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

• US 10,668,192 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2017
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• 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): Carpenter, William R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilson, Larry R.
• Application Number:
  US15/430,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20170151376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 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 method for applying aspiration to a probe, comprising:

applying a first aspiration flow-rate generated by a first pump to a probe to achieve an aspiration rate through the probe;

tracking a vacuum level created by the aspiration rate through the probe,

controlling the aspiration rate through the probe based on the tracked vacuum level;

setting a threshold vacuum level;

switching from applying the first aspiration flow-rate generated by the first pump to the probe to applying a second aspiration flow-rate generated by a second pump to the probe;

controlling the aspiration rate through the probe based on the tracked vacuum level after switching from applying the first aspiration flow-rate generated by the first pump to the probe to applying a second aspiration flow-rate generated by a second pump to the probe;

determining that the threshold vacuum level has been passed; and

switching from controlling the aspiration rate through the probe, based on the tracked vacuum level to controlling the aspiration rate through the probe based on a tracked flow rate, based on determining that the threshold vacuum level is passed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a transitional flow-rate between the first aspiration flow-rate to the second aspiration flow-rate is constantly increasing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pump comprises a peristaltic pump and the second pump comprises a venturi pump.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is computer implemented.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the threshold vacuum level comprises one of setting a threshold vacuum level for the first pump, setting a threshold vacuum level for the second pump, and setting a threshold vacuum level for both the first and second pumps.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second aspiration flow-rate is higher than the first aspiration flow-rate.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracked flow rate used to control the aspiration rate through the probe when the threshold vacuum level is passed is calculated from at least one of tip size, type of procedure, irrigation flow rate, pressure differentials, and actual flow rate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the switching from controlling the aspiration rate through the probe based on the tracked vacuum level to controlling the aspiration rate through the probe based on the tracked flow rate is independent of whether the first aspiration flow-rate generated by the first pump or the second aspiration flow-rate generated by the second pump is being applied to the probe.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the aspiration rate through the probe based on the tracked vacuum level comprises maintaining the aspiration rate through the probe above a zero aspiration rate.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the aspiration rate through the probe based on the tracked flow rate when the threshold vacuum level is passed comprises maintaining the aspiration rate through the probe above a zero aspiration rate.