IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,636,188
Granted Patent B2
US 12,636,188 · App. 18/651,259 · Granted May 26, 2026

Dynamic support for ophthalmic device

Inventor: Edwin Ryan (St. Paul, MN)
A61F9/00763A61B17/34A61F9/00736A61B2017/00544A61B2017/3407A61B2017/3492A61B2090/062A61B2090/0811A61F9/007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,636,188
App. No.
18/651,259
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A small gauge surgical instrument is shown with advantages such as diminished “play” at the tip. A surgical instrument assembly is also shown with support along a length of the instrument that can be selected by the surgeon. Devices and method described provide adjustability of the instrument without protruding into a gripping surface of the instrument.

Claims (25)

1 . A method, comprising:

inserting a small diameter instrument into an incision in an eye;

contacting an outer surface of the eye with a distal portion of a support frame;

extending the small diameter instrument through the support frame and into the eye;

sliding the support frame freely along a length of the small diameter instrument, wherein the distal portion of the support frame is pressed to maintain contact with the outer surface of the eye by a biasing device; and

adjusting a biasing force applied to the support frame at a given amount of extension.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further including rotating the eye by moving the small diameter instrument against a side of the incision and using the support frame to increase stiffness of the small diameter instrument.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein maintaining contact with the outer surface of the eye includes biasing the support frame with a spring.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further including operating a supply line through an interior of a base unit to the small diameter instrument, wherein the support frame is spaced apart from the supply line.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein operating the supply line includes operating an infusion line.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein operating the supply line includes operating a suction line.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting a small diameter instrument into an incision in an eye includes inserting a 23 gauge or smaller instrument into the incision in the eye.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting a small diameter instrument into an incision in an eye includes inserting a 25 gauge or smaller instrument into the incision in the eye.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting a small diameter instrument into an incision in an eye includes inserting a 27 gauge or smaller instrument into the incision in the eye.

10 . A method, comprising:

inserting a small diameter instrument into an incision in an eye;

extending the small diameter instrument through a support frame and into the eye while the support frame remains outside the eye; and

sliding the support frame freely along a length of the small diameter instrument, wherein a distal portion of the support frame is pressed towards an outer surface of the eye by a biasing device; and

adjusting a biasing force preload amount of the biasing device.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein adjusting a biasing force preload amount of the biasing device includes adjusting a spring.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the biasing force preload amount includes actuating an adjuster that does not protrude from a lateral gripping surface of a base unit.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further including rotating the eye by moving the small diameter instrument against a side of the incision and using the support frame to increase stiffness of the small diameter instrument.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein inserting a small diameter instrument into an incision in an eye includes inserting a 23 gauge or smaller instrument into the incision in the eye.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein inserting a small diameter instrument into an incision in an eye includes inserting a 25 gauge or smaller instrument into the incision in the eye.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein inserting a small diameter instrument into an incision in an eye includes inserting a 27 gauge or smaller instrument into the incision in the eye.

Continuity (4)
Continuation 17673669 · Feb 16, 2022
Continuation 15762992
Provisional Application 62232898 · Sep 25, 2015
Related Publication 20240277521A1 · Aug 22, 2024
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