Abstract: A surgical handpiece driver having a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of a fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling a piston down the length of the pumping chamber. The piston may be attached to the operative shaft or rod of a surgical probe and produce reciprocal motion. Alternatively, the piston may be attached to a cam or gear to product rotary motion.

Abstract: A tip for a liquefraction surgical handpiece. The tip uses at least two lumens. One lumen is used for aspiration and another, smaller lumen is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. The distal portion of the injection lumen terminates just inside of the aspiration lumen so that heated fluid escaping the injection lumen is reflected off of the internal wall of the aspiration lumen prior to entering the eye. Such an arrangement prevents the injected fluid from directly entering the eye. The handpiece may also contain other lumen, for example, for injecting relatively cool surgical fluid.

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 a pair of electrodes, at least one of the electrodes containing a countersink.

Abstract: A hinged, relatively rigid substrate on which a foldable IOL is held by a thin, relatively non-elastic film of esterified hyaluronate. When the substrate is folded along the hinge, the film covering the IOL causes the IOL to also fold along the hinge. The folded lens can then be placed in a conventional IOL injector handpiece that has been modified to include a cutter or the like to separate the film-encased IOL from the substrate prior to injection into the eye.

Abstract: An intraocular data display device having an N.times.M display with each row (N) and column (M) of the display confined by a planar waveguide array. The waveguides will form uniform pixel size anywhere on the display and ensure uniform pixel luminance across the display.

Abstract: A system and method for tuning and controlling ultrasonic handpieces by incorporating a broad-spectrum signal as at least a component of the signal used to drive the handpiece. The response of the handpiece to this broad-spectrum signal is measured and the frequency or amplitude or both of the drive signal are adjusted in order to maintain the desired level of handpiece performance. The operation of the systems and the performance of the methods described enables the handpiece to be operated in a most effective manner over a more widely varying range of mechanical load and thermal conditions than was possible through the use of prior control systems and methods.

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 system and method for tuning and controlling ultrasonic handpieces by varying the frequency of the drive signal that is fed to the handpiece by a discrete dither increment. A digital signal processor may be used to measure the response of the handpiece to the varying drive signal and compare these responses to determine the probable value of the actual series resonance. The output of the digital signal processor is used to generate control parameters embodied within an appropriate control signal, which is fed to the source of the drive signal in order to alter aspects of the drive signal.

Abstract: A syringe cannula holder having a split outer sleeve that can be folded around the cannula so as to engulf fully the cannula. The sleeve is held in place by a sliding retaining nut. A hinged, locking retainer holds the syringe within the sleeve.

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 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 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: A surgical handpiece having at least two lumens mounted to a body. One lumen is used for aspiration, the second lumen is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. A portion of the second lumen is surrounded by an insulated heating element that heats the surgical fluid as it passes through the second lumen. The handpiece may also contain a device for delivering the surgical fluid through the second lumen in metered pulses of a defined volume.

Abstract: A syringe cannula holder having an outer sleeve with an external thread that receives an internally threaded nut. The nut has a passage that permits a syringe cannula to pass through so that when the syringe body is installed within the outer sleeve, the nut may be threaded onto the outer sleeve leaving the cannula exposed. The syringe is held within the outer sleeve by a retaining ring.

Abstract: A package having two halves that are connected by a hinge. The hinge allows the halves to be folded against each other about a device and held in this position by snap/indentation pairs. A folded tab on one half rests against a detent on the other half. Pushing down on the folded tab causes the tab to straighten out and thereby push against the detent, eventually overcoming the frictional force of the snap/indentation pair closest to the tab and pushing the halves apart an amount sufficient to remove the device.

Abstract: A system and method for tuning and controlling ultrasonic handpieces by incorporating a broad-spectrum signal as at least a component of the signal used to drive the handpiece. The response of the handpiece to this broad-spectrum signal is measured and the frequency or amplitude or both of the drive signal are adjusted in order to maintain the desired level of handpiece performance. The operation of the systems and the performance of the methods described enables the handpiece to be operated in a most effective manner over a more widely varying range of mechanical load and thermal conditions than was possible through the use of prior control systems and methods.

Abstract: A self-contained adapter that is connected to a surgical console. The adapter contains all of the components necessary to allow different cassettes to be used with the surgical console.

Abstract: An array of four infrared LEDs and an array of four phototransistor receivers with each LED and phototransistor mounted inside a light baffle. The LEDs are positioned in a substantially vertical array just outside one side wall of the cassette. The vertical line on which the LEDs are arranged is substantially parallel to the direction in which the fluid/air interface moves within the cassette. The LEDs are aimed upwardly at an angle of approximately 20.degree. from horizontal. A corresponding substantially vertical array of four phototransistor receivers is mounted outside the cassette opposite the LEDs such that each of the receivers is aimed at its corresponding LED.