Method of controlling an irrigation/aspiration system

• US 20080125697A1
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Gao, Shawn X.
• Granted Patent: US 8,465,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/35
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• 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 1/802 by vacuum created above a liquid flowing from a closed container

Abstract

A dual pump aspiration system having both a vacuum level control loop and a flow rate control loop. The system can be operated either as a vacuum priority system or a flow rate priority system.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an irrigation/aspiration system, the system having an irrigation line, an irrigation flow sensor and a vacuum pump, the vacuum pump communicating with a surgical site through a collection chamber and an aspiration line, the method comprising:

a) connecting the irrigation line to a source of irrigation fluid;

b) operating the vacuum pump so as to introduce a vacuum into the collection chamber so as to draw an irrigation fluid from the source of irrigation fluid through the irrigation line, the surgical site and the aspiration line and into the collection chamber;

c) adjusting the level of fluid in the collection chamber by the use of a flow pump and/or the vacuum pump;

d) monitoring the flow of the irrigation fluid in the irrigation line with the flow sensor;

e) monitoring the fluid level in the collection chamber using a fluid level sensor;

f) monitoring the vacuum in the collection chamber from the vacuum pump; and

g) varying the vacuum introduced into the chamber based on the monitored irrigation fluid flow and the monitored fluid level in the collection chamber so as to maintain fluid flow into the chamber through the aspiration line at a selected flow rate.

2. A method of controlling an irrigation/aspiration system, the system having an irrigation line, an irrigation pressure sensor and a vacuum pump, the vacuum pump communicating with a surgical site through a collection chamber and an aspiration line, the method comprising:

a) connecting the irrigation line to a source of irrigation fluid;

b) operating the vacuum pump so as to introduce a vacuum into the collection chamber so as to draw an irrigation fluid from the source of irrigation fluid through the irrigation line, the surgical site and the aspiration line and into the collection chamber;

c) adjusting the level of fluid in the collection chamber by the use of a flow pump and/or the vacuum pump;

d) monitoring the pressure of the irrigation fluid in the irrigation line with the irrigation pressure sensor;

e) monitoring the fluid level in the collection chamber using a fluid level sensor;

f) monitoring the vacuum in the collection chamber from the vacuum pump; and

g) varying the vacuum introduced into the chamber based on the monitored irrigation fluid pressure and the monitored fluid level in the collection chamber so as to maintain fluid flow into the chamber through the aspiration line at a selected flow rate.

3. A method of controlling an irrigation/aspiration system, the system having an irrigation line, an irrigation flow sensor, a vacuum pump and a flow pump, the vacuum pump communicating with a surgical site through a collection chamber and an aspiration line, the method comprising:

a) connecting the irrigation line to a source of irrigation fluid;

b) operating the vacuum pump so as to introduce a vacuum into the collection chamber so as to draw an irrigation fluid from the source of irrigation fluid through the irrigation line, the surgical site and the aspiration line and into the collection chamber;

c) adjusting the level of fluid in the collection chamber by the use of the flow pump and/or the vacuum pump;

d) monitoring the flow of irrigation fluid in the irrigation line with the flow sensor;

e) monitoring the fluid level in the collection chamber using a fluid level sensor;

f) monitoring the vacuum in the collection chamber from the vacuum pump; and

g) determining an amount of leakage of the irrigation fluid at the surgical site based on the monitored irrigation fluid flow, the operation of the flow pump and/or the monitored fluid level in the collection chamber.

4. A method of controlling an irrigation/aspiration system, the system having an irrigation line, an irrigation flow sensor and a vacuum pump, the vacuum pump communicating with a surgical site through a collection chamber and an aspiration line, the method comprising:

a) connecting the irrigation line to a source of irrigation fluid;

b) operating the vacuum pump so as to introduce a vacuum into the collection chamber so as to draw an irrigation fluid from the source of irrigation fluid through the irrigation line, the surgical site and the aspiration line and into the collection chamber;

c) adjusting the level of fluid in the collection chamber by the use of a flow pump and/or the vacuum pump;

d) monitoring the flow of irrigation fluid in the irrigation line with the flow sensor;

e) monitoring the fluid level in the collection chamber using a fluid level sensor;

f) monitoring the vacuum in the collection chamber from the vacuum pump;

g) monitoring an operation of the flow pump; and

h) determining when an obstruction has occurred in the irrigation line or the aspiration line based on the monitored irrigation fluid flow, the monitored operation of the flow pump and/or the monitored fluid level in the collection chamber.

5. A method of controlling an irrigation/aspiration system, the system having an irrigation line, an irrigation flow sensor and a vacuum pump, the vacuum pump communicating with a surgical site through a collection chamber and an aspiration line, the method comprising:

a) connecting the irrigation line to a source of irrigation fluid;

b) operating the vacuum pump so as to introduce a vacuum into the collection chamber so as to draw an irrigation fluid from the source of irrigation fluid through the irrigation line, the surgical site and the aspiration line and into the collection chamber;

b) monitoring the flow of the irrigation fluid in the irrigation line with the flow sensor;

c) monitoring the fluid level in the collection chamber using a fluid level sensor;

d) monitoring the vacuum in the collection chamber from the vacuum pump; and

e) controlling the flow of irrigation fluid at the surgical site without introducing pulsations to the surgical site through the aspiration line based on the monitored irrigation fluid flow and the monitored fluid level in the collection chamber.