Patent US6551291B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6551291B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Non-traumatic infusion cannula and treatment methods using same
Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
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Filing: 1999-08-04
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Granted: 2003-04-22
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Expires: 2019-08-04
Abstract
Abstract In preferred aspects, the present invention features a non-traumatic cannula for use in connection with eye surgery, such as retinal tear and/or detachment surgery. The non-traumatic cannula of the present invention is particularly configured so as to minimize or avoid the potential for damage to the retina when infusing air or a gas therein. Related methods are also disclosed for infusing air during eye surgical procedures e.g. for treating a retinal tear or detachment and macular hole surgery. The method for infusing a fluid, such as a gas, into a patient's eye during eye surgery includes flowing the fluid from a fluid source to the patient's eye and diffusing the flowing fluid as it enters into the patient eye. Such a method further includes providing a non-traumatic cannula that is fluidly coupled to the fluid source, and which diffuses fluid exiting an end thereof. Thus, the fluid flowing out of the cannula is thereby diffusively infused.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene de Juan, Jr.
- 👤 Patrick S. Jensen
- 👤 Terry H. Shelley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 06:48
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0068; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00727; A61F9/008; A61F9/00821; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00863; A61F2009/00874; A61M25/0021; A61M2025/0042; A61M2025/0073; A61M2210/00; A61M2210/06; A61M2210/0612; A61M25/0069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for treating a retinal tear of a patient eye, comprising: maintaining the interocular volume of the patient eye by infusing a fluid therein; and diffusively infusing a first fluid into the patient eye while aspirating vitreous fluid therefrom, such that the first fluid flows in a turbulent, non-laminar manner.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
51 words
A method for treating a retinal tear of a patient eye, comprising: maintaining the interocular volume of the patient eye by infusing a fluid therein; and diffusively infusing a first fluid into the patient eye while aspirating vitreous fluid therefrom, such that the first fluid flows in a turbulent, non-laminar manner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method for treating a retinal tear according to claim 1 , further comprising: providing a cannula having an exit end arranged so the fluid exiting therefrom is dispersed; and wherein said diffusively infusing includes: inserting the exit end of the cannula into the eye, and flowing the fluid out of the exit end into the patient eye.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method for treating a retinal tear according to claim 2 , wherein the cannula being provided includes: a flow member having a lumen through which the fluid flows, where an end of the flow member comprises a plurality of circumferentially disposed, axial extending through apertures; and a deflecting member being secured in a lumen opening at the flow member end having the plurality of through apertures so as to substantially occlude the lumen opening but not fully occlude the plurality of through apertures, whereby the fluid flowing in the lumen exits through each through aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method for treating a rectinal tear according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of through apertures are equiangularly spaced about the circumference of the flow member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method for treating a retinal tear according to claim 3 , wherein the flow member end with the through apertures is configured with a multiplicity of through apertures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method for treating a retinal tear according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of through apertures form finger-like structures and wherein the deflecting member is secured to the finger-like structures.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method for treating a retinal tear according to claim 3 , wherein the flow member is tubular and wherein the deflecting member is spherical.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method for treating a retinal tear according to claim 2 , wherein the cannula being provided includes: a flow member having a lumen through which the fluid flows; wherein a lumen opening at one end of the flow member is sealed; and wherein the flow member proximal to the sealed end comprises a plurality of equiangularly spaced, axial extending through apertures provided in the axial extending surface of the flow member, whereby the fluid flowing in the lumen exits through each through aperture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method for treating a retinal tear according to claim 8 , wherein the flow member is configured with a multiplicity of through apertures proximal to the sealed end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method for treating a retinal tear according to claim 2 , wherein the cannula being provided includes: a flow member having a lumen through which the fluid flows; a baffle member being secured to an end of the flow member having a lumen opening and being configured so as to partially occlude the lumen opening, whereby fluid exiting the lumen opening is re-directed by the baffle member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method for treating a retinal tear according to claim 10 , wherein: the baffle member is spaced a distance from the lumen opening; and the baffle member is substantially equal in size and shape to that of the lumen opening so that fluid exiting the lumen opening is redirected so as to flow out from an annular space formed between the baffle member and the end of the flow member having the lumen opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid is a liquid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid is a gas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein fluid infused to the patent eye has a Reynolds number of greater than about 2,000.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein fluid infused to the patent eye has a Reynolds number of greater than about 2,400.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein fluid infused to the patent eye has a Reynolds number of greater than about 2,800.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein fluid infused to the patent eye has a Reynolds number of greater than about 3,000.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method for treating a retinal tear according to claim 1 , further comprising: photocoagulating an area of the retina surrounding the retinal tear; and exchanging the first infused fluid with a second fluid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method for treating a retinal tear according to claim 18 , further comprising the step of humidifying the first fluid being infused.
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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) | 2006-04-21 | 2006-10-21 | 2007-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-21 | 2010-10-21 | 2011-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-21 | 2014-10-21 | 2015-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |