Apparatus and method for cannulating retinal blood vessels

A microcannula for use in cannulating retinal blood vessels and retinal surgery, said microcannula comprising:

• an elongated non-bendable, relatively rigid hollow body member having a single angled first end to define a relatively sharp beveled tip and a second end, said second end attached to a flexible tubing member, said body member having a first body portion associated with said beveled tip and a second body portion associated with said second end, said first body portion monolithically formed with said second body portion;
• wherein said first body portion having a first length and said second body portion having a second length;
• wherein the first length is substantially smaller in size than the second length;
• wherein the first end of said body member is insertable through a retinal surgical sclerotomy site without being attached to the sclerotomy site, said beveled tip perforating a targeted retinal structure, wherein said first body portion is permanently disposed at an angular relationship with said second body portion such that the beveled tip is positioned substantially parallel to the targeted retinal structure to be perforated when the body member is inserted through a sclerotomy site;
• wherein said angular relationship is chosen based on a specific area of a person's retina targeted for surgery;
• wherein said body member being sized such that the beveled tip can safely enter into the retinal structure;
• wherein the length of said first body portion and said beveled tip causing a shelved incision in the targeted retinal structure which is self sealing upon removal of said first body portion and said beveled tip from a perforation site.

A microcannula for use in cannulating retinal blood vessels and retinal surgery, said microcannula comprising:

• a relatively rigid elongated hollow body member having a single angled first end to define a relatively sharp beveled tip and a second end, said second end attached to a flexible tubing member, said body member having a first body portion associated with said beveled tip and a second body portion associated with said second end, said first body portion monolithically formed with said second body portion, said tip beveled at an angle of approximately 20 degrees, said body member having an outer diameter of no greater than approximately 100 microns at its first beveled end and an outer diameter of approximately 1 millimeter at its second end;
• wherein the first end of said body member insertable through a retinal surgical sclerotomy site without being attached to the sclerotomy site, wherein said first body portion is disposed at a permanent angular relationship with said second body portion such that the beveled tip is positioned substantially parallel to a targeted retinal structure when the body member is inserted through a sclerotomy site;
• wherein said angular relationship is chosen based on a specific area of a person's retina targeted;
• wherein an outer diameter at said first end of said body member is smaller than an outer diameter at said second end of said body member;
• wherein said first body portion having a first length and said second body portion having a second length;
• wherein the first length is smaller in size than the second length;
• wherein said body member being sized such that the beveled tip and first portion of said body member can safely enter into the retinal structure;
• wherein the length of said first body portion and the angle of said beveled tip causing a shelved incision in the targeted retinal structure which is self sealing upon removal of said first body portion and said beveled tip from the perforation site.

A microcannula for use in cannulating retinal blood vessels and retinal surgery, said microcannula comprising:

• an elongated non-bendable, relatively rigid hollow body member having a single angled first end to define a relatively sharp beveled tip and a second end, said second end is associated with a tubing member, said body member having a first body portion associated with said beveled tip and a second body portion associated with said second end;
• wherein said first body portion having a first length and said second body portion having a second length;
• wherein the first length is substantially smaller in size than the second length;
• wherein the first end of said body member is adapted for insertion through a retinal surgical sclerotomy site without being attached to the sclerotomy site, said beveled tip adapted for perforation of a targeted retinal structure, wherein said first body portion is permanently disposed at an angular relationship with said second body portion such that the beveled tip is adapted for substantially parallel positioning to the targeted retinal structure to be perforated when the body member is inserted through a sclerotomy site;
• wherein said angular relationship is chosen based on a specific area of a person's retina targeted for surgery;
• wherein said body member being sized such that the beveled tip can safely enter into the retinal structure;
• wherein the length of said first body portion and said beveled tip allow for a shelved incision which is self sealing upon removal of said first body portion and said beveled tip from a perforation site;
• and
• a protective outer tube, at least a portion of said body member disposed within said protective outer tube;
• wherein said body member movably disposed within said protective outer tube to allow said tip to be moved between extended to retracted positions with respect to said protective outer tube.

A microcannula for use in cannulating retinal blood vessels and retinal surgery, said microcannula comprising:

• a substantially rigid hollow body member having a substantially sharp beveled tip first end and a second end, said body member having a first body portion associated with said beveled tip and a second body portion associated with said second end, said first body portion having a first length and said second body portion having a second length;
• wherein the first length is substantially smaller in size than the second length;
• wherein said first body portion is permanently disposed at an angular relationship with said second body portion;
• and
• a protective outer tube, at least a portion of said body member disposed within said protective outer tube;
• wherein said body member movably disposed within said protective outer tube to allow said tip to be moved between extended to retracted positions with respect to said protective outer tube.