Double-acting vitreous probe with contoured port

• US 9,693,898 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2014
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: Farley, Mark, McDonell, Brian William
• Primary Examiner(s): SHI, KATHERINE MENGLIN
• Application Number:
  US14/547,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20160135991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 606166, 606169, 606170, 606171, 606180, 604 22, 600562, 600564, 600566, 600567
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration
• 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 vitrectomy probe includes a hand-graspable body and an outer tube extending from the hand-graspable body. The outer tube includes a closed distal end and a first port sized to receive tissue. The vitrectomy probe also includes an inner tube within the outer tube with a second port that is selectively alignable with a portion of the first port to allow fluid flow and uniquely sized to increase fluid flow. The inner tube includes a distal tip with a cutting edge on each of the distal and proximal sides of the tip. The distal tip has a smaller diameter than that of the inner tube at a proximal side of the second port. The proximal side of the second port includes a guiding surface that slidably bears on an inner surface of the outer tube to prevent the distal tip from excessively protruding from the first port of the outer tube.

Claims

1. A vitrectomy probe, comprising:

a hand-graspable body;

an outer tube extending from the hand-graspable body and sized to penetrate an eye of a patient during an ocular surgery, the outer tube having a closed distal end and a first port sized to receive vitreous of the eye; and

an inner tube disposed at least partially within the outer tube, the inner tube comprising a second port selectively alignable with a portion of the first port in a manner that allows fluid to flow through the first port and into the second port, the second port having a proximal edge and a distal edge, the inner tube also comprising a distal tip forming a first cutting edge facing in a distal direction, the distal edge of the second port forming a second cutting edge facing in a proximal direction, the inner tube having a first diameter at a proximal end of the second port and having a second diameter at the distal tip, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter;

wherein the first cutting edge is configured to cut tissue that enters the first port of the outer tube as the inner tube slides in a distal direction; and

wherein the second cutting edge is configured to cut tissue that enters the second port of the inner tube as the inner tube slides in the proximal direction;

wherein the second port further comprises;

a guiding surface at the proximal edge projecting in the distal direction to form a distally extending portion, the guiding surface being arranged to slidably bear on an internal surface of the outer tube while the inner tube moves relative to the outer tube, the first diameter comprising a diameter of the inner tube at the guiding surface.

2. The vitrectomy probe of claim 1, wherein the second port further comprises:

a first side lobe and a second side lobe each at opposite sides of the guiding surface along a circumference of the inner tube, the first and second side lobes configured to enhance fluid flow through the second port when the guiding surface is at least partially aligned with the first port.

3. The vitrectomy probe of claim 2, wherein the guiding surface radially extends in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the inner tube such that a base of the guiding surface has the first diameter and an edge of the guiding surface facing into the second port has a third diameter, the third diameter being greater than the first diameter.

4. The vitrectomy probe of claim 2, wherein the first side lobe and the second side lobe each have a length in the proximal direction that is less than a distance between the proximal and distal edges of the second port.

5. The vitrectomy probe of claim 2, wherein the first side lobe and the second side lobe each have a length in the proximal direction that is greater than or equal to a distance between the proximal and distal edges of the second port.

6. The vitrectomy probe of claim 1, wherein:

the guiding surface is configured to provide a guide for the inner tube disposed within the outer tube as the first cutting edge moves in a distal direction across the first port to cut tissue aspirated into the first port, and

the second cutting edge is configured to cut tissue aspirated into the first port as the second cutting edge moves in the proximal direction across the first port.

7. A vitrectomy probe, comprising:

a hand-graspable body;

an outer tube extending from the hand-graspable body and sized to penetrate an eye of a patient during an ocular surgery, the outer tube having a closed distal end and a first port sized to receive vitreous of the eye; and

an inner tube within the outer tube and comprising a second port having a proximal end and a distal end along a side of a circumference of the inner tube near a distal end of inner tube, the second port comprising a guiding surface at the proximal end extending in a distal direction, a first side lobe, and a second side lobe, each of the first and second side lobes formed in part by the guiding surface and disposed at opposite sides of the guiding surface along the circumference of the inner tube to enhance fluid flow through the second port when the guiding surface is at least partially aligned with the first port,

wherein the distally extending guiding surface is a guide for the inner tube disposed within the outer tube as the inner tube oscillates in the outer tube.

8. The vitrectomy probe of claim 7, wherein the inner tube further comprises:

a tip at a distal end of the inner tube;

a first cutting edge facing in a distal direction at a distal end of the tip; and

a second cutting edge facing in a proximal direction at a proximal end of the tip, the second cutting edge further defining the distal end of the second port.

9. The vitrectomy probe of claim 8, wherein:

a first diameter of the inner tube at the proximal end of the second port is greater than a second diameter of the inner tube at the tip.

10. The vitrectomy probe of claim 9, wherein the guiding surface radially extends from the inner tube such that a base of the guiding surface has the first diameter and an edge of the guiding surface facing into the second port has a third diameter, the third diameter being greater than the first diameter.

11. The vitrectomy probe of claim 9, wherein the tip comprises a crimp imparting an ovalized tubular cross-section profile to the tip.

12. The vitrectomy probe of claim 11, wherein the ovalized tubular cross-section profile of the tip is configured to substantially align with a contour of an inner surface of the outer tube.

13. The vitrectomy probe of claim 7, wherein the first side lobe and the second side lobe each have a length in a proximal direction that is greater than or equal to a distance between the proximal and distal ends of the second port.