Sleeve for a surgical instrument
US5941887A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 3, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 3, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2017/320084
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A surgical sleeve which includes a series of spaced apart rings on an interior wall surface encircling a slender cutting tip. The sleeve completely enshrouds the tip in an unstressed condition in order to avoid inadvertent injury to the interior portions of the eye. The sleeve, however, automatically retracts during use to expose the free end of the tip to effect emulsification of the natural lens. The spaced rings further reduce the surface contact between the sleeve and the tip and define a transverse channel through which fluid may flow when lateral pressure is applied to the sleeve. As a result, the sleeve is able to effectively remove heat from the tip even under adverse conditions and alleviate the risk of burning the corneal tissue.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.