Eye surgical instrument

P97651NL00

Title: Eye surgical instrument

The invention relates to an eye surgical instrument for pressurizing an eye.

Upon termination of an operation in the eye, the eye is pressurized before the cannula is removed. The ophthalmologist usually feels by hand whether there is sufficient pressure on the eye. The cannula is then removed and the incision through which the cannula was inserted closed. However, during the removal of the cannula and / or during the closure of the incision, pressure loss can occur in the eye, which lowers the pressure in the eye. A reduced eye pressure can lead to problems in a number of patients. Since the eye is already closed after the operation, there is usually no possibility to do anything about it. However, there is a clear need to adjust such a reduced eye pressure.

It is an object of the invention to provide an eye surgical instrument that can provide a solution to the above-mentioned problem.

To this end, the invention provides an eye surgical instrument for postoperatively pressing an eye with the aid of a fluid comprising a handle provided with a hollow conduit through which the fluid can flow; a hollow needle connectable to a first end of the handle for introducing the fluid and a connecting element connectable to a second end of the handle for connection to a pressure pump for bringing the fluid to a preset pressure.

By providing an instrument that can be inserted into a closed eye in a post-operative situation, even when the cannula is removed from the eye and the incision is sealed, the pressure in the eye can still be adjusted. In the context of the invention, by postoperative is meant a situation where the operation in the eye is terminated, the cannula is removed from the eye and the eye is closed.

On the one hand, the instrument is provided with a hollow needle through which the fluid can be introduced into the eye. On the other hand, the instrument is provided with a connecting element for connection to a pressure pump through which the fluid can be pumped into the eye with a predetermined substantially constant pressure.

The fluid can be air, or can be a saline solution, better known as BSS (Balanced Salt Solution). The pressure pump can be a relatively simple pump suitable for pressurizing and maintaining the fluid, but can also be a vitrectomy system. A vitrectomy system is known and is commercially available. Applicant brings, among other things, a vitrectomy system "Associate ®" on the market. Such a vitrectomy system usually has different outputs. The connecting element of the eye surgical instrument according to the invention can be connected to the outlet which provides a constant pressure.

The instrument further comprises a handle with which the doctor can hold and / or operate the instrument. The hollow needle can be coupled to a first end of the handle and the connecting element can be coupled to a second end of the handle.

The handle comprises a hollow conduit through which the fluid can flow. The hollow pipe is connectable to the hollow needle at the first end of the handle and connectable to the connecting element at the second end of the handle, so that when the instrument is connected to the pressure pump, the fluid via the connecting element and the hollow pipe can be guided from the handle to the hollow needle. The hollow pipe can be connected to the handle as an external tube, or can extend through the handle.

The hollow conduit advantageously comprises an compressible part which is at least partially compressible. The compressible part of the hollow pipe can be immediately compressible, as a result of which the doctor engages the hollow pipe and at least partially depresses it. The compressible part of the hollow pipe can also be indirectly compressible. The hollow pipe can in that case still be at least partially surrounded by the handle. The handle is then also elastic at the location of the compressible part of the hollow pipe to be compressible. The doctor then grips the handle, whereby the hollow pipe can also be pressed in by pressing the handle.

The compressible part can be depressed by the physician operating the instrument, whereby additional pressure can be exerted on the hollow pipe on top of the pressure supplied by the pressure pump. Such temporary additional pressure may be necessary, for example, to remove blockages from the hollow needle. For example, tissue pads can completely or partially close the hollow needle exit. By temporarily applying extra pressure via the compressible part, the plug can be blown away.

The compressible part of the hollow pipe is preferably designed as at least a part of the handle. The hollow pipe is then elastic such that it can be pressed through the fingers of a doctor. By designing the hollow pipe elastically as the compressible part at least at the handle, the doctor can immediately compress the hollow pipe completely or partially, so that the doctor can better transfer the applied force to the hollow pipe and dose the applied force better .

The compressible elastic part can extend over substantially the entire length of the handle or over a part thereof that is easily accessible to the physician.

The compressible part is advantageously partially surrounded by a rigid sleeve. The sleeve has a rigidity that is greater than the rigidity of the compressible portion of the handle and / or of the compressible portion of the hollow conduit, making it easier for the physician to exert force to completely or partially close the hollow conduit. to push. By providing the rigid sleeve, the doctor can completely or partially press the hollow pipe against it, so that the doctor can apply a temporary pressure on the elastic hollow pipe even more easily.

The eye surgical instrument is advantageously provided with a non-return valve. The non-return valve is positioned between the compressible flexible part of the handle and between an end of the connecting element connectable to the pressure pump. The non-return valve can be provided at the second end of the handle, or can be provided in the connecting element, for example in the end of the connecting element connectable with the handle. By providing the non-return valve, it can be achieved that the temporary additional pressure exerted by the doctor by pressing the flexible compressible portion is directed to the hollow needle and not to the pressure pump. It can also be achieved if the doctor releases the compressible part that the pressure wave goes towards the eye and does not go back towards the pressure pump.

By providing a 32 gauge needle, the instrument can be placed in the sealed eye and removed from it again without the need for stitches. The place where the needle entered the eye heals itself.

Further advantageous embodiments are shown in the subclaims.

The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment which is represented in a drawing. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective exploded view of an exemplary embodiment according to the invention.

It is noted that the figure is only a schematic representation of the invention.

With regard to the purpose of this disclosure, it is pointed out that the technical measures that have been specifically described may be subject to functional generalization. It is furthermore pointed out that - insofar as not explicitly indicated - such technical measures can be viewed separately from the context of the context of the given exemplary embodiment and furthermore can be seen separately from the technical measures with which they cooperate in the context of the example.

Figure 1 shows an eye surgical instrument 1 according to the invention. The eye surgical instrument comprises a handle 2, an instrument head 3 provided with a hollow needle 4 and a connecting element 5. The hollow needle 4 of the instrument head 3 has a relatively small diameter so that the eye naturally heals after the needle 4 has been removed from the eye. Preferably the hollow needle 4 has a diameter of 32 gauge.

The instrument head 3 can be coupled via a first coupling element 6 to a first end 7 of the handle 2. The connecting element 5 can be coupled via a second coupling element 8 to a second end 9 of the handle 2.

The handle 2 is designed here as a hollow pipe 10 through which fluid such as air or a saline solution, known as BSS, can be passed. The hollow conduit 10 is an elastic conduit that is at least partially compressible. In this exemplary embodiment, the hollow conduit 10 is also partially surrounded by a rigid sleeve 11.

The first coupling element 6 is designed such that the hollow pipe 10 can be connected via the coupling element 6 to the hollow needle 4. The coupling element 6 is provided with a fluid passage 12 for allowing fluid to pass between the hollow pipe 10 and the hollow needle 4.

The connecting element 5 is provided at first end 13 with a coupling piece 15 which can be coupled via the second coupling element 8 to the second handle end 9. Here, the coupling element 8 is provided with a fluid passage 14 for passage of fluid between the connecting element 5 and the handle 2 A second end 16 of the connecting element 5 can be coupled to a pressure pump (not shown). The pressure pump can be a vitrectomy system with the second end 16 of the connecting element adapted to couple to the constant pressure output of the vitrectomy system. The second end 16 of the connecting element 5 can be provided with a machine-dependent coupling piece 17.

In this exemplary embodiment, the coupling piece 15 is provided at the first end 13 of the connecting element 5 with a non-return valve. The non-return valve is located in the coupling piece 15 and is not shown here. The non-return valve can have any conceivable and common design. The non-return valve can optionally also be located in the coupling element 8 or in the second end 9 of the flexible conduit 10.

The connecting element 5 is designed here as a relatively long flexible hose 18 that can bridge a distance between a patient and a pressure pump. The flexible hose 18 can thus be up to a few meters long.

At the end of an operation in the eye, the eye is pressurized again via the cannula. The eye doctor usually feels by hand whether the eye has the desired pressure. The cannula is then removed from the eye and the incision through which the cannula was introduced into the eye is sealed. If a too large pressure drop has occurred, as a result of which the pressure in the eye has become too low, the eye surgical instrument according to the invention can be introduced into the eye.

Due to the relatively small diameter, preferably 32 gauge, of the hollow needle, the eye surgical instrument can be brought in and out of the eye without causing damage to the eye. The eye can heal itself.

After the eye surgical instrument 1 has been inserted into the eye and the connecting element 5 is coupled to a pressure pump, the pressure pump can be operated. The desired pressure is set on the pressure pump, this pressure can for example be 30 mmHg, but the doctor can set another desired pressure depending on the patient. The pressure pump pumps the fluid, air or BSS into the eye with the preset pressure through the instrument 1.

It may be that the relatively small hollow needle 4 can become completely or partially clogged by a piece of tissue or otherwise, which makes it difficult to build up pressure on the eye. The ophthalmologist can then temporarily press the hollow elastically compressible pipe 10 of the handle 2 to create a high pressure for a short time which can, as it were, blow away the blockage. In order to prevent this short-lived higher pressure from spreading towards the pressure pump, the instrument 1 is provided with a non-return valve between the handle and the end 16 of the connecting element 5 which can be coupled to the pressure pump.

After the eye has been brought to the desired pressure, the instrument 1 can be removed from the eye. Due to the small diameter of the hollow needle 4, the eye itself heals.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown here. Many variants are possible. The coupling elements can thus be designed differently, or the hollow pipe can be designed differently. The handle can also be made integrally, with only a part of the handle being elastic to be compressed. The instrument is also shown here as being constructed from various individual parts. In another embodiment, the instrument can also be integrally designed or manufactured as a whole. Such variants will be clear to those skilled in the art and are understood to fall within the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.