Connector for irrigation-aspiration instrument

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/341,975, filed on Dec. 18, 2001.

[0002] The present invention relates to medical devices, but in particular to irrigation-aspiration (I/A) devices such as those used during cataract surgery.

[0003] One of the more common afflictions to affect aging eyes are cataracts, which cause gradually deteriorating vision. Advances in ophthalmic surgery allow many cataracts to be removed and vision restored.

[0004] Treating cataracts typically involves the removal of the clouded natural lens and replacement with an artificial lens. Removal of the lens requires an incision or tunnel to be made in and/or adjacent to the cornea. The tip portion of a phaco emulsifier is inserted through the incision and vibrates ultrasonically to liquefy the lens. The emulsified lens is removed from the lens capsule by aspiration. Modern aspirators also perform irrigation. I/A instruments have dual passages, one for irrigation and the other for aspiration. Usually the passages are coaxial, the inner passage being formed by a rigid or semi-rigid cannula, and the outer passage having a distal portion formed by a sleeve which may be resilient. One or more components of the tips are removable from the handpiece of the instrument for selection of an appropriate or desired tip, and for replacement of the tip.

[0005] The present invention provides a connector or adapter that allows an I/A handpiece of one design to receive tip components of different designs. For example, an I/A handpiece of one manufacturer may be designed with a connection system to receive tip components of that manufacturer. By use of the present invention, the handpiece may be used with tip components of another manufacturer, from an I/A system having a different interconnection with a handpiece. Therefore, the user need not rely on the availability of I/A tips having connection systems specifically designed for a particular I/A handpiece. Rather, if desirable features are available from other manufacturers, the present invention allows such tips to be reliably fitted on existing handpieces.

[0006] In representative embodiments, connectors or adapters in accordance with the present invention may have a proximate stem adapted for a sliding friction fit with a handpiece, and a distal end designed for a threaded interconnection with an aspiration tip.

[0024] FIGS. 1–4 illustrate a first type of known I/A device D designed for use during cataract surgery. FIG. 1 shows three primary components in exploded relationship, namely, a handpiece 10 having a proximate end portion 12 and distal end portion 14, an I/A tip 16 having a proximate stem portion or hub 18 for insertion into the distal end portion 14 of the handpiece and a distal aspiration cannula 20, and a sleeve 22 insertable over the cannula 20 for dispersing irrigation liquid. These components are shown assembled and in longitudinal section in FIG. 2. FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged perspectives of the proximate and distal end portions, respectively, with the parts shown in section.

[0025] As best seen in FIG. 3, the proximate end portion 12 of the handpiece 10 includes a hollow hub 24 forming an aspiration port 26 for connection to a vacuum source, and a hollow inclined branch 28 forming an aspiration port 30 for connection to a source of irrigation liquid. Port 26 communicates with the long and straight central aspiration bore 32 of the instrument that extends longitudinally thereof all the way to the distal end portion 14 of the instrument shown in FIG. 4. Similarly, port 30 communicates with an annular channel 34 that encircles the bore 32 and is separated therefrom by a cylindrical wall 36. As seen in FIG. 4, wall 36 terminates at a distal end 38 which is recessed with respect to the distal end 40 of the outer wall 42 of the handpiece. Such handpiece outer wall includes several segments which combine to define the outer periphery of the irrigation channel 34.

[0026] Still referring to FIG. 4, the hub 18 of the I/A tip 16 includes a proximate portion 44 that fits snugly within the distal end portion of the cylindrical wall 36 of the handpiece and is sealed therein by a friction fit. A more distal portion 46 of the hub 18 is sized and designed to fit within the distal end portion of the handpiece outer wall 42. The I/A tip is manually insertable into and removable from the handpiece, the friction fit seals being achieved by O-rings 48 and 50. The cannula 20 of the I/A tip 16 is formed by a thin walled tube that extends lengthwise through the hub 18, including a proximate portion 52 which is secured within the proximate portion 44 of the hub and which communicates with an axial bore 54 that opens into the aspiration passage 32 of the handpiece. Thus, reduced pressure applied at the end port 26 is conveyed by way of aspiration passage 32 and bore 54, through the central bore 56 of the cannula 20, all the way to one or more ports located at the distal end portion 58 of the cannula.

[0027] The sleeve 22 includes a hub portion 62 that connects to the distal end portion 60 of the I/A tip 16. For example, these parts can connect by a threaded fit. The distal portion 64 of the sleeve surrounds the cannula 20 and has one or more end or side ports for ejecting irrigation liquid. Such liquid flows through the irrigation port 30 and annular passage 34, then inward through side ports 66 of the hub 18 to a smaller annular passage 68 around the cannula 20. Passage 68 opens into the sleeve 22 so that irrigation liquid is free to flow through the distal portion 64 of the sleeve for ejection through the end or side ports.

[0028] A second known type of I/A device D′ is illustrated in FIGS. 5–8, which correspond to FIGS. 1–4. The primary difference between device D′ and device D is that device D′ includes a bayonet latch for connecting the I/A tip 16 to the distal end portion 14 of handpiece 10. Such latch consists of pins 70 that project from the stem portion or hub 18 of the I/A tip 16 and fit within contoured slots 72 of the handpiece. Thus, a more positive lock of the I/A tip in the handpiece is provided. In other respects, the structure and functioning of the bayonet latch I/A tip is the same as for the tip previously described. With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, suction applied at the handpiece end port 26 is conveyed by way of the axial bore 32 through the bore 56 of the cannula 20 to one or more end or side ports at the distal end or end portion 58. Irrigation liquid supplied through the inclined branch 28 is conveyed by way of the proximate port 30 and annular passage 34 to the side ports 66 of the hub 18, to the smaller annular passage 68 alongside the cannula. From there the irrigation liquid flows through the sleeve 22 to an end and/or side port in the cylindrical distal sleeve segment 64 that surrounds the cannula.

[0029] Devices D and D′ correspond to I/A instruments available from MicroSurgical Technology, Inc., of Redmond, Wash.

[0030] FIGS. 9–12 illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention that enables tips of other manufacturers, such as specialized tips available from Alcon Laboratories, Inc., of Fort Worth, Tex., to be used with handpieces D of the type shown in FIGS. 1–4 (a second embodiment of the present invention allows such specialized aspiration tips to be used with handpieces D′ of the type shown in FIGS. 6–8).

[0031] With reference to FIGS. 9–12, handpiece 10 and sleeve 22 are identical to the corresponding parts shown and described with reference to FIGS. 1–4. Aspiration tip 80 is of the construction used by Alcon Laboratories. Such tip includes a hollow, long, straight distal portion or cannula 82, an externally threaded hub 84, and an intermediate hub 86 which may have flat sides adapted for reception in a wrench-like instrument used to rotate the tip for coupling it to an Alcon Laboratories handpiece.

[0032] In accordance with the present invention, a special connector 88 is provided which has a proximate stem portion or hub 90 coupled to the Microsurgical Technologies handpiece 10, and a distal portion 92 for coupling to the Alcon Laboratories aspiration tip 80 and the conventional irrigation sleeve 22. These parts are shown assembled and in longitudinal cross-section in FIG. 10. FIGS. 11 and 12 are enlarged perspectives of the proximate and distal portions, respectively, of the modified instrument using the connector 88, with parts shown in section.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 11, the proximate end portion 12 of the handpiece 10 is identical to that previously described. In FIG. 11, the branch 28 containing the irrigation port is positioned away from the viewer but communicates with the annular irrigation passage 34.

[0034] With reference to FIG. 12, the distal end portion 14 of the handpiece 10 includes the outer wall 42 terminating at its distal end 40 and the inner wall 36 terminating at its distal end 38. The inner wall 36 defines the central aspiration bore 32. The annular space 34 between the inner wall 36 and outer wall 42 defines the passage for irrigation liquid.

[0035] Connector 88, manually separable from the handpiece, in accordance with the present invention, has a proximate stem portion or hub 94 of a first diameter sized to fit snugly within the distal end portion of the inner wall 36. Moving distally, connector 88 includes a second stem portion or hub 96 that fits snugly within the distal end portion of the outer wall 42. O-rings 100 and 102 provide tight, sealing, friction fits. A central aspiration tube 104 has a proximate end portion secured in the first connector hub 94. A shoulder 107 limits the insertion of the connector into the handpiece by engagement against the distal end 40 of the outer wall 42. An annular chamber 106 is formed around the central portion of the aspiration tube 104, communicating with the irrigation passage 34 by way of one or more side ports 108. The narrow annular irrigation passage 106 opens distally into a wider chamber 110. This chamber is generally cylindrical and can be machined into the body of the connector from its distal end. A tapered insert 112 is secured in the chamber 110, with a central aspiration bore 114 communicating with the aspiration tube 104. The distal portion of the aspiration chamber 114 is enlarged and has internal threads that mate with external threads of the hub 84 of the aspiration tip 80. Thus, the aspiration tip 80, such as a tip designed for an Alcon Laboratories device, can be coupled to the connector 88, similar to the coupling of such a tip to an Alcon Laboratories handpiece. The distal end portion 116 of the insert 112 is not circular, but has an outer periphery with one or more openings that communicate with the irrigation liquid chamber 110 (this aspect is seen in FIGS. 9 and 9A). For example, in a preferred embodiment, the distal end portion of the insert 112 can be square, providing several flat sides 118 spaced inward from the body of the connector 88 to form passages for the flow of irrigation liquid therethrough. Such liquid passes to the interior of the sleeve 22, which can couple to the distal end portion of the connector, such as by a threaded fit.

[0036] FIGS. 13–16 correspond to FIGS. 9–12, respectively, illustrating a second embodiment of connector 88′ that will couple to a MicroSurgical Technologies handpiece 10 of the type described above with reference to FIGS. 5–8 (the bayonet latch handpiece). Other than the shape of the central portion, the provision of latch pins 120, and dimensioning to fit the modified handpiece, the construction of connector 88′ is identical to the construction of connector 88, previously described, and like parts are numbered the same in FIGS. 13–16 as for the embodiment of FIGS. 9–12. With reference to FIG. 16, connector 88, manually separable from the handpiece, has the narrower proximate stem portion or hub 94 sized to fit snugly within the distal end portion of the inner wall 36. The second stem portion or hub 96 fits snugly within the distal end portion of the outer wall 42. O-rings 100 and 102 provide tight, sealing, friction fits. The proximate end portion of the central aspiration tube 104 is secured in the first connector hub 94. Shoulder 107 limits the insertion of the connector 88′ into the handpiece 10 by engagement against the distal end 40 of the outer wall 42. Annular chamber 106 is formed around the central portion of the aspiration tube 104, communicating with the irrigation passage 34 by way of one or more side ports 108. The narrow annular irrigation passage 106 opens distally into the larger chamber 110. The tapered insert 112 is secured in the chamber 110, with the central aspiration bore 114 communicating with the aspiration tube 104. The distal portion of the aspiration chamber 114 is enlarged and has internal threads that mate with external threads of the hub 84 of the aspiration tip 80. Thus, the separate aspiration tip 80, such as a tip designed for an Alcon Laboratories device, can be coupled to the connector 88′. The distal end portion 116 of the insert 112 has the outer periphery with one or more openings that communicate with the irrigation liquid chamber 110, as seen in FIGS. 13 and 13A. For example, the distal end portion of the insert 112 can be square, providing the several flat sides 118 spaced inward from the body of the connector 88′ to form passages for the flow of irrigation liquid therethrough. Such liquid passes to the interior of the sleeve 22, which can couple to the distal end portion of the connector, such as by a threaded fit.

[0037] While the preferred embodiments of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.