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.
Claims20
A vitrectomy probe comprising:
- a forward housing component;
- a rearward housing component;
- a diaphragm located in a space between and defined by the forward housing component and the rearward housing component for reciprocating therebetween in response to air flows alternatingly directed at opposite sides of the diaphragm;
- a plurality of discrete stops for striking the forward housing component and the rearward housing component during the reciprocating, the striking resulting in vibrations, at least a subset of the plurality of discrete stops comprising a material that is less than about 60 Shore A in hardness to dampen the vibrations;
- a cutter coupling to the diaphragm and located within a needle of the vitrectomy probe to cut vitreous humor during a vitrectomy procedure performed by a surgeon;
- a gripping component with the needle emerging therefrom, the gripping component coupled to the forward housing component and for manual holding by the surgeon during the vitrectomy procedure, the gripping component comprising an elastomer that is less than about 60 Shore A in hardness to attenuate the vibrations;
- and
- a shell coupled to the rearward housing component,
- wherein the forward housing component and the rearward housing component are disposed between the shell and the gripping component and form at least a portion of an exterior surface of the vitrectomy probe.
A method of performing a vitrectomy, the method comprising:
- inserting a needle of a vitrectomy probe into an eye of a patient with a hand of a surgeon, wherein the vitrectomy probe comprises:
- a forward housing component;
- a rearward housing component;
- a gripping component with the needle emerging therefrom, the gripping component coupled to the forward housing component;
- and
- a shell coupled to the rearward housing component,
- wherein the forward housing component and the rearward housing component are disposed between the shell and the gripping component and form at least a portion of an exterior surface of the vitrectomy probe;
- and
- withdrawing vitreous humor from the eye through a port of the needle;
- reciprocating a cutter within the needle to cut the vitreous humor as it enters the needle;
- dampening a degree of produced vibrations due to the reciprocating of the cutter;
- and
- attenuating an amount of produced vibrations reaching the surgeon's hand.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.