Abstract: A method of injecting a mixture into an eye includes: providing the mixture in a dispensing chamber with an air gap located between the mixture and an interior surface of a dispensing chamber housing, when the mixture and dispensing chamber housing are near room temperature; bringing the dispensing chamber housing and mixture to a temperature range, other than near room temperature, at which the mixture expands and is in a more liquid state; maintaining air in a needle after the mixture expands and prior to an injection; selecting a drug release rate; and injecting the mixture so as to form a shape with a surface area that results in the selected drug release rate.

Abstract: An ophthalmic endoilluminator includes a light source, a variable-wedge rotating-disk attenuator, a condensing lens, and an optical fiber. The variable-wedge rotating-disk attenuator attenuates the light produced by the light source. The variable-wedge rotating-disk attenuator includes a wedge capable of being adjusted over a variable angle as measured through an arc of the wedge and an axle to which the wedge is attached. The axle rotates such that the wedge rotates around a pivot defined by the axle. The condensing lens focuses the attenuated light. The optical fiber carries the focused light into an eye. The variable-wedge rotating-disk attenuator is located such that it affects the intensity of a light beam transmitted into an eye.

Abstract: An ophthalmic injection system has a tip segment attachable to and removable from a limited reuse assembly. The tip segment has a dispensing chamber housing, a plunger, a needle, a temperature control device, a thermal sensor, and a first housing at least partially enclosing the dispensing chamber housing, the temperature control device and the plunger. The limited reuse assembly has an actuator with a shaft, a power source for providing power to the actuator, a controller for controlling the actuator, a mechanical linkage interface, and a second housing at least partially enclosing the power source, the controller, and the actuator. The mechanical linkage interface is coupled to the actuator shaft and has a mating surface on one end. The substance is injected after the temperature of the substance is altered.

Abstract: A variable-wedge rotating-disk attenuator for use in an ophthalmic endoilluminator is disclosed. The attenuator includes a wedge attached to an axle. The size of the wedge can be adjusted over a variable angle as measured through an arc of the wedge. The axle to which the wedge is attached rotates such that the wedge rotates around a pivot defined by the axle. The variable-wedge rotating-disk attenuator is located such that it affects the intensity of a light beam transmitted into an eye.

Abstract: A disposable injection device includes a dispensing chamber, a plunger, a fuse in series with a light, and a housing. The dispensing chamber has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a cavity for receiving a quantity of a substance. The plunger is engaged with the inner surface of the dispensing chamber, is capable of sliding in the cavity of the dispensing chamber, and is fluidly sealed to the inner surface of the dispensing chamber. The housing at least partially encloses the dispensing chamber and the plunger. After the substance has been delivered from the dispensing chamber, the fuse is blown causing the light to go out and disabling the device.

Abstract: A variable-wedge rotating-disk attenuator for use in an ophthalmic endoilluminator is disclosed. The attenuator includes a wedge attached to an axle. The size of the wedge can be adjusted over a variable angle as measured through an arc of the wedge. The axle to which the wedge is attached rotates such that the wedge rotates around a pivot defined by the axle. The variable-wedge rotating-disk attenuator is located such that it affects the intensity of a light beam transmitted into an eye.

Abstract: An ophthalmic endoilluminator includes a light source, a variable-wedge rotating-disk attenuator, a condensing lens, and an optical fiber. The variable-wedge rotating-disk attenuator attenuates the light produced by the light source. The variable-wedge rotating-disk attenuator includes a wedge capable of being adjusted over a variable angle as measured through an arc of the wedge and an axle to which the wedge is attached. The axle rotates such that the wedge rotates around a pivot defined by the axle. The condensing lens focuses the attenuated light. The optical fiber carries the focused light into an eye. The variable-wedge rotating-disk attenuator is located such that it affects the intensity of a light beam transmitted into an eye.

Abstract: A sharps container system includes a disposable tip segment and a sharps container. The disposable tip segment has a dispensing chamber, a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber, and a housing at least partially enclosing the dispensing chamber. The sharps container has a cavity for receiving the disposable tip segment and an opening configured to engage the disposable tip segment so that the disposable tip segment is held in place while a limited reuse assembly is removed from the disposable tip segment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for filtering light. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention may filter light provided as a source of illumination by using one or more mirrors in an optical path. In a specific embodiment, one or more cold mirrors in the optical path are coated such that they are operable to reflect light in the desired wavelengths while transmitting other wavelengths of light. Thus, as light from a light source is reflected off these cold mirrors undesired wavelengths of light may be substantially removed from the light before it is utilized to illuminate an area. In other embodiments, one or more hot mirrors mirror may also be provided in the optical path, where these hot mirrors are coated such that they are operable to transmit the desired wavelengths of light and reflect undesired wavelengths.

Abstract: A method of operating a microsurgical instrument by varying cut rate, port open duty cycle, or both cut rate and port open duty cycle in response to a fluidic signal.

Abstract: A footswitch assembly with a position memory includes adjustable mounting mechanisms. A first adjustable mounting mechanism moves the heel cup portion on the treadle pedal assembly to a predetermined position to accommodate the length of a user's foot. A second adjustable mounting mechanism moves the side wing assembly to predetermined position to accommodate the width of a user's foot. A third adjustable mounting mechanism adjusts the force needed to move the treadle pedal assembly.

Abstract: An ophthalmic injection system is disclosed. The system has a dispensing member, a plunger, an actuation chamber, a lock mechanism, a lock stop, a port, a source of pressurized gas, and a shaft. The lock mechanism travels in the actuation chamber in an axial direction toward and away from a distal end of the dispensing member. The lock stop is located on the inner surface of the actuation chamber. The lock stop is engageable with the lock mechanism such that when the lock mechanism travels in the axial direction toward the distal end of the dispensing member to a first position located on a distal side of the lock stop, the lock mechanism cannot travel in a reverse direction away from the distal end of the dispensing member to a location on a proximal side of the lock stop.

Abstract: An ophthalmic injection device has a dispensing chamber housing, a plunger, an actuator for driving the plunger, a temperature control device, and a temperature release mechanism. The dispensing chamber housing has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface partially defines a dispensing chamber for holding a quantity of a substance. The plunger is engaged with the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing, is capable of sliding in the dispensing chamber housing, and is fluidly sealed to the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing. The temperature control device at least partially surrounds the dispensing chamber housing and is capable of altering the temperature of the substance in the dispensing chamber. The temperature release mechanism is in a locked position when the substance is outside the proper temperature range and an unlocked position when the substance is in the proper temperature range.

Abstract: A disposable drug delivery device has a dispensing needle, a plunger, a spring, a shaft, and a lock mechanism. The plunger is engaged with the inner surface of the dispensing needle, is capable of sliding in the cavity of the dispensing needle, and is fluidly sealed to the inner surface of the dispensing needle. The spring is connected to the plunger via a shaft. The lock mechanism holds the shaft in a first position such that the spring is in a compressed state. When the lock mechanism releases the shaft, the spring extends providing a force that moves the shaft and connected plunger in a direction toward the tapered end of the dispensing needle thereby expelling the drug from the dispensing needle into an eye. The spring also provides a retaining force so that the plunger is retained in an extended position against the tapered end of the dispensing needle.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for delivering a quantity of a substance into an eye. By applying compressed gas into an actuation chamber, a separating member connected to a lock mechanism and a plunger is displaced. The plunger displaces the quantity of the substance from a dispensing member and into an eye. The plunger is retained in an extended position so that the quantity of the substance is not retracted back into the dispensing member when the dispensing member is removed from the eye.

Abstract: A footswitch assembly with a position memory includes adjustable mounting mechanisms. A first adjustable mounting mechanism moves the heel cup portion on the treadle pedal assembly to a predetermined position to accommodate the length of a user's foot. A second adjustable mounting mechanism moves the side wing assembly to predetermined position to accommodate the width of a user's foot. A third adjustable mounting mechanism adjusts the force needed to move the treadle pedal assembly.

Abstract: A safety meter system for a battery-operated surgical hand piece is disclosed. The system has a controller, a sensor, and a display. The controller is configured to read a charge level from a battery. The sensor is configured to transmit a signal to the controller when the sensor is moved or grasped. The display provides an indication of a status of the battery. When the controller receives the signal from the sensor, the controller is energized, reads the status from the battery, and displays the status on the display. After a period of time after the status is displayed, the controller and the display are turned off.

Abstract: A safety charging system for a battery-operated surgical hand includes a charging base, a battery pack, and control logic. The charging base has an RFID reader antenna disposed near a top surface of the charging base and charge circuitry for charging the battery. The battery pack has the battery used with the hand piece and an RFID tag antenna disposed near a bottom surface of the battery pack. The control logic determines if the battery should be charged based on a data point read by the RFID reader antenna.

Abstract: A method of delivering a substance into an eye includes recognizing a connection between a tip segment and a limited reuse assembly; receiving dosage information from the tip segment; activating a temperature control device to alter a temperature of a substance to be delivered into an eye; receiving temperature information from a thermal sensor; using the temperature information to control the temperature control device; receiving an input indicating that the substance is to be delivered; and based on the dosage information, controlling an actuator to move a plunger to deliver the substance.

Abstract: An injection device assembly includes a dispensing chamber housing and a plunger. The dispensing chamber housing is coupled to a needle. The dispensing chamber housing has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface partially defines a dispensing chamber for holding a quantity of a substance. A dosage of a substance is cast into the dispensing chamber housing or cast onto a plunger that is inserted into the dispensing chamber housing.