Vitreous surgery probe

Abstract

To improve an excision function of a vitreous surgery probe.SOLUTION: A vitreous surgery probe 1 has: a cylindrical probe body 10 which has a tip end part 11 whose tip end face 12 is sealed and has an opening 13 formed on a side part, the cylindrical probe body penetrating an eyeball; and a cutter 20 whose outer diameter matches an inner diameter of the probe body 10 and which slides on an inner face of the probe body 10. The probe body 10 has: a first inner face 15 on the tip end part 11 side; and a second inner face 16 on the base end part 14 side which is continuous to the first inner face 15, wherein at least a peripheral part of the opening 13 out of the first inner face 15 is smoother than the second inner face 16.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vitreous surgical probe for use in ophthalmic surgery. [Background technology]

[0002] Vitreous surgery probes used in ophthalmic surgery are used to cut and remove (excise) the gelatinous vitreous body inside the eyeball and the proliferative membrane on the retina that has formed due to the denaturation of the vitreous body (called the "vitreous body, etc."). Since the vitreous body, etc. may be close to the retina or may float near the retina, it is necessary to bring the vitreous surgery probe close to the retina.

[0003] Therefore, the present applicant has proposed a vitreous surgery probe having a pipe-shaped probe body that penetrates the eyeball, a generally cylindrical tip portion that is connected to the tip side of the probe body, has smaller outer and inner diameters than the probe body, has a sealed tip surface, and has an opening on the side, and a cutter that has an outer diameter that matches the inner diameters of the probe body and the tip portion, is equipped with a blade portion at the tip, and slides on the inner surfaces of the probe body and the tip portion (Patent Document 1). Since the diameter of the tip of this vitreous surgery probe is narrow, the tip can be brought close to the vicinity of the retina. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6770291 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] By the way, in vitreous surgery probes, there is a demand for improving not only the ability to bring the tip close to the retina but also the performance (sharpness, also called "resection function") of resecting the vitreous body, etc. Improved resection function leads to improved workability and safety of ophthalmic surgery.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present disclosure is to improve the resection function of a vitreous surgery probe. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, in this disclosed technique, the smoothness of the inner surface of the probe body that serves as the outer cylinder of the vitreous surgery probe is made different between the tip end side and the base end side.

[0008] Specifically, the vitreous surgery probe disclosed herein comprises a cylindrical probe body having a tip portion with a sealed tip surface and an opening formed on the side, which penetrates the eyeball, and a cutter with an outer diameter that fits the inner diameter of the probe body and slides on the inner surface of the probe body, the probe body having a first inner surface on the tip side and a second inner surface on the base side continuing from the first inner surface, and at least the peripheral portion of the opening of the first inner surface is smoother than the second inner surface.

[0009] According to the above configuration, in a vitreous surgery probe that cuts the vitreous body etc. by pinching it between two blades, the cutter (its tip) and the opening of the probe body (its end), by smoothing the first inner surface, the end of the opening formed on this first inner surface also becomes smooth, resulting in a sharper blade, thereby improving the resection function.

[0010] In the vitreous surgery probe, the cutter has a bending portion as an inflection point, and the tip of the cutter is bent in a direction toward the opening, and at an advanced position where the tip of the cutter contacts the tip surface of the probe body, a boundary portion is provided between a first contact position where the bending portion contacts the probe body and a second contact position where the cutter contacts the probe body on the base end side of the first contact position, the first inner surface is a portion of the probe body from the tip surface to the boundary portion, and the second inner surface is a portion of the probe body from the boundary portion to the base end side. According to the above configuration, the region between the first inner surface and the second inner surface of the probe body is specified by the boundary portion.

[0011] In the vitreous surgery probe, the boundary portion may be provided at a position where the bent portion contacts the first inner surface even when the cutter is at its most retracted position. According to the above configuration, the positional relationship between the first inner surface and the boundary portion in the probe body is further specified.

[0012] In the vitreous surgery probe, the entire first inner surface may be smoother than the second inner surface. According to the above configuration, the entire first inner surface is specified as a smooth surface.

[0013] In the vitreous surgery probe, an end of the opening of the probe body may be smooth. According to the above configuration, the opening end serving as one of the blades is specified to be sharp without any irregularities.

[0014] In the vitreous surgery probe, the second inner surface may have projections and recesses. This configuration can reduce the processing load on the inner surface of the probe body. In addition, it is expected to reduce friction when the cutter slides. Effect of the Invention

[0015] As described above, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the resection function of a vitreous surgery probe. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view of the vitreous surgery probe according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cutter is in a retreated position (a state in which the cutter is pulled) in a vitreous surgery probe according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cutter is in an advanced position (a state in which the vitreous body or the like has been cut) in the vitreous surgery probe according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM) photograph of an opening end and a first inner surface at the periphery of the opening of a probe body constituting the vitreous surgery probe manufactured in Example 1. [Diagram 5] 1 is a field emission scanning electron microscope photograph of the inner surface of the opening end and the periphery of the opening of a probe body constituting a vitreous surgery probe manufactured in Comparative Example 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] The present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the present invention, its application, or its uses.

[0018] <Vitrectomy probe> 1 to 3 show a vitreous surgery probe 1 according to this embodiment. The vitreous surgery probe 1 is used to cut and remove (clip) vitreous body 5 near the retina. The vitreous surgery probe 1 includes a probe body 10 and a cutter 20.

[0019] The probe body 10 penetrates the eyeball and approaches the vicinity of the retina, and removes (collects) the vitreous body 5 cut by the cutter 20 described later. The probe body 10 has a cylindrical (tubular, pipe-like) appearance. The probe body 10 can be said to be an outer cylinder that covers the cutter 20. The tip 11 (tip surface 12) of the probe body 10 is sealed (closed). The tip surface 12 is preferably a flat surface without protrusions, etc., so that the probe body 10 does not hit and damage the retina. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the tip surface 12 is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the direction (horizontal direction in Figures 2 and 3) perpendicular to the axial direction (vertical direction in Figures 2 and 3) of the probe body 10. In this case, it is easier to bring the probe body 10 close to the retina.

[0020] A circular opening 13 is formed on the side (side surface) of the tip 11 of the probe body 10. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the opening 13 is a hole (hole) for recovering and removing the vitreous body 5 cut by the cutter 20 into the probe body 10. The vitreous body 5 entering the probe body 10 from the opening 13 is, for example, sucked into the back side of the probe body 10 (the upper side in Figs. 1 to 3, the end opposite the tip 11 in the axial direction of the probe body 10 is referred to as the "base end 14"). Since the opening 13 serves as an intake port for the vitreous body 5, it is preferable that the distance from the tip surface 12 of the probe body 10 to the opening 13 is short so that the opening 13 can be brought as close as possible to the vitreous body 5 to be collected. In this case, the opening 13 can be brought closer to the retina, so that the amount of the vitreous body 5 left behind can be reduced.

[0021] The outer diameter and inner diameter of the tip portion 11 are the same as the outer diameter and inner diameter of the portion other than the tip portion 11 (the probe body 10 including the base end portion 14). The probe body 10 can be made of a generally known pipe, and is not particularly limited, but for example, a pipe of about 27 to 29 gauge can be used. If the probe body 10 is made of a pipe of the above size, the tip portion 11 can be brought close to the retina, and sufficient bending rigidity and suction force are ensured. That is, if the outer diameter of the probe body 10 (its tip portion 11) is too thick, the tip portion 11 will have difficulty reaching the retina. On the other hand, if the inner diameter of the probe body 10 (its tip portion 11) is too thin, the bending rigidity will be weakened, and clogging may occur inside when collecting the vitreous body 5, resulting in a decrease in suction force.

[0022] The cutter 20 cuts the vitreous body 5, etc. The cutter 20 has a cylindrical (tubular, pipe-like) appearance like the probe body 10, and has a blade 21 at its tip. The cutter 20 can be said to be an inner tube contained in the outer tube of the probe body 10. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cutter 20 is provided so as to be slidable along the axial direction of the probe body 10 while contacting the inner surface of the probe body 10. Therefore, the cutter 20 is formed with an outer diameter that fits the inner diameter of the probe body 10. As a result, when the cutter 20 slides (advances) on the inner surface of the probe body 10 and the blade 21 at the tip of the cutter 20 passes through the opening 13 (the other blade) of the probe body 10, the vitreous body 5 near the opening 13 is cut into small pieces.

[0023] Here, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in the vitreous surgery probe 1, the cutter 20 is subjected to, for example, bending processing, and its tip (blade portion 21) is slightly bent toward the opening 13 of the probe body 10 (in the direction toward the opening 13). Specifically, the cutter 20 is provided with a bent portion 22 on the side facing the opening 13, and when the cutter 20 slides on the inner surface of the probe body 10, this bent portion 22 is subjected to compressive stress. In a cross-sectional view in which the opening 13 is located at the upper side portion with the bent portion 22 as an inflection point, the cutter 20 is bent in a U-shape. The distance D22 from the tip (blade portion 21) of the cutter 20 to the bent portion 22 (position of the bent portion 22) may be appropriately determined depending on the type (material, etc.) and size (outer diameter, inner diameter, etc.) of the cutter 20 and the probe body 10, the position of the opening 13, etc., and is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 1 mm to 5 mm, preferably 2 mm to 4 mm. The bending R (bending angle) of the bending portion 22 may be appropriately determined depending on the types and sizes of the cutter 20 and the probe body 10, the position of the opening 13, and the like, and is not particularly limited.

[0024] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in the vitreous surgery probe 1, the smoothness of the inner surface of the probe body 10 is different between the tip end 11 side (the inner surface is referred to as the "first inner surface 15") and the base end 14 side (the inner surface is referred to as the "second inner surface 16"). Specifically, the first inner surface 15 is smoother than the second inner surface 16. The first inner surface 15 may be entirely smooth, or at least a part of the first inner surface 15 including the periphery of the opening 13 may be smooth. As for the smoothness, for example, the surface roughness Ra of the second inner surface 16 is preferably more than 0.5 µm and 1 µm or less, whereas the surface roughness Ra of the first inner surface 15 is preferably 0.5 µm or less. The surface roughness Ra of the first inner surface 15 is more preferably 0.4 µm or less, and even more preferably 0.3 µm or less. The surface roughness Ra refers to the arithmetic mean roughness defined in JIS B0601 (2001).

[0025] The boundary 17 between the first inner surface 15 and the second inner surface 16 is set from the contact position between the inner surface of the probe body 10 and the outer surface of the cutter 20. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, when the tip (blade portion 21) of the cutter 20 is in contact with the distal end surface 12 of the probe body 10 (the state in which the vitreous body or the like 5 has been cut, the position of the cutter 20 in this state is referred to as the "advance position" (FIG. 3)), the bending portion 22, excluding the blade portion 21, first contacts the side portion of the probe body 10 that faces the opening 13, as viewed from the distal end surface 12. This first contact position is referred to as the "first contact position 18". Following the first contact position 18, the cutter 20 (the portion other than the blade portion 21 and the bending portion 22) contacts the same side portion of the probe body 10 as the opening 13, which is closer to the base end 14 than the first contact position 18. This second contact position is referred to as the "second contact position 19". In this manner, an interface 17 is provided between the first contact location 18 and the second contact location 19 when the cutter 20 is in the advanced position.

[0026] The first inner surface 15 is located from the distal end surface 12 to the boundary portion 17 in the probe body 10. The second inner surface 16 is located from the boundary portion 17 to the base end portion 14 in the probe body 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the boundary portion 17 is located at a position where the bent portion 22 contacts the first inner surface 15 even in the retracted position where the tip (blade portion 21) of the cutter 20 is separated from the distal end surface 12 of the probe body 10 and the cutter 20 is retracted to the maximum. In other words, the bent portion 22 is always located on the smooth first inner surface 15 even when the cutter 20 is in the retracted position. In either the advanced position or the retracted position of the cutter 20 relative to the probe body 10, the bent portion 22 does not contact the second inner surface 16, but is configured to be able to contact the first inner surface 15, which is smoother than the second inner surface 16. This prevents the inconvenience of the bending portion 22 coming into contact with the unevenness of the second inner surface 16 when the cutter 20 is retracted, causing the clearance between the inner tube (cutter 20) and the outer tube (probe body 10), which determines the cutting performance, to fluctuate as it traces the unevenness.

[0027] The boundary 17 may be set as follows from the bending position of the cutter 20. When viewed from the distal end surface 12 of the probe body 10, a position (a position separated by the distance D22) equivalent to the distance D22 (position of the bending portion 22) from the tip of the cutter 20 to the bending portion 22 is defined as the first contact position 18. Also, when viewed from the distal end surface 12 of the probe body 10, a position (a position separated by the distance separated by the distance D22) equivalent to twice the distance D22 is defined as the second contact position 19. In this way, the boundary 17 is provided between the first contact position 18 and the second contact position 19, which are determined from the distance, depending on the position of the bending portion 22.

[0028] In other words, the distance D1 from the tip surface 12 of the probe body 10 to the first contact position 18 is equal to the distance D22 from the tip of the cutter 20 to the bent portion 22. The distance D2 from the tip surface 12 of the probe body 10 to the second contact position 19 is determined according to the bending R (bending angle) of the bent portion 22, and is about twice the distance D22 (distance D1), although it is not particularly limited. The position of the boundary portion 17 may be appropriately set based on the distance D22 (distance D1) and twice the distance.

[0029] In the vitreous surgery probe 1 configured as described above, the first inner surface 15 (at least the periphery of the opening 13) on the tip 11 side is a smooth surface without irregularities with respect to the boundary 17, so the end (edge) of the opening 13 is also smooth all around. In the vitreous surgery probe 1 that cuts the vitreous body 5 by pinching it between two blades, the opening 13 (its end) and the blade 21 of the cutter 20, smoothing the periphery of the opening 13 makes the blade even sharper, improving the sharpness (resection function) of cutting the vitreous body 5.

[0030] On the other hand, in the vitreous surgery probe 1, it is preferable that the second inner surface 16 on the side of the base end portion 14 has projections and recesses. By leaving projections and recesses on the second inner surface 16, not only is it possible to reduce the processing load on the inner surface of the probe body 10, but it is also expected to have the effect of reducing friction during sliding of the cutter 20.

[0031] <Method of Manufacturing a Vitreous Surgery Probe> Next, a method for manufacturing the vitreous surgery probe 1 will be described. In the manufacturing process of the probe main body 10, for example, a commercially available pipe is used to perform a tube shrinking process to shrink the outer diameter and inner diameter from the tip (tip surface 12) to a preset boundary portion 17. Then, a reaming process is performed to expand the inner diameter of the inner surface of the portion where the tube shrinking process has been performed to the inner diameter of the portion where the tube shrinking process has not been performed (i.e., the inner diameter of the pipe used). The inner diameter of the portion where the tube shrinking process and the reaming process have been performed becomes equal to the inner diameter of the other portion (the entire pipe), and the variation in the inner diameter for each lot is reduced. In addition, the reamed surface becomes a smooth surface without irregularities, that is, the first inner surface 15. On the other hand, the non-reamed surface becomes a surface where irregularities remain, that is, the second inner surface 16. The probe main body 10 can be obtained by performing generally known processes other than the above.

[0032] In the manufacturing process of the cutter 20, for example, a commercially available pipe is used and bent around a preset bent portion 22 as an axis. At this time, the distance (bending position) D22 from the tip of the cutter 20 to the bent portion 22 is adjusted to be shorter than the distance from the tip surface 12 of the probe body 10 to the boundary portion 17. Other than the above, a cutter 20 that is bent into a U-shape around the bent portion 22 as an axis is obtained by performing generally known processing.

[0033] The probe body 10 and cutter 20 obtained above are assembled by a generally known method to produce the vitreous surgery probe 1.

[0034] <Other embodiments> In the above embodiment, the outer diameter and inner diameter of the tip portion 11 are the same as the outer diameter and inner diameter of the probe body 10, but this is not limited thereto, and as long as the inner diameter is the same, the outer diameter may be different, and for example, the outer diameter of the tip portion 11 may be smaller than the outer diameter of the probe body 10. Specifically, in the probe body 10, the outer diameter of a portion (region) corresponding to the first inner surface 15 may be smaller than the outer diameter of a portion corresponding to the second inner surface 16.

[0035] In the above embodiment, the tip surface 12 of the probe body 10 is an inclined surface, but is not limited to this and may be a vertical surface perpendicular to the axial direction of the probe body 10 .

[0036] In the above embodiment, the cutter 20 is provided with a blade portion 21 at its tip, but this is not limited to this, and as long as the tip passes through the opening 13 of the probe body 10 and the vitreous body etc. 5 near the opening 13 is cut into small pieces, the tip does not necessarily need to be formed with a blade portion 21. EXAMPLES

[0037] The present disclosure will be described below based on examples. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the following examples, and the following examples can be modified or changed based on the spirit of the present disclosure, and are not excluded from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0038] Example 1 (Manufacturing process of the probe body) A commercially available pipe having an outer diameter of 0.41 mm, an inner diameter of 0.32 mm, and a total pipe length of 40 mm was used, and a generally known process was performed except for performing a tube shrinking process and a reaming process on a portion (boundary portion) 4 mm to 4.5 mm from the tip of the pipe. The surface roughness Ra of the first inner surface from the tip to the boundary portion of the probe body was 0.17 μm. The surface roughness Ra of the second inner surface from the boundary portion to the base end side was 0.75 μm. The surface roughness Ra of the first inner surface and the second inner surface was measured in accordance with JIS B0601:2001.

[0039] (Cutter manufacturing process) Next, a commercially available pipe with an outer diameter of 0.32 mm, an inner diameter of 0.22 mm, and a total pipe length of 47 mm was used, and bending was performed on a portion 3 mm from the tip of the pipe so that the bent portion (bending position) was shorter than the distance from the tip of the probe body to the boundary portion (4 mm to 4.5 mm), except that bending processing was performed on the portion 3 mm from the tip of the pipe, to manufacture a cutter by performing commonly known processing.

[0040] (Probe manufacturing process) Finally, the above-obtained probe body 10 and cutter 20 were assembled by a generally known method to manufacture a vitreous surgery probe.

[0041] Comparative Example 1 Except for not performing the tube shrinking process and the reaming process in the manufacturing process of the probe body, a vitreous surgery probe was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1. That is, in the vitreous surgery probe of Comparative Example 1, the surface roughness Ra of the entire inner surface of the probe body is 0.75 μm, which is the same as the surface roughness Ra of the second inner surface of Example 1.

[0042] (evaluation) (Field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM) photo) The first inner surface at the opening end and the opening periphery of the probe body constituting the vitreous surgery probe of Example 1 was photographed using a field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results are shown in Figure 4. Moreover, the inner surface at the opening end and the opening periphery of the probe body constituting the vitreous surgery probe of Comparative Example 1 was photographed in the same manner as above. The results are shown in Figure 5.

[0043] (summary) From these results, it is considered that although Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 have the same cutter (blade portion), in Example 1, the entire first inner surface on the tip side of the probe body is smoother than the second inner surface on the base end side, so that the opening end which becomes the other blade portion is sharper, and therefore the sharpness (resection function) for cutting the vitreous body etc. is improved compared to Comparative Example 1. [Industrial Applicability]

[0044] The present disclosure is applicable to vitreous surgery probes used in ophthalmic surgery. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1 Vitreous surgery probe 5. Vitreous body, etc. 10 Probe body 11 Tip 12 Tip surface 13 Aperture 14 Proximal end 15 First inner surface 16 Second inner surface 17 Boundary 18 1st contact position 19 2nd contact position 20 Cutter 21 Blade part 22 Bending section D1 Distance from the tip of the probe body to the first contact position D2 Distance from the tip of the probe body to the second contact position D22 Distance from tip of cutter to bend

Claims

1. a cylindrical probe body having a tip portion with a sealed tip surface and an opening formed on a side thereof, the probe body penetrating the eyeball; a cutter having an outer diameter that fits the inner diameter of the probe body and that slides on the inner surface of the probe body, the probe body has a first inner surface on the tip end side and a second inner surface on the base end side continuous with the first inner surface, A vitreous surgery probe, characterized in that at least a peripheral portion of the opening of the first inner surface is smoother than the second inner surface.

2. In claim 1, The cutter is bent in a direction toward the opening with the bent portion as an inflection point, At an advanced position where the tip of the cutter contacts the tip surface of the probe body, a boundary is provided between a first contact position where the bent portion contacts the probe body and a second contact position where the cutter contacts the probe body on the base end side of the first contact position, the first inner surface is a portion of the probe body from the tip surface to the boundary portion, A vitreous surgery probe, characterized in that the probe body has a second inner surface extending from the boundary portion toward the base end portion.

3. In claim 2, The vitreous surgery probe is characterized in that the boundary portion is provided at a position where the bent portion contacts the first inner surface even when the cutter is in the most retracted position.

4. In any one of claims 1 to 3, A vitreous surgery probe, wherein the first inner surface is entirely smoother than the second inner surface.

5. In any one of claims 1 to 3, A vitreous surgery probe, characterized in that an end of the opening of the probe body is smooth.

6. In any one of claims 1 to 3, A vitreous surgery probe, wherein the second inner surface has projections and recesses.

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