Vitreous cutter

Abstract

A cutter for use in vitrectomy procedures is disclosed. The vitreous cutter comprises an outer elongate housing and an inner elongate housing. The outer elongate housing comprises a longitudinally extending channel defined within the housing. An opening may be defined on a wall of the housing. The inner elongate housing is slideable within the channel of the outer elongate housing. The inner elongate housing comprises a head portion and an opposing tail portion. In some embodiments, the head portion of the inner elongate housing is curvable towards an inner wall of the outer elongate housing.

Description

VITREOUS CUTTERCross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority from US application No. 63 / 595,976 filed3 November 2023 and entitled VITREOUS CUTTER which is hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. For purposes of the United States of America, this application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of US application No. 63 / 595,976 filed3 November 2023 and entitled VITREOUS CUTTER which is hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention pertains to cutting devices, in particular those used in vitrectomy procedures.Background

[0003] Vitreous cutters are known in the art. The present invention is directed to an improved vitreous cutter, which may provide one or more of the advantages: increase shear efficiency, reduce surgical time, and / or minimize damage to the retinal membrane undesirably caused by tissue pulling due to insufficient shear efficiency during use.Summary

[0004] The invention provides a vitreous cutter. The vitreous cutter comprises an outer elongate housing and an inner elongate housing. The outer elongate housing comprises a longitudinally extending channel defined within the housing. An opening may be defined on a wall of the housing. The inner elongate housing is slideable within the channel of the outer elongate housing. The inner elongate housing comprises a head portion and an opposing tail portion. In some embodiments, the head portion of the inner elongate housing is curvable towards an inner wall of the outer elongate housing.

[0005] In some embodiments, an indent portion is defined in the inner elongate housing. The indent portion may be disposed between the head portion and the tail portionof the inner elongate housing. In some embodiments, the indent portion is disposed at the head portion of the inner elongate housing.

[0006] In some embodiments, the vitreous cutter further comprises a wire. The wire may have a first end being joined to a wall of the inner elongate housing disposed at the head portion of the inner elongate housing and an opposing second end disposed at the tail portion of the inner elongate housing. The wire may be arranged to extend across the indent portion of the inner elongate housing. In some embodiments, a biasing member may be mounted on the wall of the inner elongated housing. The biasing member may be arranged to secure the wire at or near the second end thereof. In some embodiments, the biasing member is configured to exert a biasing force against the wire to urge the head portion of the inner elongate housing towards the inner wall of the outer elongate housing, thereby moving a cutting tip at the head portion of the inner elongate housing to contact a cutting surface defined by a portion along the inner wall of the outer elongate housing.

[0007] Further aspects of the invention and features of specific embodiments of the invention are described below.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

[0009] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a vitreous cutter in a rest position according an example embodiment of the invention.

[0010] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the Figure 1 vitreous cutter in a use position.Detailed Description

[0011] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, in one embodiment, the apparatus of the invention is a vitreous cutter 10. The vitreous cutter 10 comprises an outer elongate housing 12 and an inner elongate housing 14. The outer elongate housing 12 comprises a head portion 26extending to a tail portion 28. The outer elongate housing 12 comprises a longitudinally extending channel 16 defined within the housing 12. In some embodiments, an opening 18 is defined on a wall 20 of the housing 12. The opening 18 may be disposed at the head portion 26. The opening 18 may be disposed spaced away from a terminal edge 25 at the head portion 26.

[0012] The inner elongate housing 14 comprises a head portion 22 extending to a tail portion 24. The inner elongate housing 14 is slideable within the channel 16 of the outer elongate housing 12 along a longitudinal axis of the channel 16. The inner elongate housing 14 may be arranged concentric with the outer elongate housing 14. The inner elongate housing 14 may be moved axially relative to the outer elongate housing 12.

[0013] In some embodiments, the inner elongate housing 14 is curvable towards an inner wall 20I of the outer elongate housing 12. In some embodiments, a slideable movement of the inner elongate housing 14 within the outer elongate housing 12 along the longitudinal axis of the channel 16 moves the head portion 22 of the inner elongate housing 14 between a curved position (Figure 2) and a rest position (Figure 1). During a cutting operation, the vitreous cutter 10 is in a position to cut or shear at the desired location when the head position 22 of the inner elongate housing 14 is selectively moved to the curved position.

[0014] In some embodiments, the inner elongate housing 14 terminates in a cutting tip 42 at the head portion 22. In some embodiments, the cutting tip 42 is moved to contact the inner wall 20I of the outer elongate housing 12 when the head portion 22 of the inner elongate housing 14 is in the curved position. In some embodiments, embodiments, the cutting tip 42 is moved to contact a cutting surface 46 defined by a portion along the inner wall 20I of the outer elongate housing 12 when the head portion 22 of the inner elongate housing 14 is in the curved position. When the head portion 22 of the inner elongate housing 14 is in the rest position, the cutting tip 42 may be moved to space away from the inner wall 20I of the outer elongate housing 12.

[0015] In some embodiments, the head portion 22 of the inner elongate housing 14 is curved to an angle of about 2 to about 30 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the outer elongate housing 12 when the head portion 22 is in the curved position, and in some example embodiments, about 5 to about 20 degrees, and in some embodiments, about 5 toabout 15 degrees, and in some example embodiments, about 10 degrees. As used herein, the term “about” provides literal support for the exact numerical value that it precedes, the exact numerical value ±5%, as well as all other numerical values that are near to or approximately equal to that numerical value.

[0016] In some embodiments, an indent portion 30 is defined in the inner elongate housing 12, disposed between terminal ends 29A,B of the inner elongate housing 12. In some embodiments, the indent portion 30 is disposed at the head portion 22 of the inner elongate housing 12. In embodiments in which the inner elongate housing 14 is tubular, the diameter of the inner elongate housing 14 along the indent portion 30 is smaller than the diameter of the inner elongate housing 14 along the length of the housing 14. The indent portion 30 facilitates the curving or bending of the head portion 22 of the inner elongate housing 12 during a cutting operation.

[0017] In some embodiments, the indent portion 30 is defined by a first side wall 30F, an opposing second side wall 30S, and a third side wall 30T connecting the first to the second side wall 30F,S. The third side wall 30T of the indent portion 30 may be oriented substantially parallel to the wall 20 of the head portion 22 of the inner elongate housing 14. In some embodiments, the third side wall 30T of the indent portion 30 is substantially straight, i.e., substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inner elongate housing 14 when the head portion 22 is in the rest position. In some embodiments, the third side wall 30T of the indent portion 30 is disposed at an angle when the head portion 22 is in the curved position. In some embodiments, the angle is about 2 to about 30 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the outer elongate housing 12 when the head portion 22 is in the curved position, and in some example embodiments, about 5 to about 20 degrees, and in some example embodiments, about 5 to about 15 degrees, and in some example embodiments, about 10 degrees.

[0018] In some embodiments, the head portion 22 of the inner elongate housing 14 comprises a contact face 43 defined by a point along a wall 34 or a portion of the length of the wall 34 of the inner elongate housing 14. The contact face 43 may be positioned opposite to the indent portion 30. The contact face 43 may be moved to contact a portion of the inner wall 20l2 Of the outer elongate housing 12. The portion of the inner wall 20l2 Of the outer elongate housing 12 which contacts the contact face 43 may be opposite to the inner wall 20I which contacts the cutting tip 42.

[0019] In some embodiments, a wire 32 is arranged to extend across the indent portion 30 of the inner elongate housing 12. As used herein, the wire 32 may include a steel wire, a rope, string, cable, and other elongate connectors, or flexible elongate connectors. In some embodiments, a first end 36 of the wire 32 and / or adjacent portions of the wire 32 is joined to the wall 34 of the inner elongate housing 12. The first end 36 may be positioned at the head portion 22 of the inner elongate housing 14. The wire 32 extends from the first end 36 to an opposing second end 38. The second end 38 may be positioned at or around the tail portion 24 of the inner elongate housing 14. In some embodiments, the second end 38 is positioned at or proximate to the terminal end 29B of the tail portion 24 of the inner elongate housing 14.

[0020] In some embodiments, a biasing member 40 is mounted on the wall 34 of the inner elongate housing 14. In some embodiments, the biasing member 40 is arranged to surround a portion of the wall 34 of the inner elongate housing 14. The biasing member 40 may be mounted at the tail portion 24 of the inner elongate housing 14. The biasing member 40 may be mounted to secure the wire 32 at or near the second end 38 thereof. The biasing member 40 may be configured to exert a biasing force against the wire 32 to urge the head portion 22 of the inner elongate housing 14 towards the inner wall 20I of the outer elongate housing 12, thereby moving the head portion 22 into the curved position during a cutting operation. In some embodiments, the biasing member 40 comprises a spring.

[0021] In some embodiments, opening 18 defined on the wall 20 of the outer elongate housing 12 comprises a tapering portion. The tapering portion may taper gradually to terminate in a curved end . In some embodiments, the tapering portion comprises a generally quadrilateral shape with generally rounded edges.

[0022] A handle 44 may be operatively connected to the tail portion 24 of the inner elongate housing 14. The handle 44 may be arranged to operatively slideably move the inner elongate housing 14 along a longitudinal axis of the outer elongate housing 12, thereby moving the head portion 22 of the inner elongate housing 14 between the curved position and the rest position.

[0023] In some embodiments, one or both of the inner and outer elongate housings 12,14 are tubular. However, this is not mandatory; the inner and outer elongate housings 12, 14 may comprise any other suitable cross-sectional shapes.

[0024] In some embodiments, the length of the inner elongate housing 14 is longer than the length of the outer elongate housing 12.

[0025] In some embodiments, the inner elongate housing 14 is made a material which is compressible, thereby allowing the head portion 22 of the inner elongate housing 14 to curve to the desired curvature during a cutting operation. In such embodiments, the wire 32 may be omitted.

[0026] In operation, a longitudinally reciprocating movement of the inner elongate housing 14 within the outer elongate housing 12 along a longitudinal axis of the outer elongate housing 12, which remains stationary, continuously moves the wire 32 that is joined to the inner elongate housing 14 which in turns actuates a biasing force exerted by the biasing member 40, thereby continuously moving the head portion 22 of the inner elongate housing 12 between the rest position and the curved position. This continuously moves the cutting tip 42 of the inner elongate housing 14 towards the cutting surface 46 on the inner wall 20I of the outer elongate housing 14. The continuous pressure exerted between the cutting tip 42 and the inner wall 20I of the outer elongate housing 14 provides the necessary pressure required for the cutting action.

[0027] The present invention may thus provide one or more of the following advantages: increase shear efficiency, reduce surgical time, and / or minimize the damage to the retinal membrane caused by tissue pulling due to insufficient shear efficiency during surgery.

[0028] Throughout the foregoing description and the drawings, in which corresponding and like parts are identified by the same reference characters, specific details have been set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However, well known elements may not have been shown or described in detail or at all to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure.

[0029] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this inventionwithout departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.

Claims

Claims1. A vitreous cutter (10), comprising: an outer elongate housing (12) having a longitudinally extending channel (16) defined within the housing and an opening (18) defined on a wall (20) of the housing; and an inner elongate housing (14) slideable within the channel of the outer elongate housing, the inner elongate housing having a head portion (22) and an opposing tail portion (24), wherein the head portion of the inner elongate housing is curvable towards the wall of the outer elongate housing.

2. The vitreous cutter as defined in claim 1 , wherein the outer elongate housing comprises a head portion (26) extending to a tail portion (28), and wherein the opening is disposed proximate to the head portion.

3. The vitreous cutter as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a slideable movement of the inner elongate housing within the outer elongate housing along a longitudinal axis of the outer elongate housing moves the head portion of the inner elongate housing between a curved position and a rest position.

4. The vitreous cutter as defined in claim 3, wherein the head portion of the inner elongate housing is curved to an angle of about 2 degrees to about 30 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the outer elongate housing when the inner elongate housing is in the curved position.

5. The vitreous cutter as defined in claim 3 or 4, wherein the head portion of the inner elongate housing is curved to an angle of about 10 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the outer elongate housing when the inner elongate housing is in the curved position.

6. The vitreous cutter as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner elongate housing comprises an indent portion (30) disposed between the head portion and the tail portion of the inner elongate housing.

7. The vitreous cutter as defined in claim 6, wherein the indent portion is disposed at the head portion of the inner elongate housing.

8. The vitreous cutter as defined in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a wire (32) having a first end (36) being joined to a wall (34) of the inner elongate housing disposed at the head portion of the inner housing and an opposing second end (38) disposed at the tail portion of the inner elongate housing.

9. The vitreous cutter as defined in claim 8, wherein the wire is arranged to extend across the indent portion of the inner elongate housing.

10. The vitreous cutter as defined in claim 8 or 9, further comprising a biasing member (40) mounted on the wall of the inner elongate housing, the biasing member securing the wire at or near the second end thereof.11 . The vitreous cutter as defined in claim 10, wherein the biasing member is configured to exert a biasing force against the wire to urge the head portion of the inner elongate housing towards the wall of the outer elongate housing.

12. The vitreous cutter as defined in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a handle (44) operatively connected to the tail portion of the inner elongate housing for slideably moving the inner elongate housing along a longitudinal axis of the outer elongate housing.

13. The vitreous cutter as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner elongate housing and / or the outer elongate housing is tubular.

14. The vitreous cutter as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner elongate housing terminates in a cutting tip (42) at the head portion.

15. The vitreous cutter as defined in claim 14, wherein the cutting tip of the inner elongate housing is configured to contact the wall of the outer elongate housing in the curved position.

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