IP Library Granted Patent US 11,206,970
Granted Patent B2
US 11,206,970 · App. 16/269,701 · Granted Dec 28, 2021

Illuminated ophthalmic infusion line and associated devices, systems, and methods

Inventor: Thomas Kern (Lucerne, CH)
Assignee: Alcon Inc.
A61B1/07A61F9/007A61M5/14A61B2090/306
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,206,970
App. No.
16/269,701
Granted
Dec 28, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods of and for an ophthalmic illuminated infusion line are provided. An example ophthalmic illuminated infusion line may include an infusion arrangement having a first flexible elongate member and a flow tube. The first flexible elongate member may have a lumen configured to deliver a fluid to an eye of a patient during a surgical procedure. The flow tube may be sized to penetrate the eye of the patient and deliver the fluid to an interior of an eye to maintain intraocular pressure during a surgical procedure. The ophthalmic illuminated infusion line may also include an optical fiber coupled to the infusion arrangement and configured to penetrate the eye of the patient with the flow tube and transmit light to illuminate the interior of the eye during the surgical procedure at the same time that the flow tube delivers the fluid to the interior of the eye.

Claims (26)

1. An ophthalmic illuminated infusion line, comprising:

an infusion arrangement comprising:

a first flexible elongate member defining a first lumen; and

a flow tube coupled to a distal end of the first flexible elongate member and defining a second lumen in fluid communication with the first lumen, the first lumen and the second lumen configured to deliver a fluid to an eye of a patient during a surgical procedure, the flow tube being sized to penetrate the eye of the patient and deliver the fluid to an interior of the eye; and

an optical fiber coupled to the infusion arrangement, disposed within the flow tube, and configured to transmit light to illuminate the interior of the eye during the surgical procedure at the same time that the flow tube delivers the fluid to the interior of the eye;

wherein the infusion arrangement further comprises a second flexible elongate member and wherein the optical fiber is disposed within the second flexible elongate member;

wherein the second lumen of the flow tube opens into a lumen of the second flexible elongate member.

2. The ophthalmic infusion line of claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber is separate and apart from the first flexible elongate member.

3. The ophthalmic infusion line of claim 1 , wherein the infusion arrangement includes a coupling joint connecting the first and second flexible elongate members.

4. The ophthalmic infusion line of claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber is disposed within the flow tube and the second flexible elongate member.

5. The ophthalmic infusion line of claim 1 , further comprising a coupling joint that couples the first flexible elongate member and the second flexible elongate member.

6. The ophthalmic infusion line of claim 5 , wherein the coupling joint includes a guide to keep the optical fiber in a linear arrangement.

7. The ophthalmic infusion line of claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber is coupled to an interior of the flow tube.

8. An ophthalmic surgical system, comprising:

a light source;

a fluid source;

an illuminated infusion line comprising:

an infusion arrangement comprising:

a first flexible elongate member defining a first lumen;

a second flexible elongate member defining a second lumen; and

a flow tube coupled to a distal end of the first flexible elongate member, the flow tube defining a third lumen, the first lumen and the third lumen in fluid communication with the fluid source and configured to deliver a fluid from the fluid source to an interior of an eye of a patient during a surgical procedure, and the flow tube being sized to penetrate the eye of the patient and deliver the fluid to the interior of the eye; and

an optical fiber disposed within the second lumen of the second flexible elongate member and in optical communication with the light source; the optical fiber being configured to transmit light from the light source to illuminate the interior of the eye during the surgical procedure;

wherein the third lumen of the flow tube opens into the second lumen of the second flexible elongate member.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the light source and the fluid source is integrated into a surgical console.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the optical fiber is disposed within the flow tube.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the light source is configured to transmit at least one of laser light, white light, red light, blue light, green light, visible light, near infrared light, or infrared light.

Assignments (3)
CONFIRMATORY DEED OF ASSIGNMENT EFFECTIVE APRIL 8, 2019 Recorded Dec 10, 2019
From: NOVARTIS AG
To: ALCON INC.
Reel/Frame 051454/0788 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2019
From: KERN, THOMAS
To: ALCON GRIESHABER AG
Reel/Frame 049820/0029 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2019
From: ALCON GRIESHABER AG
To: NOVARTIS AG
Reel/Frame 048264/0594 →