Application of vacuum as a method and mechanism for controlling eye chamber stability

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9198798-B2
Application number	US-201313858599-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2013
Priority date	Mar 21, 2005
Publication date	Dec 1, 2015
Grant date	Dec 1, 2015

Abstract

A phacoemulsification system for operating a surgical handpiece having a handpiece; an irrigation fluid source for supplying irrigation fluid to the eye; an aspiration source coupled to the handpiece in order to aspirate the irrigation fluid from the eye through the handpiece; and a controller for controlling a vacuum in the handpiece, the controller comprising: a sensor for sensing the vacuum in the handpiece; an occlusion parameter, the occlusion parameter being a vacuum level corresponding to an occlusion of the handpiece or a flow rate corresponding to an occlusion of the handpiece; a maximum allowable vacuum level in the handpiece, the maximum allowable vacuum level having at least a first predetermined level; and a trigger value that is set based in part on the occlusion parameter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A phacoemulsification system, comprising:
a surgical handpiece;
an irrigation fluid source;
an aspiration source; and
a controller comprising a flow rate sensor, wherein the flow rate sensor is configured to sense a flow rate corresponding to an occlusion of the handpiece;
wherein the controller is configured to control a monitored vacuum level based in part on the flow rate corresponding to the occlusion; and
wherein the controller is configured to control the monitored vacuum level by lowering a maximum level of vacuum allowed during operation and prohibit the monitored vacuum level from exceeding the maximum level of vacuum.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a power source configured to provide power to the handpiece.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the handpiece includes a needle configured for ultrasonic vibration, and wherein the power source is configured to provide power to the needle of the handpiece.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aspiration source is a flow pump or a combination of a vacuum pump and a flow pump.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine, from the sensed flow rate, a duration of occlusion, and controlling the monitored vacuum level based in part on the determined duration of occlusion.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the irrigation source, an aspiration rate, and power applied to the handpiece.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine from the sensed flow rate a drop in flow rate and in response to the drop in flow rate falling below a low threshold, increasing the maximum level of vacuum.

Assignees

• Abbott Medical Optics Inc
• Abbott Medical Optics Inc

Inventors

• Claus Michael J
• Wong Wayne S
• Reisin Carina R
• Jang Stephen H

Classifications

• A61F9/00745 Primary

  using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic · CPC title

• A61M3/0283

  with at least two inner passageways, a first one for irrigating and a second for evacuating (suction-irrigation systems A61M1/77; aspiration tips with fluid supply means A61M1/85; for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92) · CPC title

• A61M1/774

  Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently · CPC title