Abstract: Loading pellets into a pellet gun, whether it is of breech or break barrel design, is often a frustrating and difficult procedure, especially when done with the fingers. The pellets are small and hard to handle. Various embodiments of a dispenser for dispensing pellets to a breech design or a break barrel design pellet gun without touching them are described. The frustration and other difficulties usually encountered by pellet gun users are avoided by the dispensers delivering the pellets directly to pellet guns.

Abstract: Loading pellets into a pellet gun, whether it is of breech or break barrel design, is often a frustrating and difficult procedure, especially when done with the fingers. The pellets are small and hard to handle. Various embodiments of a dispenser for dispensing pellets to a breech design or a break barrel design pellet gun without touching them are described. The frustration and other difficulties usually encountered by pellet gun users are avoided by the dispensers delivering the pellets directly to pellet guns.

Abstract: A hard drive vitrectomy cutter generally includes a hand held probe for cutting tissue of a body, and a mechanical system for driving cutting action of the probe. The probe includes an outer sleeve having a perforation therein for receiving a portion of tissue, and a cutter sleeve, coaxially disposed within the cutter sleeve, for shearing the portion from the body of tissue. Importantly, the mechanical system for driving the probe includes a coaxial cable having a stationary outer cable and a slidable inner cable, said coaxial cable being connected with a stepper motor adapted for moving the inner cable axially within the outer cable. The inner cable is mounted in operative relationship with the cutter sleeve such that the stepper motor may be operated to move the inner cable and consequently drive cutting strokes of the cutter sleeve. A spring may be included for biasing the cutter sleeve against a pulling force exerted by the stepper motor.

Abstract: A method for minimizing excess intraocular pressure during a phacoemulsification procedure in which eye tissue is fragmented and aspirated from the eye through a needle with irrigation fluid includes controlling the rate of irrigation fluid flow rate upon partial or total occlusion of the needle. For example, the method may include the steps of: introducing irrigation fluid into an eye at a selected rate; thereafter aspirating said irrigation fluid while introducing the irrigation fluid at a higher rate; during phacoemulsification and aspiration of fragmented eye tissue through the needle, introducing the irrigation fluid at the higher rate; and upon partial occlusion of the needle with fragmented eye tissue, introducing the irrigation fluid at a still higher rate.

Abstract: A method for controlling aspiration and irrigation fluids in an eye during a surgical procedure includes placing a handpiece in an operative relationship with an eye for introducing irrigation fluid and aspiration of fluid from the eye. Irrigation is provided at diverse pressures and aspiration is controlled on the basis of vacuum levels sensed in the handpiece corresponding to an occluded condition of the handpiece. Additionally, during phacoemulsification procedures, ultrasonic power provided to the handpiece may by varied in response to the vacuum levels corresponding to an occluded condition of the handpiece. Apparatus for performing the method of the invention is also provided.