Apparatus and method for delivering viscoelastic material to an eye
First Claim
1. A phacoemulsification handpiece for ophthalmic surgical procedures, the handpiece comprising:
- a housing;
a horn disposed in the housing;
transducer means, disposed in the horn, for generating ultrasonic energy;
needle means, coupled to the horn, for radiating the ultrasonic energy from the transducer means and into an eye for fragmenting and/or cutting eye tissue, said needle means including a tip;
irrigation means for delivering an irrigation fluid into the eye and proximate the needle means tip;
a viscoelastic material;
delivery means, including a conduit having an outlet adjacent the needle means tip, for delivering the viscoelastic material to the eye proximate the needle means tip;
accumulator means, in fluid communication with the delivery means, for containing the viscoelastic material; and
aspiration means for removing irrigation fluid, viscoelastic material and tissue fragments from the eye.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A phacoemulsification handpiece for ophthalmic surgical procedures includes a needle having a tip and connected to a source of ultrasonic energy, for cutting and/or fragmenting eye tissue along with a conduit for introducing irrigation fluid proximate the needle tip. The handpiece also includes separate structure for introducing a viscous fluid, such as a viscoelastic material, proximate the needle tip as well as bore through the needle and handpiece for aspirating irrigation fluid, viscoelastic material end cut and/or fragmented eye tissue. An accumulator, connected to the housing is provided for containing a supply of viscous fluid. A diaphragm assembly and a manual valve are provided for delivering viscous material to the needle tip.
98 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A phacoemulsification handpiece for ophthalmic surgical procedures, the handpiece comprising:
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a housing; a horn disposed in the housing; transducer means, disposed in the horn, for generating ultrasonic energy; needle means, coupled to the horn, for radiating the ultrasonic energy from the transducer means and into an eye for fragmenting and/or cutting eye tissue, said needle means including a tip; irrigation means for delivering an irrigation fluid into the eye and proximate the needle means tip; a viscoelastic material; delivery means, including a conduit having an outlet adjacent the needle means tip, for delivering the viscoelastic material to the eye proximate the needle means tip; accumulator means, in fluid communication with the delivery means, for containing the viscoelastic material; and aspiration means for removing irrigation fluid, viscoelastic material and tissue fragments from the eye. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A phacoemulsification handpiece for ophthalmic surgical procedures, the handpiece comprising:
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a housing; a horn disposed in the housing; transducer means for generating ultrasonic energy; a horn, coupled to said transducer and having needle means for radiating the ultrasonic energy into an eye for fragmenting an/or cutting eye tissue, said needle means including a tip; irrigation means for delivering an irrigation fluid into the eye and proximate the needle means tip; delivery means, longitudinally disposed along the needle means, for delivering a viscoelastic material to the eye proximate the needle means tip; accumulator means, in fluid communication with the delivery means, for containing a supply of the viscoelastic material, said accumulator means being disposed within a functional distance of the needle means tip in order to facilitate dispension of viscoelastic material into the eye upon demand thereof; a mixing chamber between the horn and the needle means in fluid communication with the irrigation means and having a first opening for receiving irrigation fluid therein and a second opening for receiving viscoelastic material from said accumulator means; and aspiration means for removing irrigation fluid, viscoelastic material and tissue fragments from the eye. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification