Abstract: A contact lens assembly has a central lens and a circumscribing flange, the lens having an eye contact surface shaped generally to a radius of curvature of a cornea of an eye. The flange comprises a sterile sponge-like liquid absorbent flexible material having a central aperture for fitting snugly about an outer circumference of the lens and extending radially outward therefrom. The flange may include an inner attachment ring for attachment to the outer circumference of the central contact lens.

Abstract: A contact lens assembly has a central lens and a circumscribing flange, the lens having an eye contact surface shaped generally to a radius of curvature of a cornea of an eye. The flange comprises a sterile sponge-like liquid absorbent flexible material having a central aperture for fitting snugly about an outer circumference of the lens and extending radially outward therefrom. The flange may include an inner attachment ring for attachment to the outer circumference of the central contact lens.

Abstract: A probe for a vitrectomy tool is provided having a vitreous cutter tube having a blunt tip at a distal end and adapted to be coupled at a proximal end to a handpiece of a vitrectomy tool; a retractable outer trocar tube surrounding the vitreous cutter tube having an open distal end with a sharpened edge; and a retraction mechanism coupled to a proximal end of the outer trocar for selectively extending and retracting the outer trocar tube between a first extended position wherein the sharpened edge of the outer trocar is extended beyond the blunt tip of the vitreous cutter tube to facilitate insertion into the eye and a second retracted position wherein the sharpened edge of the outer trocar is retracted behind the blunt tip of the vitreous cutter tube to facilitate safe operation of the probe.

Abstract: A probe for a vitrectomy tool is provided having a vitreous cutter tube having a blunt tip at a distal end and adapted to be coupled at a proximal end to a handpiece of a vitrectomy tool; a retractable outer trocar tube surrounding the vitreous cutter tube having an open distal end with a sharpened edge; and a retraction mechanism coupled to a proximal end of the outer trocar for selectively extending and retracting the outer trocar tube between a first extended position wherein the sharpened edge of the outer trocar is extended beyond the blunt tip of the vitreous cutter tube to facilitate insertion into the eye and a second retracted position wherein the sharpened edge of the outer trocar is retracted behind the blunt tip of the vitreous cutter tube to facilitate safe operation of the probe.

Abstract: A probe for a vitrectomy tool is provided having a vitreous cutter tube having a blunt tip at a distal end and adapted to be coupled at a proximal end to a handpiece of a vitrectomy tool; a retractable outer trocar tube surrounding the vitreous cutter tube having an open distal end with a sharpened edge; and a retraction mechanism coupled to a proximal end of the outer trocar for selectively extending and retracting the outer trocar tube between a first extended position wherein the sharpened edge of the outer trocar is extended beyond the blunt tip of the vitreous cutter tube to facilitate insertion into the eye and a second retracted position wherein the sharpened edge of the outer trocar is retracted behind the blunt tip of the vitreous cutter tube to facilitate safe operation of the probe. A vitrectomy tool for removing material from an eye of a patient is provided having a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and a probe coupled to the proximal end of the housing.

Abstract: A probe for a vitrectomy tool is provided having a vitreous cutter tube having a blunt tip at a distal end and adapted to be coupled at a proximal end to a handpiece of a vitrectomy tool; a retractable outer trocar tube surrounding the vitreous cutter tube having an open distal end with a sharpened edge; and a retraction mechanism coupled to a proximal end of the outer trocar for selectively extending and retracting the outer trocar tube between a first extended position wherein the sharpened edge of the outer trocar is extended beyond the blunt tip of the vitreous cutter tube to facilitate insertion into the eye and a second retracted position wherein the sharpened edge of the outer trocar is retracted behind the blunt tip of the vitreous cutter tube to facilitate safe operation of the probe. A vitrectomy tool for removing material from an eye of a patient is provided having a housing having a proximal end and a distal end and a probe coupled to the proximal end of the housing.

Abstract: A unitary mechanical injector-vitrector hand tool for use in extracting vitreous material from an eye and injecting another fluid into the eye includes a housing body having a proximal end, a distal end and a variable volume cavity in the housing body for establishing a negative pressure or suction. A needle having a sharpened point and a central bore is connected to the proximal end of the housing body. An aperture is formed in a sidewall of the needle near the sharpened end. An inner hollow reciprocal cutter is fitted in the central bore of the needle and has a cutting edge adapted for travel across the aperture. A first manually actuatable lever is pivotably mounted to the housing body and coupled in driving relationship with the reciprocal cutter.

Abstract: A fiber optic endoilluminator surgical instrument for projecting illuminating light into an interior of an eyeball includes a finger grip member and an elongated passageway through the finger grip member. A hollow rigid needle, adapted to penetrate into the interior of the eyeball, slidably extends from one end of the grip member. An optical fiber extends through the needle and the grip member, and a lever is connected to the needle for allowing the needle to be moved to and fro with respect to the grip member for varying the amount of optical fiber exposed at an illumination end portion of the fiber. By covering the illumination end portion with the needle, a spot of illumination is provided for viewing a comparatively smaller portion of the interior of the eyeball. By uncovering the illumination end portion, a flood of illumination is provided for viewing a comparatively larger portion of the interior of the eyeball.

Abstract: A fiber optic endoilluminator surgical instrument for projecting illuminating light into an interior of an eyeball includes a finger grip member and an elongated passageway through the finger grip member. A hollow rigid needle, adapted to penetrate into the interior of the eyeball, slidably extends from one end of the grip member. An optical fiber extends through the needle and the grip member, and a lever is connected to the needle for allowing the needle to be moved to and fro with respect to the grip member for varying the amount of optical fiber exposed at an illumination end portion of the fiber. By covering the illumination end portion with the needle, a spot of illumination is provided for viewing a comparatively smaller portion of the interior of the eyeball. By uncovering the illumination end portion, a flood of illumination is provided for viewing a comparatively larger portion of the interior of the eyeball.

Abstract: An endoscope for eye surgery incorporates a handle having a camera and an electric motor driven lens assembly for enabling a user to focus the camera during surgery without manually adjusting the focus. The endoscope includes a probe attached by a rotatable bayonet type connector with a simple pivoting lever to release the probe from the handle. The motor drive system incorporates spring biasing to compensate for overruns of a drive nut on a lead screw when the user attempts to exceed the focal range of the lens assembly.

Abstract: A lens system and method for use in eye surgery and diagnostics in combination with a microscope is provided. The lens system includes a lens having a variable field curvature, so that the concave surface of a fundus of the eye is in focus for substantilly the full extent of a retina. The lens system also provides a lens adapted to compensate for optical properties of eye components in an image space. A method for designing a wide angle lens system for use in combination with a microscope for eye surgery includes defining a number of eye components having optical properties as surfaces in the lens system and calculating a wide angle lens design based on a desired field of view and the surfaces defined from the plurality of eye features modeled as optical components.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for illuminating a region of an eye is provided and may include at least one optical fiber in fluid connection with a light source for allowing light to be transmitted to a probe for diffusing light into the region of the eye. The probe be formed from a portion of the at least one optical fiber and may be directly inserted into a portion of the eye so that light is diffused into the eye to illuminate the region. The probe may be secured in a substantially fixed position when the probe is inserted within a portion of the eye such as by a frictional engagement between the diffusing means and the eye. A plurality of probes may be inserted within the eye where each probe may include a substantially tapered distal end to facilitate insertion into the eye. The distal end of each probe may be formed in different shapes or may include an optical lens for diffusing light into the eye for illuminating the region of the eye during a surgical procedure.

Abstract: An endoscope for eye surgery incorporates a handle having a camera and an electric motor driven lens assembly for enabling a user to focus the camera during surgery without manually adjusting the focus. The endoscope includes a probe attached by a rotatable bayonet type connector with a simple pivoting lever to release the probe from the handle. The motor drive system incorporates spring biasing to compensate for overruns of a drive nut on a lead screw when the user attempts to exceed the focal range of the lens assembly.

Abstract: A wide-angle viewing attachment for an ocular microscope includes a first lens attached to the microscope and a second lens independently mountable with respect to the microscope. The second lens is positionable proximal to an eye of a surgical patient and is maintained in the proximal position by an attachment system including a support member coupled in a fixed position to an operating table on which the patient is reclined. A first support rod extends vertically from the support member and a clamp member is adjustably mounted on the support rod. A horizontally extending second support rod is adjustably coupled to the clamp member and terminates at one end in a generally flat plate. A lens carrier includes a spring clamp for holding the second lens and a support arm extending generally horizontally with respect to the first support rod. The carrier terminates in a magnet assembly which holds the lens carrier to the flat plate.