Aspiration control

• US 20070005029A1
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Gao, Shawn, Hopkins, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,524,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/317
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/72 Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/732 Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/743 by changing the cross-section of the line, e.g. flow regulating valves A61M1/7413 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/804 using Laval or Venturi jet pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates

Abstract

A microsurgical system capable of controlling aspiration via a vacuum control mode, a suction control mode, or a flow control mode.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling aspiration in a microsurgical system, comprising:

a pressurized gas source;

a vacuum generator fluidly coupled to said pressurized gas source;

an aspiration chamber fluidly coupled to said pressurized gas source and said vacuum generator;

a vacuum proportional valve fluidly coupled between said pressurized gas source and said vacuum generator;

a pressure proportional valve fluidly coupled between said pressurized gas source and said aspiration chamber;

a pressure transducer fluidly coupled to said aspiration chamber;

a proportional controller; and

a computer electrically coupled to said vacuum proportional valve, said pressure proportional valve, said pressure transducer, and said proportional controller;

whereby upon the selection of a desired suction pressure for said aspiration chamber via said proportional controller, said pressure transducer determines an actual suction pressure in said aspiration chamber and provides a signal corresponding to said determined suction pressure to said computer, and said computer provides signals to said vacuum proportional valve and said pressure proportional valve to maintain said actual suction pressure proximate said desired suction pressure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a surgical device for aspirating tissue fluidly coupled to said aspiration chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vacuum generator is a vacuum chip.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vacuum generator is a venturi chip.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said microsurgical system is an ophthalmic microsurgical system.

6. Apparatus for controlling aspiration in a microsurgical system, comprising:

a pressurized gas source;

a vacuum generator fluidly coupled to said pressurized gas source;

an aspiration chamber fluidly coupled to said pressurized gas source and said vacuum generator;

a vacuum proportional valve fluidly coupled between said pressurized gas source and said vacuum generator;

a pressure proportional valve fluidly coupled between said pressurized gas source and said aspiration chamber;

a fluid level sensor operatively coupled to said aspiration chamber;

a pump fluidly coupled to said aspiration chamber;

a proportional controller; and

a computer electrically coupled to said vacuum proportional valve, said pressure proportional valve, said fluid level sensor, said pump, and said proportional controller;

whereby upon the selection of a desired suction flow rate for said aspiration chamber via said proportional controller, said fluid level sensor determines an actual fluid level in said aspiration chamber and provides a signal corresponding to said determined fluid level to said computer, and said computer calculates a suction flow rate in response to said determined fluid level and provides signals to said vacuum proportional valve and said pressure proportional valve to maintain said suction flow rate proximate said desired suction flow rate.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a surgical device for aspirating tissue fluidly coupled to said aspiration chamber.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said vacuum generator is a vacuum chip.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said vacuum generator is a venturi chip.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said microsurgical system is an ophthalmic microsurgical system.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said pump is a peristaltic pump.

12. A method of controlling aspiration in a microsurgical system, comprising the steps of:

creating a desired suction pressure in an aspiration chamber using a pressurized gas source and a vacuum generator;

aspirating fluid from a surgical device into said aspiration chamber;

determining an actual suction pressure in said aspiration chamber;

modifying, in response to said actual suction pressure of said determining step, a pressure generated by said pressurized gas source and a vacuum generated by said vacuum generator so as to maintain said actual suction pressure proximate said desired suction pressure.

13. A method of controlling aspiration in a microsurgical system, comprising the steps of:

creating a desired suction flow rate in an aspiration chamber using a pressurized gas source, a vacuum generator, and a pump;

aspirating fluid from a surgical device into said aspiration chamber;

determining an actual level of fluid in said aspiration chamber;

calculating a suction flow rate in response to said actual level of fluid of said determining step; and

modifying a pressure generated by said pressurized gas source and a vacuum generated by said vacuum generator so as to maintain said suction flow rate proximate said desired suction flow rate.