Ophthalmic surgical system and a control apparatus therefor

• US 9,144,517 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2013
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Rein, Karlheinz, Kuebler, Christoph, Wehner, Wolfram
• Primary Examiner(s): MILES, JONATHAN WADE
• Application Number:
  US13/854,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20130261637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 913 Days
• Field of Search: 606/107, 606/161, 606/162, 606/166, 606/167, 606/168, 606/169, 606/170, 606/171, 604/22
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Abstract

A control device for an ophthalmic surgical system includes a flow determination device for determining an actual value of fluid flow in an aspiration line. The aspiration line is coupled to a handpiece for phacoemulsification of an eye lens and an occlusion determination device determines whether there is an occlusion because of a particle of the eye lens at a suction opening of the aspiration line. An evaluation unit establishes a hardness of the particle in dependence on the determined actual value of the fluid flow in the aspiration line should the occlusion determination device have determined that an occlusion is present, and, dependent on the hardness, determines a first value of ultrasound energy, which can be supplied to the handpiece by an energy source. A control unit actuates the energy source, during the occlusion, so that it outputs the determined first value of the ultrasound energy.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for an ophthalmic surgical system including a handpiece for phacoemulsification of an eye lens, an energy source configured to output ultrasound energy to the handpiece, an aspiration line configured to conduct a fluid flow therethrough, said aspiration line being coupled to said handpiece and having a suction opening, the control apparatus comprising:

a flow determination device configured to determine an actual value of a reduced fluid flow in said aspiration line;

an occlusion determination device configured to determine whether an occlusion is present at said suction opening;

an evaluation unit configured to determine said actual value of the reduced fluid flow in said aspiration line when said occlusion determination device has determined that an occlusion is present;

said evaluation unit being further configured to determine a first value of the ultrasound energy to be outputted to said handpiece via said energy source in dependence upon said actual value of the reduced fluid flow; and

,

a control unit configured to control said energy source to output said first value of the ultrasound energy during the occlusion,

wherein the fluid flow in said aspiration line has a nominal value when no occlusion is present; and

, said evaluation unit is configured to determine a quotient of said actual value of the reduced fluid flow divided by said nominal value of the fluid flow in the aspiration line; and

,

wherein said evaluation unit is configured to determine an integral of said quotient as a function of time over a predetermined time duration.

2. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control unit is further configured to control said energy source so as to cause said energy source to output a second value of the ultrasound energy when said occlusion determination device has determined that no occlusion is present;

and, said second value of said ultrasound energy is lower than said first value thereof.

3. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ophthalmic surgical system further includes an aspiration pump configured to draw a current;

and, said occlusion determination device includes a measurement apparatus configured to measure the current drawn by said aspiration pump.

4. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ophthalmic surgical system further includes an aspiration pump developing power;

and, said occlusion determination device includes a measurement apparatus configured to measure the power of said pump.

5. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein said occlusion determination device includes a measurement apparatus configured to measure the fluid flow in said aspiration line.

6. An ophthalmic surgical system comprising:

a handpiece for phacoemulsification of an eye lens;

an energy source configured to output ultrasound energy to said handpiece;

an aspiration line configured to conduct a fluid flow therethrough;

said aspiration line being coupled to said handpiece and having a suction opening; and

,

a control apparatus including;

a flow determination device configured to determine an actual value of a reduced fluid flow in said aspiration line;

an occlusion determination device configured to determine whether an occlusion is present at said suction opening;

an evaluation unit configured to determine said actual value of the fluid flow in said aspiration line when said occlusion determination device has determined that an occlusion is present;

said evaluation unit being further configured to determine a first value of the ultrasound energy to be outputted to said handpiece via said energy source in dependence upon said actual value of the reduced fluid flow; and

, a control unit configured to control said energy source to output said first value of the ultrasound energy during the occlusion,

wherein a fluid flow in said aspiration line has a nominal value when no occlusion is present; and

, said evaluation unit is configured to determine a quotient of said actual value of the reduced fluid flow divided by said nominal value of the fluid flow in the aspiration line; and

,

wherein said evaluation unit is configured to determine an integral of said quotient as a function of time over a predetermined time duration.

7. The ophthalmic surgical system of claim 6, wherein said control unit is further configured to control said energy source so as to cause said energy source to output a second value of said ultrasound energy when said occlusion determination device has determined that no occlusion is present;

and, said second value of said ultrasound energy is lower than said first value thereof.

8. A control apparatus for an ophthalmic surgical system including a handpiece for phacoemulsification of an eye lens, an energy source configured to output ultrasound energy to the handpiece, an aspiration line configured to conduct a fluid flow therethrough, said aspiration line being coupled to said handpiece and having a suction opening, the control apparatus comprising:

a flow determination device configured to determine an actual value of a reduced fluid flow in said aspiration line;

an occlusion determination device configured to determine whether an occlusion is present at said suction opening;

an evaluation unit configured to determine said actual value of the reduced fluid flow in said aspiration line when said occlusion determination device has determined that an occlusion is present;

said evaluation unit being further configured to determine a first value of the ultrasound energy to be outputted to said handpiece via said energy source in dependence upon said actual value of the reduced fluid flow; and

,

a control unit configured to control said energy source to output said first value of the ultrasound energy during the occlusion,

wherein said control unit is further configured to control said energy source so as to cause said energy source to output a second value of the ultrasound energy when said occlusion determination device has determined that no occlusion is present; and

, said second value of said ultrasound energy is lower than said first value thereof,

wherein a fluid flow in said aspiration line has a nominal value when no occlusion is present; and

, said evaluation unit is configured to determine an actual value of the reduced fluid flow divided by said nominal value of the fluid flow in the aspiration line; and

,

wherein said evaluation unit is configured to determine an integral of said quotient as a function of time over a predetermined time duration.