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

Claim 9:
10. 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;
wherein the irrigation sleeve comprises an elastomeric material and wherein the irrigation sleeve has been subjected to one or more manufacturing steps adapted to stiffen the irrigation sleeve;
wherein the one or more manufacturing steps include treating the irrigation sleeve by exposing the irrigation sleeve to gamma radiation; 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, or
the irrigation sleeve further comprises at least one rib on an internal surface of the distal end of the distal tube of the irrigation sleeve, the at least one rib having a length parallel to a longitudinal length of the distal tube, the length of the at least one rib corresponding with a dimension of the side opening of the distal tube.