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US 9,504,604 B2Granted
Lithotripsy eye treatment
AssigneeAuris Surgical Robotics, Inc.
InventorJeffery B. Alvarez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lithotripsy probe is used to break up cataracts, sinus blockages and other body masses, where the broken materials may be removed by suction. The lithotripsy probe may have a spark generator, a fluid motion generator, or other component for breaking up the body mass.
Claims14
A method of treating a cataract in an eye, the method comprising:
- advancing a distal end of a lithotripsy probe into the eye in proximity with the cataract;
- activating the lithotripsy probe to break the cataract into multiple pieces by causing fluid to move forward from a nozzle at the distal end of the lithotripsy probe, wherein causing fluid to move forward from the nozzle comprises generating a shock wave in the nozzle near the distal end of the lithotripsy probe, and wherein an hourglass shape of the nozzle increases a speed of the shock wave at an output opening of the nozzle;
- and
- aspirating the multiple pieces of the cataract out of the eye using suction.
1 more element
A method of removing an unwanted structure from an eye, the method comprising:
- advancing a distal end of a probe into the eye in proximity with the unwanted structure in the eye;
- generating a spark within the probe to produce a forward moving shock wave force in a fluid in the probe, wherein the forwardly moving shock wave breaks the unwanted structure into multiple pieces, and wherein the forwardly moving shock wave is directed from a nozzle at the end of the probe, the nozzle having an hourglass shape to increase a speed of the shock wave at an output opening of the nozzle;
- and
- aspirating the multiple pieces of the unwanted structure out of the eye using suction.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.