Occlusion-activated heat supression infusion sleeve

Abstract

Described is a phacoemulsification device for eye surgery that generally comprises an ultrasonically vibrating aspiration needle that withdraws ocular material from inside of the eye. The ocular material withdrawn from the eye is equally replaced with irrigation fluid provided through irrigation ports in an irrigation sleeve surrounding the aspiration needle. In the event the aspiration needle stops withdrawing ocular material, such as if it becomes occluded with a chunk of ocular material, irrigation fluid is directed to the outside of the eye via at least one irrigation aperture to keep the eye cool where the needle is ultrasonically vibrating.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 861,879, entitled: Occlusion-Activated heat Suppression Infusion Sleeve, filed on Aug. 2, 2013 the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention is directed to a phacoemulsification device with cooling aperture ports that is useful in providing cooling to an eye during cataract surgery.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]A cataract is the clouding of the eye's natural lens. The lens is mostly made up of water and protein. As we age, these proteins change and clump together obscuring the lens. Correcting this change is generally done by removing the cataract lens and replacing it with a clear lens implant. One way of correcting the effects of cataracts is through Phacoemulsification eye surgery.[0004]Phacoemulsification is a surgery technique on an eye wherein the internal lens is...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]Yet, other embodiments of the present invention can therefore comprise a phacoemulsification device comprising: a handpiece; an aspiration needle extending from the handpiece, the aspiration needle is hollow and is adapted to remove lens material there through by way of a suction device; an irrigation sleeve surrounding a portion of the aspiration needle, a distal end of the aspiration needle is not surrounded by the irrigation sleeve; a conduit spaced between the irrigation sleeve and the aspiration needle wherein irrigation fluid is capable of flowing through the conduit; at least one irrigation port in the irrigation sleeve adapted to provide an outlet for the irrigation fluid from the conduit to outside of the phacoemulsification device, the aspiration needle adapted to be inserted into an eye up to at least past the irrigation port, wherein constant pressure can be maintained in the eye via volumetric replacement of the removed lens material by flowing the irrigation fluid through the irrigation port; at least one aperture located between the handpiece and the irrigation port, the at least one aperture providing a passage from the conduit to outside of the phacoemulsification device, the at least one aperture not adapted to be inside of the eye, the aperture adapted to direct the irrigation fluid to the eye at an accelerated rate when flow of the irrigation fluid via the irrigation port is reduced. This embodiment further contemplates that the at least one aperture is adapted to direct the irrigation fluid towards the eye at a decelerated rate when flow of the irrigation fluid via the irrigation port is not reduced during eye surgery. This embodiment further contemplates that the irrigation fluid is received from a fluid source at essentially a constant source pressure, wherein when the aspiration port becomes blocked, the irrigation port stops flowing the irrigation fluid into the eye and the at least one aperture increases the fluid flow at the constant source pressure. It is further contemplated that an irrigation sleeve hub is disposed between the aspiration port and the handpiece wherein the irrigation sleeve hub possesses a hub diameter that is greater than a sleeve diameter of the irrigation sleeve, the at least one irrigation port located at the irrigation sleeve hub. It is further contemplated that the at least one aperture is smaller than the irrigation port.

Problems solved by technology

The ultrasonic vibration of the phaco needle creates a significant temperature rise of the needle.

On occasion, large chunks of ocular material clog the phaco needle, which interrupts the aspiration flow, which in turn causes interruption in the irrigation flow.

Though the irrigation flow is interrupted, the phaco needle may still be vibrating causing localized heating and potential localized burning of the eye.

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