Patent US6743245B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6743245B2
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US
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Asynchronous method of operating microsurgical instruments
Assignee: Alcon Inc
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Filing: 2000-12-15
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Granted: 2004-06-01
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Expires: 2020-12-15
Abstract
Abstract An improved, asynchronous method of operating a microsurgical instrument, such as a vitrectomy probe. The instrument includes a port for receiving tissue and an inner cutting member. A flow of tissue is induced into the port with a vacuum source. The port is at least partially occluded with the tissue. The occlusion is detected, and the inner cutting member is actuated to close the port and cut the tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 Donn D. Lobdell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:32
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00736; A61F9/00763; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of operating a microsurgical instrument, said instrument comprising a port for receiving tissue and an inner cutting member, comprising the steps of: inducing a flow of tissue into said port with a vaccum source; at least partially occluding said port with said tissue; detecting said occlusion of said port using a flow sensor; and actuating said inner cutting member to close said port and cut said tissue in response to said detecting step.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of operating a microsurgical instrument, said instrument comprising a port for receiving tissue and an inner cutting member, comprising the steps of: inducing a flow of tissue into said port with a vaccum source; at least partially occluding said port with said tissue; detecting said occlusion of said port using a flow sensor; and actuating said inner cutting member to close said port and cut said tissue in response to said detecting step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said actuating step comprises reciprocating said inner cutting member along a longitudinal axis of said instrument.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said actuating step comprises reciprocating said inner cutting member around a longitudinal axis of said instrument.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said microsurgical instrument is a vitrectomy probe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting step comprises detecting a decrease in fluid flow in said inner cutting member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting step comprises detecting a decrease in fluid flow in a portion of said instrument fluidly coupled to said inner cutting member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting step comprises detecting a decrease in fluid flow in a portion of a surgical system fluidly coupled to said inner cutting member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said occluding step comprises fully occluding said port with said tissue.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of operating a microsurgical instrument, said instrument comprising a port for receiving tissue and an inner cutting member, comprising the steps of: inducing a flow of tissue into said port with a vacuum source; at least partially occluding said port with said tissue; detecting said occlusion of said port using a pressure sensor; and actuating said inner cutting member to close said port and cut said tissue in response to said detecting step.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of operating a microsurgical instrument, said instrument comprising a port for receiving tissue and an inner cutting member, comprising the steps of: inducing a flow of tissue into said port with a vacuum source; at least partially occluding said port with said tissue; detecting said occlusion of said port using a pressure sensor; and actuating said inner cutting member to close said port and cut said tissue in response to said detecting step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said actuating step comprises reciprocating said inner cutting member along a longitudinal axis of said instrument.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said actuating step comprises reciprocating said inner cutting member around a longitudinal axis of said instrument.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said microsurgical instrument is a vitrectomy probe.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting step comprises detecting an increase in vacuum in said inner cutting member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting step comprises detecting an increase in vacuum in a portion of said instrument fluidly coupled to said inner cutting member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting step comprises detecting an increase in vacuum in a portion of a surgical system fluidly coupled to said inner cutting member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said occluding step comprises fully occluding said port with said tissue.
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