Patent ID: 8038692

Claim:
An ophthalmic surgical probe with a modular construction, comprising: a skin having a distal opening and a proximal opening; an engine having a body, and a drive shaft support member and a drive shaft extending axially away from said engine; a needle holder having a bushing disposed therein and a proximal opening for removably engaging said drive shaft support member; a needle having a needle coupling rigidly coupled thereto, said needle coupling removably engaging said bushing; and a cutter having a cutter coupling rigidly coupled thereto, said cutter being slidably disposed within said needle, and said cutter coupling removably engaging said drive shaft; whereby: said drive shaft support member, said drive shaft, and said cutter coupling are operably disposed within said needle holder; said needle holder is received through said proximal opening of said skin so that said drive shaft support member, said needle holder, and said cutter coupling are disposed entirely within said skin; said needle extends through said distal opening of said skin; and said skin is removably engaged to said body of said engine.