Ophthalmic surgical device and method of use for delivery of fluids or other materials to ocular tissues

Abstract

The invention relates to an ophthalmic surgical system for glaucoma surgery, comprising a handheld surgical device. The device includes a handheld housing and a microcatheter extendable from the handheld housing. The microcatheter comprises at least one tubular communicating element defining a lumen for fluid delivery and optionally communicating elements configured for optical transmission or sensing. An actuator is disposed on or carried by the handheld housing and a displacement mechanism is operatively coupled to the actuator and configured to advance and retract the microcatheter relative to the handheld housing. A light source can be coupled to or contained within the handheld housing, the light source being configured to illuminate at least a distal portion of the microcatheter. A fluid infusion system is coupled to the handheld housing or carried by the handheld assembly and configured to infuse fluid through the microcatheter. Each of the light source and the fluid infusion subsystem is independently disposed of within the handheld surgical device, carried by the handheld surgical device, or provided in an external unit coupled to the handheld surgical device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.