Vitrectomy probe with integral valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9924963-B2
Application number	US-201314090235-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2013
Priority date	Dec 13, 2012
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

A vitrectomy apparatus for performing an ocular surgery may include a vitrectomy probe body graspable by a user and a cutter extending from the body and comprising an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner tube may be moveable relative to the outer tube. The apparatus also may include an actuator within the body and configured to actuate the inner tube relative to the outer tube. A valve may be carried by the body and may be configured to selectively direct a pressurized fluid to the actuator to actuate the inner tube relative to the outer tube.

First claim

I claim:

1. A vitrectomy apparatus for performing an ocular surgery, comprising:
a vitrectomy probe body configured to be carried in a hand of a user while performing the ocular surgery;
a cutter extending from the body and comprising an inner tube and an outer tube, the inner tube being moveable relative to the outer tube;
an actuator, comprising a first and second outlet port, within the body and configured to actuate the inner tube relative to the outer tube; and
a piloted valve disposed within the body and configured to alternatingly direct a pressurized fluid from a constant pressure supply line to the first and second outlet port of the actuator, to actuate the inner tube relative to the outer tube,
wherein the piloted valve comprises at least one pilot port to receive pilot pressure pulses, and wherein the piloted valve further comprises a supply port, for receiving the pressurized fluid, and at least one exhaust passage, wherein the piloted valve alternatingly directs the pressurized fluid from the supply port to the first or second outlet port of the actuator while venting pressure from the other of the first or second outlet port of the actuator through an exhaust passage of the at least one exhaust passage, wherein the piloted valve alternates to direct the pressurized fluid to the first or second outlet port based on the piloted pressure pulses received at the at least one pilot port.

2. The vitrectomy apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a diaphragm, and wherein the piloted valve actuates between a first position that directs the pressurized fluid to the first chamber, through the first outlet port, while venting the second chamber and a second position that directs the pressurized fluid to the second chamber, through the second outlet port, while venting the first chamber.

3. The vitrectomy apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pressurized fluid source remote from the vitrectomy probe body and configured to provide the pressurized fluid to the supply port of the piloted valve disposed within the body.

4. The vitrectomy apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure pulse generator remote from the vitrectomy probe configured to supply and vent fluid to communicate the pilot pressure pulses to the piloted valve disposed within the body.

5. The vitrectomy apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a pilot line extending between the pressure pulse generator and the vitrectomy probe body, the pilot line connecting to the piloted valve disposed within the body to actuate the piloted valve.

6. The vitrectomy apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a single high pressure supply line extending from a pressurized fluid source remote from the vitrectomy probe body to the supply port of the piloted valve disposed within the vitrectomy probe body, the single high pressure supply line carrying a constant pressure fluid to the piloted valve disposed within the vitrectomy probe body.

7. The vitrectomy apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the single high pressure supply line is pressurized to and maintained at more than 20 psi (pounds per square inch) while pulsing pilot signals are transmitted in a pilot line extending between the pressure pulse generator and the vitrectomy probe body, the pilot line connecting to the piloted valve disposed within the body to actuate the piloted valve.

8. The vitrectomy apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the piloted valve comprises a base and a spool, the base having the at least one pilot port providing access to an end of the spool.

9. The vitrectomy apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an accumulator disposed in the body to dampen pressure fluctuations in the pressurized fluid.

10. The vitrectomy apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the piloted valve comprises a double pilot operated valve such that the at least one pilot port comprises a first pilot port on one end of the pilot valve and a second pilot port on an opposing end of the pilot valve.

11. The vitrectomy apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the piloted valve comprises an accumulator in communication with the supply port of the double piloted operated valve.

12. The vitrectomy apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pilot port comprises a first and second pilot port and wherein the at least one exhaust passage comprises a first and second exhaust passage.

13. A vitrectomy apparatus for performing an ocular surgery, comprising:
a vitrectomy probe comprising:
a body configured to be carried in a hand of a surgeon while performing the ocular surgery,
a cutter configured to aspirate tissue,
an actuator, comprising a first and second outlet port, for driving the cutter, and
a piloted valve disposed within the body and actuatable to alternatingly direct a pressurized fluid to the first and second outlet port of the actuator;

a pressure pulse generator disposed remotely from the vitrectomy probe, the pressure pulse generator being arranged to generate a pulsing pilot signal; and
a fluid line extending between the piloted valve and the pressure pulse generator, the fluid line carrying the pulsing pilot signal to the piloted valve,
wherein the piloted valve is configured to alternate the pressurized fluid to the first and second outlet port based on the pulsing pilot signal received by the piloted valve from the pressure pulse generator.

14. The vitrectomy apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the actuator comprises a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a diaphragm, and wherein the piloted valve actuates between a first position that directs the pressurized fluid to the first chamber while venting the second chamber and a second position that directs the pressurized fluid to the second chamber while venting the first chamber.

15. The vitrectomy apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a single high pressure supply line extending from a pressurized fluid source remote from the vitrectomy probe to the piloted valve disposed within the vitrectomy probe body, the single high pressure supply line carrying a constant pressure fluid to the piloted valve disposed within the vitrectomy probe body.

16. The vitrectomy apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the piloted valve comprises at least one pilot port to receive the pulsing pilot signal, and wherein the piloted valve further comprises a supply port and at least one exhaust passage, wherein the piloted valve alternatingly directs the pressurized fluid from the supply port to the first or second outlet port of the actuator while venting pressure from the other of the first or second outlet port of the actuator through the at least one exhaust passage, wherein the piloted valve alternates to direct the pressurized fluid to the first or second outlet port based on the piloted pressure pulses received at the pilot port.

17. The vitrectomy apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the at least one pilot port comprises a first and second pilot port and wherein the at least one exhaust passage comprises a first and second exhaust passage.

Assignees

• Novartis Ag

Inventors

• Mcdonell Brian William

Classifications

• A61B17/3203 Primary

  Fluid jet cutting instruments · CPC title

• A61B2017/00544

  pneumatically · CPC title

• A61F9/00736 Primary

  Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments (A61F9/008 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61F9/00763

  with rotating or reciprocating cutting elements, e.g. concentric cutting needles (atherectomy cutting instruments A61B17/3207; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016) · CPC title