Abstract: The present invention provides a needle suitable for performing ophthalmic surgical procedures. The needle includes a flexible curved tube and an adapter which can attach the needle to a syringe for delivering anesthetic. The flexible curved tube may be of plastic, particularly PTFE, and is typically attached to the adapter by a connector. Employing a needle with a flexible curved tube significantly reduces the risk of trauma of a patient s eye during an ophthalmic surgical procedure such as a sub-Tenon s block procedure.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for generating an ionized gas plasma flame for use in medicine, particularly for cauterization, is described. The apparatus (10) has an electrical power source (12) providing an alternating voltage at a fixed frequency and a resonant circuit (16, 26) resonant at the fixed frequency connected to the electrical power source (12). A single insulated electrical conductor (30) is connected to the output (18) of the reactive circuit (16) and terminates at a nozzle (36). Conduit means (32) surrounds the electrical conductor (30) along its length and defines a gas-flow channel for supplying substantially inert gas to the nozzle (36), where the gas-flow emerges as a plasma.