Patent ID: 11865245
Assignee: ALCON INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. An irrigation sleeve for an ophthalmic instrument, the irrigation sleeve comprising:
a proximal hub adapted to be coupled to a housing of the ophthalmic instrument; and
a distal tube adapted to fit around a working tip of the ophthalmic instrument, the distal tube having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, an end opening at the distal end of the distal tube adapted to fit around a distal end of the working tip projecting therethrough, and a side opening at the distal end of the distal tube proximate to the end opening adapted for irrigation fluid to flow therethrough;
wherein the side opening has an elongated shape, wherein the elongated shape is longer in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the distal tube of the irrigation sleeve than in a direction around a circumference of the distal tube of the irrigation sleeve; and
wherein the side opening is shaped as a teardrop comprising a point at a leading distal edge of the teardrop, two substantially straight sides extending from the leading distal edge to an area of largest width of the teardrop, and a curved trailing edge disposed opposite the leading distal edge.