Powered handpiece for endophthalmic surgery

A powered handpiece for endophthalmic surgery comprising:

• (a) a projecting tubular surgical instrument including coaxial inner and outer tubular members, said inner tubular member being slidably received within said outer tubular member for linear reciprocation therein;
• (b) a platform member rigidly attached to said inner tubular member near the proximal end thereof such that the proximal end of said inner tubular member extends beyond said platform member by a distance sufficient to permit the connection of a flexible tube to the proximal end of said inner tubular member;
• (c) a pneumatic linear actuator for producing linear reciprocating motion from a pneumatic power source;
• (d) a coupling member interposed between said pneumatic linear actuator and said platform member for transmitting linear reciprocating motion from said pneumatic actuator to the inner tubular member of said projecting tubular surgical instrument, one end of said coupling member being contoured for abutting said platform member in order to transmit linear reciprocating motion thereto while providing clearance for the connection of a flexible tube to the proximal end of said inner tubular member which extends beyond the platform member for carrying out suction or infusion through said inner tubular member during linear reciprocation thereof, said coupling member being maintained in simple abutting contact with the platform member without rigid mechanical connection thereto;
• (e) a return spring operatively associated with the inner tubular member of said projecting tubular surgical instrument for acting in opposition to the motion produced by said pneumatic linear actuator as transmitted to said inner tubular member by said coupling member;
• and
• (f) a housing for receiving said return spring, said coupling member, said pneumatic linear actuator, said platform member, and the proximal portion of said projecting tubular surgical instrument, said housing comprising:
• (1) an anterior section for receiving the return spring, the platform member and the proximal portion of said projecting tubular surgical instrument;
• (2) a posterior section for receiving in tandem arrangement said pneumatic linear actuator and said coupling member;
• and
• (3) means for releasably coupling the anterior and posterior sections of said housing so as to bring said one end of the coupling member into abutting contact with the platform member.