# US 2013/0158583 A1 · Vitrectomy probe with adjustable cutter port size > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158583 A1 - Document ID: US20130158583A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/591,331 - Filed: 2012-08-22 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20 - Inventors: John R. Underwood; Matthew Braden Flowers; Jack Robert Auld; John Christopher Huculak - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158583A1 ## CPC - A61F 9/00763: {with rotating or reciprocating cutting elements, e.g. concentric cutting needles (atherectomy cutting instruments A61B17/3207; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016)} - A61B 2017/00544: {pneumatically} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Vitrectomy probes and system related thereto are disclosed herein. The disclosure describes vitrectomy probes including an adjustable stroke limiter longitudinally moveable therein in response to a rotation of the stroke limiter. The adjustable stroke limiter is operable to adjust a cutting port size of a cutter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vitrectomy probe comprising: a housing; a cutter extending from a first end of the housing along a longitudinal axis, the cutter comprising: an outer cutting member coupled to the housing; an interior assembly comprising: an inner cutting member slideable within the outer cutting member, the inner cutting member slideable between a retracted position and an extended position; and an adjustable port, a size of the adjustable port defined by an edge of an opening formed in the outer cutting member and an end surface of the inner cutting member when the inner cutting member is in a fully retracted position: an oscillator operable to reciprocate the inner cutting member; a stroke limiter operable to limit the size of the adjustable port, the stroke limiter extending along the longitudinal axis and rotatable relative to the housing, such that the stroke limiter is moveable in a first longitudinal direction in response to a rotation in a first direction and moveable in a second longitudinal direction opposite the first longitudinal direction in response to a rotation in a second direction opposite the first direction, the stroke limiter operable to contact the interior assembly to define the fully retracted position of the inner cutting member. ### Claim 2 The vitrectomy probe of clam 1, wherein the housing comprises an interior sleeve having a threaded interior surface, wherein the stroke limiter comprises a threaded outer surface, and wherein the threaded inner surface of the interior sleeve cooperatively engages the outer threaded surface of the stroke limiter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vitrectomy probe of claim 1 further comprising a motor adapted to rotate the stroke limiter in the first direction and in the second direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vitrectomy probe of claim 3, wherein the motor comprises a first geared surface, wherein the stroke limiter comprises a second geared surface that cooperatively engages the first geared surface of the motor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vitrectomy probe of claim 4, wherein each of the first geared surface and the second geared surface comprise a plurality of gear teeth that are oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The vitrectomy probe of claim 4, wherein the motor is a piezoelectric motor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vitrectomy probe of claim 6, wherein the piezoelectric motor comprises a lead screw coupled to the first geared surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vitrectomy probe of claim 7, wherein the lead screw rotates in the first direction in response to a first AC drive voltage and wherein the lead screw rotates in the second direction in response to the second AC drive voltage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vitrectomy probe of claim 1, wherein the stroke limiter comprises a passage, and wherein the interior assembly extends through the passage. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vitrectomy probe of claim 9, wherein the interior assembly comprises a tube and wherein the tube extends through the central passage. ### Claim 11 A vitrectomy probe comprising: a housing comprising an interior sleeve having an interior threaded surface; a cutter extending from a first end of the housing along a longitudinal axis, the cutter comprising: an outer cutting member coupled to the housing; an interior assembly comprising: an inner cutting member slideable within the outer cutting member, the inner cutting member slideable between a retracted position and an extended position; and an adjustable port, a size of the adjustable port defined by an edge of an opening formed in the outer cutting member and an end surface of the inner cutting member when the inner cutting member is in a fully retracted position: an oscillator operable to reciprocate the inner cutting member; a stroke limiter operable to limit the size of the adjustable port, the stroke limiter comprising: an exterior threaded surface that cooperatively engages the internal threaded surface of the interior sleeve such that rotation of the stroke limiter in a first rotational direction causes longitudinal movement relative to the housing in a first longitudinal direction and rotation of the stroke limiter in a second rotational directional causes longitudinal movement relative to the housing in a second longitudinal direction opposite the first longitudinal direction, the stroke limiter operable to contact the interior assembly to define the fully retracted position of the inner cutting member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vitrectomy probe of claim 11 further comprising a motor disposed within the housing, wherein the motor comprises a first geared surface, wherein the stroke limiter comprising a second geared surface that cooperatively engages the first geared surface, and wherein the motor is operable rotate the stroke limiter in at least one of the first rotational direction or the second rotational direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vitrectomy probe of claim 12, wherein each of the first geared surface and the second geared surface comprise a plurality of gear teeth that are oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The vitrectomy probe of claim 11, wherein the interior assembly further comprises a collar, and wherein the collar is adapted to contact the stroke limiter to define the fully retracted position of the inner cutting member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The vitrectomy probe of claim 11, wherein the oscillator is a pneumatically operated diaphragm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vitrectomy probe of claim 15, wherein the diaphragm comprises an exterior perimeter and a central opening, wherein the exterior perimeter of the diaphragm is coupled to a portion of the housing, and wherein the interior assembly extends through the central opening of the diaphragm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The vitrectomy probe of claim 11, wherein the stroke limiter comprises a passage, wherein the interior assembly comprises a tube, and wherein the tube extends through the passage of the stroke limiter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The vitrectomy probe of claim 11, wherein the motor is a piezoelectric motor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vitrectomy probe of claim 18, wherein the piezoelectric motor comprises a lead screw coupled to the first geared surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The vitrectomy probe of claim 19, wherein the lead screw rotates in the first direction in response to a first AC drive voltage and wherein the lead screw rotates in the second direction in response to the second AC drive voltage.