Patent ID: 12257186

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of example implementations refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.

A cataract is a progressive cloudiness, hardening, and/or yellowing of the normally transparent lens of the eye. At birth, the natural lens is usually clear and very flexible (although not in the case of a congenital cataract, which refers to a lens opacity that is present at birth). When healthy, the lens becomes more rounded to focus on nearby objects and thinner (or stretched) to focus on objects that are farther away. Over time, however, the lens may become less flexible and begin to harden, resulting in difficulty changing a focus of the eye, which is one of the reasons why many people need reading glasses as they age (e.g., because the hardening of the lens results in difficulty focusing on nearby images such as print). Furthermore, the lens may gradually change color, eventually becoming yellowish or brownish rather than clear or transparent. Consequently, vision may acquire a yellowish or brownish tint, which creates difficulty distinguishing among certain colors and degrading the sharpness of vision as the cataract material becomes progressively cloudier. Accordingly, cataracts tend to cause progressive vision loss if left untreated, which may eventually lead to legal blindness or even total blindness.

Fortunately, even in cases where cataracts cause severe vision loss or blindness, vision can usually be restored with cataract surgery, which is among the most common surgical procedures performed worldwide. During cataract surgery, the natural lens of the eye (i.e., the cataract) is typically removed and replaced with an intraocular lens implant. One common technique used to remove the natural lens is minimally-invasive small-incision phacoemulsification (often referred to as “phaco”), in which the cataract is typically removed in two elements. The first element is the hard, central part of the cataract, referred to as the nucleus, and the second element is a softer layer that surrounds the nucleus, referred to as the cortex, which is made up of a cortical material. The goal of phaco/extracapsular cataract extraction is to remove the lens nucleus and cortex while maintaining the integrity of the lens capsule to allow placement of an intraocular lens (IOL) implant into the capsule. For example, to remove the nucleus, an ultrasonic handpiece is connected to a phaco machine, which causes a tip of the ultrasonic handpiece to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency to emulsify the hard nucleus. In some cases, the ultrasonic handpiece or a separate instrument (sometimes called a “cracker” or “chopper”) may be used to break the nucleus into smaller pieces that can be emulsified more easily. The emulsified and/or broken nucleus material is then aspirated out of the lens and eye using the same instrument, and then a different instrument referred to as an irrigation-aspiration (IA) device, an IA handpiece, and/or the like is then used to remove the cortical material by aspirating the cortical material out. The IA device is typically used to remove the cortical material because the ultrasonic handpiece has a sharp tip that is dangerous to use once the nucleus has been removed, and there is no longer a need to emulsify or break up material using ultrasonic energy after the nucleus is removed.

In general, the IA device aspirates the cortical material using vacuum pressure while simultaneously irrigating and maintaining space within the lens capsule and the anterior chamber of the eye to prevent the eye from collapsing when the cortical material is aspirated out of the eye or lens capsule. However, existing designs for IA devices pose various challenges, which include inefficiency in that existing IA devices have only a single port to remove the cortical material in small clock-hour strips shaped like pie wedges. This lengthens the time needed to remove the cortex because the single-port design limits the amount of cortical material that can be removed at a time, which means that the surgeon performing the procedure has to pass the IA device inside the capsule many times in order to remove all the cortical material. Furthermore, in some cases, removing all the cortical material may be difficult using the single-port design because there may be certain areas in the capsule that are hard to reach. This can potentially lead to post-surgical complications, as any cortical material that is left behind may cause inflammation and eventually turn white, a condition referred to as posterior capsule opacification (PCO), which may require the patient to undergo an additional laser procedure to make vision clear again. Furthermore, the single-port design carries a risk of inadvertent damage or rupture of the capsule because the surgeon has to perform additional manipulations to reach lens cortex in these hard to reach places.

Furthermore, with the single-port design, the vacuum pressure used to aspirate the cortical material is concentrated at one location, which creates a risk that the IA device will aspirate capsule material and thereby tear the capsule due to aspiration force applied to the thin and delicate capsule material while the surgeon is attempting to remove cortical material that tends to stick to the capsule. This may occur due to improper placement of the IA device and/or manipulation of the IA device in an excessive, awkward, and/or inefficient manner when attempting to remove hard-to-reach cortex (e.g., during removal of cortex, non-cortical residual lens material, and/or the like in a “subincisional” part of the capsule). For example, the concentrated vacuum pressure may pull part of the capsule into the aspiration port and potentially damage the capsule (referred to as “breaking the bag,” which is among the most common complications from cataract surgery). If the capsule is damaged, any residual lens material that may still be present in the capsule can pass through the hole towards the back of the eye (to the vitreous cavity and retina). Additionally, or alternatively, vitreous gel that fills the space between the lens and the retina can come forward towards the front of the eye, which can cause traction pulling on the retina and possibly lead to retinal detachment. Accordingly, conventional coaxial single-port IA devices can be difficult to use and potentially dangerous due to an elevated risk of intra-operative and/or post-operative complications.

Some implementations described herein relate to an irrigation and aspiration (IA) handpiece tip with a curved shape that contours to the natural, round shape of a lens capsule and the lenticular and cortical material held in the capsule. For example, in some implementations, the curved tip may have a radius of curvature that is based on a human equatorial lens diameter, which provides the surgeon with more maneuverability within the lens capsule, thereby making the procedure to remove the cortical material safer and more efficient. In some implementations, the curved tip may have a flattened and laterally extended hammerhead shape (e.g., analogous to the cephalofoil head shape of a hammerhead shark) to contour to the natural shape of the lens capsule, which also makes the tip safer, more efficient, and easier to use. Furthermore, in some implementations, the hammerhead shape may provide additional surface area to accommodate multiple aspiration ports (e.g., a central aspiration port and one or more lateral aspiration ports arranged on either side of the central aspiration port). In this way, cortical material is aspirated more efficiently and a risk of damaging the capsule is reduced because vacuum pressure is distributed, pulling on cortical material at multiple places simultaneously.

In addition, as described in further detail elsewhere herein, the IA handpiece tip may be made from certain materials (e.g., silicone, metal, a non-metallic plastic or polymer, and/or the like) to reduce the risk of damaging the capsule, and various elements of the IA handpiece tip may be arranged or otherwise designed to improve safety, efficiency, and/or usability. For example, the multiple aspiration ports may have a particular diameter to maximize a rate at which cortical material is aspirated from the lens without causing a substantial reduction in suction and/or holding power by distributing vacuum pressure over a large surface area. In another example, an interface between the IA handpiece tip and a body of the IA handpiece may be flexible, bendable, or otherwise adjustable to allow for more maneuverability within the lens capsule, which allows the surgeon to reach a subincisional cortex and/or other material in hard-to-reach areas. Furthermore, due to the hammerhead shape of the IA handpiece tip being curved and/or laterally extended, the IA handpiece can be slightly rotated about a longitudinal axis to reach under the subincisional part of the lens and capsule more easily (e.g., relative to a single-port coaxial IA tip) while keeping the aspiration ports facing upward to prevent accidental aspiration of the lens capsule. In still another example, the IA handpiece tip may be removable from the body of the IA handpiece, which makes the IA handpiece tip disposable, easier to clean, and/or the like.

FIGS.1A-1Bare diagrams related to an example cataract surgery100in which devices, systems, and/or methods described herein may be implemented.

As shown inFIG.1A, and by reference number105, the lens in a healthy eye is clear and transparent, whereas the lens in an eye with a cataract is hardened and cloudy. Accordingly, a cataract refers to a clouding of the normally clear lens inside the eye, which can lead to significant vision impairment over time. Cataracts tend to be very common in older people, as the lens hardens and becomes cloudy as lens proteins denature and degrade over time, although certain types of cataracts can also occur in younger people (e.g., congenital cataracts, post-traumatic cataracts, cataracts caused by radiation exposure, drug-induced cataracts, and/or the like). In general, the eye enables a person to see by allowing light to pass through the cornea at the front of the eye, and the lens focuses the light onto the retina, which is a delicate tissue that lines the inside of the back of the eye. The retina converts the light into electrical signals that travel along the optic nerve to the brain, which interprets the electrical signals as images so that a person can see.

As shown inFIG.1A, the lens in a healthy eye is clear and transparent and permits light to easily pass through, producing a sharply focused image on the retina. However, when a cataract forms, the cloudy lens causes light to be scattered and/or blocked, causing foggy images, blurry images, discolored images, increased sensitivity to bright light, glare, and/or other vision impairments up to and including blindness. In the early stages of a cataract, there may be no symptoms or vision impairment, but as the cataract progresses, the symptoms become noticeable and progressively worsen. When a cataract patient starts to experience significant vision impairment, reduced quality of life, and/or the like, an evaluation may be performed to determine whether the cataract patient is a suitable candidate for cataract surgery (e.g., based on a degree of vision impairment due to the cataract, other factors related to eye health such as whether the patient has pre-existing glaucoma or retinal detachment, whether the patient is taking medications that may result in the patient developing surgical complications, and/or the like). When the patient is determined to be a suitable candidate for cataract surgery, the lens that is clouded by the cataract may be surgically removed and replaced with an intraocular lens implant.

As shown inFIG.1A, and by reference number110, the lens may be structured as a biconvex disk located behind the iris and in front of the vitreous body. The lens is circumferentially suspended inside the eye to the ciliary body by cords called zonules. The ciliary body is a circular structure that lines the inside of the eye, which contains a muscle that tenses or relaxes the zonules to change the shape and thickness of the lens. This controlled transformation of the lens shape alters the angle of the light entering and exiting the lens, which allows a healthy eye to focus images nearby or in the distance onto the retina through an action referred to as accommodation.

As shown by reference number110, the lens has three major parts, referred to as a nucleus, a cortex, and a capsule, which are circumferentially layered. In particular, the nucleus is at the center of the lens and contains proteins that are present from birth. As mentioned above, the nucleus generally hardens over time, which can eventually lead to or contribute to cataract formation. As a person ages, layers of transparent fibers are created and layered around the nucleus to create the cortex (or cortical material), which is much softer than the nucleus. The capsule is a transparent elastic membrane that surrounds the nucleus and the cortex. During phacoemulsification cataract surgery, a procedure described in more detail elsewhere herein, an anterior part of the capsule is opened to enable access to and removal of the nucleus and the cortex, while the capsule is maintained to serve as a “bag” to hold an intraocular lens implant.

As shown inFIG.1B, and by reference number115, a phacoemulsification cataract surgery may include cutting a small incision at a corneal margin. For example, the incision is usually about 3 millimeters in length, and is generally self-sealing whereby the wound naturally heals after surgery with no stitches. This wound may be started in the clear portion of the cornea, or the wound can be started from a more posterior position (e.g., from the limbus, the sclera, and/or the like). As further shown inFIG.1B, and by reference number120, the phacoemulsification cataract surgery may further include a capsulorhexis, which refers to a technique in which a central hole or opening is created in the capsule to provide access to the nucleus and the cortex to be removed from the lens. The capsulorhexis technique is performed to create access for removing lenticular material while maintaining integrity of the capsule that will hold the intraocular lens to be implanted to replace the clouded lens being removed.

As further shown inFIG.1B, and by reference number125, the phacoemulsification cataract surgery may include a phacoemulsification step to remove the hard nucleus at the center of the lens using a phaco handpiece. For example, the phaco handpiece may be connected to a phaco machine that uses ultrasound energy to break down and/or emulsify the nucleus, and a vacuum is attached to the phaco handpiece in order to aspirate broken down and/or emulsified pieces of the nucleus. As further shown inFIG.1B, and by reference number130, cortical aspiration may then be performed to remove the cortex using an irrigation-aspiration (IA) handpiece, which may also be attached to the phaco machine.

During the cortical aspiration, the IA handpiece is used to pull at the cortex and draw the cortical material into an aspiration lumen while an irrigation fluid (e.g., a balanced salt solution) is injected into the capsule. In particular, as mentioned elsewhere herein, the irrigation fluid is injected to maintain the anterior and/or posterior chamber(s) and prevent the eye from collapsing as the cortical material is aspirated. The cortical aspiration tends to be the step in the cataract surgery where the capsule is most likely to be torn or damaged, as the cortical material sticks to the capsule and may be difficult to reach. As mentioned above, a tear in the capsule may result in vitreous entering the anterior chamber, which could lead to retinal detachment, and/or lenticular material passing towards the back of the eye. Accordingly, in some implementations, an IA handpiece and/or one or more components of an IA handpiece used during the cortical aspiration may be designed to increase the efficiency and/or safety of the cortical aspiration, as described in more detail elsewhere herein. After all of the cortical material has been removed, the capsule may be empty and ready for implantation of the intraocular (replacement) lens.

As further shown inFIG.1B, and by reference number135, the intraocular lens implant may be inserted into the empty capsule. The intraocular lens implant may include an optic part and two arms or haptics branching from the side of the optic part to hold the entire structure of the intraocular lens implant in place within the capsular bag. For example, to fit the optic part and the haptics into the small incision, the intraocular lens implant is typically folded and injected into the eye through a cylindrical tube (e.g., a lens injector). As further shown inFIG.1B, and by reference number140, once inserted, the haptics of the intraocular lens implant unfold. At that point, the IA handpiece is inserted to remove any additional viscoelastic material that has been inserted into the eye to keep the eye full during the procedure. In particular, the IA handpiece is used to remove this additional material because leaving the additional material in the eye would create high pressure in the eye, potentially leading to complications. The surgeon then hydrates the corneal incision to cause the tissues of the cornea to expand and press against one another, sealing the wound and making the wound water-tight without sutures.

As indicated above,FIGS.1A-1Bare provided merely as one or more examples. Other examples may differ from what is described with regard toFIGS.1A-1B.

FIGS.2A-2Bare diagrams of one or more example implementations of an irrigation and aspiration (IA) handpiece200described herein. In general, the IA handpiece200may be used to remove cortical material from a lens of a cataract surgery patient after a nucleus has been removed from the lens of the cataract surgery patient via phacoemulsification. Additionally, or alternatively, the IA handpiece200may be used to remove retained viscoelastic material from the anterior chamber of the eye after an intraocular lens implant has been inserted into the eye of the cataract surgery patient. For example, the viscoelastic material is a synthetic material often added prior to the capsulorhexis step of cataract surgery to make space for the instruments used during the cataract surgery beneath the delicate endothelium of the cornea and above the fragile capsule. Accordingly, after the cataract lens has been removed, the viscoelastic material can be added prior to insertion of the intraocular lens. Subsequently, the IA handpiece200may be used to aspirate out this (synthetic) viscoelastic material, as leaving the viscoelastic material in the eye can lead to increased intraocular pressure after the cataract surgery.

As shown inFIG.2A, the IA handpiece200may include a sleeve210having a proximal end and a distal end. In some implementations, the sleeve210may be made from silicone, plastic, and/or another suitable material. As further shown inFIG.2A, the IA handpiece200includes an irrigation lumen212, and irrigation fluid214may enter the irrigation lumen212through an opening at the proximal end of the sleeve210and exit the irrigation lumen212through a set of irrigation ports216. Furthermore, the irrigation lumen212may be formed around an (inner) aspiration lumen218, which may be a metal rod, a plastic tube, a canal, a duct, and/or other suitable structure to provide a channel through which aspirated material220may pass. For example, in some implementations, the irrigation lumen212and the aspiration lumen218may have respective openings arranged to receive tubing and/or other suitable equipment. Accordingly, the irrigation fluid214may flow from a fluid source (e.g., an intravenous fluid bag, a pressure bag, and/or the like) and into the irrigation lumen212through the tubing, and the aspirated material220may be drawn into the aspiration lumen218through an aspiration tip222having multiple aspiration ports224before passing through the tubing and into a waste bag. In some implementations, the aspiration tip222may be made from silicone, metal, a non-metallic plastic or polymer, and/or the like.

As further shown inFIG.2A, the aspiration lumen218may extend from the proximal end of the sleeve210to the distal end of the sleeve210, and the aspiration lumen218may be disposed concentrically in the sleeve210to define the irrigation lumen212in an annular region between the sleeve210and the aspiration lumen218. As further shown inFIG.2A, the aspiration tip222may have a curved shape, with a body portion that is flattened and laterally extended to form a hammerhead shape (e.g., a shape similar to the head of a hammerhead shark, often referred to as a cephalofoil) to contour to the natural shape of a lens capsule, which makes the aspiration tip222safe, efficient, and easy to use to remove material (e.g., cortical material, viscoelastic material, and/or the like) from the eye of a cataract surgery patient.

As further shown inFIG.2A, an interface226may couple the aspiration tip222to the sleeve210at the distal end of the sleeve210, and the multiple aspiration ports224may be adapted to draw material to be aspirated into the aspiration lumen218when a suction source (e.g., a pump provided in a phaco machine attached to the IA handpiece200) is used to apply vacuum pressure at a proximal end of the aspiration lumen218. As shown, the set of irrigation ports216may be arranged at the distal end of the sleeve210to permit the irrigation fluid214to flow outwardly therefrom (e.g., the irrigation fluid214flows into the capsule of the lens to maintain a balance between fluid entering and exiting the eye).

In some implementations, the aspiration tip222may have a radius of curvature based on a human equatorial lens diameter, and the radius of curvature in combination with the flattened and laterally extended hammerhead design may provide the aspiration tip222with a curved shape that matches or otherwise contours with the natural shape of the lens capsule. For example, the equatorial lens diameter is usually about 6.5 millimeters at birth, which typically reaches about 9.0 to 10.0 millimeters at adulthood. In some implementations, the radius of curvature may have a value that provides a curvature that is relatively close but sharper than the human equatorial lens diameter for the intended cataract surgery patient (e.g., by an amount that satisfies a threshold). In this way, the curved aspiration tip222may contour to the natural curvature of the capsule for the intended cataract surgery patient as well as patients that may have a slightly smaller capsule or a slightly larger capsule. For example, assuming that the intended cataract surgery patient is an adult with an equatorial lens diameter of about 9.0 millimeters (corresponding to a radius of about 4.5 millimeters), an outer arc of the curved aspiration tip222may have a radius of curvature less than or equal to the radius of curvature of the average cataract/natural lens (i.e., ≤about 4.5 millimeters). For example, a radius of curvature of about 3.5 millimeters may contour with the natural shape of capsules in the typical range from about 9.0 to 10.0 millimeters, providing the surgeon with maximum maneuverability as well as the ability to work in smaller-than-average eyes. Additionally, or alternatively, the radius of curvature may have an intermediate value between the radius of curvature of the lens equator and the capsulorhexis to account for the usage of the IA handpiece200in a region between the lens equator and an edge of the capsulorhexis.

In some implementations, the aspiration tip222may be integrally coupled to the sleeve210, in which case the interface226between the aspiration tip222and the sleeve210may be substantially continuous (e.g., the aspiration tip222, the interface226, the aspiration lumen218, and/or the sleeve210may be constructed as a single piece). Additionally, or alternatively, the interface226between the aspiration tip222and the sleeve210may permit the aspiration tip222to be removed or otherwise decoupled from the sleeve210. For example, the interface226may permit the aspiration tip222to be screwed onto and/or off of the sleeve210, snapped onto and/or off of the sleeve210, and/or the like. In this way, the aspiration tip222, the aspiration lumen218, and/or other components of the IA handpiece200may be easily cleaned, sterilized, and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, the removable feature may allow for the aspiration tip222to be constructed from a disposable material, which may make the IA handpiece200less expensive and more accessible (e.g., to treat cataract patients in developing countries).

In some implementations, the aspiration tip222may be constructed in different sizes to accommodate variations in the size and/or shape of eyes of different cataract surgery patients. For example, although cataracts generally tend to develop as a person ages, cataracts can be present at birth (e.g., in the case of congenital cataracts) or form at younger ages due to other circumstances such as blunt trauma, radiation exposure, and/or the like. Accordingly, in some implementations, the aspiration tip222may be constructed in different sizes (e.g., small, medium, large, and/or the like) with varying radii of curvature to accommodate cataract surgery patients with different equatorial lens diameters (e.g., young children, adolescents, adults, and/or the like). Accordingly, in some implementations, the interface226permitting the aspiration tip222to be removed from the sleeve210may allow the aspiration tip222to be swapped out for another aspiration tip222of a different size depending on the intended patient. Additionally, or alternatively, where the aspiration tip222is integrally coupled to (e.g., not removable from) the sleeve210, different IA devices200may be constructed with aspiration tips222of various sizes.

As further shown inFIG.2A, the flattened and laterally extended hammerhead shape of the aspiration tip222may provide the aspiration tip222with a surface area that can accommodate the multiple aspiration ports224, which may enable material (e.g., cortical material, viscoelastic material, and/or the like) to be drawn into the aspiration lumen218and removed as aspirated material220faster, more efficiently, and/or the like relative to a single-port design. For example, as the suction source is used to apply vacuum pressure at the proximal end of the aspiration lumen218, the vacuum pressure may be distributed among the multiple ports224, which may simultaneously draw cortical material, viscoelastic material, lenticular material, and/or the like from the capsule into the aspiration lumen218. The vacuum pressure may allow the surgeon or another user operating the IA handpiece200to remove the material from the capsule, and the aspiration ports224may have a diameter that provides an aggregate surface area to maximize a rate at which material is drawn into the aspiration lumen218while also ensuring that there is sufficient holding force to efficiently draw the material into the aspiration lumen218.

For example, the multiple aspiration ports224may be spread out across the aspiration tip222to remove large sections of material (e.g., a whole quadrant or half the cortical material in the capsule) in a single pass, rather than small wedges, which allows all of the cortex to be removed in fewer passes relative to a single-port design (e.g., in two or three passes). In contrast, when removing the cortex using a conventional (single-port) IA handpiece, the IA handpiece is typically placed under an edge of the capsulorhexis and used to pull at the cortex from within the capsule, closer to the lens equator, while moving in a circumferential manner. For example, when using a single-port IA handpiece, the surgeon may attempt to grab two or three clock hours of cortex at a time by moving circumferentially before bringing the IA handpiece radially toward the center of the eye, which would require the surgeon to perform several passes (e.g., five or more) in order to remove all the cortical material. In this way, by providing a design with the multiple aspiration ports224, the aspirated material220may be removed more efficiently (e.g., in fewer passes and in larger sections), which allows for faster and safer cortical cleanup and a reduced likelihood that there will be residual cortical material in the capsule. Consequently, the multiple ports224may reduce surgical time, which may reduce a likelihood of inflammation in the eye after the cataract surgery, which in turn may reduce a probability that the cataract surgery patient will develop ocular hypertension, uveitis, corneal edema, macular edema, and/or posterior capsule opacification (PCO) that may require the patient to undergo additional treatments or interventions (e.g., a follow-up laser procedure) to make vision clear again.

In some implementations, as mentioned elsewhere herein, the aspiration ports224may have a diameter that provides an aggregate surface area to maximize a rate at which material is drawn into the aspiration lumen218while also ensuring that there is sufficient holding force to efficiently draw the material into the aspiration lumen218. For example, in some implementations, the diameter of the aspiration ports224may be in a range from about 0.20 millimeters to about 0.30 millimeters, where diameters towards the lower end of the above-mentioned range may provide higher suction and/or holding force and diameters towards the higher end of the above-mentioned range may provide more surface area to allow more aspirated material220to pass through. However, the diameters towards the higher end of the above-mentioned range may also exhibit relatively lower suction and/or holding force, meaning that the aspirated material220may be drawn into the aspiration lumen218at a slower rate than diameters towards the lower end of the above-mentioned range. Accordingly, although the diameter of the aspiration ports224may generally fall within the range from about 0.20 millimeters to about 0.30 millimeters, a diameter of approximately 0.25 millimeters may provide an optimal tradeoff between maximizing the surface area available to draw aspirated material220into the aspiration lumen218and maintaining a sufficiently high suction and/or holding force to ensure that the aspirated material220is drawn in at an efficient rate. Furthermore, a diameter closer to the mid-point of the range may avoid a need to operate the suction source (e.g., a phaco machine) at a high vacuum level, which may reduce a risk of damaging the capsule when removing the cortex, reduce energy consumed by the suction source, and/or the like.

In some implementations, the multiple aspiration ports224may be arranged on the aspiration tip222in a manner that may distribute vacuum pressure applied at the suction source over the body of the aspiration tip222, which may further reduce a risk of damaging the capsule when operating the IA handpiece200. For example, as shown inFIG.2A, the multiple aspiration ports224include a central port and one or more lateral ports arranged on either side of the central port, whereby the vacuum pressure is distributed across the central port and the lateral ports on either side of the central port, which makes the IA handpiece200safer in addition to being more efficient than single-port designs. For example, as shown inFIG.2A, the IA handpiece200includes three aspiration ports224, with one aspiration port224arranged on either side of the central aspiration port224. Alternatively, in another design, the IA handpiece200may include five aspiration ports224, with two lateral aspiration ports224arranged on either side of the central aspiration port224. In such a design, the diameter of the aspiration ports224may be reduced relative to the above-mentioned range to ensure that there is sufficient suction and/or holding power to draw in aspirated material220, with the additional two aspiration ports224providing more aggregate surface area to compensate for the smaller diameter. In other designs, the IA handpiece200may have additional aspiration ports224, fewer aspiration ports224, and/or differently arranged aspiration ports224than shown inFIGS.2A-2B(e.g., the IA handpiece200may have an even number of aspiration ports224, such as two, four, six, or more aspiration ports224).

Furthermore, the aspiration ports224may be arranged such that an inter-port spacing results in an efficient distribution of vacuum pressure among the aspiration ports224. For example, in a three-port design (e.g., as shown inFIGS.2A-2B) with the aspiration ports224having diameters in a range from about 0.20 millimeters to about 0.30 millimeters, a spacing between the central aspiration port224and each lateral aspiration port224may be in a range from about 0.25 millimeters to about 0.30 millimeters, with a spacing between the lateral ports224and a side of the aspiration tip222in a range from about 0.20 millimeters to about 0.30 millimeters. Accordingly, based on these example dimensions, the aspiration tip222may have a total width in a range from about 2.0 millimeters to about 3.0 millimeters.

As shown inFIG.2B, and by reference number228, the interface226may provide an angular offset between the aspiration tip222and the sleeve210such that the aspiration tip222is displaced from a longitudinal axis of the sleeve210(e.g., according to an angular offset in a range from about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees, or from about 30 degrees to about 45 degrees). For example, in some implementations, the interface226may be flexible, bendable, or otherwise adjustable to permit the aspiration tip222to be displaced from the longitudinal axis of the sleeve210such that the angular offset can be adjusted in a range from about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees, from about 30 degrees to about 45 degrees, and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, in some implementations, the interface226may provide a fixed angular offset between the aspiration tip222and the sleeve210(e.g., in implementations in which the aspiration tip222, the interface226, the sleeve210, and/or the like are constructed as a single piece). In either case, the angular offset between the aspiration tip222and the longitudinal axis of the sleeve210may allow the aspiration tip222to be inserted at a subincisional cortex (i.e., under an incision in the capsule), which allows the subincisional cortex to be removed more easily. For example, the angular offset may allow the IA handpiece200to be turned towards the subincisional cortex so that the aspiration ports224are able to reach under the incision in order to safely remove the subincisional cortical material while also maintaining the aspiration ports224in an orientation facing towards the surgeon and away from the posterior capsule.

As indicated above,FIGS.2A-2Bare provided merely as one or more examples. Other examples may differ from what is described with regard toFIGS.2A-2B.

FIG.3is a diagram of an example environment300in which devices, systems, and/or methods described herein may be implemented. As shown inFIG.3, environment300may include a phacoemulsification (phaco) machine330that can be connected to a handpiece200and operate in various modes to remove a natural lens from an eye of a cataract surgery patient, a control device340(e.g., a foot pedal) that can control a mode in which the phaco machine330operates, and a console350that can be used to control various settings or parameters associated with the phaco machine330. Devices of environment300may interconnect via wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination of wired and wireless connections.

For example, the phaco machine330may operate in an irrigation mode when the control device340is set to a first position, which may cause a pinch valve336to open and thereby allow irrigation fluid214(e.g., a balanced salt solution) to flow from a fluid bag334into an irrigation lumen of the handpiece200. Furthermore, the phaco machine330may operate in an irrigation-aspiration mode when the control device340is set to a second position, which may activate a pump332(e.g., a peristaltic or Venturi pump) to apply suction to an aspiration lumen of the handpiece200and thereby cause aspirated material220to be removed from the eye and deposited in a waste bag338. In some implementations, the phaco machine330may be operated in the irrigation mode and/or the aspiration mode when the handpiece200is used to remove cortical material from the eye after a nucleus has been removed via phacoemulsification and/or to remove viscoelastic material from the eye after the cortical material has been removed and an intraocular lens implant has been inserted into the lens capsule of the cataract surgery patient.

Furthermore, in some implementations, the phaco machine330may operate in a phacoemulsification mode when removing the nucleus from the eye. In such cases, a different handpiece with a vibrating tip (e.g., a phaco handpiece, a phaco probe, and/or the like) may be used to cause the nucleus to emulsify, break apart into small pieces, and/or the like while the eye is irrigated and the nuclear material is aspirated. For example, when the control device340is set to a third position, the phaco machine330may cause the tip of the other handpiece to vibrate, emitting ultrasound waves, ultrasonic energy, and/or the like to emulsify the nucleus and/or break the nucleus into smaller pieces that can be emulsified more easily.

In some implementations, the console350may include one or more devices capable of controlling one or more settings and/or parameters of the phaco machine330based on the mode in which the phaco machine330is operating. For example, the console350may include an interface that allows an operator to set an irrigation rate (e.g., when operating the phaco machine330in the irrigation mode, the aspiration mode, and/or the phacoemulsification mode), a vacuum pressure and/or aspiration rate (e.g., when operating the phaco machine330in the aspiration mode and/or the phacoemulsification mode), a frequency at which to vibrate the tip of the phaco handpiece (e.g., when operating the phaco machine330in the phacoemulsification mode), and/or the like. Furthermore, in some implementations, the console350may be used to track various metrics related to the cataract surgery (e.g., an elapsed time) and/or the like.

The number and arrangement of devices and networks shown inFIG.3are provided as one or more examples. In practice, there may be additional devices, fewer devices, different devices, or differently arranged devices than those shown inFIG.3. Furthermore, two or more devices shown inFIG.3may be implemented within a single device, or a single device shown inFIG.3may be implemented as multiple, distributed devices. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one or more devices) of environment300may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of devices of environment300.

FIG.4is a diagram of example components of a device400. Device400may correspond to phaco machine330, pump332, control device340, and/or console350. In some implementations, phaco machine330, pump332, control device340, and/or console350may include one or more devices400and/or one or more components of device400. As shown inFIG.4, device400may include a bus410, a processor420, a memory430, a storage component440, an input component450, an output component460, and a communication interface470.

Bus410includes a component that permits communication among multiple components of device400. Processor420is implemented in hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software. Processor420is a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or another type of processing component. In some implementations, processor420includes one or more processors capable of being programmed to perform a function. Memory430includes a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and/or another type of dynamic or static storage device (e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and/or an optical memory) that stores information and/or instructions for use by processor420.

Storage component440stores information and/or software related to the operation and use of device400. For example, storage component440may include a hard disk (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and/or a magneto-optic disk), a solid-state drive (SSD), a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk, a cartridge, a magnetic tape, and/or another type of non-transitory computer-readable medium, along with a corresponding drive.

Input component450includes a component that permits device400to receive information, such as via user input (e.g., a touch screen display, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a switch, and/or a microphone). Additionally, or alternatively, input component450may include a component for determining location (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) component) and/or a sensor (e.g., an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an actuator, another type of positional or environmental sensor, and/or the like). Output component460includes a component that provides output information from device400(via, e.g., a display, a speaker, a haptic feedback component, an audio or visual indicator, and/or the like).

Communication interface470includes a transceiver-like component (e.g., a transceiver, a separate receiver, a separate transmitter, and/or the like) that enables device400to communicate with other devices, such as via a wired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wired and wireless connections. Communication interface470may permit device400to receive information from another device and/or provide information to another device. For example, communication interface470may include an Ethernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, an infrared interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a Wi-Fi interface, a cellular network interface, and/or the like.

Device400may perform one or more processes described herein. Device400may perform these processes based on processor420executing software instructions stored by a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as memory430and/or storage component440. As used herein, the term “computer-readable medium” refers to a non-transitory memory device. A memory device includes memory space within a single physical storage device or memory space spread across multiple physical storage devices.

Software instructions may be read into memory430and/or storage component440from another computer-readable medium or from another device via communication interface470. When executed, software instructions stored in memory430and/or storage component440may cause processor420to perform one or more processes described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, hardware circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to perform one or more processes described herein. Thus, implementations described herein are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.

The number and arrangement of components shown inFIG.4are provided as an example. In practice, device400may include additional components, fewer components, different components, or differently arranged components than those shown inFIG.4. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of components (e.g., one or more components) of device400may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of components of device400.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications and variations may be made in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the implementations.

As used herein, the term “component” is intended to be broadly construed as hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software.

As used herein, satisfying a threshold may, depending on the context, refer to a value being greater than the threshold, more than the threshold, higher than the threshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than the threshold, fewer than the threshold, lower than the threshold, less than or equal to the threshold, equal to the threshold, or the like.

Certain user interfaces have been described herein and/or shown in the figures. A user interface may include a graphical user interface, a non-graphical user interface, a text-based user interface, and/or the like. A user interface may provide information for display. In some implementations, a user may interact with the information, such as by providing input via an input component of a device that provides the user interface for display. In some implementations, a user interface may be configurable by a device and/or a user (e.g., a user may change the size of the user interface, information provided via the user interface, a position of information provided via the user interface, and/or the like). Additionally, or alternatively, a user interface may be pre-configured to a standard configuration, a specific configuration based on a type of device on which the user interface is displayed, and/or a set of configurations based on capabilities and/or specifications associated with a device on which the user interface is displayed.

It will be apparent that systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. The actual specialized control hardware or software code used to implement these systems and/or methods is not limiting of the implementations. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and/or methods are described herein without reference to specific software code—it being understood that software and hardware can be designed to implement the systems and/or methods based on the description herein.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of various implementations. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure of various implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set.

No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Further, as used herein, the article “the” is intended to include one or more items referenced in connection with the article “the” and may be used interchangeably with “the one or more.” Furthermore, as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, a combination of related and unrelated items, and/or the like), and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the phrase “only one” or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, as used herein, the term “or” is intended to be inclusive when used in a series and may be used interchangeably with “and/or,” unless explicitly stated otherwise (e.g., if used in combination with “either” or “only one of”).