Abstract:
A phacoemulsification needle has at least one grouping of surface protuberances formed on the tip inner surface, outer surface, or both. The protuberance groupings comprise three-dimensional protuberances of varying selected geometric shapes positioned proximate the lip of the phacoemulsification needle tip and provide surfaces to increase the efficacy of the phacoemulsification process.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Patent Application 61/092,357, filed Aug. 27, 2008, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates to surgical instruments and surgical techniques used in eye surgery and more particularly, to designs for phacoemulsification needle tips for use with phacoemulsification handpieces. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A common ophthalmological surgical technique is the removal of a diseased or injured lens from the eye. Earlier techniques used for the removal of the lens typically required a substantial incision to be made in the capsular bag in which the lens is encased. Such incisions were often on the order of 12 mm in length. 
         [0004]    Later techniques focused on removing diseased lenses and inserting replacement artificial lenses through as small an incision as possible. For example, it is now a common technique to take an artificial intraocular lens (IOL), fold it and insert the folded lens through the incision, allowing the lens to unfold when it is properly positioned within the capsular bag. Efforts have been made to accomplish the removal of the diseased lens through an equally small incision. 
         [0005]    One such removal technique is known as phacoemulsification. A typical phacoemulsification tool includes a handpiece to which is attached a hollow needle. Electrical energy is applied to vibrate the needle at ultrasonic frequencies in order to fragment the diseased lens into small enough particles to be aspirated from the eye through the hollow needle. Commonly, an infusion sleeve is mounted around the needle to supply irrigating liquids to the eye in order to aid in flushing and aspirating the lens particles. 
         [0006]    It is extremely important to properly infuse liquid during such surgery. Maintaining a sufficient amount of liquid prevents collapse of certain tissues within the eye and attendant injury or damage to delicate eye structures. As an example, endothelial cells can easily be damaged during such collapse and this damage is permanent because these cells do not regenerate. One of the benefits of using as small in incision as possible during such surgery is the minimization of leakage of liquid during and after surgery and the prevention of such a collapse. 
         [0007]    Phacoemulsification needles and tips are well represented in the prior art. Needles and tips of varying configurations are well known. A particular shape for a tip or needle is often dictated by the type of handpiece with which the needle is to be used. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,495 (Strukel et al) teaches and describes a phacoemulsification handpiece, sleeve and tip illustrating a wide variety of tip configurations and needle cross-sectional configurations. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,555 (Devine) teaches and describes an ultrasonic needle for surgical emulsification. The needle and its tip are shown in both circular and oval configurations. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,605,054 (Rockley) teaches and describes a multiple bypass port phaco tip having multiple aspiration ports and a single discharge port to infuse liquid into the eye. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,356 (Geuder) teaches and describes a surgical instrument for crushing crystalline eye lenses by means of ultrasound and for removing lens debris by suction which demonstrates the use of a sleeve positioned concentric to the needle and having a pair of discharge ports formed thereon. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,530 (Boukhny) teaches and describes a phacoemulsification sleeve, one variation of which has a bellows portion attached to a discharge port ring which directs an annular flow of liquid around the needle and into the eye. The use of the bellows is intended to allow the sleeve to absorb spikes in liquid pressure during the operation. 
         [0013]    Published U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0004455 (Kadziauskas) teaches and describes a bi-manual phaco needle using separate emulsification and aspiration needles inserted into the eye simultaneously during surgery. 
         [0014]    Published U.S. Patent Application 2006/0217672 (Chon) teaches and describes a phacoemulsification tip having a crimped or swaged tip end. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,285 (Boukhny) teaches and describes a torsional ultrasound handpiece configured to impart both longitudinal and torsional motion to a phacoemulsification needle. 
         [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,769 (Boukhny) is a continuation in part of the &#39;285 patent and further particularizes the frequencies at which the crystals providing both the torsional and longitudinal motion are activated. 
         [0017]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,204,820 (Akahoshi) teaches and describes a phacoemulsification needle having an enlarged and rounded tip. 
         [0018]    I have determined that forming a cluster of protuberances or “bumps” on the interior and/or exterior surface of a phacoemulsification needle tip will increase the efficiency and efficacy of the needle when used with both linear and torsional handpieces. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    These and further aspects of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a drawing showing prior art oval and square-shaped tips; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a drawing showing several prior art needle cross-sectional configurations; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a prior art phaco needle; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged detail of the tip of the needle of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a right perspective view of a phacoemulsification needle tip embodying the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a right/lateral perspective view of the needle of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a left perspective view of the needle of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a lateral view of the needle of  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is an end view of a phacoemulsification tip illustrating the placement of bumps of different shapes 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    It is common for some in the art to refer to an entire phacoemulsification needle as a “tip”. For the purposes of the description that follows, the word “tip” shall refer to that portion of a phacoemulsification needle that is proximate the end of the needle that contacts the tissue to be emulsified. The portion of the needle extending from the tip to the needle mount shall be referred to as the “needle body”. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the numeral  10  indicates generally a prior art phacoemulsification needle tip as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,555. Needle  10  terminates in a mouth  12  defined by a lip  14  at the end of needle body  16 , with lip  14  and needle body  16  formed as having an oval cross-section configuration. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the numeral  18  indicates generally a prior art phacoemulsification needle tip from U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,555, having a mouth  20  defined by a lip  22  at the end of needle  24 . The cross-sectional configuration of needle  18  and mouth  20  is a rectangle. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the numeral  26  identifies several prior art phacoemulsification needles as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,495, with needle  28  having a body with a circular cross-section as shown at  30 , needle  32  having a body with a triangular cross-section as shown at  34  and needle  36  having a body with an octagonal cross-section as shown at  38 . 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 3  the numeral  40  indicates generally a prior art phacoemulsification needle as illustrated in Published U.S. Patent Application 2006/0217672 (Chon). Needle  40  has a shank  42  terminating in a tip  44 . 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , tip  44  is shown in greater detail. As seen, and as described in the Chon publication, tip  44  is crimped or swaged to produce a plurality of ridges  46  and valley  48  resulting in the formation of a tip opening  50  of irregular shape. The resulting geometric configuration of tip  44  results in irregular surfaces such as ridges  46  and valleys  48  which are believed to make phacoemulsification more efficient. It can also be seen in  FIG. 4  that the shape of tip opening  50  shows that the tip opening itself has been narrowed or made smaller. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the numeral  52  identifies a phacoemulsification needle tip embodying principles of the present invention. For the purposes of this and the following descriptions, it is understood that tip  52  is formed at the end of needle shaft  54  which is of sufficient length to function effectively as a phacoemulsification needle assembly. It should also be understood that the principles of the present invention can be applied to phaco needles with straight configurations or angled configurations (such as the Alcon TurboSonics Flared ABS 30° Kellman Tip). 
         [0036]    As seen in  FIG. 5 , tip  52  has a tip end  56  terminating at the tip opening  58 . In the embodiment shown, tip opening  58  is circular but it should be understood that other shapes and configurations can be employed as well. 
         [0037]    As seen in  FIG. 5 , a cluster  60  of protuberances or “bumps” are formed on the exterior surface  62  of tip end  56 . 
         [0038]    As seen in  FIG. 6 , cluster  60  is formed proximate lip  64  of tip opening  58 . In the embodiment shown, bump cluster  60  is formed in a generally triangular pattern with the triangle base  66  formed proximate to and generally parallel to lip  64  and with the apex  68  of cluster  60  pointing generally rearward along tip end  56 . It is contemplated that other configurations of bumps can be employed as well. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a second bump cluster  70  is shown. In this embodiment, cluster  70  is formed diametrically opposite to first cluster  60 . As seen in greater detail in  FIG. 7  and in  FIG. 8 , each individual bump  72  is shown as a generally hemispherical protuberance. 
         [0040]    As seen in  FIG. 7 , first bump cluster  60  when viewed from within tip end  56  comprises a number of dimples  74 . Dimples  74  are formed by pushing out inner surface  76  of tip end  56 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , first bump cluster  60  is shown more clearly showing base  66  parallel to and proximate to lip  64  of tip opening  58  and apex  68  extending rearward from tip opening  58 . It can also be seen in  FIG. 8  that the individual bumps in bump cluster  60  may protrude above outer surface  62  to varying heights as desired in a generally three-dimensional array. As seen in  FIG. 7 , one such array is generally pyramidal in shape. 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIG. 9  the numeral  78  identifies an end view of a phaco needle tip  80  upon which a pair of bump clusters  82 ,  84  are formed. 
         [0043]    As described hereinabove, bump cluster  82  includes hemispherical outer bumps  86  extending outward from outer tip surface  88 . Bump cluster  82  also includes hemispherical inner bumps  90  extending inwardly from inner surface  92 . 
         [0044]    Bump cluster  84  includes outer bumps  94  extending outward from outer surface  88  and inner bumps  96  extending inwardly from inner surface  92 . Bumps  94  and  96  are square in shape. This illustrates that the bumps used in the present invention can be of various shapes and can extend from the inner surface or outer surface of the needle tip. 
         [0045]    It should be understood that although the embodiment discussed herein shows a pair of diametrically opposed bump clusters, that other numbers and configurations of such clusters may be formed to alter the operating efficacy or operating characteristics of a phaco needle tip. It can also be seen that in this fashion, geometric protuberances are formed on such tips without closing off, narrowing or reshaping the tip opening. 
         [0046]    While the foregoing describes an example or examples of the present invention, it is to be understood that such description is made by way of example only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It is expected that alterations and further modifications, as well as other and further applications of the principles of the present invention will occur to others skilled in the art to which the invention relates and, while differing from the foregoing, remain within the spirit and scope of the invention as herein described and claimed. Where means-plus-function clauses are used in the claims such language is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited functions and not only structural equivalents but equivalent structures as well. For the purposes of the present disclosure, two structures that perform the same function within an environment described above may be equivalent structures.