OPHTHALMIC VALVED TROCAR VENT

• US 20110152775A1
• Filed: 11/22/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Research, LLC (Alcon Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Souza, Marcus A., Lopez, Jose Luis, Huculak, John C., Martin, Michael M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,343,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/167.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3498 Valves therefor, e.g. flapper valves, slide valves haemostasis valves A61M39/06; check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery

Abstract

In various embodiments, a trocar cannula may be configured for insertion into an eye to facilitate insertion and removal of instruments during surgery. The cannula may be affixed to an overcap (to inhibit rotation of the overcap relative to the cannula) that includes a seal. In some embodiments, the seal may be overmolded into the overcap or may include a wafer that is fixed between the cannula and the overcap to inhibit rotation relative to the cannula and the overcap. In some embodiments, the cannula and overcap may snap together through a tab/slot interface in a permanent fashion such that the cannula and overcap may not be separated without damaging the cannula or overcap. In some embodiments, a vent cannula may be receivable in the slit of the seal for allowing fluids to vent from the eye through the cannula (which may include an indentation to frictionally engage the vent).

Claims

1. A trocar cannula vent, comprising:

a vent cannula;

a rim;

wherein the vent cannula is configured to slide into a seal of a trocar cannula to open the seal to allow fluid to vent through the trocar cannula and out of an eye, wherein the rim is configured to prevent the vent from slipping completely into the trocar cannula.

2. The vent of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve coupled to the rim.

3. The vent of claim 2, wherein the sleeve is at least partially transparent and wherein a fluid entering the sleeve is visible through the sleeve.

4. The vent of claim 2, wherein the sleeve is flexible.

5. The vent of claim 1, wherein the vent is configured to provide an opening in a trocar cannula vent seal without requiring removal of a part or all of the trocar cannula from the eye.

6. The vent of claim 1, wherein the vent further comprises a retention feature configured to interact with a retention feature on the trocar cannula to provide resistance to removal of the vent from the trocar cannula.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the vent comprises a sleeve that is at least partially transparent, and wherein the method further comprises viewing a fluid entering the vent from the trocar cannula.

9. The method of claim 6,

wherein the vent comprises a vent cannula with a rim;

wherein the vent cannula is configured to slide into a seal of a trocar cannula to open the seal to allow fluid to vent through the trocar cannula and out of the eye;

wherein the rim is configured to prevent the vent from slipping completely into the trocar cannula.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the vent is configured to provide an opening in a trocar cannula vent seal without requiring removal of a part or all of the trocar cannula from the eye.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising frictionally engaging the vent with an interior of the trocar cannula during insertion of the vent.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein inserting the vent into the trocar cannula comprises inserting the vent into the trocar cannula while the trocar cannula is in the eye.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising removing the vent from the trocar cannula without removing the trocar cannula from the eye.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the vent is inserted into the trocar cannula using fingers or a forceps.

7. A method, comprising:

inserting a trocar blade through the slit in a seal and cannula of a trocar cannula;

piercing an eye with the trocar blade;

pushing the cannula into the eye; and

inserting a vent into the trocar cannula to open the seal to allow fluid to vent through the cannula and out of the eye.