Abstract: An intraocular lens folder having a generally planar, open frame in the shape of a rounded "A" with a rimmed, open head at the top of the "A." The base of the "A" forms a pair of opposing legs or handles that join to form a hinge at the crotch where the handles attach to the head. The hinge allows the handles to be squeezed together and yet spring apart when released. Squeezing the handles causes the top edge of the head rim to compress and move toward the hinge. The open head contains a plurality of projections terminating in open, relieved jaws into which the IOL is placed. The location of the projections is such that when the handles are squeezed together and the rim moves toward the hinge, two of the jaws moves toward each other, causing the IOL to be folded in half.

Abstract: The multi-ported valve assembly includes a valve body having a plurality of individual ports disposed in a common plane and a common port having its axis disposed perpendicularly to the common plane of the individual ports. The valve assembly includes a selector means having a body portion designed to engage the valve body and provide selective communication between one of the individual ports and the common port. The selector means includes a handle to facilitate rotation thereof and selection of a desired fluid flow passageway as well as indicator means to indicate direction of fluid flow. Also provided are sealing means to prevent external leakage during use and suitable connecting or coupling means to provide connection especially in devices and apparatus used in ophthalmic surgical procedures.

Abstract: An infusion sleeve for an ultrasonic tissue removal surgical tool includes a sleeve designed to surround the ultrasonically driven tip of the surgical tool and create an irrigation fluid channel thereinbetween. The sleeve includes a flexible portion which permits retraction of the distal end thereof to permit contact between the tip of the surgical tool and body tissue to be destroyed or removed. The infusion sleeve also includes a rigid portion which is designed to prevent collapse of the sleeve around the ultrasonically driven surgical tip and prevent blockage of irrigating fluid flow and subsequent overheating of the tip and damage to adjacent body tissue.

Abstract: An intraocular lens designed for ease of insertion and for minimizing contact with intraocular tissues comprises a lens body having an optical axis, two optical surfaces and a periphery to which is fixed at least one filamentous haptic extending circumferentially and radially from the point of attachment along a curvilinear path in space to a maximum distance from the optical axis. The haptic has a proximal segment adjacent to the attachment point, a medial segment attached to and continuous with the proximal segment and a distal segment attached to and continuous with the medial segment. At least a part of the distal segment lies at the maximum distance from said optical axis and constitutes the tissue-contacting portion of the haptic. The tissue-contacting element is tangent to a second plane parallel to the first plane and displaced from it along the optical axis, and at least the medial segment of the haptic traverses a path concave toward the first plane and avoiding intersection with the second plane.

Abstract: A method of calculating the required power of an intraocular lens to be implanted in an eye having the steps of measuring the axial length, preoperative anterior chamber depth and natural lens thickness of the eye, measuring and averaging corneal radii of curvature along a first axis and along a second axis normal to the first axis, calculating a lens locator constant from the axial length and the averaged corneal radii of curvature using a quadratic surface equation, determining a postoperative anterior chamber depth using the measured preoperative anterior chamber depth, the measured natural lens thickness and the calculated constant and calculating the required power of the intraocular lens and the predicted postoperative refraction using the postoperative anterior chamber depth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating on the human eye detects changes in load, more specifically, mechanical impedance, of the transducer and controls aspiration based on the load changes. A change from a lower load to a higher load indicates that harder tissue is being encountered and accordingly causes aspiration amount to increase. Conversely, a change from a higher load to a lower load indicates that aspiration amount should be quickly decreased since the tissue which is being encountered is softer. One way to detect the impedance is by a sensor, e.g., a piezoelectric element coupled to the operating needle detecting the movement thereof.

Abstract: A nonlinear optical device having a yttrium-aluminum-garnet or yttrium-lithium-fluoride laser rod for producing radiation of a fundamental wavelength, a first mirror located in front of the laser rod along the longitudinal axis of the laser rod reflective of the radiation of the fundamental wavelength but transmissive of radiation of a desired harmonic wavelength, a second mirror located to the rear of the laser rod along the longitudinal axis of the laser rod reflective of radiation of the fundamental wavelength, a phase matched crystal harmonic wavelength generator mounted on a movable platform driven by a motor arranged between the front mirror and the laser rod responsive to radiation of the fundamental wavelength for generating radiation of the desired harmonic wavelength, an output sensor arranged in front of the first mirror for generating a signal indicative of the output power of the laser rod, a beamsplitter for directing a portion of the laser rod output power to the output sensor and a computer fo

Abstract: A cassette having a one-piece housing adapted to be held in operative association with a control console. Integrally formed channels on the external surface of the housing form three sides of various fluid flow passages within the cassette. A plastic gasket adhered to the cassette seals the channels and forms the fourth side of the fluid flow passages. A self-winding peristaltic pump tube extending from the housing cooperates with a slotted peristaltic pump roller head in the console and an internal capacitance chamber within the irrigation conduit reduces pressure fluctuations in the irrigation fluid flow.

Abstract: A system and apparatus are disclosed for controlling amounts of fluid flow to and from a surgical site. The system includes a surgical handpiece having means including a passage for allowing fluid flow to and from a surgical site. A dispensing assembly is couplable to the handpiece for movement therewith and is selectively operable for automatically controlling continuously or discretely a controlled and metered amount of fluid flow to and from the surgical site.

Abstract: A solid-state tunable laser having a ND:YAG pumping source, a chromium-doped fosterite crystal lasing medium, a birefringent filter for selecting a specific fundamental wavelength, a pair of harmonic generating crystals mounted on counter-rotating platforms driven by stepper motors under the control of a computer, a partially reflective, partially transmissive mirror for directing the output of the pumping source through the lasing medium so that the lasing medium produces radiation having a range of fundamental wavelengths, and a fully reflective mirror for directing the radiation of the specific fundamental wavelength through the birefringent filter and the pair of crystals so as to produce radiation of a harmonic wavelength of the specific fundamental wavelength.

Abstract: A surgical knife having a handle and a blade, the blade having a blunt tip, a generally V-shaped cutting portion extending from the blunt tip to the widest part of the blade and tapered portion extending from the widest part of the blade to the point of attachment of the blade with the handle.

Abstract: A midinfrared laser tissue ablater having an Er:YAG radiation source optically connected to a first end of a fiber optic cable, a probe with a handle and a bifurcated cannula having a first half and a second half and a generally closed, hollow tip having an opening opposite the handle, a fiber optic integrally and coaxially mounted in the probe, optically and mechanically connected to a second end of the fiber optic cable and terminating at a free end in an interior of the hollow tip, the free end having a coating with a hole so that a pulse of radiation emitted by the radiation source is directed through the fiber optic cable and the fiber optic to the free end where the pulse of radiation is reflected by the coating out the hole in the coating and into the opening in the tip, an irrigation source connected to the first half of the cannula and an aspiration source connected to the second half of the cannula.

Abstract: An improved surgical method and apparatus using laser energy for destroying body tissue which includes a surgical handpiece including a surgical tip assembly which is driven by means of laser to achieve optical breakdown, plasma formation and shockwave generation to emulsify or destroy body tissue. The surgical tip assembly includes a laser fiber, a focusing means to enhance optical breakdown of tissue or fluid caused by laser energy transmitted through the laser fiber and an emulsification tip that is resonate tuned to vibrate in response to shockwaves produced by the optical breakdown caused by the laser energy. The emulsification tip and focusing means are configured in a spaced relationship to form an acoustic resonating chamber which further emulsifies body tissue and facilitates mixing of tissue with irrigation fluid.

Abstract: Intraocular lenses with three zones for the provision of bifocal vision are described. Methods for the lenses use are also described.

Abstract: A surgical knife having a handle and a blade with a first generally V-shaped portion for cutting an incision having a first width of approximately 3.2 millimeters and a second generally arcuate portion for widening the incision to a second width of approximately 5.2 millimeters.

Abstract: A flexible and steerable aspiration tip for microsurgery includes a tip portion, the configuration of which may be remotely altered to access different areas at a surgical site. The aspiration tip includes a flexible portion which includes a spring material therewith which may be configured in a relaxed and pre-curved state or, alternatively, a stressed and straight configuration. The aspiration tip may be combined with a handpiece assembly which includes means to remotely alter the configuration of the aspiration tip. Different surgical procedures can be formed with a single flexible and steerable aspiration tip which results in a reduction of trauma and stress to the surgical site by elimination of the use of several surgical instruments and complicated surgical techniques.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical handpiece having a generally hollow body with a reduced diameter portion at a free end and an interior surface, an ultrasonic horn coaxially mounted inside the body, terminating at the free end and defining a fluid flow passage at the reduced diameter portion and a spiral thread formed in the interior surface at the reduced diameter portion for reducing shearing of a fluid flowing through the fluid flow passage created by an ultrasonic vibration of the horn.

Abstract: A one-piece polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lens having an optic with an optic profile and a pair of haptics each extending from the optic within the optic profile and each with a medial segment of variably reduced cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A linear cavity laser system having a yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser rod for producing a fundamental wavelength of radiation having a front face and a longitudinal axis, a first mirror reflective of the fundamental wavelength but transmissive of a desired harmonic wavelength located in front of the laser rod along the longitudinal axis, a second mirror reflective of both the fundamental wavelength and the desired harmonic wavelength located to a rear of the lasing rod along the longitudinal axis, a phase matched crystal harmonic wavelength generator responsive to the fundamental wavelength for generating the desired harmonic wavelength of radiation arranged between the front mirror and the lasing rod along the longitudinal axis and a dichroic member transmissive of the fundamental wavelength but reflective of the harmonic wavelength arranged between the laser rod and the harmonic wavelength generator along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An irrigating sleeve for use in combination with the cutting tip of a phacoemulsification handpiece containing a base having a nose and a hollow interior; a tube connected to the base at the nose having an interior surface, an open end opposite the nose and a longitudinal bore to receive the cutting tip in communication with the hollow interior of the base; and a rough texture comprised of random bumps and pits on the interior surface of the tube for reducing the amount of surface contact between the cutting tip and the interior surface of the tube during tube compression and for bathing the cutting tip continuously in a lubricant.