Abstract: An intraocular lens (IOL) injection device is modularized to enable cleaning of internal components after surgery. The device includes first and second housing modules. These modules collectively define a passageway along which an injector rod moves between a retracted position and an extended position. The first module is further configured to accommodate a lens cartridge module. The cartridge module has disposed therein an IOL, in alignment with the passageway. Thus as the rod moves from the retracted position to the extended position, a front portion of the rod that is substantially surrounded by the first module in the retracted position moves into the cartridge module and displaces the IOL. This causes the front portion of the rod to accumulate on it viscoelastic substances. The first module, though, is configured to detach from the second module, to thereby expose the front portion of the rod in the retracted position for cleaning.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a phacoemulsification cutting tip with a straight shaft and an angled portion off of the straight shaft may include a hook on the angled portion to move an axis of rotation of the cutting tip closer to alignment with an extended centerline of the shaft. The cutting tip may be configured to torsionally rotate back and forth on an axis perpendicular to a centerline of the shaft (e.g., rotation around a y-axis). In some embodiments, lateral vibrations (e.g., side to side along an x-axis or z-axis perpendicular to the y-axis) that result from torsional rotation around the y-axis in a cutting tip without the hook may be reduced through use of the hook to balance the otherwise eccentrically weighted hook.

Abstract: A torsional ultrasound surgical hand piece lessens or eliminates chatter from lens material by imparting a twisting, rotary motion to a tip of a phacoemulsification needle at a resonant frequency in excess of 32 kHz. The hand piece has a horn that is designed to operate at an elevated frequency while maintaining size constraints for hand-held ophthalmic instruments. Optionally, heat generation is reduced either through the use of a polyimide tubing situated between the needle and the infusion sleeve, through the use of thermal watch to prevent overheating at the incision, and/or through the use of a bypass hole in the needle that diverts flow under suction into the needle via the bypass hole instead of exiting through an irrigation opening in the infusion sleeve when a tip port is occluded by lens material.

Abstract: A surgical system that is able to sense the onset of an occlusion or other surgical event as well as the instant an occlusion breaks. To help avoid overheating of the tip, the system determines a temperature of an eye using irrigation flow rate and reduces the power to the handpiece automatically if an overheating situation is predicted. Alternatively or in addition, the system monitors the power drawn by the handpiece, which is indicative of the cutting load on the tip, and automatically adjusts the power or stroke of the tip to compensate for increased loads on the tip.

Abstract: A surgical system that is able to sense the onset of an occlusion or other surgical event as well as the instant an occlusion breaks. To help avoid overheating of the tip, the system determines a temperature of an eye using irrigation flow rate and reduces the power to the handpiece automatically if an overheating situation is predicted. Alternatively or in addition, the system monitors the power drawn by the handpiece, which is indicative of the cutting load on the tip, and automatically adjusts the power or stroke of the tip to compensate for increased loads on the tip.

Abstract: A surgical system that is able to sense the onset of an occlusion or other surgical event as well as when an occlusion breaks. To help avoid overheating of the tip, the system of the present invention predicts the temperature of the eye using irrigation flow rate and reduces the power to the handpiece automatically if an overheating situation is predicted. Alternatively or in addition, the system of the present invention monitors the power drawn by the handpiece, which is indicative of the cutting load on the tip, and automatically adjusts the power or stroke of the tip to compensate for increased loads on the tip.

Abstract: A surgical system that is able to sense the onset of an occlusion or other surgical event as well as the instant an occlusion breaks. To help avoid overheating of the tip, the system determines an approximate temperature of the eye using an irrigation flow rate and reduces the power to the handpiece automatically if an overheating situation is predicted. Alternatively or in addition, the system monitors the power drawn by the handpiece, which is indicative of the cutting load on the tip, and automatically adjusts the power to the tip to compensate for increased loads on the tip.

Abstract: A surgical system that is able to sense the onset of an occlusion or other surgical event as well as the instant an occlusion breaks. To help avoid overheating of the tip, the system determines an approximate temperature of the eye using an irrigation flow rate and reduces the power to the handpiece automatically if an overheating situation is predicted. Alternatively or in addition, the system monitors the power drawn by the handpiece, which is indicative of the cutting load on the tip, and automatically adjusts the power to the tip to compensate for increased loads on the tip.

Abstract: A handpiece having a single set of piezoelectric elements polarized to produce longitudinal motion when excited at the relevant resonant frequency. The piezoelectric crystals are connected to an ultrasonic horn to which a cutting tip is attached. The horn and/or the cutting tip contains a plurality of diagonal slits or grooves. The slits or grooves produce optimized torsional movement in the cutting tip when the piezoelectric crystals are excited at a second resonant frequency. Preferably, the two drive frequencies are not coincident, but provided in non-overlapping pulses.

Abstract: A handpiece having at least one set of piezoelectric elements polarized to produce longitudinal motion when excited at the relevant resonant frequency. The piezoelectric crystals are connected to an ultrasonic horn to which a cutting tip is attached. The horn and/or the cutting tip contains a plurality of diagonal slits or grooves. The slits or grooves produce optimized torsional movement in the cutting tip when the piezoelectric crystals are excited at a second resonant frequency.

Abstract: A check valve having two opposing springs to hold a ball or stopper a pre-determined distance from the valve seat so that the ball or stopper seats against the valve seat only under backflow pressure.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive ultrasonic handpiece capable of providing both longitudinal and torsional or twisting motion.

Abstract: A handpiece having a set of longitudinally vibrating piezoelectric elements and which may additionally have an electric motor to provide rotational or oscillatory movement to the ultrasound horn. The piezoelectric elements are surrounded by a high temperature plastic sleeve, and the sleeve is filled with high temperature potting material. The potting material seal the piezoelectric elements against moisture without affecting the performance of the piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: A handpiece having a set of longitudinally vibrating piezoelectric elements and which may additionally have an electric motor to provide rotational or oscillatory movement to the ultrasound horn. The piezoelectric elements are surrounded by a high temperature plastic sleeve, and the sleeve is filled with high temperature potting material. The potting material seal the piezoelectric elements against moisture without affecting the performance of the piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: A handpiece having a set of longitudinally vibrating piezoelectric elements and which may additionally have an electric motor to provide rotational or oscillatory movement to the ultrasound horn. The piezoelectric elements are surrounded by a high temperature plastic sleeve, and the sleeve is filled with high temperature potting material. The potting material seal the piezoelectric elements against moisture without affecting the performance of the piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece holder for use in protecting a surgical handpiece during storage or autoclaving, and providing a template for the storage of excess handpiece wire is disclosed.

Abstract: A cutting tip having an asymmetric, hydrodynamic channel that tightens the cutting tip during operation.

Abstract: The specification sets forth a hammerspring for a dot matrix printer having a plurality of such hammersprings spaced along a hammerbank with permanent magnetics to draw said hammersprings into a retracted and uniformly stressed mode through a spring portion which are released by overcoming the magnetic retention, the hammerspring formed with a base portion connected to the hammerbank with a spring portion extending from said base portion having a decreasing transverse cross sectional area extending to an enlarged end portion for improved magnetic retention against said permanent magnets.