Surgical device for storage and placement of grafts

1. A surgical device comprising a handle for releasable attachment to a cartridge adapted to hold an endothelial corneal implant in a scrolled or double coiled configuration, the handle having a forward end for rigid releasable attachment to the cartridge, a rearward end and a gripping portion between said forward and rearward ends, wherein the gripping portion is substantially planar so as to facilitate being gripped between finger and thumb, wherein the handle incorporates a first flexible fluid conduit for releasable fluid connection to the cartridge at the forward end of the handle;

wherein the first flexible fluid conduit comprises a length of flexible polymer tubing;

wherein a first end of the flexible polymer tubing is located at the forward end of the handle and configured releasably to connect with the cartridge when the cartridge is fitted to the forward end of the handle; and

wherein the first flexible fluid conduit is configured to transmit liquid through the first flexible fluid conduit and through the cartridge when the cartridge is fitted to the forward end of the handle, thereby to eject the endothelial corneal implant from the cartridge solely by way of liquid flow and into an anterior chamber of a patient's eye along with a portion of the liquid.

2. The surgical device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a second end of the flexible polymer tubing is located away from the handle is configured for connection to a first syringe.

3. The surgical device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first syringe is operable to provide a flow of liquid through the first flexible fluid conduit.

4. The surgical device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first flexible fluid conduit comprises a flexible polymer bulb incorporated into the handle.

5. The surgical device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the flexible polymer bulb has a second opening to allow the flexible polymer bulb to be filled with an appropriate liquid.

6. The surgical device as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a second fluid conduit that is also in fluid communication with the interior of the cartridge when the cartridge is mounted on the forward end of the handle.

7. The surgical device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the second fluid conduit makes a direct fluid connection to the interior of the cartridge alongside or coaxial with the first flexible fluid conduit.

8. The surgical device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the second fluid conduit makes a fluid connection to the first flexible fluid conduit at a junction.

9. The surgical device as claimed in of claim 6 , wherein the second fluid conduit is configured to allow a gas bubble to be introduced into the liquid flow through the first flexible fluid conduit.

10. The surgical device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the gas bubble is introduced by operating a gas-filled syringe or a gas-filled flexible polymer bulb connected to an end of the second fluid conduit remote from the junction or from the point of connection to the cartridge.

11. A surgical device comprising:

a handle having a forward end and a rearward end and a gripping portion between said forward and rearward ends, wherein the gripping portion is substantially planar so as to facilitate being gripped between finger and thumb;

a cartridge having a forward end, a rearward end and a hollow interior that is open at the forward and rearward ends, the rearward end for rigid releasable attachment to the forward end of the handle, and the hollow interior of the cartridge adapted to hold an endothelial corneal implant in a scrolled or double coiled configuration; and

a first flexible fluid conduit incorporated in the handle, wherein the first flexible fluid conduit is configured for releasable fluid connection to the rearward end of the cartridge at the forward end of the handle;

wherein the first flexible fluid conduit comprises a length of flexible polymer tubing;

wherein a first end of the flexible polymer tubing is located at the forward end of the handle and configured releasably to connect with the cartridge when the cartridge is fitted to the forward end of the handle; and

wherein the first flexible fluid conduit is configured to flow liquid through the first flexible fluid conduit and through the cartridge when the cartridge is fitted to the forward end of the handle, thereby to eject the endothelial corneal implant from the cartridge solely by way of liquid flow and into an anterior chamber of a patient's eye along with a portion of the liquid.

12. The surgical device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the cartridge is provided with a removable cap or plug or stopper at one or both ends.

13. The surgical device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the removable cap or plug or stopper is permeable to liquid.

14. The surgical device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein a second end of the flexible polymer tubing is located away from the handle and is configured for connection to a first syringe.

15. The surgical device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the first syringe is operable to provide a flow of liquid through the first flexible fluid conduit.

16. The surgical device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the first flexible fluid conduit comprises a flexible polymer bulb incorporated into the handle.