Abstract: A surgical cassette for an ophthalmic surgical system comprises an irrigation system and an aspiration system. The irrigation system is in fluid communication with a handpiece and carries fluid toward a surgical site. The aspiration system is in fluid communication with the handpiece via an aspiration conduit, and carries fluid away from the surgical site. The aspiration system comprises a chamber that expands to store fluid, and collapses to move the fluid to meet a volume demand in the aspiration conduit to mitigate a post-occlusion break surge.

Abstract: A surgical cassette for an ophthalmic surgical system includes an irrigation system and an aspiration system. The irrigation system is in fluid communication with a handpiece and carries fluid toward a surgical site. The aspiration system is in fluid communication with the handpiece and carries fluid away from the surgical site. The aspiration system includes an aspiration pump and tubing of an aspiration conduit. The aspiration pump generates a normal vacuum pressure within the aspiration conduit to carry fluid away from the surgical site during normal operation. The tubing has a larger cross-sectional area in response to normal vacuum pressure. The tubing collapses from the larger cross-sectional area to a smaller cross-sectional area in response to an occlusion; maintains the smaller cross-sectional area during a post-occlusion break surge to mitigate the post-occlusion break surge; and returns to the larger cross-sectional area after the post-occlusion break surge.

Abstract: A surgical cassette for an ophthalmic surgical system includes an irrigation system, an aspiration system, and a computer. The irrigation system is in fluid communication with a handpiece and carries fluid toward a surgical site. The aspiration system is in fluid communication with the handpiece via an aspiration conduit and carries fluid away from the surgical site. The computer instructs the aspiration system to vibrate fluid back and forth within the aspiration conduit to perform a priming procedure.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cutting tip has a hollow shaft with a proximal and distal end. The proximal end is configured to be attached to an ultrasonic hand piece, and the distal end has a smooth continuous surface. An opening is located near the distal end of the hollow shaft. The opening is configured to cut vitreous when the cutting tip is vibrated ultrasonically in a torsional manner.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a capsulotomy device having a unique insertion sleeve configuration comprising beveling and two notches at the distal end of the insertion sleeve. The unique configuration assures that the motion the capsulotomy loop comprising the heating element goes through during deployment from and retraction into the insertion sleeve is minimized and predictable.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cutting tip has a hollow shaft with a proximal and distal end. The proximal end is configured to be attached to an ultrasonic hand piece, and the distal end has a smooth continuous surface. An opening is located near the distal end of the hollow shaft. The opening is configured to cut vitreous when the cutting tip is vibrated ultrasonically in a torsional manner.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a capsulotomy device having a unique insertion sleeve configuration comprising beveling and two notches at the distal end of the insertion sleeve. The unique configuration assures that the motion the capsulotomy loop comprising the heating element goes through during deployment from and retraction into the insertion sleeve is minimized and predictable.

Abstract: A capsulorhexis apparatus includes a capsulorhexis probe configured for insertion into an eye through an incision and a pulse generator configured to deliver at least one radio-frequency (RF) pulse to the capsulorhexis probe. The delivered RF pulse has a pre-determined attenuation profile such that the power level of the delivered RF pulse is substantially attenuated over the RF pulse's duration. In some embodiments, the pulse generator is configured to deliver a series of two or more RF pulses to the eye, such that the energy of each of the second and subsequent pulses of the series is substantially attenuated relative to the energy of the immediately preceding pulse.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a capsule polishing device include a resistive-heating element including an electrically resistive, superelastic wire forming a loop between first and second ends of the superelastic wire. The first and second ends of the loop may at least partially extend from a planar face defined by the loop, to an insulating portion. In some embodiments, the capsule polishing device may be configured to perform active capsule polishing through a combination of hyperthermia of LECs and mechanical abrasion of the capsule surface. In some embodiments, at least a side and end portion of the loop of the capsule polishing device may be shaped to follow a contour of the capsule bag. The loop may be heated to approximately 40 to 47 degrees Celsius to destroy LECs (other temperatures are also possible). In some embodiments, the loop may include a roughened surface to increase mechanical abrasion.

Abstract: A capsulorhexis apparatus includes a capsulorhexis probe configured for insertion into an eye through an incision and a pulse generator configured to deliver at least one radio-frequency (RF) pulse to the capsulorhexis probe. The delivered RF pulse has a pre-determined attenuation profile such that the power level of the delivered RF pulse is substantially attenuated over the RF pulse's duration. In some embodiments, the pulse generator is configured to deliver a series of two or more RF pulses to the eye, such that the energy of each of the second and subsequent pulses of the series is substantially attenuated relative to the energy of the immediately preceding pulse.

Abstract: A capsulorhexis apparatus includes a capsulorhexis probe configured for insertion into an eye through an incision and a pulse generator configured to deliver at least one radio-frequency (RF) pulse to the capsulorhexis probe. The delivered RF pulse has a pre-determined attenuation profile such that the power level of the delivered RF pulse is substantially attenuated over the RF pulse's duration. In some embodiments, the pulse generator is configured to deliver a series of two or more RF pulses to the eye, such that the energy of each of the second and subsequent pulses of the series is substantially attenuated relative to the energy of the immediately preceding pulse.

Abstract: A capsularhexis device comprises a resistive-heating element formed from an electrically resistive, superelastic wire formed into a loop. A bare surface of this loop is applied to the anterior capsule and electrically heated to define a rhexis boundary, such that a smooth circular or oval capsule portion may be removed. In some embodiments, the superelastic wire is formed to include a loop, so that first and second ends of the wire are adjacent to one another and extend away from the loop to form a lead section. An electrically insulating material may completely or partly surround the first and second ends of the wire so that the first and second ends of the superelastic wire are electrically separated. A handle engages at least a portion of the lead section so that the loop-shaped heating element may be moved in and out of the anterior chamber.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a capsulotomy repair device include a resistive-heating element comprising an electrically resistive, superelastic wire forming a loop between first and second ends of the superelastic wire. The first and second ends of the loop may at least partially extend at an angle from a planar face defined by the loop, to an insulating portion, to form a transitional neck between the loop and the insulating portion. The capsulotomy repair device may be positioned in the eye relative to a capsularhexis perimeter to overlap tears in the capsularhexis perimeter to remove the tears by forming an adjusted capsularhexis perimeter by burning around the tear.

Abstract: A hand piece for a surgical instrument is provided. The handpiece has an inlet, a chamber (with upstream and downstream portions), a flow control member, a pulse engine, and an outlet. The inlet communicates with the upstream portion of the chamber. The downstream portion of the chamber communicates with the engine. The engine communicates with the outlet. In a closed position of the member, flow from the inlet moves the member to the open position thereby allowing flow through the flow path. In the open position, pulses from the engine move the member to the closed position before pulses from the pulse engine can flow through the flow path, thereby preventing flow through the flow path.

Abstract: A capsulorhexis apparatus includes a capsulorhexis probe configured for insertion into an eye through an incision and a pulse generator configured to deliver at least one radio-frequency (RF) pulse to the capsulorhexis probe. The delivered RF pulse has a pre-determined attenuation profile such that the power level of the delivered RF pulse is substantially attenuated over the RF pulse's duration. In some embodiments, the pulse generator is configured to deliver a series of two or more RF pulses to the eye, such that the energy of each of the second and subsequent pulses of the series is substantially attenuated relative to the energy of the immediately preceding pulse.

Abstract: A capsularhexis electrode device and corresponding insertion tool are disclosed. A flexible capsulorhexis electrode device comprises an elastomeric ring, first and second electrically conductive traces disposed at a first face of the elastomeric ring and extending concentrically around the elastomeric ring, and first and second electrically conductive connectors. The first and second electrically conductive connectors are electrically connected to the first and second traces, respectively, and are disposed at opposing points across the elastomeric ring from one another. An insertion tool includes first and second stretcher bars with connectors for mating to the electrode device. One of the stretcher bars translates relative to the other to elongate the flexible electrode device for insertion into the anterior chamber of the eye through a small incision.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a capsule polishing device include a resistive-heating element including an electrically resistive, superelastic wire forming a loop between first and second ends of the superelastic wire. The first and second ends of the loop may at least partially extend from a planar face defined by the loop, to an insulating portion. In some embodiments, the capsule polishing device may be configured to perform active capsule polishing through a combination of hyperthermia of LECs and mechanical abrasion of the capsule surface. In some embodiments, at least a side and end portion of the loop of the capsule polishing device may be shaped to follow a contour of the capsule bag. The loop may be heated to approximately 40 to 47 degrees Celsius to destroy LECs (other temperatures are also possible). In some embodiments, the loop may include a roughened surface to increase mechanical abrasion.

Abstract: An ablation probe for use in glaucoma surgery has a shaft, a heating element, and a pair of electrical connectors located on a distal end of the shaft. The pair of electrical connectors holds the heating element to the shaft. The heating element is sized and shaped to ablate a trabecular meshwork in a human eye. The ablation probe is advanced through a corneal incision until the heating element contacts the trabecular meshwork. An electrical current is passed through the heating element to ablate the trabecular meshwork.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a capsulotomy repair device include a resistive-heating element comprising an electrically resistive, superelastic wire forming a loop between first and second ends of the superelastic wire. The first and second ends of the loop may at least partially extend at an angle from a planar face defined by the loop, to an insulating portion, to form a transitional neck between the loop and the insulating portion. The capsulotomy repair device may be positioned in the eye relative to a capsularhexis perimeter to overlap tears in the capsularhexis periemeter to remove the tears by forming an adjusted capsularhexis perimeter by burning around the tear.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a capsularhexis device include a resistive-heating element comprising an electrically resistive, superelastic wire forming a loop between first and second ends of the superelastic wire. The loop may be retracted into a collapsed, retracted position or ejected into an expanded position. The first and second ends of the loop may at least partially extend at an angle from a planar face defined by the loop, to the insulating portion, to form a transitional neck between the loop and the insulating portion. The transitional neck may have a gap between the first and second ends at the insulating portion that is wider than a gap between the first and second ends on the opposing side of the transitional neck. The gap in the loop of superelastic wire may be sufficiently small to allow the loop to form a continuous cut in a capsule of an eye.