# US 9,433,725 B2 · Combined coaxial and bimanual irrigation/aspiration apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,725 B2 - Document ID: US9433725B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/686,430 - Filed: 2012-11-27 - Published: 2013-06-27 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-23 - Assignees: Alcon Research, Ltd. - Applicants: Alcon Research, Ltd. - Inventors: Philipp Schaller; Reto Grueebler; Stephen Lane - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433725B2 ## CPC - A61F 9/00736: {Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments (A61F9/008 takes precedence)} - A61M 1/774: {Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently} - A61M 3/0283: {with at least two inner passageways, a first one for irrigating and a second for evacuating (suction-irrigation systems A61M1/77; aspiration tips with fluid supply means A61M1/85; for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92)} - A61M 2210/0612: Eyes - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A hand piece having an irrigation portion and an aspiration portion that are releasably coupled is disclosed. In an assembled configuration, the irrigation portion and the aspiration portion are coupled such that the hand piece may be manipulable by a user as a single unit. In a separated configuration, the irrigation portion and the aspiration portion may be utilized separate from each other. The irrigation portion and the aspiration portion may be freely moved between the assembled configuration and the separated configuration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An Irrigation/Aspiration (I/A) hand piece comprising: an irrigation portion comprising a hand graspable handpiece body with an outer surface gripping portion; and an aspiration portion comprising a hand graspable handpiece body with an outer surface gripping portion, one of the body of the irrigation portion or body of the aspiration portion comprising an integral, longitudinally extending receptacle into which at least a portion of the other of the irrigation portion or aspiration portion is removably received in a manner forming a single graspable outer surface portion for both the irrigation portion and aspiration portion that is graspable by one hand for both irrigation and aspiration of a surgical site. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The I/A hand piece of claim 1, wherein one of the irrigation portion or the aspiration portion comprises a recess within the hand graspable handpiece body and wherein the hand graspable handpiece body of the other of the irrigation portion or the aspiration portion includes a profile configured to be releasably received into the recess. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The I/A hand piece of claim 2, wherein the recess extends longitudinally along the hand graspable handpiece body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The I/A hand piece of claim 1, wherein the receptacle and the portion of the other of the irrigation portion or the aspiration portion received within the receptacle form a fluid-tight seal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hand piece of claim 1, wherein the hand piece is selectively configurable between an assembled configuration in which the irrigation portion and the aspiration portion are coupled together such that the at least a portion of irrigation portion or the aspiration portion is received within the receptacle of the other of the irrigation portion or the aspiration portion and a separated configuration in which the irrigation portion and the aspiration portion are decoupled from each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The I/A hand piece of claim 5 further comprising an irrigation sleeve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The I/A hand piece of claim 6, wherein the aspiration portion comprises the receptacle, and wherein at least a portion of the irrigation portion is received within the receptacle in the assembled configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The I/A hand piece of claim 7, wherein the irrigation sleeve is coupled to a distal end of the aspiration portion, wherein the aspiration portion comprises an aspiration needle, the aspiration needle extending through an opening formed in the irrigation sleeve, wherein the irrigation portion comprises a passage, and wherein the passage of the irrigation portion communicates with an interior of the irrigation sleeve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The I/A hand piece of claim 7, wherein a proximal portion of the irrigation sleeve is releasably coupled to a distal end of the aspiration portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The hand piece of claim 7, wherein the irrigation portion comprises a longitudinally-extending recess and wherein the aspiration portion comprises a cross-sectional shape configured to be releasably received into the longitudinally-extending recess. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The I/A hand piece of claim 6, wherein the irrigation portion comprises the receptacle, and wherein at least a portion of the aspiration portion is received within the receptacle in the assembled configuration. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The I/A hand piece of claim 11, wherein the irrigation portion comprises an annular outlet formed at a distal end thereof and wherein the receptacle of the irrigation portion defines a central opening disposed in a central region circumscribed by the annular opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The hand piece of claim 12, wherein the aspiration portion is received in the receptacle, a distal portion of the aspiration portion extending through the central opening of the irrigation portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The I/A hand piece of claim 13, wherein the aspiration portion comprises an aspiration needle, wherein the irrigation sleeve is coupled to a distal end of the irrigation portion, and wherein the aspiration needle extends through an opening formed in the irrigation sleeve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The I/A hand piece of claim 11, wherein the irrigation portion comprises a longitudinally-extending recess and wherein the aspiration portion comprises a cross-sectional shape configured to be releasably received into the longitudinally-extending recess. ### Claim 16 An Irrigation/Aspiration (I/A) hand piece comprising: an irrigation portion comprising: an inlet; an outlet: a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet; and a hand graspable handpiece body with an outer surface gripping portion: an aspiration portion comprising: an inlet; an outlet; a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet; a receptacle; and a hand graspable handpiece body with an outer surface gripping portion, the I/A hand piece selectively configurable between an assembled configuration in which a portion of the irrigation portion is releasably received into the receptacle of the aspiration portion in a manner forming a single graspable outer surface portion for both the irrigation portion and aspiration portion that is graspable by one hand for both irrigation and aspiration of a surgical site and a separated configuration in which the irrigation portion and the aspiration portion are decoupled from each other. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The I/A hand piece of claim 16, wherein an inner surface of the receptacle and an outer surface of the irrigation portion form a fluid-tight seal around the irrigation portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The I/A hand piece of claim 16 further comprising an irrigation sleeve releasably coupled to a distal end of the aspiration portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The I/A hand piece of claim 18, wherein the irrigation portion comprises an irrigation needle, an outlet of the irrigation needle in communication with an interior of the irrigation sleeve, wherein the aspiration portion comprises an aspiration needle, the aspiration needle extending through an opening formed in the irrigation sleeve. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The I/A hand piece of claim 16, wherein the irrigation portion comprises a longitudinally-extending recess and wherein the aspiration portion comprises a cross-sectional shape configured to be releasably received into the longitudinally-extending recess. ### Claim 21 An Irrigation/Aspiration (I/A) hand piece comprising: an irrigation portion comprising: an irrigation passage; and a first outer surface around the irrigation passage, the outer surface comprising a hand graspable handpiece body with an outer surface gripping portion; and an aspiration portion comprising: an aspiration passage; and an outer surface around the aspiration passage, the outer surface comprising a hand graspable handpiece body with an outer surface gripping portion, one of the irrigation portion or the aspiration portion comprising a receptacle into which at least a portion of the other of the irrigation portion or aspiration portion is removably received such that the first outer surface and second outer surface are aligned in series along a longitudinal axis to form a single graspable portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The I/A hand piece of claim 21, wherein the irrigation portion is graspable for independent use by a user. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The I/A hand piece of claim 21, wherein the aspiration portion is graspable for independent use by a user.