Patent US2711741A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3857387A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ultrasonic cataract removal method and apparatus
Assignee: Ultrasonic Systems Inc
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Filing: 1972-12-26
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1992-12-26
Abstract
Abstract Ultrasonic instrumentation for the removal of unwanted tissue material from an animal, such as a human, and more particularly, adapted for the removal of cataracts, in surgical operations. The ultrasonic instrumentation includes a hand-held instrument adapted to have a vibrating tool to reduce the volume of the cataract and thereafter, through the simultaneous introduction of a fluid and creating a flow, the cataract mass exits through the incision around the vibrating tool until all of the unwanted tissue forming the cataract is removed. The cataract may be removed substantially intact or by forming a plurality of masses.
Inventors
- 👤 J Shock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:11
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00736; A61F9/00745; A61B2217/00; A61B2217/002; A61B2217/007; A61M; A61M3/00; A61M3/02; A61M3/0279
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
The method of removing a cataract mass of tissue from its enclosed area in the eye, comprising the steps of: A. forming an incision on the eye in order to gain access to the cataract, B. inserting a tool member having an output edge through the incision, C. engaging the output edge of said tool member with the surface of the cataract, D. reducing the size of the cataract in its enclosed area by: 1. vibrating the tool member to provide peak accelerations of at least 1,000g, to transmit said vibrations to the tissue of the cataract in engagement therewith, 2. moving said vibrating tool member relative to said cataract to form an aperture in said cataract to reduce the volume thereof, 3. retracting said vibrating tool member from the aperture formed within said cataract, and E. removing the cataract from the incision.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
143 words
The method of removing a cataract mass of tissue from its enclosed area in the eye, comprising the steps of: A. forming an incision on the eye in order to gain access to the cataract, B. inserting a tool member having an output edge through the incision, C. engaging the output edge of said tool member with the surface of the cataract, D. reducing the size of the cataract in its enclosed area by: 1. vibrating the tool member to provide peak accelerations of at least 1,000g, to transmit said vibrations to the tissue of the cataract in engagement therewith, 2. moving said vibrating tool member relative to said cataract to form an aperture in said cataract to reduce the volume thereof, 3. retracting said vibrating tool member from the aperture formed within said cataract, and E. removing the cataract from the incision.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
moving said vibrating tool member relative to said cataract to form an aperture in said cataract to reduce the volume thereof,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
moving said vibrating tool member relative to said cataract to form an aperture in said cataract to reduce the volume thereof,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as defined In claim 1, and further including the steps of: a. rotating said cataract to expose another portion of said cataract, and b. reinserting said vibrating tool member into said cataract to form another aperture therein, until sufficient tissue has been removed to form a plurality of masses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method as defined in claim 2, and further including the step of progressively contacting the cataract masses by engaging the output edge of the tool member against a respective mass and energizing said vibratory output edge to further reduce the size of each mass so as to permit said respective mass to exit from the incision.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
retracting said vibrating tool member from the aperture formed within said cataract, and E. removing the cataract from the incision.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
retracting said vibrating tool member from the aperture formed within said cataract, and E. removing the cataract from the incision.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as defined in claim 1, and further including the step of moving said tool member against one end of said incision to obtain the maximum opening of the incision so as to permit the cataract to exit through the incision.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method as defined in claim 1, and further including the step of first positioning the cataract mass to abut the incision from the interior portion of the eye during a period when the tool member is not vibrating, and thereafter vibrating the tool to cause the mass to exit through the incision.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as defined in claim 1, and further including the step of continuously supplying a treatment fluid to the surface adjacent the vibrating tool member to prevent collapse of the anterior chamber of the eye.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as defined in claim 1, and further including the step of simultaneously vibrating said output edge of said tool member laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of said tool member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined in claim 1, including the step of vibrating said tool output edge in the frequency range of 5KHz to 50KHz.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as defined in claim 1, and further including the step of maintaining a substantially continuous flow of solution to the surface adjacent the output edge of the vibrating tool member to create a flow of solution exiting from the incision.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as defined in claim 1, and further including the step of maintaining said incision open to the atmosphere to permit the exiting of the cataract from the incision.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as defined in claim 1, and further including the step of supplying a treatment fluid through the tool member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as defined in claim 1, and further including the step of maintaining said incision in an open position.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
189 words
The method of removing a cataract mass of tissue from the eye, comprising the steps of: A. forming an incision on the eye in order to gain access to the cataract tissue, B. inserting a tool member having an output edge through the incision, C. engaging the output edge of said tool member with the surface of the cataract, D. vibrating the tool member to provide peak accelerations of at least 1,000g, to transmit said vibrations to the tissue of the cataract in engagement therewith, E. moving said vibrating tool member relative to said cataract to form an aperture in said cataract, F. retracting said vibrating tool member from the aperture formed within said cataract, G. rotating said cataract to expose another portion of said cataract, H. reinserting said vibrating tool member into said cataract to form another aperture therein, until a plurality of masses are formed, and I. progressively reducing the size of the respective masses by contacting the output edge of the tool member thereagainst and energizing said vibratory tip to further reduce the size thereof so as to permit said mass to exit from the incision.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
189 words
The method of removing a cataract mass of tissue from the eye, comprising the steps of: A. forming an incision on the eye in order to gain access to the cataract tissue, B. inserting a tool member having an output edge through the incision, C. engaging the output edge of said tool member with the surface of the cataract, D. vibrating the tool member to provide peak accelerations of at least 1,000g, to transmit said vibrations to the tissue of the cataract in engagement therewith, E. moving said vibrating tool member relative to said cataract to form an aperture in said cataract, F. retracting said vibrating tool member from the aperture formed within said cataract, G. rotating said cataract to expose another portion of said cataract, H. reinserting said vibrating tool member into said cataract to form another aperture therein, until a plurality of masses are formed, and I. progressively reducing the size of the respective masses by contacting the output edge of the tool member thereagainst and energizing said vibratory tip to further reduce the size thereof so as to permit said mass to exit from the incision.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as defined in claim 13, and further including the step of moving said tool member against one end of said incision to obtain the maximum opening of the incision so as to permit the mass to exit through the incision.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method as defined in claim 14, and further including the step of first permitting a mass to abut the incision from the interior portion of the eye durIng a period when the tool member is not vibrating, and thereafter permitting the mass to exit through the incision prior to vibrating said tool member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as defined in claim 13, and further including the step of continuously supplying a treatment fluid to the surface adjacent the vibrating tool to prevent collapse of the anterior chamber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as defined in claim 16, and further including the step of selecting said treatment fluid as an antiseptic to maintain the surface in a sterilized condition.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as defined in claim 13, and further including the step of simultaneously vibrating said output edge of the tool member in a direction transversely of the longitudinal axis of the tool member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as defined in claim 13, including the step of vibrating said output edge of said tool member laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of said tool member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as defined in claim 13, including the step of vibrating said tool output edge in the frequency range of 5KHz to 50KHz.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as defined in claim 13, further including the step of continuously removing the particles of tissue from the anterior chamber of the eye.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method as defined in claim 13, wherein said removal of tissue is obtained by maintaining a substantially continuous flow of treatment liquid to maintain the surface adjacent the output edge of the vibrating tool member to create a flow of liquid exiting from the incision.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method as defined in claim 13, wherein each mass is removed by: a. supplying a treatment liquid to the treated surface so that contact of said output edge with the treated surface forms a suspension thereof, and b. maintaining said incision open to the atmosphere to permit the exiting of the suspension from the incision.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as defined in claim 23, and further including the step of supplying the treatment fluid through the tool member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |