

providing a multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle, comprising;

a needle body disposed about a centerline and having a lumen disposed therein, the lumen having a surface and a first cross-sectional area normal to the centerline;

a proximal end adapted for attachment to a phacoemulsification handpiece; and

a distal tip comprising an arcuate surface and a face with a port therein, wherein the distal tip comprises a continuous surface free of discontinuities extending from the surface of a distal portion of the lumen to a perimeter of the port to a distal portion of the needle body, the port having a second cross-sectional area in a plane generally parallel to the face and being in fluid communication with an internal cavity, the internal cavity having a third cross-sectional area normal to the centerline and being in fluid communication with the lumen;

the third cross-sectional area being greater than the first cross-sectional area and greater than the second cross-sectional area;

applying phacoemulsification power to the distal tip and removing at least a portion of the natural lens contained within the lens capsule of an eye;

removing phacoemulsification power and passing the face of the distal tip of the needle over the surface of the lens capsule so as to remove cortical material therefrom;

invaginating a portion of the lens capsule within the internal cavity; and

reapplying phacoemulsification power while lens capsule portion is invaginated.

24. A multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle, comprising:

a straight needle body disposed about a centerline and having a lumen

therethrough, the lumen having a surface;

a proximal end adapted for attachment to a phacoemulsification handpiece; and

a straight distal tip extending from the needle body along and about the centerline, comprising;

a flat surface disposed at an acute angle relative to a portion of the centerline intersected by a line passing through the flat surface;

a port disposed within the flat surface and communicating with the needle body lumen; and

a continuous surface extending from the surface of a distal portion of the lumen to a perimeter of the port to a distal portion of the needle body that is free of discontinuities able to initiate a tear in a lens capsule of an eye when the capsule is invaginated by the phacoemulsification needle under normal ocular aspiration conditions.

25. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 24, wherein the angle is about 45 degrees.

26. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 24, wherein the angle is between about 25 degrees and 65 degrees.