Method and apparatus for controlling vacuum as a function of ultrasonic power in an ophthalmic phaco aspirator
First Claim
1. An aspiration system for a medical device, comprising:
- an aspiration line that has a vacuum pressure;
a pressure sensor that senses the vacuum pressure;
a sensor line that provides fluid communication between said pressure sensor and said aspiration line;
a one-way check valve that is connected to said sensor line and located between said pressure sensor and said aspiration line, said one-way check valve allows fluid flow from said sensor line to said aspiration line and prevents fluid flow from said aspiration line to said sensor line;
a control valve that provides a flow of fluid into said sensor line; and
, a control circuit that is connected to said pressure sensor and controls said control valve.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An aspiration system that may include a control valve to allow a flow of fluid into an aspiration line and vary a vacuum pressure within the line. The system may include a pressure transducer that is coupled to the aspiration line by a sensor line and a check valve. The check valve prevents a back flow of fluid from the aspiration line to the pressure line. The system may further have a control circuit that is coupled to the pressure transducer and the control valve. The control circuit may control the control valve and regulate the vacuum pressure within the aspiration line. The control circuit may receive an input signal that also controls a medical handpiece. The input signal can be generated by a foot pedal that also controls the handpiece. The system may thus have one foot pedal that can control the handpiece and the vacuum pressure of the aspiration line.
148 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An aspiration system for a medical device, comprising:
-
an aspiration line that has a vacuum pressure;
a pressure sensor that senses the vacuum pressure;
a sensor line that provides fluid communication between said pressure sensor and said aspiration line;
a one-way check valve that is connected to said sensor line and located between said pressure sensor and said aspiration line, said one-way check valve allows fluid flow from said sensor line to said aspiration line and prevents fluid flow from said aspiration line to said sensor line;
a control valve that provides a flow of fluid into said sensor line; and
,a control circuit that is connected to said pressure sensor and controls said control valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A medical system, comprising;
-
a handpiece;
a foot pedal that can be depressed to generate and vary a threshold signal that controls a power of said handpiece;
an aspiration line that has a vacuum pressure;
a pressure sensor that senses the vacuum pressure and generates a sensor output signal;
a control valve that can control the vacuum pressure within said aspiration line; and
,a control circuit that compares said threshold signal with said sensor output signal and generates a control output signal to control said control valve. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for controlling a vacuum pressure of an irrigation system used in conjunction with a handpiece, comprising:
-
depressing a foot pedal to generate and vary a threshold signal to control a power of a handpiece;
generating a sensor output signal that corresponds to a vacuum pressure of an aspiration line;
comparing said threshold signal with said sensor output signal; and
,generating a control output signal to open a control valve that allows fluid to flow into said aspiration line when said sensor output signal exceeds said threshold signal. - View Dependent Claims (14)
-
-
15. A method for controlling a medial aspiration system, comprising:
-
sensing a pressure of an aspiration line through a sensor line that is coupled to the aspiration line by a one-way check valve;
opening a control valve to allow fluid to flow from a positive pressure source to the sensor line, and from the sensor line to the aspiration line through the one-way check valve, the one-way check valve closing when a pressure within the aspiration line is essentially equal to a pressure within the sensor line. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
Specification