Duke University

Other

Robert Machemer

Brian C Dodge

Dyson William Hickingbotham

Ronald F Overaker

Cynthia A Toth

Alexander M Eaton

Douglas M Knight

Ron Overaker

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

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

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 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

Durham, NC, United States of America

Robert Machemer