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

• US 10,478,534 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2017
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Raney, Robert G., Claus, Michael J., Gerg, James, Wong, Wayne S., King, David A., Staggs, James W., Lee, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilson, Larry R.
• Application Number:
  US15/430,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20170151090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00736 Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments A61F9/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00754 for cutting or perforating the anterior lens capsule, e.g. capsulotomes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/72 Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/75 Intermittent or pulsating suction A61M1/63, A61M1/772 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/76 Handpieces specially for suction-irrigation A61M1/774, aspiration tips A61M1/84
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/772 operating alternately
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/80 Suction pumps A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/804 using Laval or Venturi jet pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose

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.

Claims

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.