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

• US 9,387,122 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2011
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: Mackool, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KISH, JAMES M
• Application Number:
  US12/984,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20110106096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 600/472, 600/473, 600/475, 600/476, 606/12, 606/27, 606/28, 606/31
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00066 intensity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic

Abstract

A method and apparatus to operate a surgical instrument in response to a thermal condition being detected that warrants curtailment of further operation. When the thermal condition is reached, command signals are generated that cause a needle of the surgical instrument to either have its vibrational speed slowed, have its vibrational movement stopped, or have it withdrawn from its relative position. The detection is of infrared radiation wavelengths and is carried out with either a thermal imaging device of a thermal recognition device. A corresponding temperature of the detected infrared radiation wavelengths is compared to a critical temperature to determine whether the thermal condition has been reached.

Claims

1. A method of fixing needle stroke length of a vibrating hollow needle of a surgical instrument and or slowing or stopping the hollow needle, comprising the steps of:

performing phacoemulsification with a surgical instrument having a driver and a hollow needle;

detecting an infrared radiation wavelength emanating from a location with a monitor during the performing of the phacoemulsification, selecting the monitor from the group consisting of a thermal imaging source and a thermal recognition source; and

evaluating the detected infrared radiation wavelength with a controller to make a determination as to whether the hollow needle needs to be slowed or stopped, the controller fixing a stroke length of the hollow needle and thus a speed of vibration of the hollow needle based on the evaluated, detected infrared radiation wavelength and sending appropriate command signals to the driver so that the hollow needle vibrates and travels in accord with the fixed stroke length, the controller sending further command signals to the driver as warranted based on the evaluated, detected infrared radiation wavelength to slow or stop the hollow needle;

wherein the determination as to whether the hollow needle needs to be slowed or stopped is based on a comparison of critical temperatures with a temperature that corresponds to the detected infrared radiation wavelength, and

wherein the comparison compares at least two different critical temperatures with the corresponding temperature that corresponds to the detected infrared radiation wavelength, the generated command signals signifying direction to fix the needle stroke length so as to slow a speed of vibration of the hollow needle if the corresponding temperature matches a lower one of the at least two different critical temperatures and so as to stop or withdraw the hollow needle if the corresponding temperature matches a higher one of the at least two different critical temperatures.

2. A method of fixing needle stroke length of a vibrating hollow needle of a surgical instrument and or slowing or stopping the hollow needle, comprising the steps of:

performing phacoemulsification with a surgical instrument having a driver and a hollow needle;

detecting an infrared radiation wavelength emanating from a location with a monitor during the performing of the phacoemulsification, selecting the monitor from the group consisting of a thermal imaging source and a thermal recognition source; and

evaluating the detected infrared radiation wavelength with a controller to make a determination as to whether the hollow needle needs to be slowed or stopped, the controller fixing a stroke length of the hollow needle and thus a speed of vibration of the hollow needle based on the evaluated, detected infrared radiation wavelength and sending appropriate command signals to the driver so that the hollow needle vibrates and travels in accord with the fixed stroke length, the controller sending further command signals to the driver as warranted based on the evaluated, detected infrared radiation wavelength to slow or stop the hollow needle;

wherein the determination as to whether the hollow needle needs to be slowed or stopped is based on a comparison of critical temperatures with a temperature that corresponds to the detected infrared radiation wavelength, and

wherein the critical temperatures are at a medically safe level for surrounding tissue yet sufficiently close to a medically unsafe temperature to prompt cessation or lowering of an amount of heat generation to avoid actually reaching the medically unsafe temperature.

3. A method of fixing needle stroke length of a vibrating hollow needle of a surgical instrument and or slowing or stopping the hollow needle, comprising the steps of:

performing phacoemulsification with a surgical instrument having a driver and a hollow needle;

detecting an infrared radiation wavelength emanating from a location with a monitor during the performing of the phacoemulsification, selecting the monitor from the group consisting of a thermal imaging source and a thermal recognition source; and

evaluating the detected infrared radiation wavelength with a controller to make a determination as to whether the hollow needle needs to be slowed or stopped, the controller fixing a stroke length of the hollow needle and thus a speed of vibration of the hollow needle based on the evaluated, detected infrared radiation wavelength and sending appropriate command signals to the driver so that the hollow needle vibrates and travels in accord with the fixed stroke length, the controller sending further command signals to the driver as warranted based on the evaluated, detected infrared radiation wavelength to slow or stop the hollow needle;

wherein the location is at a driver of the hollow needle that drives the hollow needle to vibrate and travel the fixed stroke length.

4. An apparatus to fix needle stroke length of a vibrating hollow needle of a surgical instrument and to slow or stop the hollow needle, comprising:

a surgical instrument suited to perform phacoemulsification, the surgical instrument having a driver and having a hollow needle;

a monitor configured and arranged to be aimed to detect an infrared radiation wavelength emanating from a location during performing of the phacoemulsification by the surgical instrument, the monitor being selected from the group consisting of thermal imaging source and a thermal recognition source; and

a controller suited to evaluate the detected infrared radiation wavelength to make a determination as to whether the hollow needle needs to be slowed or stopped, the controller having means for fixing the stroke length of the hollow needle and thus a speed of vibration of the hollow needle based upon the evaluated, detected infrared radiation wavelength, the controller having means for sending appropriate command signals to the driver that direct the driver to drive the hollow needle in accord with the fixed stroke length of the hollow needle, the controller having means for sending further command signals to the driver as warranted based on the evaluated, detected infrared radiation wavelength to slow or stop the hollow needle;

wherein the controller bases the determination on a comparison between critical temperatures and a temperature that corresponds to the detected infrared radiation wavelength;

wherein the controller compares at least two different critical temperatures with the corresponding temperature that corresponds to the detected infrared radiation wavelength to make the comparison, the generated command signals signifying direction to fix the needle stroke length so as to slow a speed of vibration of the hollow needle if the corresponding temperature matches a lower one of the at least two different critical temperatures and so as to stop or withdraw the hollow needle if the corresponding temperature matches a higher one of the at least two different critical temperatures.

5. An apparatus to fix needle stroke length of a vibrating hollow needle of a surgical instrument and to slow or stop the hollow needle, comprising:

a surgical instrument suited to perform phacoemulsification, the surgical instrument having a driver and having a hollow needle;

a monitor configured and arranged to be aimed to detect an infrared radiation wavelength emanating from a location during performing of the phacoemulsification by the surgical instrument, the monitor being selected from the group consisting of thermal imaging source and a thermal recognition source; and

a controller suited to evaluate the detected infrared radiation wavelength to make a determination as to whether the hollow needle needs to be slowed or stopped, the controller having means for fixing the stroke length of the hollow needle and thus a speed of vibration of the hollow needle based upon the evaluated, detected infrared radiation wavelength, the controller having means for sending appropriate command signals to the driver that direct the driver to drive the hollow needle in accord with the fixed stroke length of the hollow needle, the controller having means for sending further command signals to the driver as warranted based on the evaluated, detected infrared radiation wavelength to slow or stop the hollow needle;

wherein the controller bases the determination on a comparison between critical temperatures and a temperature that corresponds to the detected infrared radiation wavelength;

wherein the critical temperatures are at a medically safe level for surrounding tissue yet sufficiently close to a medically unsafe temperature to prompt cessation or lowering of an amount of heat generation to avoid actually reaching the medically unsafe temperature.

6. An apparatus to fix needle stroke length of a vibrating hollow needle of a surgical instrument and to slow or stop the hollow needle, comprising:

a surgical instrument suited to perform phacoemulsification, the surgical instrument having a driver and having a hollow needle;

a monitor configured and arranged to be aimed to detect an infrared radiation wavelength emanating from a location during performing of the phacoemulsification by the surgical instrument, the monitor being selected from the group consisting of thermal imaging source and a thermal recognition source; and

a controller suited to evaluate the detected infrared radiation wavelength to make a determination as to whether the hollow needle needs to be slowed or stopped, the controller having means for fixing the stroke length of the hollow needle and thus a speed of vibration of the hollow needle based upon the evaluated, detected infrared radiation wavelength, the controller having means for sending appropriate command signals to the driver that direct the driver to drive the hollow needle in accord with the fixed stroke length of the hollow needle, the controller having means for sending further command signals to the driver as warranted based on the evaluated, detected infrared radiation wavelength to slow or stop the hollow needle;

wherein the location is at a driver of the hollow needle that drives the hollow needle to vibrate and travel the fixed stroke length.