Glass cutter

Abstract

The vitreous body resection system includes a surgical cutting device and a processing unit. The system includes a cutting assembly (102) having an outer cutter and an inner cutter (106, 104). The cutting assembly (102) includes a drive chamber (116), a spring chamber (118), and a housing (114) containing at least a first diaphragm (120). The first diaphragm (120) is adhered to the inner cutter (104) and is positioned between the drive chamber (116) and the spring chamber (118). The system also includes a drive chamber valve for supplying compressed air to the drive chamber (116) and a spring chamber valve for adjusting the air pressure in the spring chamber (118). The processing unit is configured to rhythmically drive the drive chamber valve based on a desired cutting speed to linearly move the inner cutter (104), and further to adjust the air pressure in the spring chamber (118) based on the desired cutting speed to adjust the rigidity of the spring chamber (118).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a surgical instrument used in ophthalmic surgery, and more particularly to a reciprocating guillotine-type vitreous cutter for excising vitreous and other tissues from the eye.

Background Art

[0002] This section describes the background art related to the present disclosure, which is not necessarily prior art.

[0003] Known reciprocating vitreous cutters have a fixed coil compression spring for returning or retracting an inner cutting member after extending the inner cutting member via pneumatic or mechanical means to cut tissue. The spring is typically a linear device and must be sized to work over a wide range of cutting speeds, from once per minute to thousands of cuts per minute. Thus, due to the high cutting speed, a single fixed spring constant or spring stiffness must satisfy the requirement of returning the inner cutting member to the starting position very quickly, but does not require a driving force that is too large to allow the inner cutting member to extend to cut tissue. When the resistance to the spring is equal, a stiffer compression spring returns the inner cutting member faster than a less stiff spring.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the case of a pneumatically driven vitreous cutter, this causes a problem in that at higher cutting speeds, it takes too much time to establish a driving pressure sufficient to extend the inner cutting member and then release that pressure sufficiently to allow the spring to retract the inner cutting member. Thus, there is a need for a spring whose stiffness can be varied during use to optimize over the required cutting speed range for cutting efficiency.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The drawings described in this specification are only for illustrating selected embodiments and do not show all possible examples, nor are they intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0006] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts or features throughout several views.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Here, with reference to the accompanying drawings, exemplary embodiments will be described more fully.

[0009] An operative cutting device or vitreous cutter according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1 and generally designated by reference numeral 100. The vitreous cutter 100 includes a guillotine cutting assembly 102 for removing vitreous from the eye during ophthalmic surgery. The cutting assembly 102 includes an inner cutter cannula 104 configured to reciprocate rapidly or translate in parallel within an outer cutter cannula 106. The inner cutter cannula 104 includes a cutting edge 108 at the distal end or tip of the inner cutter cannula 104 and has a hollow or tubular shape defining a passage for suctioning and removing vitreous from the eye. The outer cutter cannula 106 includes an opening or port 110 through which vitreous is drawn into and through the operative cutting device. As the inner cutter cannula 104 reciprocates within the outer cutter cannula 106, the vitreous drawn through the opening 110 is cut when the cutting edge 108 of the inner cutter cannula 104 slides past the opening 110 of the outer cutter cannula 106. The vitreous is suctioned and removed through a suction port 112 connected to the inner cutter cannula 104.

[0010] The glass cutter 100 also includes a housing 114 connected to the cutting assembly 102. The housing 114 includes a drive chamber 116 and a spring chamber 118. The drive chamber 116 is adapted to receive a pulse of compressed air therein and drive or translate the inner cutter cannula 104 towards a closed position to cut the target glass body. The spring chamber 118 functions as a spring when filled and pressurized with a fluid such as air, to deflect and / or return the inner cutter cannula 104 towards a contracted or open position. The drive chamber 116 is separated from the spring chamber 118 by a first diaphragm 120. The first diaphragm 120 is fixed to the inner surface of the housing 114 and disposed between the drive chamber 116 and the spring chamber 118. In this way, the first diaphragm 120 is in mutual contact with the drive chamber 116 and the spring chamber 118. The housing 114 also includes a second diaphragm 122 adhered to the inner surface of the housing 114. The spring chamber 118 is defined by the first diaphragm 120 and the second diaphragm 122. The second diaphragm 122 can also be a rigid wall depending on the application example, which, in fact, may not bend during use compared to the first diaphragm 120.

[0011] The inner cutter cannula 104 passes through the first and second diaphragms 120, 122. Generally, the inner cutter cannula 104 is disposed through the centers of the first and second diaphragms 120, 122. As shown in FIG. 1, the first and second diaphragms 120, 122 are generally perpendicular to the inner cutter cannula 104. In an exemplary embodiment, the inner cutter cannula 104 adheres to the first diaphragm 120. In some embodiments, the second diaphragm 122 also adheres to the inner cutter cannula 104. In all embodiments, regardless of whether the second diaphragm 122 adheres to the inner cutter cannula 104, the second diaphragm 122 should have sealing or closure resistance between the second diaphragm 122 and the inner cutter cannula 104 to enable pressurization of the spring chamber 118. Of course, in some embodiments, a design that accepts leakage between the diaphragm and the inner cutter cannula may be desirable to increase the freedom of movement of the inner cutter cannula. However, intentionally causing leakage can result in the generation of unwanted noise during use.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the vitreous cutter 100 is coupled to a control system 200. The control system 200 includes a drive chamber valve 124 coupled through a drive chamber pressure passage 128 to a port 126 of the drive chamber 116 of the vitreous cutter 100. The drive chamber valve 124 is adapted to supply compressed air to the drive chamber 116 and exhaust compressed air from the drive chamber 116. In particular, a pressure source 130 is coupled to the drive chamber valve 124 to supply pulses of compressed air through the drive chamber pressure passage 128 to the drive chamber 116 based on a desired cutting speed. The processing unit 132 is configured to pulsate the drive chamber valve 124 such that pulses of compressed air enter the drive chamber 116 and reciprocate the inner cutter cannula 104 at a desired cutting speed. As compressed air is supplied to the drive chamber 116, the compressed air in the drive chamber 116 moves the first diaphragm 120 toward the distal end of the vitreous cutter 100 and compresses the spring chamber 118. When the first diaphragm 120 moves, the inner cutter cannula 104 (which adheres to the first diaphragm 120) translates in a closed position within the outer cutter cannula 106, thereby cutting the vitreous humor.

[0013] When the pressure in the drive chamber 116 drops or is released, the spring chamber 118 returns the inner cutter cannula 104 and the first diaphragm to the open position. The spring chamber 118 is pressurized at a specific pressure based on the desired cutting speed to return and / or deflect the inner cutter cannula 104. For example, if a high cutting speed (e.g., a large number of cutting strokes per minute) is desired, a greater spring force is required to return the inner cutter cannula 104 to the open position. This greater spring force ensures that the inner cutter cannula 104 is fully returned to the open position before the next pulse of compressed air is supplied to the drive chamber 116. Further, a pedal 134, such as a foot pedal, is connected to the processing unit 132 to indicate to the processing unit 132 the desired cutting speed based on the position of the pedal 134.

[0014] In some embodiments, the spring chamber 118 of the vitreous cutter 100 is sealed (e.g., not connected to a valve, the port 138 of the spring chamber 118 is closed, etc.) so that the spring chamber is pressurized at a specific pressure to enable the vitreous cutter 100 to operate at a range of cutting speeds. Instead, in an exemplary embodiment, the spring chamber 118 of the vitreous cutter 100 is not sealed, and the spring chamber valve 136 is connected to the port 138 of the spring chamber 118 through the spring chamber pressure passage 140. The spring chamber valve 136 can be adjustable to adjust the pressure in the spring chamber 118, for example, based on the desired cutting speed. In particular, a pressure source 142 is connected to the spring chamber valve 136 to supply pressurized air to the spring chamber 118 and exhaust the pressurized air from the spring chamber 118 through the opening and closing of the spring chamber valve 136 by the processing unit 132. In this way, the stiffness of the spring chamber 118 can be adjusted to enable the vitreous cutter 100 to operate over a wider range of cutting speeds.

[0015] In some embodiments, the processing unit 132 is configured to increase the air pressure in the spring chamber 118 via the spring chamber valve 136 when the desired cutting speed increases. In this way, the rigidity of the spring chamber 118 increases, and the glass cutter 100 can operate at a faster cutting speed that requires a greater spring force to return the inner cutter cannula 104 to the open position. Similarly, the processing unit 132 is further configured to decrease the air pressure in the spring chamber 118 via the spring chamber valve 136 when the desired cutting speed decreases. When the cutting speed decreases, a smaller spring force is required to return the inner cutter cannula 104 to the open position so that the pressure in the spring chamber 118 can be decreased. In some embodiments, the processing unit 132 supplies compressed air to the spring chamber 118 via the spring chamber valve 136 in proportion to an increase in the desired cutting speed, while exhausting the compressed air from the spring chamber 118 via the spring chamber valve 136 in proportion to a decrease in the desired cutting speed. In this way, when the cutting speed is adjusted, the pressure in the spring chamber 118 is adjusted proportionally. It will be appreciated that the drive chamber valve 124 and the spring chamber valve 136 may operate at different speeds even if both operate based on the same desired cutting speed. For example, the air supplied to the spring chamber 118 does not rhythmically pulsate with the air supplied to the drive chamber 116. Instead, for a given cutting speed, the compressed air from the pressure source 130 continuously pulsates and enters the drive chamber 116, while the pressure in the spring chamber 118 is not adjusted (e.g., there is no air pulsating into the spring chamber 118).

[0016] Instead, when adjusting the cutting speed, rather than adjusting the pressure or stiffness of the spring chamber 118, in some embodiments, the processing unit 132 is configured to increase the air pressure in the spring chamber 118 based on one or more threshold values. For example, when the cutting speed rises from the starting cutting speed to a threshold cutting speed (e.g., an upper threshold value), the processing unit 132 does not adjust the air pressure in the spring chamber 118. When the desired cutting speed exceeds the threshold, the processing unit 132 operates the spring chamber valve 136 to supply compressed air from the pressure source 142 to the spring chamber 118. Similarly, in some embodiments, the processing unit 132 is configured to lower the air in the spring chamber when the desired cutting speed is lower than a threshold cutting speed (e.g., a lower threshold value). In this way, when the desired cutting speed indicated by the pedal 134 drops below the lower threshold, the processing unit 132 operates the spring chamber valve 136 to exhaust a specific amount of compressed air from the spring chamber 118 to reduce the pressure or stiffness of the spring chamber 118.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the processing unit 132 is further connected to a bleed valve 144 for exhausting and / or releasing pressure, an accumulator 146, and a pressure sensor 148 that senses the pressure of the air supplied to the drive chamber valve 124. The bleed valve 144, the accumulator 146, and the pressure sensor 148 are associated with the drive chamber 116. Further, the processing unit 132 is also connected to a bleed valve 150, an accumulator 152, and a pressure sensor 154 associated with the spring chamber 118.

[0018] The foregoing description of the embodiments is for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. The individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment and, where applicable, may be interchangeable and usable in a selected embodiment without being specifically shown or described. Further, it can be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as departing from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

[0019] The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and will fully convey the scope thereof to those skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that the exemplary embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that none of them should be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. In some exemplary embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies have not been described in detail.

[0020] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and are not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the indefinite articles "a" and "an" and the definite article "the" in the original English mean, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, also the plural. The terms "comprising," "including," "containing," and "having" are inclusive and thus specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. The steps, processes, and operations of the methods described herein are not to be construed as necessarily being performed in the order described or illustrated, unless the order of their execution is specifically specified. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0021] In this specification, terms such as first, second, third, etc. may be used to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections. However, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are merely used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from other elements, components, regions, layers, or sections. When terms such as "first", "second", and other numerical expressions are used in this specification, they do not imply order or sequence unless otherwise apparent from the context. Thus, the first element, component, region, layer, or section described below may be referred to as the second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments.

[0022] In this specification, terms of spatial relative expressions such as "inside", "outside", "directly below", "below", "lower side", "above", "upper side", etc. are used to facilitate the description and may describe the relationship between one element or feature and other elements or features as shown in the drawings. The terms of spatial relative expressions may additionally include different orientations of the device during use or operation in addition to the orientation shown in the illustration. For example, an element described as "below" or "directly below" another element or feature may be oriented "above" the other element or feature when the device in the figure is turned over. Thus, the exemplary term "below" may cover both upward and downward orientations. The device may be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative expressions used in this specification are to be interpreted accordingly.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0023] 100 Vitreous cutter 102 Cutting assembly 116 Drive chamber 118 Spring chamber 124 Drive chamber valve 132 Processing unit 136 Spring chamber valve

Claims

1. In a vitreous resection system, a surgical cutting device, a cutting assembly including an outer cutter and an inner cutter, a housing connected to the cutting assembly and including a drive chamber, a spring chamber, and at least a first diaphragm, the at least first diaphragm being adhered to the inner cutter and disposed between the drive chamber and the spring chamber, a drive chamber valve connected to the drive chamber for supplying compressed air to the drive chamber, a spring chamber valve connected to the spring chamber for adjusting the air pressure in the spring chamber and including a surgical cutting device; a processing unit operably connected to the surgical cutting device, rhythmically operating the drive chamber valve based on a desired cutting speed to translate the inner cutter at the desired cutting speed, and a processing unit configured to adjust the air pressure in the spring chamber based on the desired cutting speed to adjust the rigidity of the spring chamber and including a system.

2. The processing unit is further configured to increase the air pressure in the spring chamber via the spring chamber valve when the desired cutting speed increases, The processing unit is further configured to decrease the air pressure in the spring chamber valve via the spring chamber valve when the desired cutting speed decreases. The vitreous resection system according to claim 1.

3. The processing unit is configured to increase the air pressure in the spring chamber when the desired cutting speed is faster than a threshold cutting speed. The vitreous resection system according to claim 1.

4. The processing unit is configured to decrease the air pressure in the spring chamber when the desired cutting speed is slower than a threshold cutting speed. The vitreous resection system according to claim 1.

5. The inner cutter is adhered to a second diaphragm. The vitreous resection system according to claim 1.

6. The spring chamber is sealed and the air in the spring chamber is pressurized. The vitreous resection system according to claim 1.

7. A pedal connected to the processing unit, the pedal indicating the desired cutting speed to the processing unit according to the position of the pedal, and further including the vitreous resection system according to claim 1.

8. In a vitreous resection system, a surgical cutting device, a cutting assembly including an outer cutter cannula and an inner cutter cannula, Connected to the cutting assembly, a housing including a drive chamber and a spring chamber, A first diaphragm connected to the housing and adhered to the inner cutter cannula, communicating with the drive chamber and the spring chamber, the spring chamber being defined by the first diaphragm and the wall of the housing, the wall being substantially perpendicular to the first diaphragm of the inner cutter cannula, A drive chamber valve connected to the drive chamber for supplying compressed air to the drive chamber, A spring chamber valve connected to the spring chamber for adjusting the air pressure in the spring chamber An operative cutting device including the above, A processing unit operably connected to the operative cutting device, The drive chamber valve is rhythmically actuated based on a desired cutting speed to linearly translate the inner cutter cannula at the desired cutting speed, A processing unit configured to adjust the air pressure in the spring chamber via the spring chamber valve based on the desired cutting speed A system including the above.

9. The processing unit is further configured to open and close the spring chamber valve to supply compressed air to the spring chamber when the desired cutting speed increases, and to exhaust compressed air from the spring chamber when the desired cutting speed decreases. The vitrectomy system according to Claim 8.

10. The processing unit is configured to supply the compressed air when the desired cutting speed is faster than a threshold cutting speed. The vitrectomy system according to Claim 8.

11. The processing unit is configured to reduce the air pressure in the spring chamber when the desired cutting speed drops below the threshold cutting speed. The vitrectomy system according to Claim 8.

12. A pedal connected to the processing unit, the pedal indicating the desired cutting speed to the processing unit according to the position of the pedal, The vitrectomy system according to Claim 8, further including the above.

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