# US 11,433,174 B2 · Retractable backflush instrument

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- Number: US 11,433,174 B2
- Document ID: US11433174B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/709,681
- Filed: 2019-12-10
- Published: 2020-06-18
- Granted: 2022-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2018-12-12
- Assignees: Alcon Inc.
- Applicants: Alcon Inc.
- Inventors: Reto Grueebler; Thomas Linsi; Philipp Schaller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11433174B2

## CPC

- A61M 1/76: {Handpieces (specially for suction-irrigation A61M1/774, aspiration tips A61M1/84)}
- A61M 1/85: {with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants (for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208)}
- A61M 39/225: {Flush valves, i.e. bypass valves for flushing line}
- A61F 9/00736: {Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments (A61F9/008 takes precedence)}
- 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)}
- 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)

## Abstract

Certain embodiments provide a surgical instrument comprising a hand-piece, an outer tube having a proximal end coupled to a distal end of the hand-piece, an inner tube housed within the outer tube and having a distal end coupled to a soft tip and a proximal end coupled to an actuator, and a valve housed inside the hand-piece and coupled to the proximal end of the actuator. Retraction of the actuator is configured to compress the valve and retract the soft tip into a distal end of the outer tube, such that the soft tip at least partially extends beyond the distal end of the outer tube when the valve is in an uncompressed state and at least partially retracts into the distal end of the outer tube when the valve is a compressed state.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical instrument, comprising:
a hand-piece;
an outer tube having a proximal end coupled to a distal end of the hand-piece;
an inner tube housed within the outer tube and having a distal end coupled to a soft tip and a proximal end coupled to an actuator; and
a valve comprising an exterior hole housed inside the hand-piece and coupled to the proximal end of the actuator;
wherein retraction of the actuator is configured to compress the valve; and
wherein the soft tip at least partially extends beyond a distal end of the outer tube when the valve is in an uncompressed state and at least partially retracts into the distal end of the outer tube when the valve is in a compressed state.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument comprises a backflush instrument.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises:
a cylindrical insert configured to be inserted into a distal end of the valve; and
a cylindrical element configured to house the proximal end of the inner tube.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the valve is accordion shaped.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises plastic material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the hand-piece comprises a cap for housing the actuator at the distal end of the hand-piece.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the cap comprises a hollow channel through which the actuator is able to retract.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the actuator partially extends outside of the hollow channel to allow hand manipulation for retracting and releasing the actuator.