# US 11,110,004 B2 · Flexible/expandable phacoemulsification tip > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,110,004 B2 - Document ID: US11110004B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/133,223 - Filed: 2018-09-17 - Published: 2019-03-21 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-18 - Applicants: William F. Wiley - Inventors: William F. Wiley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110004B2 ## CPC - A61F 9/00745: {using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic} - A61L 29/126: {having a macromolecular matrix} - A61M 1/84: {Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips (for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32)} - A61F 9/007: Methods or devices for eye surgery - A61F 9/00709: {Instruments for removing foreign bodies (for removal of intra-ocular material A61F9/00736)} - A61M 2025/0024: {Expandable catheters or sheaths} - A61M 2210/0612: Eyes - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A phacoemulsification cutting tip, including a rigid tubular portion and a flexible and expandable tip portion located distal to the rigid tubular portion. The flexible and expandable tip portion presents an axial length and an unexpanded radius and is formed such that the axial length shortens while the unexpanded radius increases when differential pressure due to an occlusion of an opening of the flexible tip portion exists. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A phacoemulsification cutting tip, comprising: a rigid tubular portion and a flexible and expandable tip portion located distal to the rigid tubular portion; the flexible and expandable tip portion defining a distal opening at a distal end thereof; and the flexible and expandable tip portion presenting an axial length and an unexpanded radius and being shiftable between the extended axial length and the unexpanded radius and a shortened axial length and expanded radius when subject to differential pressure due to an occlusion of the distal opening; whereby aspiration of crystalline lens fragments is facilitated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The phacoemulsification cutting tip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible and expandable tip portion further comprises a woven structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The phacoemulsification cutting tip as claimed in claim 2, wherein the woven structure further comprises a cylindrical, helically wound, biaxial braid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The phacoemulsification cutting tip as claimed in claim 2, wherein the woven structure further comprises a spiral or helix shaped material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The phacoemulsification cutting tip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible and expandable tip portion further comprises metal filaments, polymer fibers, polyaramid or para-aramid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The phacoemulsification cutting tip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible and expandable tip portion further comprises an elastomeric material or a resilient material, wherein the elastomeric material or the resilient material biases the flexible and expandable tip portion toward the extended axial length and the unexpanded radius. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The phacoemulsification cutting tip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible and expandable tip portion further comprising helix shaped material interlaced to form a woven structure. ### Claim 8 A method of mitigating surges of flow into and through an aspiration channel during a phacoemulsification process, the method comprising: utilizing a phacoemulsification cutting tip having a flexible and expandable tip portion; making contact between the flexible and expandable tip portion and a crystalline lens of the eye or fragments of the crystalline lens of the eye; and utilizing an aspiration flow and negative pressure that facilitates radial expansion of the flexible and expandable tip portion upon blockage of an opening of the flexible and expandable tip portion by the fragments of the crystalline lens of the eye. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method as claimed in claim 8 further comprising, making or selecting the phacoemulsification cutting tip flexible and expandable tip portion to include a woven structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method as claimed in claim 8 further comprising, making or selecting the phacoemulsification cutting tip flexible and expandable tip portion to include a cylindrical, helically wound, biaxial braid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method as claimed in claim 8 further comprising, making or selecting the phacoemulsification cutting tip flexible and expandable tip portion to include a spiral or helix shaped material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method as claimed in claim 8 further comprising, making or selecting the phacoemulsification cutting tip flexible and expandable tip portion to include an elastomeric material or a resilient material that biases the flexible and expandable tip portion toward the extended axial length and the unexpanded radius. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method as claimed in claim 8 further comprising, making or selecting the phacoemulsification cutting tip flexible and expandable tip portion to include helix shaped material interlaced to form a woven structure. ### Claim 14 A method of phacoemulsification, comprising: contacting a crystalline lens of an eye with a phacoemulsification tip having a distal expandable portion and a proximal rigid portion; and increasing a radius of the expandable portion while shortening and axial length of the expandable portion under negative pressure upon a blockage of an opening of the distal expandable portion; whereby aspiration of crystalline lens fragments is facilitated. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising, making or selecting the phacoemulsification cutting tip flexible and expandable tip portion to include a woven structure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising, making or selecting the phacoemulsification cutting tip flexible and expandable tip portion to include a cylindrical, helically wound, biaxial braid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising, making or selecting the phacoemulsification cutting tip flexible and expandable tip portion to include a spiral or helix shaped material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising, making or selecting the phacoemulsification cutting tip flexible and expandable tip portion to include an elastomeric material or a resilient material that biases the flexible and expandable tip portion toward the extended axial length and the unexpanded radius. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising, making or selecting the phacoemulsification cutting tip flexible and expandable tip portion to include helix shaped material interlaced to form a woven structure.