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Monitoring thermal conditions to vary operation of an ultrasonic needle tip of a surgical instrument

  • US 8,423,126 B2
  • Filed: 01/08/2009
  • Issued: 04/16/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus to detect and respond to a thermal condition during phacoemulsification, comprising:

  • a surgical instrument operative to perform phacoemulsification, the surgical instrument including a hollow needle and including a driver operative to vibrate the hollow needle at a speed of vibration and including a suction operative to aspirate fluid through the hollow needle, the hollow needle having a distal end terminating into a tip and having a hub spaced from the tip;

    a thermal imaging or thermal recognition source aimed at a location selected from a group consisting of along the hub of the needle of the surgical instrument and at the driver of the surgical instrument so as to detect infrared radiation wavelengths emanating from the location;

    a controller configured to evaluate the detected infrared radiation wavelengths to make a determination as to whether a thermal condition has been reached, generate command signals in response to the determination being that the thermal condition has been reached, varying at least one of the speed of vibration and a relative position of the hollow needle of the surgical instrument in response to the command signals, and to issue further command signals to the driver provided the detected infrared radiation wavelengths signify that at least a critical temperature has been reached, the driver being responsive to the further command signals to at least withdraw the needle.

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