Method and apparatus for ocular perfusion

• US 5,032,111 A
• Filed: 11/20/1989
• Issued: 07/16/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcon Manufacturing Limited (Alcon Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Vitreoretinal Development, Inc.
• Inventors: Morris, Robert E., Witherspoon, Clark D., Goggans, William E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US07/438,170
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22-24, 604/26-28, 604/30, 604/31, 604/43, 604/48, 604/49, 604/118, 604/119
• US Class Current: 604/23
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand caps with means for protecting the eyes A42B1/018; visors for helmets A42B3/22; retractors A61B17/02; manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; appliances to aid invalids to move about A61H3/00; exercisers for the eyes A61H5/00; eye baths A61H35/02; sunglasses or goggles having the same features as spectacles G02C
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/02 Gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/04 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/80 voice-operated command
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0202 with electronic control means or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0208 before use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/022 Volume; Flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0233 characterised by liquid supply means, e.g. from pressurised reservoirs

Abstract

Ocular perfusion during intraocular surgery of the anterior or posterior ocular cavity is optimized through the method of using a gas pump having a discernible and controllable output pressure to pressurize a reservoir of liquid infusate, which is supplied under pressure to a surgical infusion instrument for perfusion of the selected ocular chamber (Gas Forced Liquid Infusion, GFLI). The infusate selection and the infusate pressure can be controlled with a high degree of accuracy and both can be rapidly varied by audible command. Preferentially a human sensible indication of pressure is constantly available at the gas pump.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling the intraocular pressure during closed wound intraocular surgery consisting essentially of:

(a) a gas pump having a variable output pressure;

(b) a liquid infusate reservoir operatively connected to said gas pump to receive pressurized gas therefrom such that liquid infusate in said reservoir is pressurized in accordance with the output pressure of said gas pump, with said reservoir confining both said liquid infusate and a volume of gas in direct communication with said gas pump; and

(c) an ocular surgical infusion instrument operatively connected to said liquid infusate reservoir to receive infusate therefrom.

2. A connector for use in combination with a gas pump having a variable output pressure, a gas outlet, and a liquid infusate reservoir containing an infusate, and an ocular surgical infusion instrument, comprising:

(a) a first flexible conduit operatively connected at one end thereof to the outlet of said gas pump;

(b) sealing means operatively connected to a second end of said first flexible conduit to provide gaseous communication between the interior of said reservoir and said first flexible conduit and for sealing said reservoir;

(c) an infusate outlet port located in said sealing means through which liquid infusate is discharged from said reservoir; and

(d) second flexible conduit operatively connected to said infusate outlet port at one end and in communication with said infusion instrument at a second end, wherein said first and second flexible conduits define a closed system interconnected between said gas pump and said infusion instrument.

3. A connector as defined in claim 2 further comprising an antibacterial filter operatively connected intermediate said first flexible conduit and said gas pump.

4. A connector as defined in claim 3 further comprising a valve operatively connected between said infusion instrument and said second flexible conduit for regulating the flow of infusate to said instrument.

5. A connector as defined in claim 2 wherein said first and second flexible conduits comprise lengths of flexible silicon tubing.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said human sensible means is a visible digital display showing the current output pressure of the pump.

6. Apparatus for providing gas forced liquid infusion to a selected anterior or posterior ocular chamber comprising:

(a) a gas pump having a variable pressure output, selectively variable over a predetermined range of pressures encountered in intraocular surgery;

(b) a reservoir containing a liquid infusate;

(c) a conduit member including a microbacterial filler, connected directly from the output of said gas pump to said reservoir to pressurize the liquid infusate in said reservoir;

(d) a second conduit member operatively connected between said reservoir and an intraocular surgical instrument for delivery of the liquid infusate under pressure to the eye of a patient undergoing surgery; and

(e) human sensible means for indicating the pressure in the eye during intraocular surgery.

8. A method of ocular perfusion using Gas Forced Liquid Infusion (GFLI) comprising:

(a) supplying pressurized gas to a selected output pressure from a gas pump;

(b) pressurizing the contents of a liquid infusate bottle with the output pressure of said gas pump;

(c) supplying the contents of said liquid infusate bottle to a surgical infusion instrument for infusion into a selected anterior or posterior ocular chamber as infusate;

(d) selectively varying the pressure of the infusate within the ocular chamber by controlling the output pressure of said gas pump; and

(e) providing a human sensible indication of the pressure within the eye wherein said human sensible indicator of the output pressure is a visual signal indicating the output pressure of the pump.