Automatically switching different aspiration levels and/or pumps to an ocular probe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10478534-B2
Application number	US-201715430352-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2017
Priority date	Nov 7, 2008
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for automatically switching different aspiration levels to an ocular probe are disclosed herein. The probe may be a phacoemulsification probe. A first aspiration level, supplied by a first pump, may be applied to the probe simultaneously with ultrasonic energy. A second aspiration level, supplied by a second pump, may be automatically switched from the first aspiration level. Control feed back of the pumps may be varied according to set thresholds.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for removing material from within an eye, the system comprising:
a probe having a distal tip insertable into the eye, wherein the distal tip comprises an aspiration port;
a console coupled with the aspiration port along an aspiration pathway, wherein the console comprises a processor and a pump system for providing a first pump rate via a first pump and a second pump rate via a second pump that is higher than the first pump rate; and
wherein the processor is configured to automatically switch from the first pump rate to the second pump rate, to begin a ramp-up of the second pump before a ramp-down of the first pump such that a flow rate while providing the first pump rate is matched to a flow rate when switching from the first pump rate to the second pump rate, to control aspiration through the probe by tracking a vacuum level up to a threshold, and to control aspiration through the probe by tracking a flow rate through the probe when the threshold has been passed.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the probe comprises a phacoemulsification probe.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the probe comprises a vitrectomy probe.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first pump is a peristaltic pump and the second pump is a venturi pump.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold passes while the second pump rate is provided.

6. A method for removing material from within an eye, the method comprising:
aspirating an eye with a probe using a first pump at a first pump rate and tracking a vacuum differential to control aspiration through the probe;
setting a threshold vacuum level;
automatically switching from the first pump to aspirating the eye with a second pump at a second pump rate higher than the first pump rate, wherein a ramp-up of the second pump starts before a ramp-down of the first pump such that a flow rate during the switch is matched;
determining that the threshold vacuum level has been passed; and
controlling aspiration through the probe by tracking a flow rate through the probe, based on determining that the threshold vacuum level has been passed.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the probe comprises a phacoemulsification probe.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the probe comprises a vitrectomy probe.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first pump is a peristaltic pump and the second pump is a venturi pump.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the threshold vacuum level passes while the second pump rate is provided.

Assignees

• Abbott Medical Optics Inc
• Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision Inc

Inventors

• Raney Robert G
• Claus Michael J
• Gerg James
• Wong Wayne S
• King David A
• Staggs James W
• Lee Fred

Classifications

• A61F9/00736

  Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments (A61F9/008 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61M2205/50

  with microprocessors or computers · CPC title

• A61F9/00754

  for cutting or perforating the anterior lens capsule, e.g. capsulotomes · CPC title

• A61M2210/0618

  Nose · CPC title

• A61M2210/0612

  Eyes · CPC title