Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100331911 | System for Dissociation and Removal of Proteinaceous Tissue - An apparatus and method for the dissociation of soft proteinaceous tissue using pulsed rapid variable direction energy field flow fractionization is disclosed. The pulsed rapid disruptive energy field is created by the use of a probe which surrounds the soft proteinaceous tissue to be removed. Once the adhesive mechanism between tissue constituents has been compromised, fluidic techniques are used to remove the dissociated tissue. | 12-30-2010 |
20110118728 | CONTROL OF HIGH-INTENSITY PULSED ELECTRICAL FIELDS IN SURGICAL APPLICATIONS - An eye surgery apparatus includes a HIPEF probe comprising at least two electrodes and is configured for delivery of a high-intensity pulsed electrical field to a surgical site within an eye via the electrodes. Embodiments also include a transducer configured to monitor one or more surgical parameters within the eye during application of the high-intensity pulsed electrical field to the surgical site, a pulse generation circuit configured to generate a series of electrical pulses for application to the electrodes to create the high-intensity pulsed electrical field, and a control circuit, operatively connected to the at least one transducer and the pulse generation circuit and configured to automatically adjust one or more characteristics of the series of electrical pulses, based on the one or more monitored surgical parameters. With these apparatus, the amount of energy delivered can be limited to levels necessary for effective operation without over-exposing the vitreous. | 05-19-2011 |
20110118729 | HIGH-INTENSITY PULSED ELECTRIC FIELD VITRECTOMY APPARATUS WITH LOAD DETECTION - A high-intensity pulsed electric field (HIPEF) vitrectomy apparatus is disclosed. An exemplary apparatus includes a HIPEF probe comprising at least one electrode disposed at a distal end of the HIPEF probe, such that the distal end is configured for insertion into an eye. A load detection circuit is coupled to the HIPEF probe and is configured to compare a measured physical parameter to a corresponding threshold value. A control circuit is electrically coupled to the load detection circuit and configured to selectively disable application of pulsed energy to the at least one electrode of the HIPEF probe, based on the comparison. The measured physical parameter may include, for example, resistivity, permittivity, reflected light, pressure, or heat dissipation capability. | 05-19-2011 |
20110118734 | CAPSULARHEXIS DEVICE USING PULSED ELECTRIC FIELDS - A capsulorhexis apparatus is disclosed. An exemplary apparatus includes a cutting electrode device that in turn comprises a handle, a flexible ring having a single ring-shaped wire electrode embedded therein, and a shaft connecting the flexible ring to the handle, wherein the flexible ring is configured for insertion into an eye through an incision. The apparatus further includes a grounding electrode configured for placement in or on the eye, independently of the cutting electrode device, and a pulse generator electrically connected to the ring-shaped wire electrode and the grounding electrode and configured to supply pulsed power to the eye via the ring-shaped wire electrode and the grounding electrode | 05-19-2011 |
20110135626 | Localized Chemical Lysis of Ocular Tissue - A high-intensity pulsed-electrical-field (HIPEF) apparatus chemically induces lysis of ocular tissue within a localized portion of an eye. Instead of broadly applying a lysis affecting solution (e.g., plasmin) to the eye, the apparatus delivers solution to only a portion of the eye. The apparatus then alters the effectiveness of at least some of the solution delivered by applying a HIPEF to that solution. In some embodiments, for example, the apparatus delivers a solution that does not substantially affect lysis of ocular tissue and then enhances the solution's effectiveness by applying a HIPEF. As the apparatus applies the HIPEF with high precision, the HIPEF only enhances the effectiveness of the solution within select and localized portions of the eye. The apparatus is especially advantageous for vitreoretinal surgery, whereby the apparatus may selectively induce lysis of vitreous tissue within a localized portion of the vitreous cavity, without significantly affecting adjacent retinal tissue. | 06-09-2011 |
20110144562 | Localized Pharmacological Treatment of Ocular Tissue Using High-Intensity Pulsed Electrical Fields - A high-intensity pulsed-electrical-field (HIPEF) apparatus treats ocular tissue within a localized portion of an eye with a pharmacological solution. To mitigate risk of damage to adjacent, healthy ocular tissue, the apparatus delivers the solution to only a portion of the eye and then alters the effectiveness of at least some of the solution delivered by applying a HIPEF. In some embodiments, for example, the apparatus delivers an inactive pharmacological solution and then activates at least some of the solution by applying a HIPEF to that solution. As the apparatus applies the HIPEF with high precision, the HIPEF only activates solution within select portions of the eye. In other embodiments, the apparatus delivers a pharmacological carrier encapsulating an active pharmacological solution and then penetrates the carrier by applying a HIPEF. Delivered with a high concentration, but low dose, the solution diffuses only to tissue within a localized portion of the eye. | 06-16-2011 |
20110144638 | Localized Shockwave-Induced Tissue Disruption - A high-intensity pulsed-electrical-field (HIPEF) apparatus removes ocular tissue from a localized portion of an eye by delivering one or more focused shockwaves to that tissue. In one embodiment, for example, the apparatus generates one or more electrical pulses, delivers the one or more focused shockwaves to ocular tissue by applying the generated electrical pulses to a HIPEF probe, and then removes the ocular tissue disrupted by the one or more focused shockwaves via aspiration. To mitigate risk of damage to adjacent ocular tissue, the apparatus delivers the one or more focused shockwaves with energy substantially limited to the tissue being removed. The HIPEF apparatus is, therefore, especially advantageous in the context of cataract surgery where cataract tissue need be broken apart and removed without damaging adjacent tissue associated with the lens capsule required to implant an intraocular lens. | 06-16-2011 |
20110144641 | High-Intensity Pulsed Electric Field Vitrectomy Apparatus - A high-intensity pulsed electric field (HIPEF) vitrectomy apparatus is disclosed. An exemplary apparatus includes a HIPEF probe comprising at least one electrode disposed at a distal end of the HIPEF probe, such that the distal end is configured for insertion into an eye. Various embodiments include a probe shaft assembled from a modular end segment and one or more additional modular shaft segments, each of the modular end segment and one or more modular shaft segments in turn comprising at least two longitudinal channels adapted to accommodate an electrode unit. In some of these probe shafts, each of the modular end segment and one or more modular shaft segments has a central longitudinal channel, and the probe shaft further comprises an aspiration tube disposed within the central longitudinal channel. | 06-16-2011 |