WO1997017902A1

WO1997017902A1 - Cutting tip wrench

Info

Publication number: WO1997017902A1
Application number: PCT/US1996/018007
Authority: WO
Inventors: Donn D. Lobdell; Deanna S. Vale
Original assignee: Alcon Laboratories, Inc.
Priority date: 1995-11-15
Filing date: 1996-11-06
Publication date: 1997-05-22
Also published as: AU7675496A

Abstract

A cutting tip wrench with a generally long, hollow body with an interior capable of receiving an engageable clutch. The clutch has a projection containing a bore, preferably in the shape of a square and capable of frictionally engaging a nut from a cutting tip. The clutch is one-way engaging with the hollow body, such that torque can only be applied to the projection bore in one direction. This allows the wrench to be capable of only removing cutting tips from surgical equipment. The exterior of the body contains ridges, grooves, knurling or other suitable texture so as to provide a gripable wrench.

Description

CUTTING TIP WRENCH

Background ofthe Invention

The present invention relates to ultrasonic surgical equipment and, in particular, to wrenches used to remove ultrasonic cutting tips. Ultrasonic cutting tips are critical and principal parts of ultrasonic surgical equipment.

A typical ultrasonic surgical device suitable for ophthalmic procedures consists of an ultrasonically driven handpiece, an attached cutting tip, an irrigating sleeve and an electronic control console. The handpiece assembly is attached to the control console by an electric cable and flexible tubings. Through the electric cable, the console varies the power level transmitted by the handpiece to the attached cutting tip and the flexible tubings supply irrigation fluid to and draw aspiration fluid from the eye through the handpiece assembly.

The operative part of the handpiece is a centrally located, hollow resonating bar or horn directly attached to a set of piezo-electric crystals. The crystals supply the required ultrasonic vibration needed to drive both the horn and the attached cutting tip during phacoemulsification and are controlled by the console. The crystal/horn assembly is suspended within the hollow body or shell ofthe handpiece by flexible mountings. The handpiece body terminates in a reduced-diameter portion or nosecone at the body's distal end. The nosecone is externally threaded to accept the irrigation sleeve. Likewise, the horn bore is internally threaded at its distal end to receive the external thread of the cutting tip. The irrigation sleeve also has an internally threaded bore that is screwed onto the external threads of the nosecone. The cutting tip is adjusted so that the tip projects only a predetermined amount past the open end of the irrigating sleeve. Ultrasonic handpieces and cutting tips are more fully described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,589,363, 4,223,676, 4,246,902, 4,493,694 4,515,583, 4,589,415, 4,609,368, 4,869,715,

4,922,902 and 5,431,664, the entire contents of which are incoφorated herein by reference.

In use, the ends of the cutting tip and irrigating sleeve are inserted into a small incision of predetermined width in the cornea, sclera, or other location. The cutting tip is ultrasonically vibrated along its longitudinal axis within the irrigating sleeve by the crystal-driven ultrasonic horn, thereby emulsifying the selected tissue in situ. The hollow bore ofthe cutting tip communicates with the bore in the horn that in turn communicates with the aspiration line from the handpiece to the console. A reduced pressure or vacuum source in the console draws or aspirates the emulsified tissue from the eye through the open end ofthe cutting tip, the aspiration line, and into a collection device on the console. The aspiration of emulsified tissue is aided by a saline flushing solution or irrigant that is injected into the surgical site through the small annular gap between tbe inside surface ofthe irrigating sleeve and the cutting tip.

The piezo-electric horns used in ultrasonic handpieces must be carefully tuned to assure that all of the movement of the horn is in the longitudinal direction and that the node of maximum longitudinal displacement occurs at the distal end of the cutting tip. Therefore, the cutting tip must be securely attached to the horn to prevent horizontal or whipping motion of the cutting tip and to prevent unintentional lengthening of the horn/cutting tip assembly. This tightening is accomplished by the use of a small wrench that fits over either a nut or wrench slots formed in the base ofthe cutting tip.

Most prior art wrenches, such as those disclosed in United States Patent No. Des. 351,695, the entire contents of which are herein incoφorated by reference, are made of molded plastic to insure that no metal shavings are deposited on the cutting tip during

tightening of the tip to the handpiece. The use of plastic wrenches also prevents over tightening of the cutting tip as the plastic wrench will only permit a restricted amount of torque. Although plastic wrenches are intended to be for a single use, it has become increasingly common for these wrenches to be re-used several times. As a result, the

molded plastic wrench becomes "stripped" so that it can no longer provide the torque necessary to untighten a cutting tip for removal. Other prior art wrenches are small disk type devices whereby the nut ofthe cutting tip is engaged to a notched center ofthe disk. These prior art wrenches do not provide any ofthe advantages or objectives of wrenches of the present invention. More specifically, the present invention provides the improvements and advantages of: a durable, one-way wrench for the removal of cutting tips; a longer gripping portion for greater rotational leverage; and a shield against accidental abrasions resulting from contact of the cutting tip with medical personnel during removal.

Summary ofthe Invention

The present invention improves upon prior art cutting tip wrenches by providing a durable wrench with a one-way driving function and opposite direction release (no torque). The wrench has a long, hollow, generally T-shaped body, having a longitudinal bore that is enlarged on one end. A cylindrical socket carrying clutch is received in the

enlarged portion of the bore and held into place with a snap ring. The clutch permits

rotation of the socket in only one direction.

Accordingly, one objective of the present invention is to provide a cutting tip

wrench that is durable.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cutting tip wrench that

is capable of removing a cutting tip.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a cutting tip wrench that protects against accidental injury during removal ofthe cutting tip.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a wrench capable of

removing straight or bent cutting tips.

These and other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become

apparent from the drawings, detailed description and claims that follow.

Brief Description ofthe Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cutting tip wrench ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cutting tip wrench of the present

invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cutting tip wrench of the present invention

along line 3-3, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view ofthe cutting tip wrench ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a elevation view of one embodiment of a clutch that may be used with the present invention. FIG. 6 is a elevation view of a second embodiment of a clutch that may be used with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cutting tip wrench of the present invention

Detailed Description ofthe Invention

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7, wrench 10 of the present invention generally includes tubular body 14, socket carrying clutch 16 and holding ring 26. As best seen in FIG. 3, body 14 has a longitudinal bore 36 running the entire length of body 14 from bottom end 34 to top end 60. A portion of bore 36 at top end 60 is enlarged to form clutch race 52 having ridge 62 and groove 70. While other suitable

designs may be used, body 14 may have two exterior flat edges 32 running along its longitudinal axis, opposite from each other, and two exterior rounded surfaces 30, opposite from each other and adjacent to flat surfaces 32, Surfaces 30 are preferably ribbed, etched, knurled or otherwise providing a gripping texture for the rotation of

wrench 10. Surfaces 32 may also provide wrenching flats for the application of an external square wrench (not shown) if more than finger leverage is needed to rotate wrench 10. Top end 60 of body 14 is larger than bottom end 34 and may be generally square, hexagonal, octagonal, round or a partially round in shape. The shape of the top end 60 may form a plurality of wrenching surfaces 28 for the application of an external wrench if more than finger leverage is needed to rotate wrench 10. Body 14 may be made of stainless steel, titanium, aluminum or hardened plastic, and can be machined, cut, etched and casted to form the above described shape, although other shapes, materials and manufacturing methods known to those skilled in the art may also be employed.

A first embodiment of socket carrying clutch 16, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, includes drum 80, socket 18, cylindrical rollers 40, springs 42 and set screw 19. Drum 80 may include top face 58 with guides 44, bottom face 66 with guides 45, side 54, raceways 38 positioned between guides 44 and 45, cam 65, and bore 82 running

coaxially from top face 58 to bottom face 66. Interior edges of raceways 38, tangential to the rotational axis of drum 80, form cams 65. Rollers 40 have small pins 48 so that when rollers 40 are slidably received in raceways 38, pins 48 project into guides 44 and 45, thereby restraining rollers 40 between top face 58 and bottom face 66. Springs 42 are inteφosed between rollers 40 and inner edges 56 of raceways 38. Socket 18 has hollow bore 20. Bore 20 is suitably shaped for the engagement of nut 22 of cutting tip 12, and is generally a square, although other bore shapes may be used in the present invention. Socket 18 is received in bore 82, and projects outward from top face 58. In this embodiment, socket 18 may be secured in bore 82 by set screw 1 , but other means for securing may be used, such as compression fitting, gluing, welding, or socket 18 together with drum 80 may be prepared as one solid piece. If an opposite torque is desired, socket 18 may be reversed in bore 82 so that socket 18 projects outward from bottom face 66. Suitable clutchs 16 are commercially available from various sources such as Helander Products, Inc. (Clinton, Connecticut).

A second embodiment of clutch 16', illustrated in FIG. 6, includes drum 84, socket 18', ball bearings 50, and set screw 19'. Drum 84 includes top face 86, bottom face 88, raceways 78, cam 75 and bore 82' running coaxially from the center of top face 86 through bottom face 88. Interior edges of raceways 78, tangential to the rotational axis of drum 84, form cams 75. Ball bearings 50 are positioned in raceways 78.

Socket 18' has hollow bore 20'. Bore 20' is suitably shaped for the engagement of nut 22 of cutting tip 12, and is generally a square, although other shapes may be used

in the present invention. Socket 18' is received in bore 82', and projects outward from top face 86. Socket 18' may be secured in bore 82' by set screw 19', but other means for securing may be used, such as compression fitting, gluing, welding, or socket 18' and drum 84 together may be prepared as one piece. If an opposite torque is desired, socket 18' is reversed in bore 82' so that socket 18' projects outward from bottom face 88. The above described clutches 16 and 16' may generally be made of stainless steel, but other materials may also be used, such as aluminum and titanium.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, clutch 16 is received in race 52 of body 14 such that bottom face 66 (or top face 58, if opposite torque is desired) abuts and rides on ridge 62 and springs 42 press rollers 40 against inner surface 68 of race 52. Clutch 16 may be held within race 52 by holding ring 26, positioned above top face 58 of clutch 16 and annularly pressing against groove 70 of body 14. Alternatively, clutch 16 may be held within race 52 by an annular flange or cap secured to top end 60 of body 14 or by a V- spring, positioned above top face 58 and pressing against groove 70.

Alternatively, 16' is received in race 52 of body 14 such that bottom face 88 (or top face 86, if opposite torque is desired) abuts and rides on ridge 62, and ball bearings 50 press against inner surface 68 of race 52.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, wrench 10, employed with clutch 16, is operated by placing cutting tip 12 through bore 20 of socket 18 so that bore 20 frictionally engages nut 22 of cutting tip 12. Wrench 10 is then rotated counter-clockwise about its longitudinal axis, allowing springs 42 to uncoil and force rollers 40 outward to edge 64

of raceway 38. As a result, rollers 40 extend beyond the circumference of drum 80 and

lodge between inner surface 68 of race 52 and cam 65 of clutch 16, immobilizing clutch

16 within race 52, and thereby preventing socket 18 from turning independently of body

14. After a number of counter-clockwise revolutions of nut 22 by wrench 10, exterior

thread 24 of cutting tip 12 is unscrewed from an internally threaded surgical handpiece

(not shown). If wrench 10 is rotated in the clockwise direction (tightening of thread 24 within a handpiece), inner surface 68 of body 14 will force rollers 40 to compress springs

42 and rollers 40 move inward on raceway 38. When this occurs, rollers 40 move freely

on inner surface 68 of race 52, thereby allowing socket 18 to move independently of

body 14.

When operating wrench 10 with clutch 16' (FIG. 6), counter-clockwise rotation

of wrench 10 about its longitudinal axis causes ball bearing 50 to roll out toward edge 72

of cam 75, thereby lodging between inner surface 68 of larger bore 52 and cam 75 of

raceway 78, engaging clutch 16' with body 14 and thereby preventing socket 18' from

turning independently of body 14. If wrench 10 is rotated clockwise, inner surface 68 of

body 14 will push ball bearing 50 down raceway 78, dislodging ballbearing 50 with inner

surface 68 and cam 75, and thereby allowing socket 18* to move independently of body 14.

This description is given for puφoses of illustration and explanation. It will be

apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications can be made to the invention as

described above without departing from its scope or spirit.

Claims

97/17902What is claimed is :

1. A one-way cutting tip wrench, comprising: a) a hollow body having a longitudinal axis, an interior and an open end; b) a one-way clutch positioned within the interior coaxially with the longitudinal axis; c) a means for retaining the clutch within the body; and d) a socket projecting from the clutch and away from the body, the socket having a bore coaxial about the longitudinal axis and communicating with the hollow body.

2. The cutting tip wrench of claim 1, wherein the clutch further comprises: a) a drum having two faces, a side, one or more cam(s) and one or more raceway(s); and b) one or more roller(s) attached to the drum and slideable within the raceway(s).

3. The cutting tip wrench of claim 1 , wherein the clutch further comprises: a) a drum having two faces, a side, one or more cam(s) and one or more raceway(s); and b) one or more ball bearings slideable within the raceway(s).

4. The cutting tip wrench of claim 1, wherein the wrench is made of stainless steel or titanium.

5. The cutting tip wrench of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises two flat exterior edges opposite from each other and two rounded textured exterior surfaces opposite from each other, and adjacent to the flat exterior edges.

6. A cutting tip wrench, comprising: a) a hollow body having a longitudinal axis, an interior, two flat surfaces, two rounded surfaces, and an open end; b) a one-way clutch comprising a drum having two faces, a side, one or more cam(s), one or more raceway(s), and one or more roller(s) attached to the drum and slideable within the raceway(s); c) a compressible ring retaining the clutch within the body; and d) a socket projecting from the clutch and away from the body, the socket having a square bore coaxial about the longitudinal axis and communicating with the hollow body.

7. A cutting tip wrench, comprising: a) a hollow body having a longitudinal axis, an interior, two flat surfaces, two rounded surfaces, and an open end; b) a one-way clutch comprising a drum having two faces, a side, one or more cam(s), one or more raceway(s), and one or more ball bearing(s) slideable within the raceway(s); c) a compressible ring retaining the clutch within the body; and d) a socket projecting from the clutch and away from the body, the socket having a square bore coaxial about the longitudinal axis and communicating with the hollow body.

8. The cutting tip wrench of claim 6, wherein the wrench is made of stainless steel or titanium.

9. The cutting tip wrench of claim 7, wherein the wrench is made of stainless steel or titanium.