Alcon Laboratories, Inc.

Alcon Manufacturing, Ltd.

Martin J Padget

Glenn R Sussman

Donald M Cohen

Disclosed is a pipe fitting for making a bonded joint on a pipe comprising a hub, a cap, and a method for bonding the hub to the pipe. The hub has a cone-shaped bore section with an inner diameter at one end similar to the outer diameter of the pipe, expanding to a second diameter. The cap has a protrusion extending along its bore with a leading edge of a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the pipe as well as an inner-trailing edge of diameter similar to the outside of the pipe. Helical ribs on both components allow the cap to be mounted to and tightened against the hub. As the components are assembled onto a pipe, the protrusion on the cap pushes previously applied adhesive under the protrusion and along the pipe, sandwiching adhesive between the pipe and the protrusion, and between the hub and the protrusion.

Bonded slip joint pipe fitting

A surgical handpiece having two coaxial tubes or channels mounted within a body. The first tube is used for aspiration and is smaller in diameter than the second tube so as to create an annular passage between the first and second tube. The annular passage communicates with a pumping chamber formed between two electrodes. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the annular passage. The distal end of the annular gap is sealed by sealing together the distal ends of the first and second tube and a plurality or orifices or ports may be formed near the seal. As the expanding gas is propelled down the annular gap, the gas/liquid stream is forced out of the distal orifices in a controlled and directed manner. The distal end of the first and second tubes may contain a bend.

Liquefracture handpiece tip

A surgical handpiece having two coaxial tubes or channels mounted within a body. The first tube is used for aspiration and is smaller in diameter than the second tube so as to great an annular passage between the first and second tube. The annular passage communicates with a pumping chamber formed between two electrodes. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the annular passage. The electrodes are insulated from each other.

Method of operating a liquefracture handpiece

A surgical handpiece having a tube used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. A portion of the tube is enlarged to form a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber works by boiling a small volume of the surgical fluid. As the fluid boils, it expands rapidly, thereby propelling the liquid downstream of the pumping chamber out of the second tube. The pumping chamber may use a pair of electrodes. To control the expulsion of the fluid, valves are placed on either side of the boiling chamber.

Pumping chamber for a liquefaction handpiece

Liquefracture handpiece

A tip for a liquefracture surgical handpiece. The tip uses at least two channels or tubes. One tube is used for aspiration and at least one other tube is used to inject heated surgical fluid for liquefying a cataractous lens. The distal portion of the injection tube terminates just inside of the aspiration tube and directs the heated fluid through an orifice in the wall of the aspiration tube opposite the injection tube. The handpiece may also contain other tubes, for example, for injecting relatively cool surgical fluid.

Tip for liquefracture handpiece

A surgical handpiece tip with at least two coaxially spaced electrically conductive tubes. The tubes are separated by an electrical insulator. The interior of the inner tube is used for aspiration of liquefied tissue. The distal portion of the interior tube terminates just inside of the outer tube so as to form a boiling region. Electrical current is passed between the inner and outer tube to rapidly boil any surgical fluid in the boiling region. The boiling fluid rapidly expands out of the ring between the tubes and contacts the targeted tissue, thereby liquefying the tissue and allowing the tissue to be aspirated.

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Huntington Beach, CA, United States of America

Martin J Padget