Patch for irrigation/aspiration tip

• US 8,545,462 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2009
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Ghannoum, Ziad R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATNEY, BROOKE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US12/616,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20110112471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22, 604/27, 604/43, 604/300, 604/294, 604/528, 604/302, 604/35, 604/39, 604/295, 604/297, 604/274, 604/170.01, 604/121, 604/521, 604/118, 604/23, 604/40, 604/42, 606/107, 606/5, 606/4
• US Class Current: 604/294
• 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: 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 2210/0612 Eyes

Abstract

In various embodiments, an ophthalmic surgical instrument may include an aspiration tube, an irrigation/aspiration tip (formed of a first material such as plastic), and a patch, coupled to the irrigation/aspiration tip, made of a second material (e.g., silicone) having a higher coefficient of friction than the first material. In some embodiments, the patch may be placed on the irrigation/aspiration tip in a position to allow a user of the irrigation/aspiration tip to manipulate an intraocular lens (IOL) through contact between the patch and the IOL. For example, the patch may be positioned on a side of the irrigation/aspiration tip opposite an aspiration port or on a distal end of the irrigation/aspiration tip. In some embodiments, the patch may be formed separately and coupled to the irrigation/aspiration tip through an adhesive or may be molded onto the irrigation/aspiration tip. In some embodiments, the patch may include features to increase friction.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic surgical instrument, comprising:

an aspiration tube defining an aspiration channel, having a proximal end and a distal end;

an irrigation/aspiration tip, formed of a first material, coupled to the distal end of the aspiration tube, wherein the irrigation/aspiration tip has a closed distal end and has at least one external aspiration port, entirely on a first side of the irrigation/aspiration tip, in fluid communication with and forming an outermost portion of the aspiration channel; and

a patch coupled to the irrigation/aspiration tip, wherein the patch is made of a second material having a higher coefficient of friction than the first material, wherein the patch is entirely on a second side of the irrigation/aspiration tip to allow a user of the irrigation/aspiration tip to manipulate an intraocular lens (IOL) through contact between the patch and the IOL;

wherein the first side of the irrigation/aspiration tip lies entirely on one spatial side of a plane containing a longitudinal axis of the tip and the second side lies entirely on the opposing spatial side of the plane.

2. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first material is a plastic and the second material is silicone.

3. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second side of the irrigation/aspiration tip is opposite the first side of the irrigation/aspiration port.

4. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the patch is a different color than the irrigation/aspiration tip.

5. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the patch is formed separately and coupled to the irrigation/aspiration tip through an adhesive.

6. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the patch is molded onto the irrigation/aspiration tip.

7. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the patch comprises one or more features to increase friction between the patch and the IOL.

8. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein an exposed outer surface area of the patch is less than half of an exposed outer surface area of the irrigation/aspiration tip.

9. An ophthalmic surgical instrument comprising:

an infusion sleeve comprising an elongated body defining an infusion channel and having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis along the length of the elongated body, the infusion sleeve defining an infusion port oriented to direct infusion fluid from the infusion channel in a first direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

an aspiration tube defining an aspiration channel, having a proximal end and a distal end;

an irrigation/aspiration tip, formed of a first material, coupled to the distal end of the aspiration tube, wherein the irrigation/aspiration tip has a closed distal end and has at least one external aspiration port, entirely on a first side of the irrigation/aspiration tip, in fluid communication with and forming an outermost portion of the aspiration channel;

wherein the external aspiration port of the irrigation/aspiration tip is oriented to draw material from the environment in a second direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the irrigation/aspiration tip extends in a direction along the longitudinal axis; and

a patch coupled to the irrigation/aspiration tip, wherein the patch is made of a second material having a higher coefficient of friction than the first material, wherein the patch is entirely on a second side of the irrigation/aspiration tip to allow a user of the irrigation/aspiration tip to manipulate an intraocular lens (IOL) through contact between the patch and the IOL;

wherein the first side of the irrigation/aspiration tip lies entirely on one spatial side of a plane containing a longitudinal axis of the tip and the second side lies entirely on the opposing spatial side of the plane.

10. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the first material is a plastic and the second material is silicone.

11. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the second side of the irrigation/aspiration tip is opposite the first side of the irrigation/aspiration port.

12. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the patch is a different color than the irrigation/aspiration tip.

13. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the patch is formed separately and coupled to the irrigation/aspiration tip through an adhesive.

14. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the patch is molded onto the irrigation/aspiration tip.

15. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the patch comprises one or more features to increase friction between the patch and the IOL.

16. The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein an exposed outer surface area of the patch is less than half of an exposed outer surface area of the irrigation/aspiration tip.

17. A single use, disposable component to be coupled to an ophthalmic surgical instrument wherein the instrument includes an infusion sleeve comprising an elongated body defining an infusion channel and having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis along a length of the elongated body, the component comprising:

an aspiration tube defining an aspiration channel, having a proximal end and a distal end;

an irrigation/aspiration tip, formed of a first material, coupled to the distal end of the aspiration tube, wherein the irrigation/aspiration tip has a closed distal end and has at least one external aspiration port, entirely on a first side of the irrigation/aspiration tip, in fluid communication with and forming an outermost portion of the aspiration channel; and

a patch coupled to the irrigation/aspiration tip, wherein the patch is made of a second material having a higher coefficient of friction than the first material, wherein the patch is entirely on a second side of the irrigation/aspiration tip to allow a user of the irrigation/aspiration tip to manipulate an intraocular lens (IOL) through contact between the patch and the IOL;

wherein the patch does not block or form part of the aspiration channel;

wherein the first side of the irrigation/aspiration tip lies entirely on one spatial side of a plane containing a longitudinal axis of the tip and the second side lies entirely on the opposing spatial side of the plane.

18. The single use, disposable component of claim 17, wherein the irrigation/aspiration tip is formed of a plastic and the patch material is a silicone having a higher coefficient of friction than the irrigation/aspiration tip plastic.