Controlling of multiple pumps

• US 8,409,155 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Medical Optics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Wong, Wayne, Hunter, Timothy, Peters, Dan A, Handa, Keith T, Ade, William J
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANDRY II, GERALD ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US12/613,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20110092924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 417/2, 417/3, 600/356, 600/383, 604/289, 604/290, 604/294, 604/297, 606/4, 606/5, 606/107, 606/162, 606/204.25
• US Class Current: 604/290
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/078 foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/08 the pumps being of different types
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/00 Control , e.g. of pump delivery, or pump pressure of, or safety measures for, machines, pumps, or pumping installations, not otherwise provided for, or of interest apart from, groups F04B1/00 - F04B47/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/445 about a central fulcrum

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling vacuum pressure is provided. The apparatus includes a multiple axis controller, such as a dual axis footpedal, and a processing apparatus, such as an instrument host running software, configured to receive multiple axis data from the multiple axis controller. The apparatus also includes a first pump configured to provide nonzero fluid pressure at a first nonzero fluid pressure level based on a first axis state of the multiple axis controller and a second pump configured to provide nonzero fluid pressure at a second nonzero fluid pressure level based on a second axis state of the multiple axis controller. The processing apparatus causes switching between the first pump and the second pump based on the first axis state and the second axis state of the multiple axis controller.

Claims

1. A method for operating at least two pumps, comprising:

activating a first pump using a multiple channel adjustment apparatus configured to operate with the first pump to provide nonzero fluid pressure at a first nonzero fluid pressure level; and

transitioning from the first pump providing nonzero fluid pressure at the first nonzero fluid pressure level to a second pump providing nonzero fluid pressure at a second nonzero fluid pressure level using the multiple channel adjustment apparatus;

wherein said transitioning comprises a gradual transitioning from the first nonzero fluid pressure level from the first pump toward the second nonzero fluid pressure level from the second pump while maintaining a relatively constant fluid pressure level within a surgical region of a patient.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating the second pump to a desired nonzero fluid pressure level prior to said transitioning.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transitioning from the first pump providing nonzero fluid pressure at the first nonzero fluid pressure level to a second pump providing nonzero fluid pressure at a second nonzero fluid pressure level comprises:

providing nonzero fluid pressure from the first pump at the first nonzero fluid pressure level;

operating the second pump at the second nonzero fluid pressure level; and

transitioning from providing nonzero fluid pressure from the first pump at the first nonzero fluid pressure level to providing pressure from the second pump at the second nonzero fluid pressure level.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising decreasing operation of the first pump to a predetermined level after said transitioning.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple channel adjustment apparatus comprises a dual channel control apparatus having movement capabilities in two axes.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the dual channel control apparatus comprises a dual axis footpedal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein nonzero pressure values received from the first pump and the second pump are based on data received from the multiple channel adjustment apparatus and settings established by a user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first nonzero pressure level and second nonzero pressure level comprises a first vacuum level.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first nonzero pressure level and second nonzero pressure level comprises a positive pressure level.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein providing nonzero fluid pressure at at least one of the first nonzero pressure level and second nonzero pressure level causes fluid to be aspirated from an eye.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein providing nonzero fluid pressure at at least one of the first nonzero pressure level and second nonzero pressure level causes an eye to be irrigated with pumped fluid.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the transition is further based on a second channel state of the multiple channel adjustment apparatus.

13. A method for delivering nonzero pressure to a surgical site within a patient, comprising:

controlling a first pump using a first signal received from a dual axis device indicating a first axis position to apply a first pressure to the surgical site of the patient;

controlling a second pump using a second signal received from the dual axis device indicating a second axis position; and

switching from the first pump to the second pump based on the second axis position;

wherein said switching causes a gradual transition of pressure from the first pressure from the first pump to a second pressure from the second pump while pressure at the surgical site remains relatively constant.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising deactivating the second pump from concurrent operation with the first pump by applying a ramp down control function subsequent to switching from the first pump to the second pump.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising, after switching from the first pump to the second pump, subsequently switching from the second pump to the first pump based on the first axis position.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein controlling the second pump comprises operating the second pump to a desired nonzero fluid pressure level and refraining from employing the second pump at the desired nonzero fluid pressure level prior to said switching.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein switching from the first pump to the second pump based on the second axis position comprises:

causing the first pump to provide first nonzero fluid pressure at a first nonzero fluid pressure value;

operating the second pump at a second nonzero fluid pressure value based on the second axis position; and

switching from the first pump and the first nonzero fluid pressure value to the second pump operating at the second nonzero fluid pressure value.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising decreasing operation of the first pump to a predetermined level after said switching based on the first axis position.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the dual axis device comprises a dual axis footpedal.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein nonzero pressure values received from the first pump and the second pump are based on data received from the dual axis device and settings established by a user.

21. An apparatus for controlling vacuum pressure applied to a surgical site within a patient, comprising:

a multiple axis controller;

a processing apparatus configured to receive multiple axis data from the multiple axis controller;

a first pump configured to provide nonzero fluid pressure to the surgical site within the patient at a first nonzero fluid pressure level based on a first axis state of the multiple axis controller; and

a second pump configured to provide nonzero fluid pressure at a second nonzero fluid pressure level based on a second axis state of the multiple axis controller;

wherein the processing apparatus causes switching between the first pump and the second pump based on the first axis state and the second axis state of the multiple axis controller, wherein said switching causes a gradual transition of pressure from the first nonzero fluid pressure level from the first pump to the second nonzero pressure level pressure from the second pump while pressure at the surgical site remains relatively constant.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processing apparatus is configured to deactivate the second pump from concurrent operation with the first pump by applying a ramp down control function after switching from the first pump to the second pump.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processing apparatus switches from the first pump to the second pump based on first axis data received from the multiple axis controller.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the second pump source is configured to operate to a desired level and the apparatus refrains from employing nonzero fluid pressure at a second nonzero fluid pressure level prior to the processing apparatus switching.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the process apparatus switching comprises switching from the first pump operating at the first nonzero fluid pressure value to the second pump operating at the second nonzero vacuum pressure value.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the multiple axis controller comprises a dual axis footpedal.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein processor apparatus switching is based on data received from the dual axis controller and settings established by a user.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the processor apparatus comprises an instrument host running a software application configured to switch between the first pump and the second pump based on the first axis state and the second axis state of the multiple axis controller.