Field replaceable tip assembly for flex tip irrigation/aspiration handpiece

Abstract

A flexible tip I/A tip assembly includes an elongated sleeve for protecting an eye capsule wound through which the sleeve is inserted and for containing irrigation fluid. The sleeve includes a lumen therethrough and a nipple for removably coupling the elongated sleeve to a handle by elastomeric contact therewith. A retractor with a worm is disposed within the sleeve for transferring aspiration in any angle of the eye capsule. The sleeve and the retractor are held in operational relationship with the handpiece by a nipple which, due to its transparency, enables visual adjustment, alignment, installation and confirmation of the operative relationship therebetween.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A flexible tip I/A tip assembly for providing irrigation fluid to an eye capsule and for aspirating fluid from the eye capsule, the tip assembly comprising: 
 elongated sleeve means for protecting an eye capsule wound through which the sleeve means is inserted and for containing irrigation fluid, the sleeve means including a lumen therethrough;    nipple means for removably coupling said elongated sleeve to a handle by elastomeric contact therewith;    retractor means, disposed in the sleeve lumen, for establishing an irrigation fluid annulus between the sleeve means and said retractor means and aspirating fluid from the eye capsule, said tip assembly and elongated sleeve retractor means being held in an operative relationship with said handle by said nipple means, for transfer of irrigation fluid and aspirating fluid therebetween.    
     
     
         2 . The tip assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said nipple means is transparent for enabling visual confirmation of the operative relationship between said retractor means and said handle.  
     
     
         3 . The tip assembly according to  claim 2  wherein said retractor means is slidably disposed within said sleeve means.  
     
     
         4 . The tip assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said retractor means comprises socket means, disposed at a proximal end of said retractor means, for engaging a handle aspirating receiver and establishing aspirating and irrigation fluid communication therebetween.  
     
     
         5 . The tip assembly according to  claim 4  wherein said retractor means is slidably disposed within said sleeve means.  
     
     
         6 . The tip assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein said retractor mens further comprises a flexible end portion having an arcuate shape with sufficient resiliency to be slidably withdrawn into a distal end of said retractor means.  
     
     
         7 . A flexible I/A tip assembly for providing irrigation fluid to an eye capsule and for aspirating fluid from the eye capsule, the tip assembly comprising: 
 elongated sleeve means for protecting an eye wound through which the sleeve means is inserted and for containing irrigation fluid, the sleeve means including a lumen therethrough;    nipple means for removably coupling said elongated sleeve to a handle;    retractor means, disposed in the sleeve lumen, for establishing an irrigation fluid annulus between the sleeve means and said retractor means;    retractor means, disposed within the sleeve lumen for establishing an irrigation fluid annulus between the sleeve means and said retractor means, aspirating fluid from the eye capsule, said sleeve means and retractor means being held in an operative relationship with said handle by said nipple means, for transfer of irrigation fluid and aspiration fluid therebetween; and    means, defining transparency of said nipple means, for enabling visual confirmation and adjustment of the operative relationship between said retractor means and said handle.    
     
     
         8 . The tip assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the sleeve and nipple means are formed from an elastomer and the nipple means is removably coupled to the handpiece by elastomeric contact therewith.  
     
     
         9 . The tip assembly according to  claim 8  wherein said retractor means is slidably disposed within the sleeve means.  
     
     
         10 . The tip assembly according to  claim 9  wherein said retractor means further comprises a flexible end portion having an arcuate shape with sufficient resiliency to be slidably withdrawn into a distal end of said retractor means.  
     
     
         11 . The tip assembly according to  claim 10  wherein said retractor means comprises socket means, disposed at a proximal end, for engaging a handle aspirating receiver and establishing aspiration and irrigation fluid communication therebetween.  
     
     
         12 . A flex tip I/A handpiece for providing irrigation fluid and for aspirating fluid from the eye capsule, the handpiece comprising: 
 a handle assembly having irrigation and aspiration fluid conduits; and    a tip assembly including: 
 elongated sleeve means for protecting an eye capsule wound through which the sleeve means is inserted and for containing irrigation fluid, the sleeve means including a lumen therethrough;  
 nipple means for removably coupling said elongated sleeve to the handle assembly by elastomer contact therewith;  
 retractor means, disposed in the sleeve lumen, for establishing an irrigation fluid annulus between the sleeve means and said retractor means; and  
 worm means, attached to said retractor means and disposed within the sleeve means, for aspirating fluid from the eye capsule, said worm means and retractor means being held in an operative relationship with said handpiece by said nipple means, for transfer of irrigation fluid and aspiration fluid therebetween.  
   
     
     
         13 . The handpiece assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said nipple means is transparent for enabling visual confirmation and adjustment of the operative relationship between said sleeve means, retractor means and said handle assembly.  
     
     
         14 . The handpiece according to  claim 13  wherein said worm means is slidably disposed within the sleeve means.  
     
     
         15 . The handpiece according to  claim 12  wherein said retractor means comprises socket means, disposed at a proximal end of said retractor means, and the handpiece further comprises a handpiece aspiration receiver for engaging the socket means and establishing aspiration and irrigation fluid communication therebetween.  
     
     
         16 . The handpiece according to  claim 15  wherein said worm means further comprises a flexible end portion having an arcuate shape with sufficient resiliency to be slidably withdrawn into a distal end of said retractor means.  
     
     
         17 . The handle/tip assembly according to  claim 16  wherein said retractor means is slidably mounted within the handpiece and movable with said worm means.  
     
     
         18 . The handle/tip assembly according to  claim 17  further comprising grip means for sliding said retractor means in order to push the flexible end portion of the worm means out of the distal end of said retractor means.  
     
     
         19 . A method for removably coupling a tip assembly to a handle, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a handle having irrigation and aspiration fluid conduits;    providing a tip assembly having an elongated sleeve and retractor for transferring irrigation fluid and an aspiration fluid between the eye and handpiece; and    connecting the handle to the tip assembly using a transparent nipple for enabling visual confirmation of proper connection between the handle and the tip assembly.