Vibrating surgical device for removal of vitreous and other tissue
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.
1. An ophthalmic surgical device comprising:
a housing having a distal end and a proximal end;
a cannula attached to the housing distal end and having 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 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;
wherein the vibration source is configured to create a peak velocity of the distal tip that is equal to or less than a potential maximum flow velocity of water through the at least one port caused by a pressure differential between an intraocular pressure of the eye and a pressure within the cannula lumen that is less than the intraocular pressure.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing and the vibration source are a part of a phacoemulsification surgical instrument.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein the cannula has a threaded connection for attachment to the phacoemulsification surgical instrument.
4. The device of claim 1 further including a guard device attached to the cannula and extending beyond the cannula distal tip.
5. The device of claim 1 further including a jacket attached to the device and surrounding and extending beyond the cannula distal tip, wherein the jacket includes a port proximate the cannula distal tip.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one port includes multiple ports in communication with the lumen.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein the multiple ports are formed to a side of a central axis of the cannula.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one port is formed to a side of the cannula distal tip to assist a surgeon to see the at least one port during surgery and to allow a side of the cannula distal tip opposite the side with the at least one port to contact delicate tissue without damaging the tissue.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one port has a cross-sectional area less than approximately 75,000 square microns (μm 2 ).
10. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one port has a smaller cross-sectional area than the lumen.
11. The device of claim 1 wherein the vibration source causes the cannula distal tip to vibrate ultrasonically.
12. The device of claim 1 wherein the vibration source causes the cannula distal tip to vibrate sonically.
13. The device of claim 1 wherein the vibration source causes the cannula distal tip to vibrate in one or more of a longitudinal manner, a torsional manner, and a transverse manner.
14. The device of claim 1 wherein the vibration source vibrates the cannula distal tip to vibrate sufficiently to remove a lens fragment.
15. The device of claim 1 wherein the cannula is curved to assist a surgeon to see the at least one port.
16. The device of claim 1 wherein the vibration source vibrates the cannula distal tip at a rate of at least 0.05 meters per second (m/sec).
17. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one port has a holding force of less than 1 gram at 735 mmHg vacuum or less.
18. The device of claim 1 further including an infusion fluid source in communication with the eye and wherein a pressure of infusion fluid into the eye forms a part of the intraocular pressure.
19. The device of claim 18 further including an infusion cannula for insertion into the eye and having a cross-sectional area larger than a cross-sectional area of the at least one port.
20. The device of claim 1 further including an aspiration source applied to the aspiration path for applying a negative pressure to the lumen and the at least one port for removing fluids and the vitreous and other tissue from the eye.
21. The device of claim 1 wherein the vibration source is configured to vibrate the cannula such that the peak tip velocity is an axial velocity along a central axis of the cannula.
22. The device of claim 1 wherein the vibration source is configured to vibrate the cannula at a tip velocity equal to or less than a potential average flow velocity of water through the at least one port.
23. The device of claim 1 wherein the cannula has an outer size of 23 gauge or smaller.