Vitrectomy probe with magnetically driven cutter
AssigneeAlcon Inc.
InventorNathaniel Reyes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vitrectomy probe includes a probe body and a needle portion projecting from the probe body. The needle portion includes a tube which extends at least partially in the needle portion and at least partially in the probe body. A cutter is positioned inside the tube in the needle portion. The cutter is at least partially composed of a permanently magnetic material. A field-creation unit is adapted to create an induced magnetic field, with the cutter being movable between a first position and a second position based in part on the induced magnetic field. The tube may be at least partially composed of a temporarily magnetic material. In one embodiment, the field-creation unit includes a driving magnet positioned in the probe body and adapted to selectively magnetize the tube.
Claims11
A vitrectomy probe comprising:
- a probe body and a needle portion projecting from the probe body;
- the needle portion including a tube extending at least partially in the probe body, the tube is at least partially composed of a temporarily magnetic material;
- a cutter positioned inside the tube, the cutter being movable relative to the tube, the cutter being at least partially composed of a permanently magnetic material;
- and
- a field-creation unit adapted to create an induced magnetic field, the cutter being movable between a first position and a second position based in part on the induced magnetic field, the field-creation unit includes an electromagnet positioned in the probe body and coiled around the tube;
- and
- wherein a flow of electric current in the electromagnet selectively magnetizes the tube, the magnetized tube inducing movement in the cutter.
A vitrectomy probe comprising:
- a probe body and a needle portion projecting from the probe body;
- the needle portion including a tube extending at least partially in the probe body, the tube being at least partially composed of a temporarily magnetic material;
- a cutter positioned inside the tube, the cutter being movable relative to the tube, the cutter being at least partially composed of a permanently magnetic material;
- and
- a field-creation unit including an electromagnet positioned in the probe body and coiled around the tube;
- and
- wherein a flow of electric current in the electromagnet selectively magnetizes the tube, the magnetized tube inducing movement in the cutter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.