Abstract: An improved footswitch is disclosed. The footswitch may have an adjustable length treadle to accommodate different size feet. The footswitch may also have a treadle having a slidable plate that facilitates the actuation of a side switch.

Abstract: An ophthalmic drug delivery device having a scleral surface, an orbital surface, an injection port on the orbital surface, and a fluid conducting passageway disposed within the device that is fluidily coupled to the injection port and terminates in an opening for communicating the fluid to an outer surface of the sclera is disclosed. The fluid contains a pharmaceutically active agent useful for the treatment of a disease of the posterior segment of the eye.

Abstract: An improved foot controller of a microsurgical system, and a method of operating the foot controller, are disclosed. The method involves using a computer to modulate a detent of the foot controller from the beginning of the detent to the end of the detent.

Abstract: A method of determining the accuracy of a pressure sensor in a surgical console is disclosed. The method involves actuating a linear actuator so that its plunger is linearly displaced a pre-defined amount, and measuring the force exerted by the plunger on a non-compliant member. The accuracy of the linear actuator and the plunger are determined by comparing the force measured in the measuring step to a pre-defined force.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivery of a surgical fluid to a surgical handpiece is disclosed. The apparatus generally includes a container and an adapter receiving one end of the container. The container holds the surgical fluid to be delivered to the handpiece. The adapter is for removably engaging a receptacle in a surgical console and for fluidly coupling with a source of pressurized fluid in a surgical console.

Abstract: A method of determining the accuracy of a pressure sensor in a surgical cassette is disclosed. The method involves displacing a diaphragm of the sensor a pre-defined amount of displacement, and measuring the force exerted on the diaphragm by the displacing step. The accuracy of the pressure sensor is determined by comparing the force measured in the measuring step to a pre-defined force for the pre-defined amount of displacement.

Abstract: A surgical cassette for use in a combined anterior segment and posterior segment ophthalmic surgical procedure is disclosed. The surgical cassette includes an irrigation inlet for receiving irrigation fluid from a source, a first irrigation outlet for providing irrigation fluid to a first ophthalmic microsurgical instrument, a first manifold fluidly coupling the irrigation inlet with the first irrigation outlet, a second irrigation outlet for providing irrigation fluid to a second ophthalmic microsurgical instrument, and a second manifold fluidly coupling the irrigation inlet with the second irrigation outlet. The surgical cassette greatly simplifies the combined procedure by eliminating the need for separate anterior segment and posterior segment cassettes for the combined procedure.

Abstract: A device for dispensing fluid medicine includes a housing having an opening leading to an interior, a first aperture, and a second aperture. The device also includes a plastic dropper bottle at least partially disposed in the interior through the opening. The bottle has a container holding fluid medicine to be dispensed and a nozzle with a third aperture in fluid communication with the container. The device further includes a drop counter switch disposed in the housing and a lever rotationally coupled to the housing. The lever has a first flange disposed in the first aperture for causing the bottle to dispense fluid through the third aperture. The lever also has a second flange disposed in the second aperture for operative engagement with the drop counter switch upon the first flange causing the bottle to dispense fluid through the third aperture.

Abstract: Drug delivery devices, and methods of delivering pharmaceutically active agents to a target tissue within a body using such devices, are disclosed. One drug delivery device includes a body having an internal surface for placement proximate a target tissue and a well having an opening to the internal surface. An inner core comprising a pharmaceutically active agent is disposed in the well.

Abstract: A method of operating a microsurgical instrument, such as a vitrectomy probe, is disclosed. The probe includes a port for receiving tissue and an inner cutting member. A flow of tissue is induced into the port with a vacuum source, and the member is actuated in a cyclic manner to open and close the port over a plurality of cut rates. A duty cycle of the member is varied with the cut rate to vary the flow of the tissue into the port. The method yields the ability to adjust flow rate into the probe and aperture of the probe for a given cut rate so as to effectively perform a wide variety of vitreoretinal surgical objectives.

Abstract: An improved, asynchronous method of operating a microsurgical instrument, such as a vitrectomy probe. The instrument includes a port for receiving tissue and an inner cutting member. A flow of tissue is induced into the port with a vacuum source. The port is at least partially occluded with the tissue. The occlusion is detected, and the inner cutting member is actuated to close the port and cut the tissue.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a drug delivery device for a human eye. The human eye has a sclera, an inferior oblique muscle, and a macula. The device of the present invention includes a pharmaceutically active agent, and a geometry that facilitates the implantation of the device on an outer surface of the sclera, beneath the inferior oblique muscle, and with the pharmaceutically active agent disposed above the macula. Methods of delivery a pharmaceutically active agent to the posterior segment of the human eye are also disclosed.

Abstract: A microsurgical system, and a method of mapping the surgical functions of the microsurgical system to a foot controller operatively coupled with the system, are disclosed. The microsurgical system includes a computer, a foot controller operatively coupled to the computer, and a touch screen display operatively coupled to the computer. The foot controller has a plurality of switches. Each of the switches is for controlling a surgical function of the microsurgical system and for actuation by a user's foot. The touch screen display has the ability to display a graphic representation of the foot controller including the plurality of switches, and to display a list of surgical functions so that the list is associated with the graphical representation of one of the plurality of switches. By touching one of the surgical functions in the list, a user can exchange the surgical functions associated with any two of the plurality of switches on the foot controller.

Abstract: An improved cart for a surgical console. The cart includes a base, an internal frame coupled to the base, and an external housing substantially encasing the internal frame. The external housing comprises a single piece of molded plastic. The external housing prevents operating room fluid ingress into the internal frame. Therefore, the internal frame, its various portions, and the various electronic apparatus and consumables that are stored therein are protected from corrosion and damage.

Abstract: An instrument for positioning an intracorneal optical lens within an intracorneal pocket is disclosed. The instrument generally includes a handle and a cannula associated with and having a distal portion extending from the handle. The cannula is for fluidly coupling to a vacuum source in a first mode of operation and to a reservoir of surgical fluid in a second mode of operation. The distal portion of the cannula is for receiving the lens in a folded position around the distal portion. The distal portion has an aperture for providing vacuum to hold the lens in the folded position in the first mode of operation and for ejecting surgical fluid in an outward direction from the distal portion to help unfold the lens in the second mode of operation. Methods of using the instrument for positioning of an intracorneal optical lens are also disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical cassette for use in a combined anterior segment and posterior segment ophthalmic surgical procedure is disclosed. The surgical cassette includes an irrigation inlet for receiving irrigation fluid from a source, a first irrigation outlet for providing irrigation fluid to a first ophthalmic microsurgical instrument, a first manifold fluidly coupling the irrigation inlet with the first irrigation outlet, a second irrigation outlet for providing irrigation fluid to a second ophthalmic microsurgical instrument, and a second manifold fluidly coupling the irrigation inlet with the second irrigation outlet. The surgical cassette greatly simplifies the combined procedure by eliminating the need for separate anterior segment and posterior segment cassettes for the combined procedure.

Abstract: A method of operating a microsurgical instrument, such as a vitrectomy probe, is disclosed. The probe includes a port for receiving tissue and an inner cutting member. A flow of tissue is induced into the port with a vacuum source, and the member is actuated in a cyclic manner to open and close the port over a plurality of cut rates. A duty cycle of the member is varied with the cut rate to vary the flow of the tissue into the port. The method yields the ability to adjust flow rate into the probe and aperture of the probe for a given cut rate so as to effectively perform a wide variety of vitreoretinal surgical objectives.

Abstract: A lacrimal cannula, which is used for the removal of plugs or obstructions from mammalian lacrimal canaliculi having a punctum, includes a body having a distal portion, a proximal portion, an external annulus disposed proximate the distal portion, and a hollow bore for fluid delivery from the distal portion. The external annulus has an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the distal portion. The distal portion is inserted into the mammalian punctum without dilating the punctum and the external annulus has a generally spherical geometry which forms a seal with the external surface of the punctum without dilating the punctum and without the necessity of forcefully pressing the cannula against the punctal tissue to create a seal. The distal portion also has a relatively short length so that the distal portion is easily inserted into the canaliculus without contacting the plug or obstruction and thus interfering with the formation of the punctal seal.