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Systems and methods for power and flow rate control

  • US 9,149,568 B2
  • Filed: 09/23/2011
  • Issued: 10/06/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A surgical system for eye surgery comprising:

  • a handpiece configured to be placed in an operative relationship with an eye for a surgical procedure;

    an irrigation fluid source configured to supply an irrigation fluid to the eye;

    an aspiration line having an aspiration port coupled to the handpiece;

    a vacuum-based aspiration source configured to apply a vacuum to the handpiece via a drainage cassette and the aspiration line in order to aspirate the irrigation fluid from the eye through the handpiece; and

    an occlusion detecting system coupled to the aspiration line, wherein the occlusion detecting system is configured to detect a reduction in a rate of irrigation fluid flow in at least one of the aspiration line or the aspiration port using a thermodilution technique;

    wherein the occlusion detecting system comprises a first temperature sensor operatively coupled to the aspiration line, a second temperature sensor operatively coupled to the aspiration line at a point downstream from the first temperature sensor, wherein at least one of the first temperature sensor and second temperature sensor is at least partially disposed within the drainage cassette, a computer program product that includes a computer-usable medium having a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes said processor to execute a process for measuring a temperature differential between the first and second temperature sensors, and a heating element to heat the fluid within the line to a desired temperature;

    wherein the processor, the computer program product, and the sequence of instructions are configured to provide an indication of the reduction in a rate of irrigation fluid flow in the at least one of the aspiration line or the aspiration port when the temperature differential exceeds a predetermined temperature differential boundary level and control a vacuum level within the aspiration line upon an indication of the reduction in a rate of irrigation fluid flow.

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