Alcon, Inc.

Duke University

Other

Alcon Universal Ltd.

Johns Hopkins University

Storz Instrument Co.

Itech Jv Development Company, LLC

Dyson William Hickingbotham

Alexander M Eaton

Robert Machemer

Eugene De Juan, Jr

Dean Y Lin

Christopher Mccollam

Kwan Y Chan

David E Booth

Gabriel Gordon

Gregory S Milios

Gregg D Scheller

Ronald T Smith

Jack Robert Auld

Michael D Auld

Brian C Dodge

Christopher L McCollam

John Joseph Weidenbenner

Dean Lin

Norman H Radtke

Brooks W McCuen

Gerald S Gahn

Michael Cobo

Ron Overaker

David Booth

Devices, systems, and methods for performing injections with lowered likelihood of infection include catheters and other injection means with protective coverings. The protective covering can protect the catheter or other injection means before, during, or before and during insertion of the catheter into an insertion site. The protective covering includes two or more parts of interlocking protrusions and channels that allow for sliding motion of the parts relative each other but that resist separation of the parts in the direction perpendicular to the long axis of the two or more parts.

Systems and methods for performing an injection

Devices, systems, and methods for performing injections with lowered likelihood of infection include needles and other injection means with protective sleeves or sheaths. The protective sleeve can protect the needle before, during, or before and during an injection. The force needed to administer an injection or penetrate an insertion site using an injection device or system with a protective sleeve can be about the same to up to 50% more than the force needed for a system or device without a protective sleeve. The force needed to collapse the protective sleeve can be less than 100 gram-force. The material, the thickness, or both the material and the thickness of the protective sleeve may differ when comparing the portion of the sleeve near the needle tip and the portion near the base of the needle.

This invention provides a device for delivering substances such as medical implants and tissues. The device comprises a mandrel and a mandrel guide whereby substances are delivered by retracting the mandrel guide relative to the mandrel. Included among the various embodiments are devices specialized for delivering retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells or nanoplates containing RPE cells to the retina, devices with precise control of delivery, devices with specialized mandrels and/or nozzles, and multifunctional devices adapted to provide additional functions such as infusion and/or suction, illumination, and diathermy.

Delivery and extraction devices

A variable intensity endoilluminator system is disclosed, one embodiment comprising: a light source for providing a light beam; an optical cable, optically coupled to the light source for receiving and transmitting the light beam; a handpiece, operably coupled to the optical cable to receive the light beam; an optical fiber, operably coupled to the handpiece, wherein the optical fiber is optically coupled to the optical cable to receive and transmit the light beam to illuminate a surgical field; and a translucent cannula, operably coupled to the handpiece, for housing and directing the optical fiber, wherein the cannula is operable to diffuse and transmit the light from the light beam when the optical fiber is retracted into the cannula. The cannula and the handpiece can be fabricated from biocompatible materials.

Variable intensity endoilluminator

A transparent illuminated infusion cannula is provided for illuminating an area during eye surgery. An optical fiber may be spaced a certain distance away from the cannula such that fluid flow around the distal end of the fiber and into the transparent cannula may occur with a much higher flow rate than what had previously been possible. The fiber cannula airspace may be optimized so that the cross-sectional area of the fluid conduit remains substantially constant in order to achieve a best compromise between high light transmittance and high fluid flow rate.

Illuminated infusion cannula

Microsurgical instrument

A probe tip having a surgical tool manufactured from a light transmissive material. Such a construction eliminates the need for a separate fiberoptic and surgical tool. If desired, the probe tip may be used in combination with a surgical probe having an actuation handle made from springy material having a memory. Squeezing the handle causing the actuation device to elongate, thereby causing movement in the probe tip. The probe handle of the present invention may be held and actuated in any position.

Fiberoptic probe tip

A probe having an actuation handle made from springy material having a memory. Squeezing the handle causing the actuation device to elongate, thereby causing movement in the probe tip. The probe handle of the present invention may be held and actuated in any position.

Ophthalmologic surgical probe

A microsurgical instrument that includes a handle and a dissecting tip coupled to the handle is disclosed. The tip includes a blade having a generally elliptical three-dimensional geometry. The blade may include an edge having a first arc and an opposing second arc. When the instrument is used to form an intracorneal pocket for the implantation of an intracorneal optical lens, the curvature of the first arc allows the edge to dissect a first blind spot of the pocket, and the curvature of the second arc allows the edge to dissect a second blind spot of the pocket. The blade may also be formed with a first depression in its top surface and a second depression in its bottom surface. When the instrument is used to form an intracorneal pocket, the depressions reduce the drag on, and corresponding trauma to, stromal tissue.

Lamellar dissecting instrument

A microsurgical instrument having a handle and a dissecting tip coupled to the handle is disclosed. The handle includes a cannula for transporting surgical fluid. The dissecting tip includes a blade for dissecting tissue and an aperture for delivering the fluid. The instrument may be used to more effectively create an intracorneal pocket for the implantation of an intracorneal optical lens.

An assembly of connectors adapt multiple optic fiber illuminators of microsurgical instruments for use with a variety of different available light sources.

Adapter assembly for connecting multiple optic fiber illuminated

A micro surgical lighting instrument includes a hollow needle and a light guide received coaxially within the hollow needle and connected to a light source for transmitting light to a surgical site of a patient. The light guide has a distal end formed with an end face of circular segment shape and defined by a plane oriented orthogonal to the axis of the hollow needle, and a slanted surface adjacent the end face and extending rearwardly at an acute angle, with the slanted surface being lined by a coating for reflection of incident light rays.

Lighting instrument, in particular for use in ophthalmologic microsurgery

A control unit may be mounted in operative relationship to a conventional tonometer adjustment wheel to allow for motorized adjustment thereof. The unit includes a battery which powers a DC motor. The motor provides driven input to a right-angle gear drive, the output of which drives a friction wheel. The friction wheel is positioned so as to be in frictional engagement with the outer circumferential surface of the tonometer adjustment wheel. Actuation of a remote-mounted switch therefore allows the attending ophthalmologist to selectively drive the tonometer adjustment wheel in clockwise and counterclockwise directions so as to thereby adjust tonometer settings. The gear drive is mounted for pivotal movements about an axis transverse to the rotational axis of the tonometer adjustment wheel so that the friction wheel may be moved between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the tonometer adjustment wheel. A spring normally biases the friction wheel into its engaged position with the tonometer adjustment wheel.

Motorized applanation tonometer

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.

Growing community of inventors

Wake Forest, NC, United States of America

Dyson William Hickingbotham