Disposable vitrectomy handpiece
AssigneeDoheny Eye Institute
InventorsAaron Barnes, Charles DeBoer, Matthew McCormick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Electric vitrectomy handpieces are provided. The handpiece includes a motor, a clutch mechanism, an oscillating drive mechanism, a cutting tip and a handle. The motor is attached to the clutch, and the clutch is attached to the oscillating drive mechanism. When the motor is operational, the clutch expands to engage the oscillating drive mechanism and the oscillating drive mechanism converts the rotational motion of the clutch to the reciprocating motion of the cutting tip. When the motor is at rest, the clutch retracts to allow aspiration.
Claims21
1-18. (canceled)
A vitreous cutter comprising:
- a motor configured to provide rotary motion;
- a handle;
- a cutter tip;
- an aspiration line;
- and
- a clutch mechanism coupled to the motor and the cutter tip, the clutch mechanism configured to expand to engage the cutter tip when the motor is activated, and retract to provide aspiration through the aspiration line when the motor is at rest, the clutch mechanism comprising a first component and a second component rotatable relative to each other.
A method of operating a vitreous cutter comprising:
- activating a motor;
- transmitting rotary motion from the motor to a first component of a clutch mechanism;
- rotating the first component relative to a second component of the clutch mechanism;
- and
- engaging a cutter tip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.