Abstract: A surgical handpiece having an integrated aspiration pump and vacuum and/or flow sensor. Suitable pumps included micromachined peristaltic pumps and ultrasonic pumps.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece having two coaxial tubes or channels mounted within a body. The first tube is used for aspiration and is smaller in diameter than the second tube so as to great an annular passage between the first and second tube. The annular passage communicates with a pumping chamber formed between two electrodes. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the annular passage. The electrodes are insulated from each other.

Abstract: A tip for a liquefracture surgical handpiece. The tip uses at least two channels or tubes. One tube is used for aspiration and at least one other tube is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. The distal portion of the injection tube terminates just inside of the aspiration tube and directs the heated fluid through an orifice in the wall of the aspiration tube opposite the injection tube. The handpiece may also contain other tubes, for example, for injecting relatively cool surgical fluid.

Abstract: A illuminated surgical instrument (11) includes an optical fiber (21) with a proximal end and a distal end, a connector (15) disposed at the proximal end of the optical fiber, and a handpiece (13) disposed generally at the distal end of the optical fiber. The handpiece has a handpiece body and a needle (25) extending distally from the handpiece body, the optical fiber (21) extending generally through the handpiece and extending slightly past the distal end of the needle (25). The handpiece (13) is suitable for one-handed operation by a human user, and the needle (25) is of a size suitable for insertion into a human eye. The instrument (11) includes structures at the distal end of the optical fiber (21) for dispersing light passing from an illumination source through the cable to broaden the area on which light impinges, and a shield (47) disposed proximally of a portion of the dispersing structure to prevent light from impinging upon a predetermined area.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece having two coaxial tubes or channels mounted within a body. The first tube is used for aspiration and is smaller in diameter than the second tube so as to create an annular passage between the first and second tube. The annular passage communicates with a pumping chamber formed between two electrodes. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the annular passage. The distal end of the annular gap is sealed by sealing together the distal ends of the first and second tube and a plurality or orifices or ports may be formed near the seal. As the expanding gas is propelled down the annular gap, the gas/liquid stream is forced out of the distal orifices in a controlled and directed manner.

Abstract: A control system for a surgical system that includes an irrigation fluid flow sensing capability. The sensing capability may be placed in the control console or in the handpiece. Irrigation flow measurements provided by the sensing capability allows the control system to vary irrigation pressure and/or flow, aspiration pressure and/or flow and power supplied to the handpiece more accurately than prior art sensors that monitor aspiration flow.

Abstract: A multifocal ophthalmic lens having a dye or dyes that block the transmission of near UV and/or blue light.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece tip with at least two coaxially spaced electrically conductive tubes. The tubes are separated by an electrical insulator. The interior of the inner tube is used for aspiration of liquefied tissue. The distal portion of the interior tube terminates just inside of the outer tube so as to form a boiling region. Electrical current is passed between the inner and outer tube to rapidly boil any surgical fluid in the boiling region. The boiling fluid rapidly expands out of the ring between the tubes and contacts the targeted tissue, thereby liquefying the tissue and allowing the tissue to be aspirated.

Abstract: A lens injector cartridge having an asymmetric bore. The asymmetric bore initiates the folding of the lens on one side only, thereby reducing the amount of energy imparted to the lens and the potential for damage to the lens. The gentle folding of the lens also assists in positioning the travel of the haptics down the bore, thereby reducing the potential for damage to the haptics.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece having at least two lumens mounted to a body. At least one lumen is used for aspiration and at least one other lumen is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. A portion of the second lumen is enlarged to form a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the second lumen. The pumping chamber may use any type of heater, such as a resistive heater or an induction heater. The handpiece may also contain other lumens for injecting relatively cool surgical fluid.

Abstract: Various embodiments of optical fiber cables and laser probes are disclosed for providing multi-spot laser beams from a single laser beam source. This permits time-intensive but repetitive laser surgical procedures such as panretinal photocoagulation to be performed with increased accuracy and in a fraction of the time currently allotted for such procedures.

Abstract: A lens injector cartridge having an asymmetric bore. The asymmetric bore initiate; the folding of the lens on one side only, thereby reducing the amount of energy imparted to the lens and the potential for damage to the lens. The gentle folding of the lens also assists in positioning the travel of the haptics down the bore, thereby reducing the potential for damage to the haptics.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece having at least two lumens mounted to a body. At least one lumen is used for aspiration and at least one other lumen is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. A portion of the second lumen is enlarged to form a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the second lumen. The pumping chamber may use any type of heater, such as a resistive heater or an induction heater. The handpiece may also contain other lumens for injecting relatively cool surgical fluid.

Abstract: Various embodiments of optical fiber cables and laser probes are disclosed for providing multi-spot laser beams from a single laser beam source. This permits time-intensive but repetitive laser surgical procedures such as panretinal photocoagulation to be performed with increased accuracy and in a fraction of the time currently allotted for such procedures.

Abstract: A cassette having, in a first embodiment, a series of break-off, prismatic tabs integrally formed in the cassette that can be optically sensed by the surgical instrument.

Abstract: An apparatus for tuning and controlling an ultrasonic handpiece having a programmable broad spectrum source, a torsional single frequency source and a longitudinal single frequency source that generate a drive signal for an ultrasonic handpiece and a digital signal processor for analyzing a response signal generated by the handpiece in response to the drive signal and generating an adjusting signal for adjusting the torsional single frequency source and the longitudinal single frequency source.

Abstract: A probe for ophthalmic surgery and the like includes a handpiece terminating distally in a needle, a connector for connection to a light source such as a laser source or an illumination source, and an optical fiber for transmitting light from the light source to an eye to be treated. The optical fiber extends substantially through the handpiece needle. The needle has a soft tip to reduce the possibility of injury to the interior of the eye by contact with the metal portion of the needle. The soft tip also acts as a distance guide, allowing the user to position the optical fiber repeatedly at the same distance from the retina.

Abstract: An intraocular lens injector plunger having a blunt, rounded tip offset from the centerline of the plunger rod. The offset tip assures that the tip is biased downward against the bottom of the cartridge bore. Such a downward bias helps prevent the tip from riding up over the IOL and being folded within the IOL. The offset also helps prevent the haptics of the IOL from becoming trapped between the plunger rod and the cartridge bore, thereby damaging the haptics and/or preventing the IOL from being advanced down the bore.