Lithotripsy eye treatment

• US 9,504,604 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2012
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auris Health, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Auris Surgical Robotics, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Alvarez, Jeffery B.
• Primary Examiner(s): FISHBACK, ASHLEY LAUREN
• Application Number:
  US13/711,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20140012276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 606/32, 606/33, 606/37, 606/39, 606/41, 606/45, 606/166
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2202 the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22022 using electric discharge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00331 with preformed bends
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22021 electric leads passing through the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22024 with a part reflecting mechanical vibrations, e.g. for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22025 applying a shock wave A61B2017/22091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22062 to be filled with liquid
• 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 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic

Abstract

A lithotripsy probe is used to break up cataracts, sinus blockages and other body masses, where the broken materials may be removed by suction. The lithotripsy probe may have a spark generator, a fluid motion generator, or other component for breaking up the body mass.

Claims

1. A method of treating a cataract in an eye, the method comprising:

advancing a distal end of a lithotripsy probe into the eye in proximity with the cataract;

activating the lithotripsy probe to break the cataract into multiple pieces by causing fluid to move forward from a nozzle at the distal end of the lithotripsy probe, wherein causing fluid to move forward from the nozzle comprises generating a shock wave in the nozzle near the distal end of the lithotripsy probe, and wherein an hourglass shape of the nozzle increases a speed of the shock wave at an output opening of the nozzle; and

aspirating the multiple pieces of the cataract out of the eye using suction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the shock wave comprises generating a spark between two wires disposed in the probe.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the spark is generated between two tips of the two wires disposed closer to the distal end of the probe than to a proximal end of the probe.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising inflating a balloon on the probe.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple pieces are aspirated via an aspiration lumen of the probe.

6. The method of claim 1, further including irrigating the eye using irrigation fluid dispensed out of an irrigation lumen of the probe.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising steering the lithotripsy probe around a corner before the activating step.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps are performed via a robotic surgical system to which the probe is attached.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the hourglass-shaped nozzle has a convergent proximal section, a middle throat section, and a divergent distal portion ending at the output opening.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the hourglass-shape causes the forwardly moving shock wave at the divergent distal portion to leave the output opening at a higher speed than at the convergent proximal section.

11. A method of removing an unwanted structure from an eye, the method comprising:

advancing a distal end of a probe into the eye in proximity with the unwanted structure in the eye;

generating a spark within the probe to produce a forward moving shock wave force in a fluid in the probe, wherein the forwardly moving shock wave breaks the unwanted structure into multiple pieces, and wherein the forwardly moving shock wave is directed from a nozzle at the end of the probe, the nozzle having an hourglass shape to increase a speed of the shock wave at an output opening of the nozzle; and

aspirating the multiple pieces of the unwanted structure out of the eye using suction.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the unwanted structure comprises a cataract.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the hourglass-shaped nozzle has a convergent proximal section, a middle throat section, and a divergent distal portion ending at the output opening.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the hourglass-shape causes the forwardly moving shock wave at the divergent distal portion to leave the output opening at a higher speed than at the convergent proximal section.