MINIMAL PULSATION OPHTHALMIC PROBE

• US 20170020728A1
• Filed: 10/03/2016
• Published: 01/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: McDonell, Brian W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,369,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• 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 9/00763 with rotating or reciprocating cutting elements, e.g. concentric cutting needles atherectomy cutting instruments A61B17/3207; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016

Abstract

An ophthalmic apparatus for performing an ocular surgery may include an ophthalmic probe body having an inner cutting member at least partially disposed within and moveable relative to an aspiration tube within the probe body to facilitate flow of aspiration fluid. A motor within the body may be configured to actuate the inner cutting member relative to the aspiration tube.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic apparatus for performing an ocular surgery, comprising:

an ophthalmic probe body graspable by a user;

an aspiration tube disposed within the probe body and having a lumen arranged to contact aspiration fluid flowing therethrough;

a cutter extending from the body and comprising a first cutting member and a second cutting member, the first cutting member being at least partially disposed within and moveable relative to the second cutting member, the first cutting member having a lumen having a first diameter, the second cutting member having a distal end with a port formed therein for receiving patient tissue, the first cutting member configured to be axially displaceable within the second cutting member and within a portion of the lumen of the aspiration tube; and

a motor within the probe body configured to actuate the first cutting member relative to the second cutting member and the lumen.

2. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor is disposed between the aspiration tube and the second cutting member.

3. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lumen of the aspiration tube has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first cutting member.

4. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second cutting member and the aspiration tube are statically connected to the probe body.

5. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cutting member, the second cutting member, and the aspiration tube form an aspiration pathway configured to aspirate tissue cut during the ocular surgery

6. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor is disposed in a distal portion of the ophthalmic probe body.

7. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cutting member is coaxial with the second cutting member and the lumen.

8. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cutter seal affixed to the second cutting member, the cutter seal configured to prevent fluid from passing between the first cutting member and the second cutting member.

9. An ophthalmic apparatus for performing an ocular surgery, comprising:

an ophthalmic probe body graspable by a user;

a first stationary aspiration tube having a first aspiration lumen disposed within the probe body, the first aspiration lumen arranged to contact aspiration fluid flowing therethrough;

a cutting assembly comprising an axially displaceable cutting member forming a second aspiration lumen, the cutting member movably disposed within a portion of the first aspiration lumen, the first and second aspiration lumens configured to aspirate fluid through the probe body; and

a motor within the probe body configured to actuate the cutting member relative to the first aspiration lumen and the second aspiration lumen.

10. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first stationary aspiration tube and the cutting assembly form an aspiration pathway configured to aspirate tissue cut during the ocular surgery.

11. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lumen of the aspiration tube has a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first cutting member.

12. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 9, wherein the motor is disposed between the first stationary aspiration tube and a second aspiration lumen.

13. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first aspiration lumen and second aspiration lumen are statically connected to the probe body.

14. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 9, wherein the cutting member is coaxial with the first aspiration lumen and the second aspiration lumen.

15. The ophthalmic apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a cutter seal affixed to the second aspiration lumen, the cutter seal configured to prevent fluid from passing between the cutting member and the second aspiration lumen.

16. A method of driving a cutting assembly of an ophthalmic probe, comprising:

opening an aspiration port between a first cutting member and a second cutting member on a distal end of the ophthalmic probe, the first cutting member movably disposed within the second cutting member;

driving, with a motor disposed in the distal region of the ophthalmic probe, the first cutting member relative to the second cutting member to close the aspiration port and cut tissue at a surgery site; and

aspirating the cut tissue from the surgery site through the first cutting member, the second cutting member, and a stationary aspiration tube disposed within the ophthalmic probe, the stationary aspiration tube having a lumen.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming a seal between the first cutting member and the second cutting member such that cut tissue is retained within the first cutting member, the second cutting member, and the aspiration lumen.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising placing the first cutting member within a portion of the aspiration lumen.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising driving the first cutting member such that it moves within a portion of the aspiration lumen.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising driving, with the motor, the first cutting member relative to the stationary aspiration tube.