Other

United States Surgical Corporation

Sentinel Medical, Inc.

E Larry Hicks

Rex E Doherty

Ray Gillies

Kenneth L Loebker

A method and apparatus for the excision and removal of tissue, such as the lens of the eye includes a pencil-like handpiece having a cannula probe extending from the distal end thereof. The probe includes an inner jet tube to direct a high pressure jet of fluid toward a tissue target, and an outer concentric aspiration tube to aspirate and remove fluid and tissue. The jet tube is recessed proximally within the concentric aspiration tube, and the aspiration tube has an end area significantly larger than the end area of the jet tube. These factors cooperate so that the negative pressure exerted by the aspiration tube creates a suction force that offsets and exceeds the force of the fluid jet. The jet tube is connected to a fluid pressure system including a positive displacement pump, a pressure regulator, safety release, control valve, and a pulse former. The jet tube emits pulses of high pressure fluid that impinge reiteratively on the target, creating shock waves that fracture and emulsify the lens tissue, and the fluid also acts as a solvent to transport the emulsified tissue into the aspiration tube. The handpiece also includes a vacuum bypass port disposed to be selectively occluded by a finger of the surgeon, so that vacuum pressure may be released immediately when needed.

Method and apparatus for tissue excision and removal by fluid jet

A movable cart for supporting pressurized gas cylinders in hospital operating rooms has a housing preferably proportioned to enclose a pair of cylinders in upright side by side positions. Wheels at the base of the housing are positioned to support the housing when it is tilted for transporting while enabling the housing to rest directly on the underlying surface when in a more upright orientation. A third wheel carried by a pivoting leg is swung outward from the base of the housing when it is to be tilted and moved. The housing may have a plurality of gas outlet fittings, a cylinder selector valve, plural pressure regulators for simultaneous delivery of different pressures and plural gauges for indicating pressures in different portions of the gas flow path. The cart provides a highly stable support base for the cylinders in both the upright orientation and the inclined traveling position, facilitates movement of the heavy cylinders, protects the cylinders from damage and simplifies hospital procedures which require a supply of compressed gas.

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Lilbum, GA, United States of America

E Larry Hicks