Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical system includes a cannula having a receptacle. The receptacle includes a valve and a first lip extending inwardly and defining at least a portion of a chamber in the receptacle. The ophthalmic surgical system also includes a surgical instrument having a second lip that is sized and shaped to engage with the first lip of the cannula to couple the surgical instrument to the cannula.

Abstract: An optical system for adjusting a proportion of light of a particular spectral band that is emitted from the optical system. A dichroic mirror is configured to reflect light of a first spectral band from a light source towards a distal end of an optical fiber while allowing light of a second spectral band to pass through the dichroic mirror. The second mirror is positioned behind the dichroic mirror and is configured to reflect light of the second spectral band. A mirror actuator is coupled to the second mirror and is configured to adjust a proportion of the light of the second spectral band that is emitted by the optical system by adjusting a position of the second mirror relative to the dichroic mirror.

Abstract: A vitrectomy probe includes a hollow needle having a sidewall and a tip, a port formed in the sidewall of the hollow needle and spaced apart from the tip, and a cutter positioned within the hollow needle. The cutter is slidable relative to the port to cut tissue within the port. The vitrectomy probe also includes a manipulation feature defined by at least one recess formed in the tip of the hollow needle, the sidewall of the hollow needle, or both. The manipulation feature is configured to facilitate manipulation of tissue using the hollow needle.

Abstract: A heat exchange system for a surgical instrument includes a valve, a load, and a load conduit extending between the valve and the load. The load conduit delivers fluid from the valve to the load. The heat exchange system also includes an exhaust conduit that directs the fluid away from the valve. A portion of the load conduit is positioned so as to thermally transfer heat to a portion of the exhaust conduit.

Abstract: An optical system for adjusting a proportion of light of a particular spectral band that is emitted from the optical system. A dichroic mirror is configured to reflect light of a first spectral band from a light source towards a distal end of an optical fiber while allowing light of a second spectral band to pass through the dichroic mirror. The second mirror is positioned behind the dichroic mirror and is configured to reflect light of the second spectral band. A mirror actuator is coupled to the second mirror and is configured to adjust a proportion of the light of the second spectral band that is emitted by the optical system by adjusting a position of the second mirror relative to the dichroic mirror.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical apparatus for inserting a cannula into an incision. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a needle extending in an axial direction. The needle has a manipulation portion disposed at a first end of the needle and an insertion portion disposed at a second end of the needle. The insertion portion includes a receiving side, and the receiving side has a concave surface and a tip. In one embodiment, the insertion portion has an s-curve shape.

Abstract: A high-speed pneumatic cutting system having a cutter and an actuator. The cutter is a guillotine-type, pneumatic cutter that receives a train of pressure pulses from the actuator. The actuator is designed to capture pressure pulses it receives from a pneumatic energy source in a surgical machine, such as a vitrectomy machine, or to generate its own pneumatic energy. The actuator has an accumulator coupled to the outlet of the pneumatic energy and a pressure transducer that senses the pressure level inside the accumulator. A control and display unit with a plurality of input mechanisms receives inputs from a user who selects a desired cutting rate or frequency for the cutter. The control and display unit produces an output signal based on the inputs received. The outputs from the control and display unit and the pressure transducer are sent to a waveform shaping circuit. The waveform shaping circuit produces a command signal based on the inputs that it receives.

Abstract: A seal having a body and several bands extending away from the body. The bands extend around an axial portion of the body. In some embodiments, the bands project from and are formed integral with the body. For example, the bands can be rings. Two bands can be located on the outside of the body and two additional bands can be located on the inside of the body to provide redundant sealing components between separated fluids. A vent aperture can be positioned between the two bands on each side of the body. The two inner bands can be offset from the two outer bands. The seal can be used in a surgical cutting device, among other things.

Abstract: A high-speed pneumatic cutting system having a cutter and an actuator. The cutter is a guillotine-type, pneumatic cutter that receives a train of pressure pulses from the actuator. The actuator is designed to capture pressure pulses it receives from a pneumatic energy source in a surgical machine, such as a vitrectomy machine, or to generate its own pneumatic energy. The actuator has an accumulator coupled to the outlet of the pneumatic energy and a pressure transducer that senses the pressure level inside the accumulator. A control and display unit with a plurality of input mechanisms receives inputs from a user who selects a desired cutting rate or frequency for the cutter. The control and display unit produces an output signal based on the inputs received. The outputs from the control and display unit and the pressure transducer are sent to a waveform shaping circuit. The waveform shaping circuit produces a command signal based on the inputs that it receives.

Abstract: A high-speed pneumatic cutting system having a cutter and an actuator. The cutter is a guillotine-type, pneumatic cutter that receives a train of pressure pulses from the actuator. The actuator is designed to capture pressure pulses it receives from a pneumatic energy source in a surgical machine, such as a vitrectomy machine, or to generate its own pneumatic energy. The actuator has an accumulator coupled to the outlet of the pneumatic energy and a pressure transducer that senses the pressure level inside the accumulator. A control and display unit with a plurality of input mechanisms receives inputs from a user who selects a desired cutting rate or frequency for the cutter. The control and display unit produces an output signal based on the inputs received. The outputs from the control and display unit and the pressure transducer are sent to a waveform shaping circuit. The waveform shaping circuit produces a command signal based on the inputs that it receives.

Abstract: A pneumatic pressure delivery system capable of delivering negative pressure (vacuum or suction) or positive pressure with a precise, continuously variable and predictable control of the pressure delivered is disclosed. The method and apparatus includes the capability of electronically adjusting the variation of pressure to follow any desirable functional mathematical relationship of a control signal. The apparatus includes an electronically controlled pressure regulator in which the pressure at the outlet of a regulator acts upon a piston or diaphragm in opposition to a force produced by an electronic controller. The piston or diaphragm is mechanically coupled to a flow control valve such that the valve alters its position to increase or decrease the flow to its outlet in response to the force exerted on the piston or diaphragm.

Abstract: An aspiration system (10) having pressure-controlled and flow-controlled modes comprises connective plumbing (26), a collector (14), a pump (12), a variable flow resistor (20), a pressure sensor (18), and a control circuit (24). The connective plumbing (26) includes a conduit (28) which communicates with the surgical site from which fluid is to be aspirated and delivered to the collector (14). The pump (12) induces flow from the surgical site to the collector (14). The variable flow resistor (20) and the pressure sensor (18) are in fluid communication with the conduit (28) by the connective plumbing (26). In the pressure-controlled mode, the variable flow resistor (26) is adjusted to maintain a pre-selected pressure according to an output signal (50) from the pressure sensor (18). In the flow controlled mode, the pump (12) is adjusted to maintain a preselected flow according to a pressure differential in the connective plumbing across the variable flow resistor (20).

Abstract: A pneumatic pressure delivery system capable of delivering negative pressure (vacuum or suction) or positive pressure with a precise, continuously variable and predictable control of the pressure delivered is disclosed. The method and apparatus includes the capability of electronically adjusting the variation of pressure to follow any desirable functional mathematical relationship of a control signal. The apparatus includes an electronically controlled pressure regulator in which the pressure at the outlet of a regulator acts upon a piston or diaphragm in opposition to a force produced by an electronic controller. The piston or diaphragm is mechanically coupled to a flow control valve such that the valve alters its position to increase or decrease the flow to its outlet in response to the force exerted on the piston or diaphragm.

Abstract: A gas flow measuring system employs an oscillating chopper valve alternately to deliver a flow head-generated pressure and a reference pressure to a pressure transducer. The chopper valve is driven by a stepping motor under the control of a microcomputer. The stepping motor drives the valve, with an oscillatory frequency determined by the microcomputer, between a first detented position, in which the flow head-generated pressure is delivered to the transducer, and a second detented position, in which the reference pressure is delivered to the transducer. The electrical signal produced by the transducer is fed to a sample-and-hold circuit, also under the control of the microcomputer, whereby the microcomputer controls the sampling rate of the sample-and-hold circuit. The microcomputer can thus establish an optimal sampling rate in accordance with the oscillatory frequency of the valve. In this manner, very fast sampling rates can be established, thereby minimizing the effects of zero drift in the transducer.