Apparatus for phacoemulsifying cataractous-lens tissue within a protected environment
AssigneeL'Esperance Medical Technologies, Inc.
InventorFrancis A. L'Esperance, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An instrument for ophthalmic surgery to remove cataractous-lens tissue has an elongate stem which enables external manipulation at its proximal end and which at its distal end presents a cutter adjacent a transiently open cavity into which cut or chopped tissue can be manipulated. The instrument provides for selectively operated closure of the thus-loaded cavity, an event which must occur before laser radiation can issue within the cavity, in fragmenting or emulsifying reduction of cut or chopped tissue within the cavity. Thus, reduced, the fragmented material is extracted by an aspirating flow of liquid. This process is repeated until the capsulary bag has been cleared of cataractous material, be it nuclear or cortical.
Claims28
A phaco-extractor tool for fragmenting and removing cataractous-lens tissue from the situs of fragmentation, said tool comprising elongate rigid tubular means having a central axis and having a distal working end and a proximal manipulation end, a rigid wall closure of said distal end and an arcuate side port locally adjacent said closure wall, said side port having a longitudinal dimension approximating the internal diametral extent of said tubular means and an arcuate extent in the range between 60.degree. and 180.degree. about said central axis;
- an elongate annular cannula slidably guided on and by said rigid tubular means, said cannula having a proximal infusion-port connection and distal-end porting for distal discharge of infusion liquid;
- selectively operable actuating means at said manipulation end for imparting relative reciprocation of said cannula and of said tubular means with respect to each other such that at one limit of relative displacement said cannula closes said side port and at an opposite limit of relative displacement said cannula no longer closes said side port;
- phaco-emulsification means including an active element contained within said tubular means and selectively operable upon tissue that has been scooped via the side port and into the distal end of said tubular means prior to cannula closure of the side port;
- said tubular means having an elongate internal passage communicating with said distal end and having an aspiration-port connection at said manipulation end;
- and said tool including an interlock element responsive to closure of the side port, said interlock element being operatively connected to effectively disable said phacoemulsification means unless said side port is in closed condition.
A phaco-extractor tool for fragmenting and extracting cataractous-lens tissue from the situs of fragmentation, said tool comprising elongate rigid tubular means having a central axis and having a distal working end and a proximal manipulation end, a rigid wall closure of said distal end and an arcuate side port locally adjacent said closure wall, selectively operable means carried by said tubular means for opening and for closing said side port, whereby when the side port is closed an enclosed chamber is defined within the distal end of said tubular means, phacoemulsifying means including a laser with optical-fiber delivery within said tubular means to a central point of laser irradiation into said chamber and at longitudinal offset from said end wall, infusion means forming part of said tool for discharging infusion liquid near but external to the distal end of said tubular means, and aspiration means including a through passage within said tubular means for externally extracting a flow of aspirated liquid and fragmented lens-tissue material from said chamber;
- said laser being remote from said tool and said laser including a flexible-cable connection for optical-fiber delivery of laser energy;
- and control means for said laser including an interlock with said selectively operable means so connected that said laser cannot discharge laser energy into said flexible-cable connection unless said interlock certifies that said side port is in closed condition.
A phaco-extractor tool for fragmenting and removing cataractous-lens tissue from the situs of fragmentation, said tool comprising elongate rigid tubular means having a central axis and having a distal working end and a proximal manipulation end, a rigid wall closure of said distal end and an arcuate side port locally adjacent said closure wall, said side port having a longitudinal dimension approximating the internal diametral extent of said tubular means and an arcuate extent in the range between 60.degree. and 180.degree. about said central axis;
- an elongate annular cannula rotatable on said rigid tubular means and having a proximal infusion-port connection and distal-end porting for distal discharge of infusion liquid, the distal end of said cannular having an arcuate closure-flap which in one angular position closes said side port and in another angular position no longer closes said side port;
- selectively operable actuating means at said manipulation end for imparting relative rotation of said cannula end of said tubular means with respect to each other to establish one or the other of said angular positions;
- phaco-emulsification means including an active element contained within said tubular means and selectively operable upon tissue that has been scooped via the side port and into the distal end of said tubular means prior to cannula closure of the side port;
- said tubular means having an elongate internal passage communicating with said distal end and having an aspiration-port connection at said manipulation end, and said tool including an interlock element responsive to closure of the side port, said interlock element being operatively connected to effectively disable said phacoemulsification means unless said side port is in closed condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.