Systems and processes for eye moisturizing during ocular surgery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10238534-B2
Application number	US-201414167003-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2014
Priority date	Mar 7, 2013
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

Various systems and techniques may be used for moisturizing an eye during ocular surgery. In particular implementations, a system and a technique for moisturizing an eye may include the ability to determine whether an eye should be moisturized during ocular surgery and to activate a fluid control device if an eye should be moisturized. The activation of the fluid control device may allow fluid flow from a fluid reservoir to a fluid nozzle coupled to a nozzle mounting device adapted to hold the fluid nozzle stable relative to a patient's eye. The system and the technique may also include the ability to deactivate the fluid control device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for moisturizing an eye during ocular surgery, the system comprising:
a fluid nozzle;
a nozzle mounting device adapted to hold the fluid nozzle stable relative to a patient's eye;
a fluid reservoir coupled to the fluid nozzle;
a fluid control device adapted to regulate fluid flow from the fluid reservoir to the nozzle for eye moisturizing; and
an activation device operable to activate and to deactivate the fluid control device, wherein the activation device comprises a computer and is operable to activate the fluid control device at a given time frequency or at an occurrence of an event,
wherein the fluid control device comprises a computer operable to control an amount of fluid dispensed by the fluid control device,
wherein the activation device comprises a sensor operable to detect a dryness level of a cornea of an eye, and
wherein the activation device is operable to deactivate the fluid control device in response to a dryness of the cornea of the eye.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid control device comprises a pump.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an activation device to activate the fluid control device.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the activation device comprises a user input device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir is pressurized.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle mounting device comprises a surgical microscope.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir and the fluid control device are part of a surgical console.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a bottle or bag.

Assignees

• Novartis Ag

Inventors

• Schaller Philipp

Classifications

• A61F9/007 Primary

  Methods or devices for eye surgery · CPC title

• A61F9/0026 Primary

  Ophthalmic product dispenser attachments to facilitate positioning near the eye · CPC title