Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical handpiece includes a needle for insertion through an incision in an eye and a generator of ultrasonic energy for supplying the ultrasonic energy to the needle to emulsify tissue within the eye. The ophthalmic surgical handpiece also includes a sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the needle, the sleeve including an insertion portion for supplying infusion fluid into the eye and a compressible portion for sealing the incision in the eye by pushing against an exterior surface of the eye at the incision.

Abstract: An ultrasonic needle for attachment to an ophthalmic surgical handpiece includes a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the cannula is configured for attachment to an ophthalmic surgical handpiece. The distal end of the cannula includes a tip with at least one port in communication with a lumen extending through the cannula. A flexible member (e.g., a flexible loop, a flexible button, etc.) is coupled to the distal end of the cannula for tissue manipulation.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification transducer assembly includes a reflector and a driver connected to the reflector. The driver has a known driver vibration frequency range. A horn is connected to the driver opposite the reflector. A needle is connected to the horn opposite the driver. The needle has a known free shaft length. To maximize a desired stroke length of the needle for a minimal amount of power applied to the driver, a material forming the needle is chosen such that a speed of sound through the material results in a quarter-wavelength distance at the driver vibration frequency range substantially equal to the needle free shaft length.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification transducer assembly includes a reflector and a driver connected to the reflector. The driver has a known driver vibration frequency range. A horn is connected to the driver opposite the reflector. A needle is connected to the horn opposite the driver. The needle has a known free shaft length. To maximize a desired stroke length of the needle for a minimal amount of power applied to the driver, a material forming the needle is chosen such that a speed of sound through the material results in a quarter-wavelength distance at the driver vibration frequency range substantially equal to the needle free shaft length.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical device includes a housing having a distal end and a proximal end. A cannula is attached to the housing distal end and has a distal tip with at least one port in communication with a lumen extending through the cannula and in communication with an aspiration path in the housing. A vibration source is held within the housing for vibrating the distal tip of the cannula for assisting in vitreous and other tissue removal from a patient's eye. The vibration source creates a peak velocity of the distal tip equal to or less than a potential maximum flow velocity of water through the at least one port for a pressure differential between an intraocular pressure of the eye and a pressure within the cannula lumen that is less than the intraocular pressure.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification needle includes a hub for connection to an ultrasonic handpiece. An elongated shaft is formed with the hub and extends from the hub. A distal end of the shaft breaks-up tissue when the distal end is caused to be vibrated by the handpiece. At least a distal portion of the shaft is formed of a material that has properties providing advantages compared to a metal needle. Example properties include a substantially lower density, a substantially higher electrical resistivity, a substantially lower thermal conductivity, a substantially lower mechanical lateral stiffness, a substantially higher efficiency of converting electrical energy powering the handpiece into motion of the distal end, a substantially lower acoustical impedance, a substantially higher Poisson's ratio, and a substantially higher mechanical gain.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a femto-fragmentation procedure on tissue in the crystalline lens of an eye requires that a laser beam be directed and focused to a focal point in the crystalline lens of the eye. The focal point is then guided, relative to an axis defined by the eye, to create a segment cluster by causing Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) of tissue in the crystalline lens. The resultant segment cluster includes a plurality of contiguous, elongated segments in the crystalline lens that are individually tapered from an anterior end-area to a posterior end-area. Specifically, this is done to facilitate the removal of individual segments from the segment cluster in the crystalline lens.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a femto-fragmentation procedure on tissue in the crystalline lens of an eye requires that a laser beam be directed and focused to a focal point in the crystalline lens of the eye. The focal point is then guided, relative to an axis defined by the eye, to create a segment cluster by causing Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) of tissue in the crystalline lens. The resultant segment cluster includes a plurality of contiguous, elongated segments in the crystalline lens that are individually tapered from an anterior end-area to a posterior end-area, Specifically, this is done to facilitate the removal of individual segments from the segment cluster in the crystalline lens.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a femto-fragmentation procedure on tissue in the crystalline lens of an eye requires that a laser beam be directed and focused to a focal point in the crystalline lens of the eye. The focal point is then guided, relative to an axis defined by the eye, to create a segment cluster by causing Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) of tissue in the crystalline lens. The resultant segment cluster includes a plurality of contiguous, elongated segments in the crystalline lens that are individually tapered from an anterior end-area to a posterior end-area. Specifically, this is done to facilitate the removal of individual segments from the segment cluster in the crystalline lens.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical device includes a housing having a distal end and a proximal end. A cannula is attached to the housing distal end and has a distal tip with at least one port in communication with a lumen extending through the cannula and in communication with an aspiration path in the housing. A vibration source is held within the housing for vibrating the distal tip of the cannula for assisting in vitreous and other tissue removal from a patient's eye. The vibration source creates a peak velocity of the distal tip equal to or less than a potential maximum flow velocity of water through the at least one port for a pressure differential between an intraocular pressure of the eye and a pressure within the cannula lumen that is less than the intraocular pressure.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical device (10) includes a housing (12) having a distal end (14) and a proximal end (16). A cannula (18) is attached to the housing distal end (14) and has a distal tip (20) with at least one port (22) in communication with a lumen (19) extending through the cannula (18) and in communication with an aspiration path (24) in the housing (12). A vibration source (26) is held within the housing (12) for vibrating the distal tip (20) for assisting in vitreous and other tissue removal. An aspiration source (152) connected to the aspiration path (24) for applying a negative pressure to the lumen (19) and the at least one port (22) for removing fluids and the vitreous and other tissue from the eye. The vibration source (26) and the aspiration source (152) together create a periodic bi-directional flow of tissue through the port (22) without creating cavitation externally of the distal tip (20).

Abstract: A phacoemulsification needle includes a hub for connection to an ultrasonic handpiece. An elongated shaft is formed with the hub and extends from the hub. A distal end of the shaft breaks-up tissue when the distal end is caused to be vibrated by the handpiece. At least a distal portion of the shaft is formed of a material that has properties providing advantages compared to a metal needle. Example properties include a substantially lower density, a substantially higher electrical resistivity, a substantially lower thermal conductivity, a substantially lower mechanical lateral stiffness, a substantially higher efficiency of converting electrical energy powering the handpiece into motion of the distal end, a substantially lower acoustical impedance, a substantially higher Poisson's ratio, and a substantially higher mechanical gain.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical cassette for collecting aspirant fluid and/or tissue during an ophthalmic surgical procedure. The ophthalmic surgical cassette includes a rigid walled container having an interior volume for collecting aspirant fluid and/or tissue and an aspiration manifold coupled to the rigid walled container. The aspiration manifold is connected to an aspiration tube in fluidic communication with the interior volume, a first aspiration line for coupling a first surgical handpiece, a second aspiration line for coupling a second surgical handpiece, and a reflux bulb in fluidic communication with the first and second aspiration lines.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for fragmenting a crystalline lens inside an operational volume in the lens. A reference axis that is based on the crystalline lens is established, and various pluralities of parallel planes are defined relative to the reference axis. A pulsed laser beam is then used to cut tissue in selected planes, to thereby fragment the lens by performing Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) on the tissue. In accordance with the present invention each plurality of parallel planes is characterized by a particular inclination angle “?” relative to the reference axis, a particular azimuthal angle “?” relative to the reference axis, and an intersection angle “?” relative to each other.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a femto-fragmentation procedure on tissue in the crystalline lens of an eye requires that a laser beam be directed and focused to a focal point in the crystalline lens of the eye. The focal point is then guided, relative to an axis defined by the eye, to create a segment cluster by causing Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) of tissue in the crystalline lens. The resultant segment cluster includes a plurality of contiguous, elongated segments in the crystalline lens that are individually tapered from an anterior end-area to a posterior end-area. Specifically, this is done to facilitate the removal of individual segments from the segment cluster in the crystalline lens.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical device 10 includes a housing 12 having a distal end 14 and a proximal end 16. A cannula 18 is attached to the housing distal end 14 and has a distal tip 20 with at least one port 22 in communication with a lumen 19 extending through the cannula 18 and in communication with an aspiration path 24 in the housing 12. A vibration source 26 is held within the housing 12 for vibrating the distal tip 20 for assisting in vitreous and other tissue removal. An aspiration source 152 connected to the aspiration path 24 for applying a negative pressure to the lumen 19 and the at least one port 22 for removing fluids and the vitreous and other tissue from the eye. The vibration source 26 and the aspiration source 152 together create a periodic bi-directional flow of tissue through the port 22 without creating cavitation externally of the distal tip 20.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical cassette for collecting aspirant fluid and tissue during an ophthalmic surgical procedure. The ophthalmic surgical cassette includes a rigid walled container having an interior volume for collecting aspirant fluid and tissue; and an aspiration manifold coupled to the rigid walled container. The aspiration manifold is connected to an aspiration tube in fluidic communication with the interior volume, a first aspiration line for coupling a surgical handpiece, and a second aspiration line, the second aspiration line being connected to the first aspiration line thereby defining two aspiration paths between the surgical handpiece and the aspiration manifold. The first aspiration line has a first inner diameter, and the second aspiration line has a second inner diameter. The first inner diameter is greater than the second inner diameter such that one of the aspiration paths includes at least one flow characteristic different from the other of the aspiration paths.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical cassette for collecting aspirant fluid and/or tissue during an ophthalmic surgical procedure. The ophthalmic surgical cassette includes a rigid walled container having an interior volume for collecting aspirant fluid and/or tissue and an aspiration manifold coupled to the rigid walled container. The aspiration manifold is connected to an aspiration tube in fluidic communication with the interior volume, a first aspiration line for coupling a first surgical handpiece, a second aspiration line for coupling a second surgical handpiece, and a reflux bulb in fluidic communication with the first and second aspiration lines.

Abstract: A safety device in a fluid vent conduit for reducing vacuum level in an aspiration conduit of an ophthalmic surgical system. The device includes an orifice having an inlet for receiving a flow of fluid from an irrigation source. The orifice further has an outlet for directing the flow of fluid into the aspiration conduit. The orifice has a cross-sectional area sufficiently large to ensure an acceptable amount of fluid flows into the aspiration conduit, to reduce the vacuum level in the aspiration conduit, to an acceptable level in an acceptable amount of time and to provide adequate reflux. The cross-section area is sufficiently small to restrict the flow of fluid to allow enough fluid to continue to flow from the irrigation source to a handpiece at a surgical site.

Abstract: An end-cutting vitrectomy probe 100 is provided that includes a hollow sleeve 102 having an opening 108 at the sleeve's distal end, and a tapered annular surface 112 disposed in the interior of the sleeve's distal end. The probe further includes a cutting member 120 disposed within the sleeve 102, and having a circumferential cutting edge 122 at its end. The cutting member 120 is moveable within the sleeve 102, such that the circumferential cutting edge 122 frictionally engages the tapered annular surface 112, to thereby cut any vitreous tissue disposed therebetween. The probe 100 may further include a drive mechanism 130 for slidably displacing the cutting member 120 within the hollow sleeve 102 in a reciprocating manner, to oscillate the cutting member 120 between engagement and disengagement with the tapered annular surface 112.