Abstract: A phacoemulsification instrument that significantly reduces infusion fluid leakage by providing a silicone sleeve with a built in reinforcing member. Also, the sleeve has only a single infusion hole in order to provide better infusion fluid flow without causing turbulence in the eye. In addition, the present invention provides either a valve or a variable aperture aspiration tube in order to regulate the aspiration rate. Also, the present invention includes a single aspiration hole at the tip in order to amplify flow coming to the tip. To assist in cataract removal, the tip may be provided with a variety of different barrier and baffle configuration. A handpiece includes a variable capacity reservoir in the infusion line to account for surges in the aspiration line. The needle includes steps, angles and barriers to focus ultrasonic energy to aid in emulsifying nuclear tissue and to aid in pushing emulsified material in the direction of aspiration flow.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification instrument that significantly reduces infusion fluid leakage by providing a silicone sleeve with a built in reinforcing member. Also, the sleeve has only a single infusion hole in order to provide better infusion fluid flow without causing turbulence in the eye. In addition, the present invention provides either a valve or a variable aperture aspiration tube in order to regulate the aspiration rate. Also, the present invention includes a single aspiration hole at the tip in order to amplify flow coming to the tip. To assist in cataract removal, the tip may be provided with a variety of different barrier and baffle configuration. A handpiece includes a variable capacity reservoir in the infusion line to account for surges in the aspiration line. The needle includes steps, angles and barriers to focus ultrasonic energy to aid in emulsifying nuclear tissue and to aid in pushing emulsified material in the direction of aspiration flow.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing a cataract lens from an eye, the apparatus comprising a surgical handpiece capable of phacoemulsification, irrigation and aspiration, for insertion into the eye, an infusion reservoir containing infusion fluid, the infusion reservoir being connected to the surgical handpiece by an infusion line, an evacuation line having a first end connected to the surgical handpiece and a second end which lead to a collection container, and a free flow valve, located along the evacuation line, for controlling the flow of fluid through the evacuation line, wherein the infusion reservoir is placed above the level of the eye and the level of the evacuation line so that, when the free flow valve is in the open position, infusion fluid is permitted to flow from the infusion reservoir into the eye, through the evacuation line and into the collection container.

Abstract: A support arrangement is provided which has a simplified structure and is quite versatile in the support surface which is produced. The support structure includes a number of chambers or pillows which are coupled together in a sequential or serial relationship such that the air supplied to the support to inflate the chambers or pillows enters at one end and travels the length of the chamber or pillow to enter and inflate the next chamber or pillow. That is, the air supply follows a serpentine path. In this manner a simplified air supply arrangement is accomplished for the entire support structure.

Abstract: A differential pressure administration set having a tubular chamber, which has an inlet at its upper end connected to a liquid supply container. Below the inlet is a first chamber which receives liquid from the container. Near or at the bottom of the first chamber is an outlet supply line to provide the higher pressure liquid to the operating site. The first chamber also has a second outlet which feeds liquid to a second chamber below the first chamber. There is a second outlet supply line at the lower end of the second chamber, which provides the lower pressure liquid to the operating site. The differential pressure is produced by and corresponds to the difference in height between the levels of the fluids in the first and second chambers.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer of the magnetostrictive type in which the stack of laminations is divided into sections and at least one fluid supply tube extends at least part way along the length of the stack in the space between the two sections. One of the tube supplies irrigation fluid to the interior of the handpiece from which it exits through a sleeve succeeding the transducer tip. An elastic membrane sleeve surrounds the transducer vibrating structure to prevent interaction between the fluid and the transducer and consequent loss of power. The end of the work tip is hollow and the material is drawn therein to be emulsified by the ultrasonic energy radiated from the internal wall of the hollow end.

Abstract: An instrument for removing liquid and other material from an operating site through an evacuation line under the control of a pump, in which the fluid flow in the line is sensed and a control signal produced when material blocking the line is cleared thereby creating a surge in the fluid flow coming into the line, wherein the control signal operates to apply fluid from a separate source into the line and to stop the pump motor to thereby rapidly equalize the pressure between the operating site and the line. An arrangement is also provided to sense evacuation flow in the line when the pump is not operating and to apply the fluid from the separate source into the line to equalize the pressure.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a tubular member having a port into which material to be cut is introduced there being a cutter within said tubular member having a cutting edge which is moved by a motor relative to said port to sever the material trapped between the port and the butting edge in which when the cutter movement to produce the severing movement is stopped the motor is rotated in the opposite direction to move the cutter to clear any material trapped between it and the port.

Abstract: A method of removing a lens from the eye of a human and replacing said lens by an implant of deformable material to serve as a replacement lens in which the implant is attached to the ciliary body of the eye to be deformed thereby. Various forms of implants and implant capsules are also described.

Abstract: A system for controlling the infusion of fluid to an operating field at a selected predetermined and programmed pressure, as a counterpart to an instrument for severing material from an object in the field, and for evacuating the severed material from the field in a suspension or emulsion of the infusion fluid. The system includes a simplified fluid flow control system for changing the pressure of the infusion fluid flow into the operating field during different modes of operation of the system.

Abstract: A system for controlling the infusion of fluid to an operating field at a selected predetermined pressure, as a counterpart to an instrument for severing material from an object in the field, and for evacuating the severed material from the field in a suspension or emulsion of the infusion fluid. The system includes a feature for preventing a low pressure in the operating field, to thereby prevent a surge of fluid from the field, when the evacuation function is terminated by equalizing the pressure in both the infusion and evacuation lines by supplying both lines with fluid from the same container.

Abstract: The invention deals with surgical methods for the removal of tissue and other objects from the body of humans or animals, for example, foreign objects from the eye, including blood clots and the lens of the eye, by inserting a pair of jaws for engaging the object and removing portions thereof as required by movement of the jaws relative to each other.

Abstract: An instrument for removing tissue including a rotatable fluted cutter member housed in a probe adapted to be inserted into a portion of a body from which tissue is to be removed. The instrument can supply irrigation fluid through the probe to the area being operated upon and evacuate the material through the probe after being engaged by the cutter.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including a cutter for removing objects from the body of a human or animal in vivo, such as the lens in the eye, in which a rotatable cutter is used having a shield through which irrigation fluid is applied to the eye and also through which material severed from the object can be removed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a spiral groove is formed as part of the cutter to produce an evacuation of removed material alone or in a suspension. The cutter also has a burr which is coated with an efficient cutting material such as diamond dust and can also include a coating of a non-sticking lubricant.

Abstract: Instruments for measuring visual fields including a portable perimeter having a handle by which it can be held by the subject being tested. In a preferred embodiment, the perimeter includes a protractor which can be rotated clockwise-counterclockwise about an antero-posterior axis to any desired meridian. One end of a cord is attached to the protractor and a light source is attached to the other end of the cord. The protractor has angular markings thereon and the examiner uses the relationship of the cord to the angular marks and the meridian orientation of the protractor to determine the response of the eye to the light source. The protractor also can be rotated antero-posteriorly about a horizontal axis so that the same perimeter can be used to measure the response of both eyes merely by turning it over. A marking pad is provided to or upon which the response of a patient can be indicated when viewing the light source as it is moved through various angles of the field.