US5941887A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sleeve for a surgical instrument
Assignee: Bausch and Lomb Surgical Inc
•
Filing: 1996-09-03
•
Granted: 1999-08-24
•
Expires: 2016-09-03
Abstract
Abstract A surgical sleeve which includes a series of spaced apart rings on an interior wall surface encircling a slender cutting tip. The sleeve completely enshrouds the tip in an unstressed condition in order to avoid inadvertent injury to the interior portions of the eye. The sleeve, however, automatically retracts during use to expose the free end of the tip to effect emulsification of the natural lens. The spaced rings further reduce the surface contact between the sleeve and the tip and define a transverse channel through which fluid may flow when lateral pressure is applied to the sleeve. As a result, the sleeve is able to effectively remove heat from the tip even under adverse conditions and alleviate the risk of burning the corneal tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark E. Steen
- 👤 Gloria D. Sefton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00736; A61F9/00745; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/00336; A61B17/32; A61B17/320068; A61B2017/320084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A surgical sleeve for use with an instrument to perform eye surgery, wherein the instrument includes a casing and a slender cutting tip projecting from the casing, said surgical sleeve comprising a tubular, pliable body having a base and a cannula, said base being attachable to the casing such that said cannula extends outward from said base and encircles the cutting tip to define a conduit between an interior surface of said cannula and the cutting tip for the passage of a fluid, said interior surface having a series of closely spaced rings along at least a portion of said cannula.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A surgical sleeve for use with an instrument to perform eye surgery, wherein the instrument includes a casing and a slender cutting tip projecting from the casing, said surgical sleeve comprising a tubular, pliable body having a base and a cannula, said base being attachable to the casing such that said cannula extends outward from said base and encircles the cutting tip to define a conduit between an interior surface of said cannula and the cutting tip for the passage of a fluid, said interior surface having a series of closely spaced rings along at least a portion of said cannula.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A surgical sleeve in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said ring extends inward from an interior surface of said cannula to minimize contact with the cutting tip when the cannula is under lateral compression.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A surgical sleeve in accordance with claim 2 wherein each said ring includes a pair of sidewalls which taper inwardly away from said interior surface of said cannula.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A surgical sleeve in accordance with claim 3 wherein each said sidewall has a generally concave configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A surgical sleeve in accordance with claim 2 wherein each said ring is continuous about the entire interior perimeter of said cannula.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A surgical sleeve in accordance with claim 2 wherein at least one of said rings includes at least one gap for the passage of a fluid therethrough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A surgical sleeve in accordance with claim 2 in which said rings on said interior surface of said cannula taper to form narrow peaks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A surgical sleeve in accordance with claim 7 in which said peaks are separated by about 0.015 inches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A surgical sleeve in accordance with claim 7 in which said interior surface between said peaks has a generally U-shaped configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
A surgical sleeve for use with a surgical instrument to perform eye surgery, wherein the instrument includes a casing and slender cutting tip projecting from the casing, said surgical sleeve comprising a tubular, pliable body having a base and a cannula, said base being attachable to the casing such that said cannula extends outward and enshrouds the entire length of the cutting tip when unstressed, said cannula including means to enable axial retraction of said cannula to expose the tip during use, wherein said cannula has an interior surface provided with a series of longitudinally spaced apart rings, and wherein at least one of said rings includes at least one gap for the passage of fluid therethrough.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
117 words
A surgical sleeve for use with a surgical instrument to perform eye surgery, wherein the instrument includes a casing and slender cutting tip projecting from the casing, said surgical sleeve comprising a tubular, pliable body having a base and a cannula, said base being attachable to the casing such that said cannula extends outward and enshrouds the entire length of the cutting tip when unstressed, said cannula including means to enable axial retraction of said cannula to expose the tip during use, wherein said cannula has an interior surface provided with a series of longitudinally spaced apart rings, and wherein at least one of said rings includes at least one gap for the passage of fluid therethrough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A surgical sleeve in accordance with claim 7 wherein each said ring includes a pair of sidewalls which taper inwardly away from said interior surface of said cannula.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A surgical sleeve in accordance with claim 7 wherein each said sidewall has a generally concave configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A surgical sleeve in accordance with claim 7 wherein each said ring is continuous about the entire interior perimeter of said cannula.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
A surgical instrument for eye surgery comprising: a casing; a cutting tip projecting from the casing; and a surgical sleeve comprising a tubular, pliable body having a base and a cannula, said base being attached to the casing such that said cannula extends outward from said base and encircles the cutting tip to define a conduit between an interior surface of said cannula and the cutting tip for the passage of a fluid, said interior surface having a series of closely spaced rings along at least a portion of said cannula.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
A surgical instrument for eye surgery comprising: a casing; a cutting tip projecting from the casing; and a surgical sleeve comprising a tubular, pliable body having a base and a cannula, said base being attached to the casing such that said cannula extends outward from said base and encircles the cutting tip to define a conduit between an interior surface of said cannula and the cutting tip for the passage of a fluid, said interior surface having a series of closely spaced rings along at least a portion of said cannula.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A surgical instrument in accordance with claim 14 wherein each said ring extends inward from an interior surface of said cannula to minimize contact with the cutting tip when the cannula is under lateral compression.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A surgical instrument in accordance with claim 15 wherein each said ring includes a pair of sidewalls which taper inwardly away from said interior surface of said cannula.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A surgical instrument in accordance with claim 16 wherein each said sidewall has a generally concave configuration.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A surgical instrument in accordance with claim 15 wherein each said ring is continuous about the entire interior perimeter of said cannula.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A surgical instrument in accordance with claim 15 wherein at least one of said rings includes at least one gap for the passage of a fluid therethrough.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
108 words
A surgical instrument for eye surgery comprising: a casing; a cutting tip projecting from the casing; and a surgical sleeve comprising a tubular, pliable body having a base and a cannula, said base being attached to the casing such that said cannula extends outward and enshrouds the entire length of the cutting tip when unstressed, said cannula including means to enable axial retraction of said cannula to expose the cutting tip during use, wherein said cannula has an interior surface provided with a series of spaced apart rings, and wherein at least one of said rings includes at least one gap for the passage of a fluid therethrough.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
108 words
A surgical instrument for eye surgery comprising: a casing; a cutting tip projecting from the casing; and a surgical sleeve comprising a tubular, pliable body having a base and a cannula, said base being attached to the casing such that said cannula extends outward and enshrouds the entire length of the cutting tip when unstressed, said cannula including means to enable axial retraction of said cannula to expose the cutting tip during use, wherein said cannula has an interior surface provided with a series of spaced apart rings, and wherein at least one of said rings includes at least one gap for the passage of a fluid therethrough.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A surgical sleeve in accordance with claim 19 wherein each said ring includes a pair of sidewalls which taper inwardly away from said interior surface of said cannula.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
A surgical sleeve in accordance with claim 19 wherein each said sidewall has a generally concave configuration.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A surgical sleeve in accordance with claim 19 wherein each said ring is continuous about the entire interior perimeter of said cannula.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
119 words
A process for surgically removing a natural lens from an eye comprising: providing a surgical instrument including a casing, a slender cutting tip projecting from the casing and having a free end, and a pliable sleeve attached to said casing and having a cannula which enshrouds said entire cutting tip to cover said free end in an unstressed condition; inserting said slender cutting tip and cannula through an incision in an eye; pushing said cannula against the natural lens to apply an axial compressive force to the cannula to retract said cannula and expose the free end of the cutting tip; driving said cutting tip to emulsify the natural lens; and aspirating the emulsified portions of the natural lens.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
119 words
A process for surgically removing a natural lens from an eye comprising: providing a surgical instrument including a casing, a slender cutting tip projecting from the casing and having a free end, and a pliable sleeve attached to said casing and having a cannula which enshrouds said entire cutting tip to cover said free end in an unstressed condition; inserting said slender cutting tip and cannula through an incision in an eye; pushing said cannula against the natural lens to apply an axial compressive force to the cannula to retract said cannula and expose the free end of the cutting tip; driving said cutting tip to emulsify the natural lens; and aspirating the emulsified portions of the natural lens.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process in accordance with claim 24 wherein the provided sleeve includes a series of spaced apart annular rings about an interior surface of the cannula.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process in accordance with claim 24 wherein said aspirating step in accomplished by providing the cutting tip with a central bore and applying a vacuum pressure to the bore.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process in accordance with claim 24 wherein said driving step includes subjecting the cutting tip to axial ultrasonic vibrations.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process in accordance with claim 24 further including supplying a fluid between the cutting tip and the sleeve to cool the surgical instrument and irrigate the eye.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
98 words
A surgical instrument for eye surgery comprising: a casing; a cutting tip projecting from the casing; and a surgical sleeve comprising a tubular, pliable body having a base and a cannula, said base being attached to the casing such that said cannula extends outward from said base and encircles the cutting tip to define a conduit about the cutting tip, said cannula having an interior surface provided with a plurality of spaced apart rings along at least a portion of said cannula, said rings being spaced from said cutting tip when said sleeve is in an unstressed condition.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
98 words
A surgical instrument for eye surgery comprising: a casing; a cutting tip projecting from the casing; and a surgical sleeve comprising a tubular, pliable body having a base and a cannula, said base being attached to the casing such that said cannula extends outward from said base and encircles the cutting tip to define a conduit about the cutting tip, said cannula having an interior surface provided with a plurality of spaced apart rings along at least a portion of said cannula, said rings being spaced from said cutting tip when said sleeve is in an unstressed condition.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
103 words
A surgical instrument for eye surgery comprising: a casing; a cutting tip projecting from the casing and having an inner passage for aspirating material; and a surgical sleeve comprising a tubular, pliable body having a base and a cannula, said base being attached to the casing such that said cannula extends outward from said base and encircles the cutting tip to define a conduit between an interior surface of said cannula and the cutting tip for the passage of a fluid therethrough, said cannula including an interior surface and a series of spaced apart rings along at least a portion of said cannula.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
103 words
A surgical instrument for eye surgery comprising: a casing; a cutting tip projecting from the casing and having an inner passage for aspirating material; and a surgical sleeve comprising a tubular, pliable body having a base and a cannula, said base being attached to the casing such that said cannula extends outward from said base and encircles the cutting tip to define a conduit between an interior surface of said cannula and the cutting tip for the passage of a fluid therethrough, said cannula including an interior surface and a series of spaced apart rings along at least a portion of said cannula.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-23 | 2003-02-22 | 2003-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-23 | 2007-02-22 | 2007-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-23 | 2011-02-22 | 2011-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |