Abstract
A surgical instrument for removing a cataract from a patient's eye including a hollow vibratable needle surrounded by a hollow infusion sleeve which conforms to the surgical incision and thereby prevents leakage from the incision, and also with means preventing the hollow infusion sleeve from collapsing against the hollow vibratable needle. A second embodiment including a hollow vibratable needle surrounded by two hollow infusion sleeves with conformity of the outer sleeve to the incision and means for preventing the infusion sleeve from collapsing against the hollow vibratable needle.
Filing date: Apr 18, 1990
Issue date: Jan 28, 1992
Inventor: Richard J. Mackool
Primary Examiner: Steven J. Shumaker
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What is claimed is:
1. A surgical instrument for removing a cataract through an incision in a patient's eye, comprising a hollow, compressible infusion sleeve; said hollow, compressible infusion sleeve including a tapered, ported distal end portion designed to be located within a patient's eye during cataract removal and having an extreme end portion; said hollow, compressible, infusion sleeve further including a second cylindrical portion configured and designed to extend into a patient's eye; said second cylindrical portion intersecting with and extending away from said tapered, ported distal end portion; a hollow vibratable needle which extends into a patient's eye during the removal of a cataract; said hollow, compressible infusion sleeve second cylindrical portion and said tapered, ported distal end portion surrounding said hollow, vibratable needle with there being a space between the extreme end portion of said tapered, ported distal end portion and the hollow, vibratable needle; a rigid, hollow, non-compressible sleeve surrounding a portion of said hollow, vibratable needle with said rigid, hollow, non-compressible sleeve having a larger diameter than said hollow, vibratable needle, thereby defining a path of fluid between said hollow, vibratable needle and said rigid, hollow, non-compressible sleeve; said rigid, hollow, non-compressible sleeve being surrounded by said hollow, compressible infusion sleeve second cylindrical portion and a portion of said tapered, ported distal end portion of said hollow, compressible infusion sleeve, whereby said rigid, hollow, non-compressible sleeve prevents the hollow, compressible infusion sleeve from collapsing against said hollow, vibratable needle.
2. A surgical instrument for removing a cataract according to claim 1, wherein said rigid, hollow, non-compressible sleeve includes radial ports.
3. A surgical instrument for removing a cataract according to claim 1, wherein said compressible infusion sleeve distal end portion includes discharge port means for directing fluid at an angle with respect to the axis of the hollow, vibratable needle and away therefrom.