Cataract surgery devices and methods for using same
AssigneeItos International Ltd.
InventorJoshua Ben-Nun
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There are disclosed methods and apparatus for surgical removal of encapsulated tissue, and in particular removal of cataracts from lens capsules. These methods involve accessing the tissue in the capsule and maintaining control on the capsule, by gripping the capsule with an apparatus, a portion of which has been cooled, this cooling providing chilling to the apparatus portion and capsule, such that the apparatus portion adheres to the capsule by freezing. The apparatus is also heated, to limit any backwards conduction of the cooling, toward the remainder of the apparatus, with this heating keeping the apparatus at temperatures within a biocompatible range.
Claims24
A surgical apparatus comprising:
- a first tube including a proximal end and a distal end;
- a passageway for the inflow and outflow of coolant comprising:
- a second tube extending over at least a portion of said first tube, said second tube including a proximal end and a distal end, and providing for coolant inflow in said passageway;
- and
- a third tube extending over at least a portion of said second tube and including a proximal and a distal end, said distal end including at least one outwardly extending portion forming an expansion chamber for said coolant inside said third tube and for transferring cooling from said expansion chamber to outside of said third tube, and providing coolant outflow in said passageway;
- said second tube including a bore at said distal end for coolant flow into said expansion chamber;
- a fourth tube extending over at least a portion of said third tube, said fourth tube including a proximal end and a distal end and configured for communication with an electrical power source so as to heat when power from said power source is supplied to said fourth tube, said fourth tube positioned to extend over at least a portion of said third tube to limit conduction of said cooling toward at least said proximal end of said third tube;
- said distal end of said first tube extending beyond said distal ends of said second and third tubes;
- and
- said distal ends of said second and third tubes extending beyond said distal end of said fourth tube.
A method for surgery of tissue within a capsule comprising:
- providing an apparatus comprising:
- a conduit including a proximal end and a distal end, said conduit configured for coolant transport and including a portion configured for concentrating cooling at said distal end;
- a drill member extending longitudinally through said conduit, said drill member including a distal end and a drill bit at said distal end;
- a tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said tube extending over said conduit in an arrangement with the distal end of said conduit extending beyond the distal end of said tube, said tube configured for heating upon activation, to limit conduction of said cooling toward at least said proximal end of said conduit;
- creating an opening in said capsule;
- contacting said opening with said portion of said conduit configured for concentrating cooling at said distal end and cooling said conduit portion such that sufficient cooling transfers to said capsule allowing for gripping of said capsule by said apparatus;
- activating said tube for heating, to limit conduction of said cooling toward at least said proximal end of said conduit;
- inserting at least a portion of said drill bit through said opening into said capsule;
- and
- rotating said drill bit so as to emulsify at least a portion of said tissue in said capsule.
A method for cataract surgery comprising:
- accessing a lens capsule having a cataract therein, at a surgical site;
- creating an opening in said lens capsule;
- placing a thermal probe having at least a portion dimensioned to accommodate said opening proximate the periphery of said opening;
- cooling said dimensioned portion of said thermal probe to a temperature such that said dimensioned portion temporarily adheres to said capsule, for providing said thermal probe with a controllable grip on said capsule;
- maintaining said cooling to an area proximate said opening by providing heat to said surgical site proximate to said opening;
- and
- emulsifying at least a portion of said cataract.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.