WO2009061194A1

WO2009061194A1 - Eye surgical instrument

Info

Publication number: WO2009061194A1
Application number: PCT/NL2008/050706
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerrit Jan Vijfvinkel
Original assignee: D.O.R.C. Dutch Opthalmic Research Center (International) B.V.
Priority date: 2007-11-08
Filing date: 2008-11-07
Publication date: 2009-05-14
Also published as: NL1034657C2; EP2211734A1

Abstract

Eye surgical instrument comprising an elongate core which carries an elongate tool element, operating arms extending along the core, operable against the force of a spring, which are pivotahly attached to the core, and a hollow needle translatably included around the elongate tool element, an end of the hollow needle cooperating with a head of the tool element. The hollow needle is coupled with the operating arms via a transmission mechanism, while the spring force is supplied by a single leaf spring.

Description

Title: Eye surgical instrument

The invention relates to an eye surgical instrument comprising an elongate core which carries an elongate tool element, operating arms extending along the core, operable against the force of a spring, which are pivotably attached to the core, and a hollow needle translatably included around the elongate tool element, an end of the hollow needle cooperating with a head of the tool element, while the hollow needle is coupled with the operating arms via a transmission mechanism.

Such an eye surgical instrument is well known and is used, for instance, with a substantially elongate tool element designed as pair of tweezers. Such an eye surgical instrument is generally designed as an instrument for single use.

US 4 955 887 describes an eye surgical instrument with two operating arms which extend along an elongate core. The two operating arms are coupled at one end with a spring clip. US 6 322 578 describes a microsurgical instrument provided with two operating arms which extend along an elongate core. Situated between the ends of the operating arms is a clip-shaped spring.

US 6 306 155 describes a surgical instrument which has a handle with two spring-biased operating elements. A drawback of such known eye surgical instruments is that they contain relatively many parts and have a complex makeup. Moreover, it is difficult for a physician who operates such an instrument to operate the instrument in a precise manner.

An object of the invention is to provide an eye surgical instrument that is less complex and can be operated more precisely.

To this end, the invention provides an eye surgical instrument comprising an elongate core which carries an elongate tool element, operating arms extending along the core, operable against the force of a spring, which are pivotably attached to the core, and a hollow needle translatably included around the elongate tool element, an end of the hollow needle cooperating with a head of the tool element, while the hollow needle is coupled with the operating arms via a transmission mechanism, while the spring force is supplied by a single leaf spring which is active between the operating arms, the leaf spring running through the core.

By providing a single leaf spring which supplies the spring force against which the operating arms are operable, the eye surgical instrument can be made of relatively simple design. Also, by the use of a single leaf spring the force experienced by the physician during operation of the instrument can be approximately constant over a particular range. This can facilitate operating the instrument, allowing the physician to obtain a better feel of the instrument. As the leaf spring runs through the core, the instrument can be made of relatively compact design, with few parts, and the instrument can be assembled in a simple manner, so that it may be- relatively inexpensive.

By designing the leaf spring as a metal leaf spring, the advantage can be achieved that the force experienced by the physician can be more constant over a particular range during operation of the instrument. By designing the transmission mechanism and/or the core and/or the operating arms as an injection molded part, the instrument can be manufactured relatively inexpensively. Consequently, the instrument may be advantageously used as a disposable instrument for single use.

By providing the transmission mechanism with two movable arms which are operable by the operating arms, the elongate tool element can be operated in a compact manner via the operating arms. The transmission mechanism can be made of relatively simple and compact design by providing a hollow sleeve to which two movable arms are coupled through a pivoting connection. The hollow sleeve cooperates with an end of the hollow needle, for instance the hollow sleeve surrounds the hollow needle, e.g. through a clamped joint, snap connection or welded joint. The pivoting connection can comprise a hinge joint. In an advantageous embodiment, the hinge joint comprises a co-injection molded line hinge.

By providing the core at the end remote from the transmission mechanism with a connecting part for pivotably connecting the operating arms with the core, the operating arms can be connected with the core in a simple and compact manner, while the connecting part at the same time functions as pivoting point for the operating arms.

Further advantageous embodiments are set forth in the subclaims. The invention will be further elucidated with reference to an exemplary embodiment represented in a drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of an eye surgical instrument according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a sectional side elevation of the eye surgical instrument of Fig. 1 in a rest condition;

Fig. 3 shows a sectional side elevation of the eye surgical instrument of Fig. 1 in operating condition.

It is noted that the figures are only schematic representations of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is represented by way of non-limitative exemplary embodiment. In the figures, equal or corresponding parts are designated with the same reference numerals.

Fig. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of an eye surgical instrument 1. The instrument 1 comprises a core 2 along which extend two operating arms 3. The operating arms 3 are pivotably attached to the core 2 via a connecting part 4. The operating arms 3 are operable by a physician against the force of a spring 5.

Through the connecting part 4, the operating arms 3 can be attached to the core 2 in a simple manner, while the connecting part 4 can further function as pivoting point for the operating arms 3. Preferably, the connecting part 4 is connected with the core 2 and/or the operating arms 3 through a snap connection.

In Fig. 1 the transmission mechanism 6 is shown which is provided with a hollow needle 7. Included in the hollow needle 7 is an elongate tool element 8. In assembled condition as can be seen in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 the elongate tool element 8 is secured to the core 2 through locking means 9. To that end, the core 2 is provided with at least one opening 10 for receiving the locking means 9. In this exemplary embodiment, the locking means 9 are designed as a screw. Possibly, the elongate tool element 8 may also be secured through a glued joint or by a combination of a screw on one side of the core 2 and a glued joint on the other side of the core 2.

The transmission mechanism 6 is provided with two movable arms 11 which can cooperate with means of the operating arms 3 of the instrument 1. In this exemplary embodiment, the operating arms 3 are provided with projections 12 for cooperation with the arms 11 of the transmission mechanism 6. The hollow needle 7 is fixedly connected with the transmission mechanism 6. The transmission mechanism 6 comprises in this exemplary embodiment a hollow sleeve 14 which cooperates with an end of the hollow needle 7. For instance, the hollow sleeve 14 may be simply slid over the hollow needle 7 during assembly. Through, for instance, a clamped joint, the hollow sleeve 14 may be for instance fixedly connected with the hollow needle 7. This may for instance be achieved by making the inside diameter of the hollow sleeve 14 minimally smaller than the outside diameter of the hollow needle 7, so that the hollow sleeve 14 can be slipped over the hollow needle 7 with a clamped fit. Through a pivoting connection 13, two movable arms 11 are connected with the hollow sleeve 14. In a simple and advantageous embodiment, the pivoting connection 13 is designed as a co-injection molded line hinge 13. Thus the transmission mechanism 6 can be simply manufactured as an injection molded part. The transmission mechanism 6 may also be used in other surgical instruments as a part.

In Fig. 2 the eye surgical instrument 1 is shown in rest condition. The operating arms 3 are here designed as operating shells which surround the core 2 at least partly. The operating shells 3 can be operated against the force of the spring 5. The spring 5 is designed as a leaf spring. In this exemplary embodiment, the leaf spring is designed as a metal leaf spring. By designing the spring 5 as a leaf spring, a person operating the instrument 1, for instance a physician, experiences a virtually constant force over a particular range. In this way, the physician can obtain a better feel of the instrument 1 during operation thereof. Preferably, the leaf spring 5 is connected at each end through a snap connection with an operating shell 3.

In this exemplary embodiment, the leaf spring 5 runs through the core 2. In this way, the instrument 1 can be made of compact design. By operating the operating shells 3 against the force of the leaf spring

5, the two movable arms 11 of the transmission mechanism 6 are moved towards each other. As a result, the transmission mechanism 6 moves towards the front end of the instrument 1, where the hollow needle 7 and the elongate tool element 8 are situated. As the hollow needle 7 is fixedly connected with the transmission mechanism 6, the hollow needle 7 moves along forwards over the elongate tool element 8. As a result, the elongate tool element 8 is operated. Fig. 3 shows the operating position of the instrument 1 when both operating arms 3 have been operated.

For instance, the elongate tool element 8 may be designed as a pair of tweezers. By operating the operating arms 3, the two legs of the pair of tweezers may be opened, or closed for instance to pick something up. Also, the elongate tool element 8 may for instance be designed as a forceps, whereby through operation of the operating arms 3 the jaws of the forceps may be opened, or closed. In an advantageous embodiment, the operating arms 3, the core 2, the transmission mechanism 6 and the connecting part 4 are designed as injection molded parts. In this way, the instrument 1 can be manufactured in an inexpensive manner and it is easily deployable as a disposable instrument for single use.

In an advantageous embodiment, the movable arms 11 are connected with the transmission mechanism 6 through line hinges 13. Preferably, the line hinges 13 are co-injection molded. The transmission mechanism 6 with the movable arms 11 can then be manufactured as one whole by injection molding.

It will be clear that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments represented here. Many variants will be clear to those skilled in the art and are understood to be within the scope of the invention as represented in the following claims.

Claims

1. An eye surgical instrument comprising

- an elongate core which carries an elongate tool element;

- operating arms extending along the core, operable against the force of a spring, which are pivotably attached to the core; - a hollow needle translatably included around the elongate tool element, an end of the hollow needle cooperating with a head of the tool element, while the hollow needle is coupled with the operating arms via a transmission mechanism, characterized in that the spring force is supplied by a single leaf spring which is active between the operating arms, the leaf spring running through the core.

2. An eye surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the instrument comprises two operating arms.

3. An eye surgical instrument according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the leaf spring is designed as a metal leaf spring.

4. An eye surgical instrument according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission mechanism and/or the core and/or the operating arms is an injection molded part.

5. An eye surgical instrument according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission mechanism is provided with two movable arms which are operable by the operating arms.

6. An eye surgical instrument according to claim 5, wherein the operating arms are provided with means for operating the arms of the transmission mechanism.

7. An eye surgical instrument according to claim 6, wherein the arms are connected to the transmission mechanism through line hinges.

8. An eye surgical instrument according to any one of claims 4-7, wherein the line hinges are co-injection molded.

9. An eye surgical instrument according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at the end of the core remote from the transmission mechanism a connecting part is situated for pivotably connecting the operating arms with the core.

10. An eye surgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein the connecting part is connected with the core via a snap connection.

11. An eye surgical instrument according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the leaf spring adjacent each of the ends is connected with an operating arm through a snap connection.

12. An eye surgical instrument according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the core is provided with at least one opening for receiving locking means for securing the elongate tool element.

13. An eye surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the locking means is designed as a screw.