OCULAR WORK TIP SLEEVE ADAPTER

Abstract

An adapter for a surgical hand piece having a single lumen work tip with an open end and a small lateral hole is designed to convert the work tip to infusion/aspiration (I/A) cleanup of lens epithelial cells after phacoemulsification. The adapter is in the form of a sleeve adapted to be slid over the distal end of the work tip. The sleeve includes at least one aspiration hole located toward the distal end of the sleeve. When the distal end of the sleeve is at a first distance L.sub.1 from the distal end of the work tip, aspiration occurs through the aspiration hole of the sleeve and the open end of the work tip. When the distal end of the sleeve is at a second and smaller distance L.sub.2 from the open end of the work tip, aspiration through the open end of the work tip is blocked by the sleeve and aspiration occurs through the aspiration hole of the sleeve and the lateral hole in the work tip.

Claims

1. An adapter for a surgical hand piece having a single lumen work tip with an open end and a small lateral hole through the work tip at a distance from the open end, said adapter being designed to convert the work tip to perform infusion/aspiration (I/A) cleanup after tissue emulsification, comprising a sleeve adapted to be joined to the distal end of work tip, said sleeve being sized so that it slides over the distal end of the work tip, and at least one aspiration hole located toward the distal end of the sleeve, and wherein, when the distal end of the sleeve is at a first distance L.sub.1 from the distal end of the work tip, aspiration occurs through the aspiration hole of the sleeve and the open end of the work tip, and when the distal end of the sleeve is at a second and smaller distance L.sub.2 from the open end of the work tip, aspiration through the open end of the work tip is blocked by the sleeve and aspiration occurs through the aspiration hole of the sleeve and the lateral hole in the work tip.

2. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the sleeve (230) further includes lateral irrigation openings (234) located farther from the distal end than the aspiration hole, said irrigation openings being adapted to discharge irrigation fluid located within the sleeve to a surgical site.

3. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is made, at least in part, of silicone material. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the tissue emulsification is phacoemulsification of a cataract in an eye of a patient and the cleanup is performed on lens epithelial cells in the capsular bag of the eye of the patient.

4. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the aspiration hole (236) may have any convenient and useful shape, maybe in the form of a plurality of openings in different patterns and may have different sizes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the following detailed description and appended drawings in which like designations denote like elements in the various views, and wherein:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a view in cross-section of a prior art type of surgical hand piece;

[0027] FIG. 2. is a partial crosssectional view of a prior art irrigation/aspiration instrument with a removable tip;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional enlarged view of the prior art tip for the infusion/aspiration instrument of FIG. 2;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art dual lumen surgical hand piece;

[0030] FIG. 5 is an embodiment of a surgical hand piece with a single axial work tip and an adapter for I/A clean up of a capsular bag of the eye according to the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of an I/A clean up adapter according to the present invention and FIG. 6B is a work tip on which the adapter can be used;

[0032] FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of the I/A clean up adapter of FIG. 6A with the work tip of FIG. 6B shown in dotted line within the adapter in a first position and FIG. 7B shows the work tip within the adapter in a second position; and

[0033] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a hand piece with a mechanism for sliding a sleeve to change the function of an adapter according to the present invention without removing the work tip from the eye of the patient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] FIG. 5A shows an embodiment of a handpiece disclosed in US Patent Application Publication US 2015/0025451 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This handpiece is shown receiving an adapter 230 according to the present invention. The handpiece uses a number of the components of the prior art type of handpiece described above with respect to FIG. 1. The source of the electro-mechanical energy is shown schematically as transducer 11. This transducer can be either the electromagnetic type or the piezoelectric crystal type. It is preferred, and is conventional, that the output power of the transducer 11 be controlled by electrical signals delivered over wires 40, 41 from a control unit (not shown). These signals allow the ultrasonic power at the work tip distal end 146 to be varied as needed by the surgeon.

[0035] Connected to the transducer 11 is the connecting body 16. Both the transducer 11 and connecting body 16 are provided in a housing 10. Although not shown for the sake of clarity, the transducer and connecting body are suspended within housing 10 so as to permit the longitudinal vibration of the transducer and connecting body to occur relative to the housing. For example, the 0-rings 19 and 20 shown in FIG. 1 are spaced apart around the connecting body 16 and engage the inner surface of the housing 10.

[0036] The work tip 14 has an opening 143 that leads to an axial channel 25 extending from the opening to an enlarged hub 140 at the proximal end of the work tip. Within the hub 140 there is a radial channel 142 that extends from the axial channel 25 to the outer surface of the hub. While the radial channel 142 is shown at a right angle to the axial channel, in fact it can be at any convenient angle that allows it to extend from the axial channel to the outer surface of the hub. A threaded connector 15 extends from the proximal end of the hub and engages the distal end of the connecting body 16.

[0037] A sleeve 17, which may advantageously be made of silicone, is provided with a funnel shape so that its proximal end 18 is large enough to encompass the enlarged hub, and still leave space for chamber 117 between the outer surface of the hub and the inner surface of the sleeve. The distal end of the sleeve tapers down around the portion 144 of the work tip beyond the hub, which extends to a flared portion 146 of the work tip which is at the operating or distal end. As a result the axial channel has a larger diameter at the distal end that tapers down to a smaller diameter as it extends through the work tip into the hub 140. The sleeve stops short of the portion 146. The proximal end 18 of sleeve 17 makes a threaded connection with the body 10. Although not shown, a sterile sheet may be fastened to the end 18 and draped over the housing to avoid contaminating the housing during procedures.

[0038] Sleeve 17 has a first external connector 22 on its outer surface that is in fluid communication with the chamber 117. A tube 210 carrying irrigation fluid may be connected to connector 22 in order to supply irrigation fluid to chamber 117. Fluid in chamber 117 may flow between the outer surface of work tip portion 144 and the inner surface of sleeve 17 in a channel 21 so as to exit the handpiece just short of the flared portion 146 of the work tip, i.e., at the site of the operation of the handpiece on the patient's tissue. Sleeve 17 also has a second external connector 24 on its outer surface. In the drawing this connector is shown as being on the opposite side of the sleeve from the connector 22. However, in practice this connector can be at any convenient location on the sleeve. A seal piece 148, e.g., an O-ring or other form of seal, connects the radial channel 142 to the second connector 24. A tube 220 provides a suction force (e.g., from a peristaltic aspiration pump) on connector 24. This causes tissue to be drawn into the opening at portion 146 of the work tip, to travel up the axial channel 25 and into the radial channel 142, to pass through the O-ring 148 and the connector 24, and finally to be drawn through tube 220 to the aspiration pump.

[0039] In operation the handpiece of FIG. 5 operates similar to other phacoemulsification handpieces. Electrical energy is applied through wires 40, 41, which causes the ultrasonic transducer to vibrate axially at ultrasonic frequencies. The mechanical axial force is transmitted to the connecting body 16, which in turn transmits it to the work tip 14. When the end 146 of the work tip is placed in contact with tissue, e.g., a cataract, the vibration causes the tissue to break up. While this is occurring, irrigation fluid, e.g., saline solution, passes from a source, through tube 210 and connector 22 into chamber 117, along channel 21 and is deposited at the operating site as shown by the arrows 230 in FIG. 5. At the same time the fragmented tissue is drawn into the opening 143 in portion 146 as shown by arrow 240 in FIG. 5. It passes up the axial channel 25 into the radial channel 142, through the O-ring 148 and connector 24 to tube 220.

[0040] The work tip of the present invention can be used with only an infusion/aspiration (1/A) function. That is, the source of ultrasonic energy can be turned off or reduced. The aspiration and infusion/irrigation fluids are supplied to the tubes 210 and 220; but, the aspiration force can be lowered, e.g., from 500 mm Hg to 5-10 mm Hg during the cleaning operation so that the posterior capsule tissue at the back of the eye is not drawn into the tube. The irrigation fluid force can also be lowered. However, it is preferable to utilize smaller openings than that of the work tip at 146. One way to accomplish this is to withdraw the work tip from the eye of the patient and to place an adapter 230 over the end of the work tip.

[0041] The adapter 230 as best shown in FIG. 6A is a tube with small lateral openings 234 which allow irrigation fluid to reach the operating site. In addition a larger opening 236 is provided at the distal end of the tube. Opening 236 can have a variety of shapes with a half-moon shape being shown in FIG. 6A. Opening 236 is used for aspiration, so its size and shape depend upon the type of aspiration being performed.

[0042] A phacoemulsification work tip 14 with expanded or flared portion 146 is shown in FIG. 6B. This work tip is modified from a conventional work tip in that it includes a lateral hole 147. As shown in FIG. 7A, the adapter 230 can be located over work tip 14 and positioned so that the distal end of the work tip is at a distance L.sub.1 from the distal end of the adapter 230. In this position normal phacoemulsification can be performed. In particular, irrigation fluid is directed to the surgical site through lateral openings 234. Tissue is aspirated through opening 236 in the adapter 230. This tissue enters the open end 143 of flared part 146 of the work tip.

[0043] During clean up the adapter is withdrawn so that it is positioned such that the distal end of the work tip is at a distance L.sub.2, smaller than L.sub.1, from the distal end of the adapter 230. In this position, the open end 143 of the flared part 146 of the work tip is blocked by the closed distal end of the adapter. The small hole 147 in the flared part is now centered in the opening 236 so that the aspiration force is limited by the size of the hole 147 and is greatly reduced. Thus, the remaining tissue (i.e., lens epithelial cells) is aspirated through this small hole while irrigation fluid continues to be applied to the site from openings 234. The adapter can be made of metal or soft plastic. If it is made of metal, a soft plastic coating is preferred to avoid damage to the capsular bag of the eye.

[0044] When the adapter is slid onto the flared part 146 of the work tip it can be held there do to the suction force of aspirations. As an alternative it may be provided with a slot on its inner surface that engages protrusions on the outer surface of the work tip (not shown).

[0045] With the designs of FIGS. 6 and 7, it may be convenient for the surgeon to remove the work tip from the eye of the patient in order to adjust the position of the particular adapter. This of course takes time away from the procedure, exposes the surgical site to infection and/or trauma. Thus, it would be advantageous to be able to change the relative position of the adapter without having to remove the work tip form the eye. In one embodiment the surgeon can simply pull or push on the proximal end of the adapter that sticks out of the surgical site.

[0046] FIG. 8 shows a hand piece with a work tip 14 at the end. Either the irrigation sleeve 17 or an additional sleeve 230 located outside the irrigation sleeve can slide along the work tip. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the sliding of the sleeve 230 is achieved with a mechanism 300 attached to the exterior of the hand piece, as disclosed in the applicant's copending application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 04438/006122-USO), which is incorporated herein by reference. Mechanism 300 includes a thumb portion 302. The thumb portion is connected to a linear portion 304 that runs along the exterior surface of the hand piece and is slidable with respect to that surface. A slanted portion 306 extends from the linear portion down to the work tip and then connects to sleeve 320. All of the portions of mechanism 300 are slidable with respect to the hand piece. The mechanism 300 is preferable located on the hand piece such that it does not interfere with the irrigation and aspiration tubes and is close to the body of the hand piece. Also, preferably, the pieces 302, 304, 306 and 320 are flexibly joined to each other so that during the sliding motion, they do not extend way from the body of the work piece. Depending on the shape of the hand piece, additional or fewer sections of the mechanism 300 may be used. Also, a sterile sheet 315 is shown attached to the hub of the work tip. A portion or portions of the mechanism would penetrate the sterile sheet, if used, to reach the thumb portion 302 on the housing.

[0047] When the surgeon completes the emulsification of the cataract and wants to start clean up the remaining tissue, he or she turns off the ultrasonic energy or reduces it, reduces the force of the irrigation and aspiration fluid flows and uses his or her thumb to slide the sleeve 320 forward. This can all be accomplished without removing the work tip from the surgical site within the patient's eye. In general the effect of sliding the adapter is to cause to openings in the work tip to be reconfigured for I/A clean up.

[0048] While the invention has been shown and described in connection with the removal of a cataract from the eye of a patient and subsequent I/A clean up, the apparatus and method may also be used for other types of surgery in other parts of the body, e.g., the removal of neurological tissue.

[0049] Specific features of the invention are shown in one or more of the drawings for convenience only, as each feature may be combined with other features in accordance with the invention. Alternative embodiments will be recognized by those skilled in the art and are intended to be included within the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the above description should be construed as illustrating and not limiting the scope of the invention. All such obvious changes and modifications are within the scope of the appended claims.