Duke University

Other

Brian C Dodge

Ronald F Overaker

Cynthia A Toth

Robert Machemer

Brooks W McCuen

Glenn J Jaffe

Sharon Fekrat

Eric A Postel

Brooks W Mccuen

Dyson William Hickingbotham

David L Epstein

Eric Postel

Eric A Postal

Douglas M Knight

L Allen Kindman

Miniature surgical forceps are formed from a one-piece tubular member by opposed longitudinal channels machined in a distal end thereof so as to establish a radially opposed pair of unitary forceps jaws. Most preferably, the opposed channels are formed in the distal end of the rigid tubular member by means of electron discharge machining (EDM) techniques. The resulting opposed cross-sectionally arcuate jaw sections may be bent and/or further shaped to achieve the desired final jaw configuration. The inner surfaces of the forceps jaws thereby established may have a filler material deposited in such a manner so as to change the overall shape and/or geometric configuration of the jaws and thereby engineer them to a specific surgical purpose.

Method of making miniaturized surgical forceps

A hand-held surgical light assembly is provided with a light source, and a handpiece which is adapted to be grasped and manipulated by a user. The handpiece has a light guide with a proximal end optically connected to the light source, and a distal end which projects outwardly from said handpiece so as to direct light guided thereby onto a field of view determined by manipulation of the handpiece by the user. The handpiece includes a switch assembly which is operatively coupled to the light source to allow user selection between at least two different light intensities (e.g., essentially on/off) discharged by said light guide onto the field of view. In preferred forms, the switch assembly includes an electrically conductive inner base member and an electrically conductive outer tubular elastomeric member concentrically positioned in surrounding, but spaced relationship, with the inner base member. When contact between the inner base member and the outer elastomeric member is made, switch circuitry changes the visible light intensity of the visible light generated by the light source, e.g., by either directly modulating the current to the lamp itself, or by providing an electrically operable shutter assembly which masks the light generated by the light source. The former embodiment is especially well suited for surgical lights which are self-contained (i.e., have the light sources contained in the handpiece), while the latter is especially well suited for surgical lights which have remotely positioned light sources.

Intensity controllable hand-held surgical light

Hand-held surgical instruments include magnetic couplings which impart simultaneous reciprocal rotary and longitudinal motions or oscillations to a distally located workpiece. In preferred embodiments, the magnetic couplings include a drive shaft, an output shaft coaxially aligned with the drive shaft relative to a central axis, and drive and driven magnet assemblies connected operatively to the drive and output shafts, respectively. The drive and driven magnet assemblies include permanent magnets arranged to translate continuous rotation of the drive shaft into simultaneous rotary and longitudinal movements of the driven magnet assembly relative to the drive axis. A resilient support member exhibiting torsional and longitudinal resiliency (e.g., an annular elastomeric disc) is most preferably operatively connected to the output shaft to allow for such simultaneous rotary and longitudinal movements thereof.

Hand-held surgical instruments employing magnetic couplings for simultaneous rotary and longitudinal oscillations of distal workpieces

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 liquid elastomer is then applied onto the distal end of compliant tube section around the forming wire protruding therefrom. By rotating and otherwise manipulating the tube sections during curing of the liquid elastomer, a bulbous arcuate tip may be formed. Once the elastomer tip is cured (solidified), the forming wire may be withdrawn thereby forming a through lumen which terminates at the tip. The tip may alternatively be constructed using injection-molding techniques.

Miniaturized surgical instruments especially useful for the opthalmologic surgical procedures and methods of making the same

Hand-held instruments have an actuator assembly which may be employed to actuate a distally mounted tool by application of radial force about the entirety of the instrument circumference (i.e., is omni-actuatable). Most preferably, the actuator assembly includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart generally L-shaped actuator levers defining respective arcuate bearing surfaces along exterior edge regions thereof, and a retaining ring which circumferentially bounds the actuator levers around the exterior edge regions thereof. The retaining ring most preferably defines an interior stationary arcuate guide surface in conformable mated relationship to the bearing surfaces of said actuator levers. Radial force applied to the proximally extending arm sections of said levers thereby responsively causes the bearing surfaces thereof to be slideably moved along the guide surface of said retaining ring so as to translate such radial force into longitudinal movements of an elongate actuation pin between retracted and extended positions thereof. By providing a tool which operatively coacts with the actuation pin, a surgeon may actuate the tool as needed by applying radial force at any point about the circumference of the actuator assembly.

Hand-held surgical instruments with omni-circumferential actuation capabilities

Magnetic couplings impart simultaneous reciprocal rotary and longitudinal motions or oscillations to a work element. In preferred embodiments, the magnetic couplings include a drive shaft, an output shaft coaxially aligned with the drive shaft relative to a central axis, and drive and driven magnet assemblies connected operatively to the drive and output shafts, respectively. The drive and driven magnet assemblies include permanent magnets arranged to translate continuous rotation of the drive shaft into simultaneous rotary and longitudinal movements of the driven magnet assembly relative to the drive axis. A resilient support member exhibiting torsional and longitudinal resiliency (e.g., an annular elastomeric disc) is most preferably operatively connected to the output shaft to allow for such simultaneous rotary and longitudinal movements thereof.

Magnetic couplings for imparting simultaneous rotary and longitudinal oscillations

Hand-held instruments which may be employed to actuate a distally mounted tool by application of radial compressive force about the instrument circumference (i.e., omni-actuatable). In preferred forms, hand-held instruments have a handle which includes an actuator assembly for actuating a tool, wherein the actuator assembly has a generally V-shaped circumferential channel in which an actuator band is seated. A slide ring assembly is provided which defines the generally V-shaped circumferential channel and has at least one slide ring mounted for longitudinal movements relative to the handle. The actuator band is radially flexible. Thus, in response to a compressive force, the actuator band seated within the generally V-shaped channel will be flexed radially inwardly to thereby moves the slide ring longitudinally. The slide ring, in turn, coacts operatively with the distally mounted tool (e.g., through a longitudinally slidable actuator pin). Radial motion of the actuator band is thereby translated into longitudinal motion of the slide ring, which longitudinal motion is then employed to actuate the tool.

Omni-actuatable hand-held surgical instruments

A hand-held surgical light assembly is provided with a light source, and a handpiece which is adapted to be grasped and manipulated by a user. The handpiece has a light guide with a proximal end optically connected to the light source, and a distal end which projects outwardly from said handpiece so as to direct light guided thereby onto a field of view determined by manipulation of the handpiece by the user. The handpiece includes a switch assembly which is operatively coupled to the light source to allow user selection between at least two different light intensities (e.g., essentially on/off) discharged by said light guide onto the field of view. In preferred forms, the switch assembly includes an electrically conductive inner core and an electrically conductive outer tubular elastomeric member concentrically positioned in surrounding, but spaced relationship, with the inner base. When contact between the inner base and the outer elastomeric member is made, switch circuitry changes the visible light intensity of the visible light generated by the light source, e.g., by either directly modulating the current to the lamp itself, or by providing an electrically operable shutter assembly which masks the light generated by the light source. The former embodiment is especially well suited for surgical lights which are self-contained (i.e., have the light sources contained in the handpiece), while the latter is especially well suited for surgical lights which have remotely positioned light sources.

A stereoscopic, long-distance microscope is capable of stereoscopically viewing targets within the range of 100 mm to 300 mm from the front lens element. The system preferably comprises: a front lens element having a diameter D,for receiving light rays from the target; a rear mirror having a diameter D,for receiving light rays from the front lens element; a secondary mirror located on the rear surface R,of the front lens element for receiving light reflected from the rear mirror element; and, an angled mirror located between the secondary mirror and the stereoscopic eyepiece in its turn receiving light rays reflected from said angled mirror and presenting them to both eyes of the viewer. The diameter D,of the front lens element is preferably significantly smaller than the diameter D,of the rear mirror element.

Stereoscopic, long-distance microscope

A dispensing cap including a rotary valve communicating with an external open-ended dispensing tube portion, the valve being configured to communicate, in a venting position, with a venting pathway and to communicate, in a dispensing position, with an internal dispensing tube portion, wherein the valve is configured to pass from a closed position through a venting position to a dispensing position.

Automatically-venting dispensing cap

Rotary oscillatory coupling includes a pair of opposed hubs which are independently rotatable about a common axis. Pairs of permanent magnets are provided in the opposed faces of the hubs. The proximal hub is continuously rotated in a selected rotational direction by a suitable motor. During a portion of the proximal hub's rotation, the distal hub will concurrently be rotated by virtue of the magnetic field interaction that occurs between the magnet pairs. The distal hub is, however, prevented from rotating a complete cycle by virtue of a mechanical stop. Upon encountering the mechanical stop, the rotation direction of the distal hub will be reverse to that of the continuously rotating proximal hub. When the magnets of the proximal and distal hubs again are in proximity to one another, the distal hub will then experience another reversal of rotation direction so that it rotates in the same direction as the proximal hub. This functional process repeats itself during subsequent rotational cycles to cause the distal hub to undergo high frequency oscillations.

Oscillatory coupling for surgical instruments and methods of imparting

A magnetic stirring device which also provides for simultaneous heating/cooling of samples. The magnetic stirring apparatus comprises a plurality of wells into which respective vessels can be placed and continuously stirred by motivating a magnetic stirring bar therein with a three phase frequency controller. Simultaneously, the temperature of the vessels can be maintained at a predetermined temperature either above or below room temperature by means of thermoelectric elements in contact with a heat conducting block within which the wells are located.

Growing community of inventors

Durham, NC, United States of America

Brian C Dodge