EP3091951A1

EP3091951A1 - Foreign body extractor

Info

Publication number: EP3091951A1
Application number: EP14738926.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hüseyin Yetik
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-01-07
Filing date: 2014-05-05
Publication date: 2016-11-16
Also published as: WO2015105465A1; CN106102669A

Abstract

The invention particularly relates to a foreign body extractor used for extracting the intraocular foreign bodies entering the eye in the field of vitreo retinal surgery which contains a pouch in order to carry the foreign body until removed from the eye without falling; wherein it comprises a string (1), at least one end of which is connected to the pushing piston (3) inside said frame, and a pouch (4) where said string (1) is connected around the mouth thereof.

Description

FOREIGN BODY EXTRACTOR Technical Field

The invention relates to an apparatus used for extracting intraocular foreign bodies entering the eye. The invention particularly relates to a foreign body extractor used for extracting intraocular foreign bodies in the field of vitreoretinal surgery which contains a pouch made of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in order to carry the foreign body until removed from the eye without falling back into the vitreous cavity. Prior Art

Intraocular foreign bodies entering the eye can be any material in any size and shape. In general, forceps having various designs are currently used for extracting the foreign body or bodies accidentally entered into the eye. In addition, lassos made of rope passed around the foreign body are also available. However, the basic disadvantage of the apparatus used in the prior art is that the foreign body has an irregular geometry such that said foreign body cannot be grasped with forceps.

Another basic disadvantage experienced is that the foreign body can break loose from the forceps during extraction and fall into the eye again, further damaging the eye. It is not possible to design a single type and ideal forceps capable of gripping the foreign bodies in various shapes. Therefore; these foreign bodies extracted from the eye without being gripped tightly and securely slide from the forceps right at the time of extraction from the eye and fall back into the eye. The risk of damaging the optic nerve and retinal layer of the eye as a result of this secondary trauma is higher than the first trauma. The reason for this is that, as the intraocular area is filled with vitreous body at the time of first trauma, the foreign body entering the eye rapidly is retained by said gel-like vitreous body. In the latter case; if the foreign body falls back into the eye at the time of extraction during operation, the intraocular area is empty, thus the damage risk is higher.

Upon gripping the foreign body with forceps; the incision that must be applied to the eye should be enlarged as the size of the foreign body has become total size of the foreign body and the gripping plates of the forceps. This is another example of disadvantages in the prior art.

The patent No. TR 2012 15393 can be provided as an example with respect to the prior art. The abstract of the invention describes an apparatus used for capturing and extracting, by entrapping, the foreign bodies in different sizes and geometries. However, there is no expression in the description of the apparatus mentioned in the application concerning any pouch or similar configuration. In conclusion; improvements or advancements are required in the field of foreign body extraction apparatus as distinct from the known methods due to the aforementioned disadvantages and due to inadequacy of the existing solutions on the subject matter.

Objective of the Invention

The objective of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages concerning the foreign body extraction apparatus mentioned above and improve foreign body apparatus with inspiration from the prior art. The objective of the invention is to ensure that the foreign body is completely surrounded irrespective of the configuration or size.

Another objective of the invention is to prevent slip and fall of the foreign body during the extraction thereof from the eye.

Another objective of the invention is to keep the incision made to the eye at a minimum level and to extract the body from the eye without enlarging said incision by virtue of its ultrathin structure. The invention relates to a foreign body extractor comprising a frame and a pushing piston and used for extraction of foreign bodies entering the eye in the field of vitreoretinal surgery.

In order to fulfill the aforementioned objectives, the invention contains a string, at least one end of which is connected to the pushing piston, and a pouch where said string is connected around the pouch mouth within said frame.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention; two ends of said string are connected to the pushing piston. In a preferred embodiment of the invention; said string is in loop form when it is extracted and released from the frame. In a preferred embodiment of the invention; said string is manufactured from an elastic material capable of memorizing the form.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention; said string is either polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or polyimide or polypropylene (PP) or steel or Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) either.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention; when said string takes the loop form upon said pouch exiting from the frame with the string to which the pouch is connected, the mouth of said pouch is also in loop form.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention; said pouch is manufactured from polytetrafluoroethylene material.

The structural and characteristic features and all the advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood thanks to the figures below and the detailed description written with reference to those figures and therefore, the evaluation needs to be done by taking said figures and the detailed description into consideration.

Figures Facilitating Comprehension of Invention

The invention must be evaluated together with the figures described below in order to understand the advantages of the present invention with its embodiments and additional elements. Figure 1 is the view of the foreign body extractor of the invention where the string and the pouch are in closed position and within the frame. The pushing piston of the extractor of the invention is pushed in A direction and the string and the pouch can be extracted from the frame.

Figure 2 is the view of the foreign body extractor of the invention ready for use where the string and pouch thereof are extracted. Figure 3 is the view of the foreign body extractor of the invention where the foreign body extracted from the eye is put into the pouch. The pushing piston of the extractor of the invention is pulled to B direction and the string and the pouch containing the foreign body can be retracted into the injector frame.

Figure 4 is the detailed view of the string and the pouch connected to the string of the extractor of the invention.

Description of Part References 10. Extractor

1. String

2. Frame

3. Pushing piston

4. Pouch

5. Foreign body

A: Forward direction

B: Backward direction The drawings do not need to be scaled and the details that are not necessary for understanding the present invention may have been ignored. In addition, the members that are at least identical to a great extent or at least have identical functions to a great extent are referred with the same number. Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the foreign body (5) extractor with pouch are described only for a better understanding of the subject matter. The structure of the invention generally consists of the string (1 ), frame (2), pushing piston (3) and pouch (4). Said pouch (4) is manufactured from polytetrafluoroethylene material. The polytetrafluoroethylene material, end section of which has been shaped into a pouch (4), continues upwards along the string (1 ) in a monolithic manner in the form of two thin connections. String (1 ) is used for easy injection of polytetrafluoroethylene pouch into the eye and opening of pouch mouth. After inserting the foreign body into the polytetrafluoroethylene pouch (4); the traction force used for extracting the foreign body (5) from the eye is applied on / from monolithic polytetrafluoroethylene pouch extending there all along. One of the most significant properties that enable the process to be safe is the monolithic nature of the polytetrafluoroethylene structure and that its extensions continue along the string (1) and protrude outside when the foreign body is entrapped within the pouch (4) section within the eye. In this manner, the traction force extracting the foreign body (5) from the eye is applied uninterruptedly to the monolithic polytetrafluoroethylene material.

The string (1) is manufactured from an elastic material capable of taking loop form when released and capable of memorizing this form / having loop memory. Said material can be polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene, polyimide or polypropylene (PP) etc.

The frame (2) is the external structure entering the eye. In a preferred embodiment, the frame (2) is injector frame in tubular form. It can be produced in different sizes. The pouch (4) and string (1 ) which entrap the foreign body (5) and enable the extraction thereof without the body falling back into the eye, are provided within this frame.

The pushing piston (3) is the mechanism which pushes the pouch (4) into the eye together with the string (1 ) and retracts the same when the body (5) enters the pouch (4). The pouch (4) is fixed around the string (1) in such a manner to form a bag shape and continues as a monolithic structure all along both sides of the string (1). (Figure 4)

In order to render the apparatus of the invention ready for functioning and operating; first of all, Teflon pouch (4) is wrapped around the elastic loop (string (1)) in such a manner to have a hollow center like a bag (Figure 1). Then, pouch (4) and its ring (1) are placed into the frame (2) and fixed by using the pushing piston.

The final user form of the apparatus (extractor) of the invention is illustrated in Figure 2. Polytetrafluoroethylene material; which comes from the loop part of a thin steel wire (string (1)) in the form of a loop with a diameter up to 2cm and extended into the frame (2) from both sides, when it is completely released; is prepared. The pouch (4), string (1) and piston (3) are respectively inserted into the frame (2) from the end to the inside. After the surgeon determines the foreign body (5) in the eye and releases thereof; s/he inserts the extractor (10) into the eye and pushes the pushing piston (3) (in A direction); thus ensuring that first the pouch (4) then the string (1) comes out. By virtue of the elastic memory, the string (1) enables the pouch (4) to be opened like a basket. In this case, the pouch (4) and string (1) are extended into the eye. The surgeon retracts the piston (3) backwards after putting the foreign body (5) into the pouch (4). The string (1) retracted from the eye and containing the foreign body (5) is closed as retracted (in B direction) and the foreign body (5) is entrapped within the pouch (4). In this manner, the risk for the foreign body (5) to fall back into the eye is eliminated. Regardless of the shape, the foreign body (5) can be easily immobilized and extracted from the eye. In an alternative embodiment; after entrapping the foreign body (5) within the pouch (4); the frame (2) and the piston (3) are set aside in such a manner to enable the string (1) and the pouch (4) to remain extending within the eye. In this manner, the foreign body (5) is extracted by pulling the polytetrafluoroethylene structure outside in such a manner to easily manipulate without the extractor frame (2) and piston (3).

Claims

1. A foreign body extractor (10) comprising a frame (2) and a pushing piston (3) and used for extraction of intraocular foreign bodies entering the eye in the field of vitreoretinal surgery, characterized in comprising

- a string (1), at least one end of which is connected to the pushing piston (3) inside said frame (2), and

- a pouch (4) where said string (1) is connected around the mouth thereof.

2. A foreign body extractor (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; two ends of said string (1) are connected to the pushing piston (3).

3. A foreign body extractor (10) according to Claim 2, characterized in that; said string (1) is in loop form when said string is extracted and released from the frame (2).

4. A foreign body extractor (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that; said string (1) is manufactured from an elastic material capable of memorizing the form.

5. A foreign body extractor (10) according to Claim 4, characterized in that; said string (1 ) is polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or polyimide or polypropylene (PP) or steel or Polytetrafluoroethylene.

6. A foreign body extractor (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that; when said string (1 ) takes the loop form upon said pouch (4) exiting from the frame (2) with the string (1) to which the pouch (4) is connected, the mouth of said pouch (4) is also in loop form.

7. A foreign body extractor (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that; said pouch (4) is manufactured from polytetrafluoroethylene material.