OPHTHALMIC TWEEZERS

Abstract

There are provided ophthalmic tweezers capable of easily adjusting the strength of a gripping force depending on use conditions. Ophthalmic tweezers (10) include a tweezers section (20) which has a tubular body (21), a pair of neck portions (22), and a pair of grippers (23) located on the leading end side of the neck portions (22). The tweezers section (20) has a structure in which the grippers (23) are closed by causing the tubular body (21) to slide such that the neck portions (22) are housed in the inner cavity of the tubular body (21). The neck portions (22) each have a first curved or bent portion (22a) having a convex shape on the central axis side of the tubular body (21) and a second curved or bent portion (22b) having a concave shape on the central axis side of the tubular body (21). The first curved or bent portion (22a) is located on the tubular body side, and the second curved or bent portion (22b) is located on the gripper side.

Claims

1. Ophthalmic tweezers comprising a tweezers section, the tweezers section including: a tubular body; a pair of neck portions; and a pair of grippers located on the leading end side of the neck portions, wherein the tweezers section has a structure in which the grippers are closed by causing the tubular body to slide such that the neck portions are housed in an inner cavity of the tubular body, and the neck portions each have a first curved or bent portion having a convex shape on the central axis side of the tubular body and a second curved or bent portion having a concave shape on the central axis side of the tubular body, and the first curved or bent portion is located on the tubular body side, and the second curved or bent portion is located on the gripper side.

2. The ophthalmic tweezers according to claim 1, wherein the grippers contact each other when the first curved or bent portions are housed in the inner cavity of the tubular body, and a gripping force of the grippers is improved when the second curved or bent portions are housed in the inner cavity of the tubular body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a tweezers part according to ophthalmic tweezers of the present invention.

[0014] FIGS. 2(a) to 2(C) are views illustrating movement of a tweezers part; FIG. 2(a) is a view in which a tweezers part is open; FIG. 2(b) is a view in which a tweezers part is lightly closed; and FIG. 2(c) is a view in which the gripping force of a tweezers part is strengthened.

[0015] FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are views illustrating a use method of ophthalmic tweezers.

[0016] FIG. 4 is an in-use view of known ophthalmic tweezers.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

[0018] FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a tweezers part according to ophthalmic tweezers of the present invention.

[0019] The basic action of ophthalmic tweezers 10 is that, similarly to the previously-described known ophthalmic tweezers, the grippers 23 of the tweezers section 20 are closed when the operators are closed with fingers, and the grippers 23 open when the operators are opened.

[0020] The structure of the tweezers section 20 of the ophthalmic tweezers 10 includes a tubular body 21, a pair of neck portions 22, and a pair of grippers 23 located on the leading end side of the neck portions 22. Although not illustrated, the base end side from the neck portions 22 is fixed to around the base of the operators through the inside of the tubular body 21.

[0021] When the operators are closed with fingers, the tubular body 21 slides in the axial direction so that the neck portions 22 are housed in the inner cavity of the tubular body 21, and the grippers 23 at the leading end are closed.

[0022] Here, it is configured that the neck portions 22 each have a first curved or bent portion 22a on the tubular body side and a second curved or bent portion 22b on the gripper side. The first curved or bent portion 22a has a convex curve shape on the central axis side of the tubular body 21, and the second curved or bent portion 22b has a concave curve shape on the centred axis side of the tubular body 21. In other words, the central axis of the tubular body 21 is located on the outer side of the first curved or bent portion 22a and on the inner side of the second curved or bent portion 22b.

[0023] Here, the movement of the tweezers part 20, when the tubular body 21 is caused to slide such that the neck portions 22 are housed in the inner cavity of the tubular body 21 thereby to close the grippers 23, will be described using the drawings. FIGS. 2(a) to 2(C) are views illustrating movement of a tweezers part; FIG. 2(a) is a view in which a tweezers part is open; FIG. 2(b) is a view in which a tweezers part is lightly closed; and FIG. 2(c) is a view in which the gripping force of a tweezers part is strengthened.

[0024] When the neck portions 22 are not housed in the inner cavity of the tubular body 21 as illustrated in FIG. 2(a), the grippers 23 are apart from each other, and the tweezers part 20 is open. Then, when the tubular body 21 is caused to slide such that the first curved or bent portions 22a of the neck portions 22 are housed in the inner cavity of the tubular body 21, the grippers 23 contact each other from the leading end side so that the tweezers part 20 are lightly closed as illustrated in FIG. 2(b). In this state, the maximum width when the second curved or bent portions 22b facing each other are connected is larger than the inner diameter of the tubular body 21.

[0025] Furthermore, when the tubular body 21 is caused to slide such that the second curved or bent portions 22b are additionally housed in the inner cavity of the tubular body 21, the second curved or bent portions 22b serve as a spring so that the grippers 23 are closed more tightly. Here, since the second curved or bent portions 22b each have a concave curve shape on the central axis side of the tubular body 21, the gripping force of the grippers 23 is strengthened when the tubular body 21 is caused to slide, until the tops of the curves are housed in the inner cavity of the tubular body 21. In brief, not only the grippers are either closed or open like the known ophthalmic tweezers, but also the gripping force can be adjusted.

[0026] It is noted that the curve direction of the first curved or bent portion 22a and the curve direction of the second curved or bent portion 22b are opposite each other, and the resistance force when the operators are closed differs between before and after the grippers 23 contact each other. Accordingly, the state of the gripping force is reflected on the operators of fingers. This relatively facilitates the adjustment of the gripping force.

[0027] Here, the curvature radius R1 of the first curved or bent portions 22a has to be determined in consideration of the fact that the leading ends of the grippers 23 contact each other when the first curved or bent portions 22a are housed in the inner cavity of the tubular body 21. Also, the curvature radius R2 of the second curved or bent portions 22b has to be determined in consideration of a force as spring when the second curved or bent portions 22b are housed into the inner cavity of the tubular body 21.

[0028] Next, actual use situations in which the grippers 23 are lightly or tightly closed will be described. FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are views illustrating a use method of the ophthalmic tweezers.

[0029] FIG. 3(a) is a view in which a proliferative membrane 51 on a retina 50 is pulled. When the proliferative membrane 51 almost contacts the retina 50 in this manner, the proliferative membrane 51 needs to be lightly picked up and pulled up by the grippers 23. It is noted that when the gripping force is excessively strong in this case, the proliferative membrane 51 can be broken. Therefore, the gripping force should not be excessively strong, and it is enough to lightly pick up the proliferative membrane 51.

[0030] After the proliferative membrane 51 has been pulled up to some extent, the proliferative membrane 51 needs to be tightly pinched as illustrated in FIG. 3(b) for removal. At this time, the gripping force is required to be strengthened such that the proliferative membrane 51 does not drop. It is noted that, other than the above-described use method, there is a case in which the adjustment of the gripping force is necessary, and the present invention has the merit that such adjustment of the gripping force can be achieved. Also, although an example in which an eye tissue is grasped has been described herein, the ophthalmic tweezers according to the present invention can also be used for, for example, grasping an ophthalmic instrument such as an intraocular lens.

[0031] Also, in other words, the use method of picking up air object by the eating ends of the grippers 23 is performed when only the first curved or bent portions 22a are housed in the inner cavity of the tubular body 21, and the use method of pinching an object by the entireties of the grippers is performed when the second curved or bent portions 22b are additionally housed in the inner cavity of the tubular body 21. In brief, according to the ophthalmic tweezers of the present invention, one type of ophthalmic tweezers can achieve the characteristics of two types of ophthalmic tweezers: one with grippers having a shape for picking up and the other with grippers having a shape for pinching.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0032] 10 ophthalmic tweezers [0033] 20 tweezers section [0034] 21 tubular body [0035] 21a central axis of tubular body [0036] 22 neck portion [0037] 22a first curved or bent portion [0038] 22b second curved or bent portion [0039] 23 gripper [0040] 33 reinforcing sleeve [0041] 35 body portion [0042] 36 operator [0043] 37 sliding member [0044] 40 cannula [0045] 50 retina [0046] 51 proliferative membrane