Abstract: A tissue removal device includes a hollow needle, an ultrasonic transducer for mechanically vibrating the needle, an aspiration line communicating with the needle, and a vacuum pulsing device for generating vacuum pulses in the needle. The device may be utilized for breaking up tissue by phacoemulsification, vacuum pulsing, or both.

Abstract: A tissue removal device includes a hollow needle, an ultrasonic transducer for mechanically vibrating the needle, an aspiration line communicating with the needle, and a vacuum pulsing device for generating vacuum pulses in the needle. The device may be utilized for breaking up tissue by phacoemulsification, vacuum pulsing, or both.

Abstract: A tissue removal device includes a hollow needle, an ultrasonic transducer for mechanically vibrating the needle, an aspiration line communicating with the needle, and a vacuum pulsing device for generating vacuum pulses in the needle. The device may be utilized for breaking up tissue by phacoemulsification, vacuum pulsing, or both.

Abstract: A tissue removal device includes a rigid aspiration cannula, a valve communicating with the aspiration cannula in a fluid-sealed manner, and a pneumatically-driven actuator configured for moving the valve between an open position and a closed position, wherein at the open position the valve defines an aspiration path through the aspiration cannula and the valve, and at the closed position the valve prevents vacuum from being applied at the distal tip.

Abstract: A tissue removal device includes a rigid aspiration cannula, a valve communicating with the aspiration cannula in a fluid-sealed manner, and a pneumatically-driven actuator configured for moving the valve between an open position and a closed position, wherein at the open position the valve defines an aspiration path through the aspiration cannula and the valve, and at the closed position the valve prevents vacuum from being applied at the distal tip.

Abstract: A tissue removal device includes a hollow needle, an ultrasonic transducer for mechanically vibrating the needle, an aspiration line communicating with the needle, and a vacuum pulsing device for generating vacuum pulses in the needle. The device may be utilized for breaking up tissue by phacoemulsification, vacuum pulsing, or both.

Abstract: A tissue removal device includes a rigid aspiration cannula, a valve communicating with the aspiration cannula in a fluid-sealed manner, and a pneumatically-driven actuator configured for moving the valve between an open position and a closed position, wherein at the open position the valve defines an aspiration path through the aspiration cannula and the valve, and at the closed position the valve prevents vacuum from being applied at the distal tip.

Abstract: A tissue removal device includes a rigid aspiration cannula, a valve communicating with the aspiration cannula in a fluid-sealed manner, and a pneumatically-driven actuator configured for moving the valve between an open position and a closed position, wherein at the open position the valve defines an aspiration path through the aspiration cannula and the valve, and at the closed position the valve prevents vacuum from being applied at the distal tip.

Abstract: A tissue removal device includes a cannula that can aspirate tissue under a vacuum applied in the cannula, and a hermetically sealed fluid regulator in fluid communication with the cannula that generates vacuum pulses according to a controllable pulse rate and flow rate. The tissue removal device may also have a vacuum conduit having two or more conduit sections where the inner diameter of an upstream conduit section is smaller than the inner diameter of a succeeding conduit section. A device is also provided for applying an elastic membrane to an open end of the cannula to allow a user to remove any remaining cortical material after cataract material has first been removed from the eye by vacuum pressure applied in the cannula.

Abstract: A microkeratome that includes a latch assembly that couples a head to a hand piece. The latch assembly allows the head to be readily detached from the hand piece and sterilized. There is no need to also sterilize the hand piece. The microkeratome also has a ring assembly that is coupled to the head and the hand piece. The ring assembly may include a fastener that can be unfastened to allow the hand piece and head to be detached from the ring, even while the ring assembly is fixed to a cornea. The hand piece includes a motor that moves the blade across the ring. The microkeratome may have an aspiration connector with a collar that limits the travel of the blade the and thickness of a resulting lamella flap. The aspiration connector can be replaced with a collar of a different diameter to produce a flap with a different thickness.