Method of controlling a surgical system based on irrigation flow

• US 7,645,255 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Gordon, Raphael, Yadlowsky, Ann, Boukhny, Mikhail, Morgan, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez; Manuel A
• Application Number:
  US11/067,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20050209621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,779 Days
• Field of Search: 604 19- 22, 604/289, 604/294, 604/295, 604/297, 604/298, 604/300, 604/301, 601/4
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
• 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 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0202 with electronic control means or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0216 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/022 Volume; Flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0258 by means of electric pumps

Abstract

A surgical system that is able to sense the onset of an occlusion or other surgical event as well as the instant an occlusion breaks. To help avoid overheating of the tip, the system determines a temperature of an eye using irrigation flow rate and reduces the power to the handpiece automatically if an overheating situation is predicted. Alternatively or in addition, the system monitors the power drawn by the handpiece, which is indicative of the cutting load on the tip, and automatically adjusts the power or stroke of the tip to compensate for increased loads on the tip.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a surgical system, the surgical system having an ultrasound handpiece, the ultrasound handpiece having a cutting tip, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a threshold temperature;

monitoring an irrigation pressure in a line running to the ultrasound handpiece;

calculating a rate of flow of the irrigation fluid;

determining a heat absorption capacity for the calculated rate of flow of irrigation fluid;

determining an estimated temperature of an eye based on the determined heat absorption capacity and an amount of power being supplied to the ultrasound handpiece;

comparing the estimated temperature of the eye to the threshold temperature; and

adjusting the amount of power delivered to the cutting tip of the ultrasound handpiece based on the comparison of the estimated and threshold temperatures.

2. The method of claim 1, adjusting the amount of power comprising adjusting a duty cycle of the output of the ultrasound handpiece.

3. The method of claim 1, adjusting power comprising adjusting a stroke or amplitude of the output of the ultrasound handpiece.

4. The method of claim 1, adjusting power comprising reducing power if the estimated temperature exceeds the threshold temperature.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the power is maintained or increased if the estimated temperature is below the threshold temperature.