an ultrasonic surgical device 10 , as employed for phaco - emulsification , referring now to fig1 - 4 , comprises a central needle having a hollow small bore tip 13 with a cutting edge 14 at the distal end . the proximal end of the needle is an enlarged hub 16 threaded into a base 18 which extends to the handpiece ( not shown ) and which includes a central aspiration conduit and irrigation feeder conduits ( not shown ) encompassing the small bore tip 13 . a sleeve 20 fabricated from a flexible , polymeric material such as silicone rubber encompasses the needle 12 from the base 18 to adjacent the cutting edge 14 . the sleeve 20 includes an enlarged bore portion 22 , a conical transition portion 24 and small bore portion 26 . the enlarged bore portion 22 of the sleeve 20 seats on the base 18 securely with moderate stretching because of its resiliency and proper diametrical size relation . in practice , such needles can have a base of a given diameter , although the diameter of the tip portion can vary ( this specifies the needle size ). the transition portion 24 leads to the distal small bore portion 26 , which encompasses the majority of the length of the tip 13 , extending close to but not covering the cutting edge 14 . adjacent the distal end , the sleeve 20 includes at least one transverse opening 30 to direct a substantial portion of the irrigation flow outwardly , so as to limit counter - current effects relative to the aspiration flow and to improve the ratio of aspiration to irrigation flow in the needle 13 . the sleeve 20 also includes a substantially rigid tubular element 32 , in the nature of a stent , which is located inside the interior of , and expands , the small bore portion 26 thus forming a medium bore portion adjacent to the small bore portion of the transition portion . the stent 32 can be fabricated from a metal such as stainless steel or titanium , a hard plastic , or other suitable material in tube or spring form . however , it is preferred to employ a thermally resistant plastic such as &# 34 ; kapton &# 34 ;, a polyamide which is extrudable and has good mechanical properties . in a practical example , the thickness of the stent is preferably small , so as to minimize the size of the incision needed to receive the sleeve as well as the needle . the outer diameter is chosen to be larger than the inner diameter of the distal portion 26 of the sleeve 20 . the sleeve inner diameter is approximately 0 . 060 &# 34 ;, as is typically the case . the stent is in the range of about 0 . 061 &# 34 ; to 0 . 080 &# 34 ;, with a diameter of 0 . 065 &# 34 ; used in a practical example . this frictionally engages the stent 32 in the sleeve 20 , providing secure retention and maximizing flow . the range of thickness in practical examples is from about 0 . 001 &# 34 ; to about 0 . 020 &# 34 ; with 0 . 005 &# 34 ; being typical . the stent 32 , and therefore , the expanded part of the portion 26 about the stent 32 , has a length , in relation to the total length of the small bore portion 26 , of about 25 % to 90 %, specifically 60 % to 70 % in this example . with a small bore portion 26 of 1 / 2 &# 34 ; in length , the stent is 0 . 3 &# 34 ; in length . the stent 32 should not cover the transverse flow openings 30 adjacent the distal end of the sleeve 20 . however , depending upon the particular surgical application , other tip sizes , lengths and ratios may be used . this combination allows the exterior of the medium bore portion to contact and seal against the incision when the device 10 is inserted into an incision . as seen in fig4 wherein the needle 12 is only partially inserted , the distal end of the sleeve 20 is free to compress axially when it engages tissue but it is not radially constrained so as to limit flow , either axially from the radial gap or from the transverse side aperture 30 . collapse of the sleeve 20 and constriction of the irrigation fluid channel is prevented . it should be understood that the configuration shown in fig1 to 4 of the larger transition and small bore portions are merely exemplary . they may be configured in any design which is compatible with known ultrasonic surgical tool devices , such as those having curved or angled tips . the flexible polymeric sleeve can be specially molded but this configuration has the advantage that several commercially available sleeves can be used for many applications , considerably reducing costs . fig5 depicts a device in which a needle 42 has a curved tip or distal portion 44 extending from its base 48 . aspiration needles with curved or angled ends are useful in some applications since regions to the side of an incision can more readily be emulsified and aspirated . the shielding sleeve 50 has a large bore portion 52 engaged by interior threads ( not shown ) on the base 48 , and a transition section 53 leading to a small diameter distal portion 54 which includes transverse flow openings 56 near the end . as in the example of fig1 - 4 , the distal portion 54 of the sleeve 50 has a larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the curved tip to provide a radial flow gap but the curvature of the tip introduces other considerations . the distal end of the sleeve encounters different reactive forces as the needle is inserted and used , than with a straight needle tip , and in some device attitudes and motions , the flow path may more readily be closed . radial rigidity but a degree of axial flexibility is supplied by a frictionally engaged stent 60 of light spring material , such as stainless steel or titanium , within a proximal length of the distal portion 54 . the length of stent 60 again does not reach the transverse flow opening 56 . with this reinforcement , a substantial radial flow gap is maintained even though there may be contact along one side of the tip . the sleeve 50 can be fabricated with a straight or precurved distal end , but in either case will deflect to slide onto the needle 42 into operating position . the sleeve - shielded needle of the present invention is suitable for use with any body tissue surgical tool , ultrasonic or otherwise , where maintenance of irrigation and aspiration flows through an incision is required . it prevents collapse of the sleeve and blockage of the irrigation fluid channel , and thereby maximizing irrigation flow . if ultrasonic energization of the needle is used , the maximized irrigation flow dissipates heat and limits thermal buildup . additionally , the device maintains yielding contact with the periphery of an incision , thereby reducing leakage from the incision . it should be noted that a small amount of leakage from the incision is permissible to assist in cooling the tissue around and contacting the sleeve . an additional advantage of the present invention is that the sleeve is capable of withstanding a large amount of pressure without collapsing . as a result a given device can often be used with a smaller than nominal incision , such as 2 . 5 mm , where 3 mm is usually used . use in a smaller incision size can result in greater pressure being placed on the exterior of the sleeve as the incision stretches to accommodate the incision size , but this is withstood by the stent - reinforced section . the above description of preferred forms of the present invention are for illustrative purposes . variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art . in addition the invention can be practiced in the absence of any element not specifically disclosed . the scope of the invention is defined in the following claims .
a sleeve - shielded needle , to be inserted through an incision for maintenance of aspiration and irrigation flows includes a soft sleeve portion about a small diameter needle tip , at a spacing sufficient to provide a flow gap for irrigation fluid while aspiration fluid flows oppositely through the center of the needle tip . a radially rigid tubular element within a proximal portion of the sleeve maintains a constant flow gap , allowing the edges of a small incision into which the needle is inserted to compress the soft sleeve without reducing the gap . at the distal end , however , the sleeve can compress in response to tissue resistance during insertion , minimizing the risks of tearing tissue or enlarging the incision .