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: An ultrasonic instrument including a stack of laminations for converting electrical energy into mechanical vibratory energy to which is connected at one end an acoustic impedance transformer for converting the vibratory energy into longitudinal movement, with a work tip being connected to the free end of the transformer and a transition region of decreasing cross-sectional area extending between the transformer free end and the work tip. A shield is provided to divert the energy radiated from the transition region away from the work tip.

Abstract: An ultrasonic instrument including a stack of laminations having acoustic impedance transformer connected and a housing which fits over the stack and at least a part of the transformer in which the housing has a portion of a material having a low coefficient of friction which makes contact with the acoustic impedance transformer.

Abstract: In one embodiment an ultrasonic transducer is provided in which the work tip is formed of a piece of tubular material and a substantial portion, or all, of the tip has a constantly diminishing cross-section approaching the end of the tip. The fluid for the work tip is delivered through the hollow tip to its end. Other embodiments of fluid delivery systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for removing objects from the body of a human or animal in vitro in which a hook type implement is utilized to grasp a portion of the object to be removed and to bring it into a relationship with a cutting surface of another portion of the instrument to provide a combined crushing and cutting action. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, suction pressure and irrigation fluid is supplied through the instrument with the cut material being removed from the area by the suction pressure.

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 surgical instrument with a bendable blade which moves with respect to an opening in the instrument tip to make a shearing action to cut tissue which enters the opening.

Abstract: A cutter body for a surgical instrument having at least one blade surface thereon which rotates relative to a fixed blade surface. The cutter body is shaped to minimize the stress and wear of the rotatable cutter blade.

Abstract: A cutter body for a surgical instrument having at least one blade surface thereon which rotates relative to a fixed blade surface. The cutter body and the rotatable blade are shaped to minimize the stress and wear of the rotatable cutter blade.

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 of an object in the field, and for evacuating through a passage the severed material from the field in a suspension or emulsion of the infusion fluid. The system provides a means for maintaining a constant differential pressure between the operating field and its infusion line and the pressure in the line communicating with the passage through which material is being evacuated at the time a reverse fluid flow mode of operation is initiated in the system to send fluid down the passage through which the severed material is normally evacuated.

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.