Miniaturized surgical instruments especially useful for the opthalmologic surgical procedures and methods of making the same
US6491670B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 4, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 10, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 4, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F9/00727
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Surgical instruments, especially for opthalmological surgical procedures, have a smooth, bulbous arcuate tip that surrounds the distal end of a lumen. The tip may be translucent and flexible. Most preferably, the tip is formed of a compliant, yet self-supporting, material, such as medical grade transparent silicone elastomer. The bulbous arcuate tip may take various geometric forms, for example, generally spherical, ellipsoid or the like. The bulbous arcuate tip may be symmetrical about the elongate axis of the instrument or may be asymmetrical (i.e., angularly disposed) relative to such longitudinal axis. The surgical instruments of this invention are most preferably made by first adhering a length of compliant tubing (e.g., silicone) onto a distal end of a rigid tube (e.g., a section of a stainless steel needle). The proximal rigid tube section is preferably coaxially sleeved over, and affixed to, the distal compliant tube section. A forming wire may then be inserted into the aligned lumens of the proximal rigid tube and distal compliant tube sections so that a terminal end section of the forming wire extends beyond the distal end of the compliant tube section. A bolus of curable…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.