| 摘要 |
Surgical instruments, especially for opthalmological surgical procedures, have a smooth, bulbous arcuate tip that surrounds the distal end of a lumen. The tip may be translucent and flexible. Most preferably, the tip is formed of a compliant, yet self-supporting, material, such as medical grade transparent silicone elastomer. The bulbous arcuate tip may take various geometric forms, for example, generally spherical, ellipsoid or the like. The bulbous arcuate tip may be symmetrical about the elongate axis of the instrument or may be asymmetrical (i.e., angularly disposed) relative to such longitudinal axis. The surgical instruments of this invention are most preferably made by first adhering a length of compliant tubing (e.g., silicone) onto a distal end of a rigid tube (e.g., a section of a stainless steel needle). The proximal rigid tube section is preferably coaxially sleeved over, and affixed to, the distal compliant tube section. A forming wire may then be inserted into the aligned lumens of the proximal rigid tube and distal compliant tube sections so that a terminal end section of the forming wire extends beyond the distal end of the compliant tube section. A bolus of curable liquid elastomer is then applied onto the distal end of compliant tube section around the forming wire protruding therefrom. By rotating and otherwise manipulating the tube sections during curing of the liquid elastomer, a bulbous arcuate tip may be formed. Once the elastomer tip is cured (solidified), the forming wire may be withdrawn thereby forming a through lumen which terminates at the tip. The tip may alternatively be constructed using injection-molding techniques.
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