Reduced vibration vitrectomy probe
AssigneeAlcon Inc.
InventorsNathaniel Reyes, John R. Underwood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vitrectomy probe with combined vibration dampening and attenuating. The probe may include a variety of features to lessen the vibrations felt by a surgeon during a vitrectomy procedure. These may include minimizing the degree of flow restriction through a housing that facilitates cutter reciprocation by way of air pressure. Further, utilizing softer stops at a diaphragm that drives the cutter reciprocation may be of benefit as is strategically lessening compressive forces by seals at an extension tube coupled to the diaphragm where possible. The use of a softer gripping component that is actually held by the surgeon may be of benefit in terms of vibration attenuation.
Claims6
A vitrectomy probe housing comprising:
- a rearward housing component to accommodate a first air flow therethrough for directing a diaphragm to travel toward a needle of a vitrectomy probe;
- and
- a forward housing component to accommodate a second air flow therethrough for directing the diaphragm to travel away from the needle of the vitrectomy probe, the rearward housing component having a stepped channel to accommodate the second air flow therethrough in advance of reaching the forward housing component;
- wherein an outlet at a most distal portion of the rearward housing component has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to an axis of a most proximal portion of an airflow path through the rearward housing component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.