Abstract:
A thin gauge surgical probe having a retractable reinforcing sleeve. The retractable sleeve helps to Protect the thin probe from bending during shipment and use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to the field of microsurgery and, more particularly, to ophthalmic microsurgery.  
         [0002]     Current vitreoretinal techniques in which surgical instruments are inserted into the eye require the dissection of the conjunctiva and the creation of pars plana scleral incisions through the sclera. The dissection of the conjunctiva typically involves pulling back the conjunctiva about the eye so as to expose large areas of the sclera and the clipping or securing of the conjunctiva in that pulled back state. Following the creation of the incisions, surgical instruments are passed through these incisions and the inserted instruments are observed through the pupil using a microscope and corrective optics. These instruments are used to manipulate and/or dissect retinal tissues within the eye as well as to implement the specific retinal treatment technique (e.g., photocoagulation). Prior art scleral incisions created for vitreoretinal surgery are made large enough to accommodate the required instruments, the inserted portions being typically 19 or 20 gauge (approximately 1 mm) in diameter. After completing the specific treatment procedure, the inserted instruments are removed from the incisions in the sclera. Because the incisions through the sclera are large enough to pass 19 or 20 gauge instruments, the incisions are typically too large to self-seal. Thus, the incisions must be sutured shut. Following the suturing of the scleral incisions, the surgical personnel reposition the conjunctiva in its normal position and reattach the free end(s) of the conjunctiva to the eye using sutures. While such methods and techniques have proven to be effective in the treatment of vitreoretinal disease, there is a strong motivation to move away from procedures requiring sutures and instead look to greatly simplified sutureless procedures. Therefore, recently surgical instruments have been miniaturized so that the cannulas or shafts of the instruments are on the order of 23 or 25 gauge. Such thin shafts are bent easily, particularly as they are manipulated within very tight wounds.  
         [0003]     Therefore, a need continues to exist for a thin gauge probe that more easily resists bending during use.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention improves upon the prior art by providing a thin gauge surgical probe having a retractable reinforcing sleeve.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, one objective of the present invention is to provide a thin gauge surgical probe.  
         [0006]     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a thin gauge surgical probe that resists bending.  
         [0007]     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a thin gauge surgical probe having a retractable reinforcing sleeve.  
         [0008]     These and other advantages and objectives of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description and claims that follow. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the probe of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of second embodiment of the probe of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the probe of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0012]     As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , probe  10  and  110  consist of probe handle or body  12  and  112  and cannula  14  and  114 , respectively. Body  12  and  112  may be made of any suitable material, such as stainless steel, titanium or plastic. Cannula  14  and  114  may be an irrigation/aspiration cannula, or may be the outside cannula for a coaxial cannula system wherein the inner cannula is actuated in some manner, vitrectomy probes, forceps and scissors being examples of the latter. Cannula  14  and  14  generally will be made of thin walled stainless steel or titanium tubing with an outside diameter of 23 or 25 gauge or smaller. Cannula  14  and  114  is journaled into body  12  or  112  and retained within body  12  or  112  by a frictional fit or an adhesive. As seen in  FIG. 1 , coaxially mounted over cannula  14  is sliding sleeve  16  and spring  18 , with spring  18  being between sleeve  16  and body  12  so that movement of sleeve  16  over cannula  14  toward body  12  causes compression of spring  18 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , coaxially mounted over cannula  114  is sliding sleeve  116 . Spring  118  slides onto sleeve  116 , respectively. Spring  18  and  118  biases sleeve  16  and  116  distally along cannula  14  and  114 , respectively, when in the relaxed state. When cannula  14  or  114  is inserted into a surgical incision, end cap  20  and  120  on sleeve  16  and  116  contacts the perimeter of the incision so that sleeve  16  and  116  is pushed back toward handle  12  and  112 , thereby compressing spring  18  and  118  so that only the portion of cannula  14  or  114  laying outside of the incision as probe  10  and  110  is moved about is covered and supported by sleeve  16  or  116 , thereby helping the covered portion of cannula  14  and  114  to resist bending.  
         [0013]     As best seen in  FIG. 3 , probe  210  of yet another embodiment of the present invention generally include body  212 , cannula  214  and slidable nose piece  216 . Nose piece  216  is sized to reciprocate over distal end  218  and contains a bore  220  that is received over cannula  214 . Nose piece  216  is held in place on body  212  by a plurality of detents  222  on nose piece  216  that interact with locking device  224  on distal end  218  of body  212 . The use of a plurality of detents  222  allow nose piece  216  to be locked in multiple positions on distal end  218 , each position exposing a different length of cannula  214 . Such adjustment allows the surgeon to expose only enough of cannula  214  as may be necessary for the particular probe  210  and surgical procedure and protects the remainder of cannula  214  from bending.  
         [0014]     This description is given for purposes of illustration and explanation. It will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that changes and modifications may be made to the invention described above without departing from its scope or spirit.