Phaco thermal control apparatus and method

• US 8,308,676 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2011
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Medical Optics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kadziauskas, Kenneth E, Rockley, Paul W
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/051,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20110166505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 604 19- 22, 604/27, 604/28, 604/31, 604/35, 604/39, 604/40, 604/43, 604/44, 604 65- 67, 604/118, 601/2, 601/52, 607/97, 606/107, 606/159, 606167-171
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic

Abstract

Control apparatus for an ultrasonic phacoemulsification handpiece utilizes flow rates and temperature measurements as well as power provided to a handpiece for calculating a matrix of power level duty cycle combination that would not generate sufficient heat to create a burn in eye tissue and either prevent operation of handpiece in the matrix or alert a surgeon of such use.

Claims

1. A phacoemulsification system for regulating fluid flow and energy into an eye during ocular surgery, comprising:

a handpiece;

a control console configured to provide irrigation fluid to an eye, and an aspiration source for removing fluid from the eye and phaco power to the handpiece; and

a microprocessor configured to determine an existing energy delivery level for energy delivered to the eye and a fluid transfer value for fluid transferred from the eye and calculate a desired energy delivery level based on the existing energy delivery level and the fluid transfer value.

2. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1, wherein the console is configured to selectively control energy delivery level to the eve based on the existing energy delivery level and the fluid transfer value to prevent thermal damage to eye tissue.

3. A method for regulating fluid flow and energy in a control console during ocular surgery, comprising:

providing a handpiece and a control console;

monitoring power provided to the handpiece;

determining a fluid flow by monitoring fluid removed from the eye;

determining an existing energy delivery level for energy delivered to the eye and a fluid transfer value for fluid transferred from the eye; and

calculating a desired energy delivery level based on the existing energy delivery level and the fluid transfer value.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising selectively controlling energy delivery level to the eye based on the existing energy delivery level and the fluid transfer value.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising means for selectively controlling energy delivery level to the eye based on the existing energy delivery level and the fluid transfer value.

6. An apparatus for regulating fluid flow and energy in a control console during ocular surgery, comprising:

a handpiece;

a control console;

means for monitoring power provided to the handpiece;

means for determining a fluid flow by monitoring fluid removed from the eye;

means for determining an existing energy delivery level for energy delivered to the eye and a fluid transfer value for fluid transferred from the eye; and

means for calculating a desired energy delivery level based on the existing energy delivery level and the fluid transfer value.