US 11,986,423 B1
Method of using a vitrectomy instrument
Gholam A. Peyman, Sun City, AZ (US)
Filed by Gholam A. Peyman, Sun City, AZ (US)
Filed on May 31, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/335,033.
Application 17/335,033 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/445,147, filed on Jun. 18, 2019, granted, now 11,020,270.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/690,166, filed on Jun. 26, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/686,322, filed on Jun. 18, 2018.
Int. Cl. A61F 9/007 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 9/00745 (2013.01) 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of using a vitrectomy instrument, said method comprising the steps of:
providing the vitrectomy instrument that includes:
a handpiece having a tubular body portion that is configured to be inserted into an eye of a patient, the tubular body portion comprising an outer tube and an inner tube coaxially disposed in the outer tube, the inner tube being slidably displaceable relative to the outer tube, the outer tube comprising a closed end tip and a sidewall extending in an axial direction from the closed end tip, the outer tube defining a linear passageway closed at a distal end by the closed end tip, the outer tube further comprising at least one opening disposed in the sidewall thereof, the at least one opening being disposed proximate to the closed end tip of the outer tube, and the at least one opening being configured to enable cutting of tissue, vitreous, and/or silicone oil, the at least one opening in the outer tube comprising a tip opening disposed in a side of the closed end tip so as to facilitate getting the tubular body portion of the vitrectomy instrument closer to a retinal surface of the eye without injuring the retinal surface;
a cutting power generator operatively coupled to the tubular body portion, the cutting power generator configured to reciprocably drive the inner tube of the tubular body portion for shearing the tissue, the vitreous, and/or the silicone oil; and
an ultrasonic generator operatively coupled to the tubular body portion, the ultrasonic generator configured to vibrate the inner tube of the tubular body portion for vibratory fragmentation and/or cutting of the tissue, the vitreous, and/or the silicone oil;
operating the vitrectomy instrument in a first mechanical cutting mode where the cutting power generator is used to reciprocably drive the inner tube of the tubular body portion for shearing the tissue, the vitreous, and/or the silicone oil; and
operating the vitrectomy instrument in a second ultrasonic cutting mode where the cutting power generator is inactive, and the ultrasonic generator is used to vibrate the inner tube of the tubular body portion for vibratory fragmentation and/or cutting of the tissue, the vitreous, and/or the silicone oil;
wherein, when operating in the second ultrasonic cutting mode, the vitrectomy instrument separates or opens up molecules of the tissue, the vitreous, and/or the silicone oil without tearing or shearing the tissue, the vitreous, and/or the silicone oil so as to avoid pulling on the fibrous bands or membranes in the vitreous, and thereby prevent a retinal tear and/or retinal detachment in the eye of the patient.