Pulsed vacuum cataract removal system

Abstract

An ophthalmic cutter system that includes a cutter adapted to cut tissue such as a cataract lens and an irrigation handpiece adapted to hold the lens. The irrigation handpiece may be coupled to an irrigation system that introduces an irrigation fluid to the surgical site through the handpiece. The cutter may be coupled to an aspiration system that provides vacuum pulses to the surgical site. The vacuum pulses may pull tissue into a wire located at a distal end of a cutter cannula. The pulses may break and emulsify the tissue which is then aspirated through the cannula by the aspiration system. The wire may be connected to a controller that provides a current which is transformed into heat. The heat may assist in emulsifying the tissue.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An aspiration system that can be coupled to a medical handpiece, comprising: 
 an aspiration tube;    a vacuum generator adapted to create a vacuum pressure within said aspiration tube; and,    a pulse generator adapted to create a plurality of vacuum pulses within said aspiration tube.    
     
     
         2 . The aspiration system of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum pulses decrease the pressure within said aspiration tube.  
     
     
         3 . The aspiration system of  claim 1 , wherein said pulse generator is coupled to an input device that can be manipulated to vary a repetition rate of the vacuum pulses.  
     
     
         4 . The aspiration system of  claim 3 , wherein said input device is a foot pedal.  
     
     
         5 . An medical handpiece, comprising: 
 a first cannula that has an inner passage which is in fluid communication with a distal opening; and,    a wire that extends across said distal opening.    
     
     
         6 . The handpiece of  claim 5 , further comprising a second cannula that extends over said first cannula.  
     
     
         7 . The handpiece of  claim 6 , wherein said second cannula has a plurality of external teeth.  
     
     
         8 . The handpiece of  claim 6 , wherein said first cannula can be rotated within said second cannula.  
     
     
         9 . A tissue removal system, comprising: 
 a cutter adapted to cut a tissue;    an irrigation handpiece adapted to hold the tissue;    an aspiration system coupled to said cutter; and,    an irrigation system coupled to said irrigation handpiece.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said aspiration system includes an aspiration tube, a vacuum generator adapted to create a vacuum pressure within said aspiration tube, and a pulse generator adapted to create a plurality of vacuum pulses within said aspiration tube.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the vacuum pulses decrease the pressure within said aspiration tube.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said pulse generator is coupled to an input device that can be manipulated to vary a repetition rate of the vacuum pulses.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said input device is a foot pedal.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said cutter includes a first cannula that has an inner passage in fluid communication with a distal opening, and a wire that extends across said distal opening.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a second cannula that extends over said first cannula.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said second cannula has a plurality of external teeth.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said first cannula can be rotated within said second cannula.  
     
     
         18 . A medical cutter, comprising: 
 a first cannula that has an inner passage that is in fluid communication with a distal opening;    a wire that extends across said distal opening;    an aspiration tube that is in fluid communication with said inner passage;    a vacuum generator adapted to create a vacuum pressure within said aspiration tube; and,    a pulse generator adapted to create a plurality of vacuum pulses within said aspiration tube.    
     
     
         19 . The cutter of  claim 18 , wherein the vacuum pulses decrease the pressure within said aspiration tube.  
     
     
         20 . The cutter of  claim 18 , wherein said pulse generator is coupled to an input device that can be manipulated to vary a repetition rate of the vacuum pulses.  
     
     
         21 . The cutter of  claim 20 , wherein said input device is a foot pedal.  
     
     
         22 . The cutter of  claim 18 , further comprising a second cannula that extends over said first cannula.  
     
     
         23 . The cutter of  claim 22 , wherein said second cannula has a plurality of external teeth.  
     
     
         24 . The cutter of  claim 22 , wherein said first cannula can be rotated within said second cannula.  
     
     
         25 . A medical device, comprising: 
 a first cannula that has an inner passage which is in fluid communication with a distal opening;    a heating element that is coupled to said first cannula; and,    a controller that provides energy to said heating element.    
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein said heating element is a wire that extends across said distal opening.  
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 25 , further comprising a second cannula that extends over said first cannula.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein said second cannula has a plurality of external teeth.  
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein said first cannula can be rotated within said second cannula.