Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A surgical instrument for removing a cataract through an incision in an eye, comprising: irrigation means for providing a liquid; aspiration means for aspirating the liquid; a handpiece; a infusion sleeve fluid tightly connected to said handpiece and connected to said irrigation means, said sleeve having a distal end and a proximal end, said sleeve containing within said sleeve a needle connected to said aspiration means, said sleeve including at least one infusion port for infusing a liquid from said irrigation means, wherein said sleeve includes an accordion section, a reduced diameter forward end for forming an eye seal with respect to the incision in the eye and an enlarged diameter distal tip proximate to said reduced diameter forward end; and wherein said needle having at least one aspiration port for aspirating the liquid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A surgical instrument for removing a cataract through an incision in an eye, comprising: irrigation means for providing a liquid; aspiration means for aspirating the liquid; a handpiece; a infusion sleeve fluid tightly connected to said handpiece and connected to said irrigation means, said sleeve having a distal end and a proximal end, said sleeve containing within said sleeve a needle connected to said aspiration means, said sleeve including at least one infusion port for infusing a liquid from said irrigation means, wherein said sleeve includes an accordion section, a reduced diameter forward end for forming an eye seal with respect to the incision in the eye and an enlarged diameter distal tip proximate to said reduced diameter forward end; and wherein said needle having at least one aspiration port for aspirating the liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising means for directing the infused liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said directing means comprises at least one of at least one barrier, annular ramp, step, angled surface, bar, baffle, wedge and extension disposed on one of an internal and an external surface of said sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a silicone membrane disposed radially outside of said needle which defines an annular reservoir chamber disposed between said silicone membrane and said needle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said at least one infusion port is in the shape of one of a circle, oval and ellipse.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said aspiration robe includes a valve to regulate aspiration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said aspiration robe is a variable aperture aspiration robe.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said at least one aspiration port is in the shape of one of a circle, oval and ellipse.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
An instrument according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve is rotatably connected to said handpiece.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for removing a cataract through an incision in an eye with a tool that includes an irrigation source and an aspiration source, a compressible infusion sleeve is fluid tightly connected to the handpiece and is connected to the irrigation source, the sleeve has a distal end and a proximal end, the sleeve contains a needle within the sleeve, which is connected to the aspiration source, the sleeve includes at least one infusion port for infusing liquid from the infusion source, the sleeve includes an accordion section, a reduced diameter forward end, and the needle has at least one aspiration port connected to the aspiration source, the method comprising the steps of: inserting a distal end of the needle into an incision in the cornea so that the forward end of the sleeve substantially matches the incision in the cornea; rotating the needle with respect to the incision in the cornea while maintaining the sleeve essentially stationary with respect to the incision in the cornea.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for removing a cataract through an incision in an eye with a tool that includes an irrigation source and an aspiration source, a compressible infusion sleeve is fluid tightly connected to the handpiece and is connected to the irrigation source, the sleeve has a distal end and a proximal end, the sleeve contains a needle within the sleeve, which is connected to the aspiration source, the sleeve includes at least one infusion port for infusing liquid from the infusion source, the sleeve includes an accordion section, a reduced diameter forward end, and the needle has at least one aspiration port connected to the aspiration source, the method comprising the steps of: inserting a distal end of the needle into an incision in the cornea so that the forward end of the sleeve substantially matches the incision in the cornea; rotating the needle with respect to the incision in the cornea while maintaining the sleeve essentially stationary with respect to the incision in the cornea.