Infusion instrument

An infusion instrument comprises an infusion device for supplying intracular irrigating through an input end thereof, an infusion passage thereof and an insertion end thereof into an eyeball, an illumination unit including a light source for illuminating an inside portion of the eyeball, and a light transmitting element having a first end connected to the light source and a second end for transmitting a light from the light source to the eyeball. At least the second end of the light transmitting element is arranged in the infusion passage.

We claim:

1. An infusion instrument for use in vitrectomy comprising:

an infusion having an input end, an insertion member for insertion into an eyeball and an infusion passage means connected between the input end and the insertion member so as to form a flow path for infusing an intraocular irrigating solution from the input end through the flowpath and through the insertion member into an eyeball;

a source of fluid in fluid communication with the input end of the infusion means;

the infusion passage means having a resilient portion made of a resilient material at least near the insertion member;

an illumination unit including a light source for illuminating an inside portion of an eyeball; and

a light transmitting means made of a resilient material and having an input end connected to the light source and an output end connected to the insertion member for receiving light entering through the input end from the light source and transmitting the light out of the output end to an interior portion of an eyeball, wherein at least a portion of the light transmitting means is arranged inside the flowpath located in the resilient portion of the infusion passage means; and

the insertion member including attachment means, comprising a flange portion of the insertion member, for permitting attachment of the insertion member to an eyeball without additional support by an operator, wherein the insertion member comprises a connection portion located on one side of the flange portion, for connecting to the infusion passage means, and an insertion portion located on an opposite side of said flange portion, for insertion into an eyeball, said flowpath passing through both said connection portion and said insertion portion and wherein said light transmitting means terminates inside of said insertion portion.

2. An instrument as defined in claim 2, wherein a majority of the light transmitting means is placed inside the flowpath within the infusion passage means of the infusion means.

3. An instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein the light transmitting means comprises an optical fiber and the infusion passage means is tubular, and wherein the optical fiber is placed in the flowpath over substantially the full length of the infusion passage means.

4. An instrument as defined in claim 3, wherein the optical fiber is composed of a single body without any joint portion.

5. An instrument as defined in claim 4, wherein the illumination unit includes a relay means positioned between the light source and an input end of the optical fiber for guiding light from the light source into the optical fiber.

6. An instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said insertion portion has a diameter smaller than the diameter of said connection portion.

7. An instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein the flange portion has plural recesses for holding strands or threads for attaching the insertion member to the eyeball.

8. An instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein the light transmitting means is an optical fiber.

9. An infusion instrument for use in vitrectomy comprising:

an infusion means having an input end, an insertion member for insertion into an eyeball and an infusion passage means connected between the input end and the insertion member so as to form a flowpath for infusing an intraocular irrigating solution from the input end through the flowpath and through the insertion member into an eyeball;

a source of fluid in fluid communication with the input end of the infusion;

the infusion passage means having a resilient portion made of a resilient material at least near the insertion member;

an illumination unit including a light source for illuminating an inside portion of an eyeball; and

a light transmitting means made of a resilient material and having an input end connected to the light source and an output end connected to the insertion member for receiving light entering through the input end from the light source and transmitting the light out of the output end to an interior portion of an eyeball, wherein at least a portion of the light transmitting means is arranged inside the flowpath located in the resilient portion of the infusion passage means; and

the insertion member including attachment means, comprising a flange portion of the insertion member, for permitting attachment of the insertion member to an eyeball without additional support by an operator, wherein the insertion member comprises a connection portion located on one side of the flange portion, for connecting to the infusion passage means, and an insertion portion located on an opposite side of said flange portion, for insertion into an eyeball, said flowpath passing through both said connection portion and said insertion portion, and wherein the light transmitting means terminates within said connection portion of the insertion member.

10. An instrument as defined in claim 9, wherein the flowpath within said insertion member has an inner surface of a high reflectivity for reflecting light from said light transmitting means into the interior of an eyeball.

11. An instrument as defined in claim 9, wherein the light transmitting means is an optical fiber.

12. An instrument as defined in claim 9, wherein the flange portion has plural recesses for holding strands or threads for attaching the insertion member to the eyeball.

13. An infusion instrument for use in vitrectomy comprising:

an infusion means having an input end, an insertion member for insertion into an eyeball and an infusion passage means connected between the input end and the insertion member so as to form a flowpath for infusing an intraocular irrigating solution from the input end through the flowpath and through the insertion member into an eyeball;

a source of fluid in fluid communication with the input end of the infusion means;

the infusion passage means having a resilient portion made of a resilient material at least near the insertion member;

an illumination unit including a light source for illuminating an inside portion of an eyeball; and

a light transmitting means made of a resilient material and having an input end connected to the insertion member for receiving light entering through the input end from the light source and transmitting the light out of the output end to an interior portion of an eyeball, wherein at least a portion of the light transmitting means is arranged inside the flowpath located in the resilient portion of the infusion passage means; and

the insertion member including attachment means, comprising a flange portion of the insertion member, for permitting attachment of the insertion member to an eyeball without additional support by an operator, wherein the insertion member is comprised of a light transmitting material and is positioned at the output end of said light transmitting means and forms a continuation of said light transmitting means, and wherein the flowpath extends through said continuation of said light transmitting means.

14. An instrument as defined in claim 13, wherein the continuation of the light transmitting mean formed by said insertion member of light transmitting material is coated with a material having a smaller index of refraction than that of the light transmitting material, whereby the insertion member acts as an optical wave guide.

15. An instrument as defined in claim 14, wherein the insertion member further comprises a surrounding member which includes said flange portion and which is made of an opaque material.

16. An instrument as defined in claim 13, wherein the insertion member comprises a diagonal bevel on its insertion end for providing greater illumination to an eyeball interior.

17. An instrument as claimed in claim 13, wherein said light transmitting means is inserted into a deadened recess formed in the light transmitting material of said insertion member.

18. An instrument as claimed 13, wherein said light transmitting means comprises plural optical fibers.

19. An instrument as defined in claim 13, wherein the flange portion has plural recesses for holding strands or threads for attaching the insertion member to the eyeball.

20. An infusion instrument for use in vitrectomy comprising:

an infusion means having an input end, an insertion member for insertion into an eyeball and an infusion passage means connected between the input end and the insertion member so as to form a flowpath for infusing an insertion member so as to form a flowpath for infusing an intraocular irrigating solution from the input end through the flowpath and through the insertion member into an eyeball;

a source of fluid in fluid communication with the input end of the infusion means;

the infusion passage means having a resilient portion made of a resilient material at least near the insertion member;

an illumination unit including a light source for illuminating an inside portion of an eyeball; and

a light transmitting means made of a resilient material and having an input end connected to the light source and an output end connected to the insertion member for receiving light entering through the input end from the light source and transmitting the light out of the output end to an interior portion of an eyeball, wherein at least a portion of the light transmitting means is arranged inside the flowpath located in the resilient portion of the infusion passage means; and

the insertion member including attachment means, comprising a flange portion of the insertion member, for permitting attachment of the insertion member to an eyeball without additional support by an operator, wherein the light transmitting means terminates within the infusion passage of the infusion means.