Phacoemulsification Needle
AssigneeArt, Limited
InventorTakayuki Akahoshi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A phacoemulsification needle has a polygonally-shaped tip with an axis that is offset from the axis of the needle body. The material forming the tip is non-uniformly distributed, adding to the motion of the tip when it is vibrated torsionally. In one embodiment, the tip has tip wall segments of varying thicknesses. In another embodiment, the tip has a series of external ribs formed on the tip wall segments, on the wall segment, at the apex where adjacent wall segments meet, or both.
Claims12
A phacoemulsification needle for emulsifying body tissue, said needle adapted to be attached to a phacoemulsification handpiece imparting torsional vibration to said needle, said needle comprising:
- a hollow needle body having a distal end and a proximal end,
- said needle body having a longitudinally-extending central axis;
- means formed at said proximal end to mount said needle body to said handpiece;
- a hollow needle tip formed at said distal end and communicating with said hollow needle body;
- means for emulsifying said tissue when said needle is vibrated torsionally,
- said emulsifying means comprising said tip having a multiplicity of tip wall segments arranged to give said tip a polygonal cross-sectional shape greater in size than the cross-section of said needle body;
- said tip having a central tip axis,
- said tip axis and said needle body axis being offset one from the other;
- each said tip wall segment terminating at a lip,
- said tip wall segment lips being contiguous and defining a needle mouth,
- at least one said tip wall segments having a thickness greater than the remaining of said tip wall segments.
A phacoemulsification needle for emulsifying body tissue, said needle adapted to be attached to a phacoemulsification handpiece providing torsional vibration to said needle, said needle comprising:
- a hollow needle body having a distal end and a proximal end,
- said needle body having a longitudinally-extending central axis;
- means formed at said proximal end to mount said needle body to said handpiece;
- a hollow needle tip formed at said distal end and communicating with said hollow needle body,
- said tip having an external surface;
- means for emulsifying said tissue when said needle is vibrated torsionally,
- said emulsifying means comprising said tip having a multiplicity of tip wall segments arranged to give said tip a polygonal cross-sectional shape greater in size than the cross-section of said needle body;
- said tip having a central tip axis,
- said tip axis and said needle body axis being offset one from the other;
- each said tip wall segment terminating at a lip,
- said tip wall segment lips being contiguous and defining a needle mouth,
- each said tip wall segment having an outer surface and an inner surface;
- each said tip wall segment outer surface meeting the outer surface of an adjacent tip wall segment at an apex;
- and
- means for emulsifying said tissue when said tip is vibrated torsionally,
- said emulsifying means comprising at least one rib formed on the external surface of said tip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.