Method of operating an infusion control system

• US 20030050619A1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SABIC Global Technologies BV (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Santhanam, Srikanth M, Mooijman, Frank, McMahon, Dominic
• Granted Patent: US 7,044,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14212 Pumping with an aspiration and an expulsion action
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/18 characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1813 made of metal
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1846 comprising a cellular structure
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1853 of reinforced plastic material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1866 Cellular structures

Abstract

An automated method of forming a viscoelastic-free surgical pocket in the anterior chamber. The method constantly compares the unobstructed flow vacuum level with the current vacuum level and sounds an alert or automatically proceeds to the next step in the surgical procedure when the vacuum level approaches the unobstructed vacuum level and remains at that level for a certain duration.

Claims

1. A method of operating an infusion control system, the system having a handpiece, a source of infusion fluid and an aspiration pump, the method comprising the steps of:

a. operating the aspiration pump as a preset aspiration fluid flow rate;

b. determining an initial aspiration fluid pressure at the preset aspiration fluid flow rate;

c. calculating an approximation of an expected aspiration fluid pressure as a function aspiration fluid flow;

d. comparing the expected aspiration fluid pressure to an actual instantaneous aspiration fluid pressure; and

e. alerting the user when the actual instantaneous aspiration fluid pressure approaches the expected aspiration fluid pressure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the system further comprises a handpiece power supply.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the system further comprising an infusion flow sensor.

4. A method of operating an infusion control system, the system having a handpiece, a source of infusion fluid and an aspiration pump, the method comprising the steps of:

a. operating the aspiration pump as a preset aspiration fluid flow rate;

b. determining an initial aspiration fluid pressure at the preset aspiration fluid flow rate;

c. calculating an approximation of an expected aspiration fluid pressure as a function aspiration fluid flow;

d. comparing the expected aspiration fluid pressure to an actual instantaneous aspiration fluid pressure; and

e. proceeding automatically to the next stage of a surgical procedure when the actual instantaneous aspiration fluid pressure approaches the expected aspiration fluid pressure.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the system further comprises a handpiece power supply.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the system further comprising an infusion flow sensor.