Selectively moveable valve elements for aspiration and irrigation circuits

• US 9,561,321 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2012
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Sorensen, Gary P., Morgan, Michael D., Oliveira, Mel Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Deanna K
• Application Number:
  US13/685,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20130150782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• Field of Search: 604/30
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00736 Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments A61F9/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/72 Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/742 by changing the size of a vent A61M1/7411 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/774 Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/91 Suction aspects of the dressing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0201 Cassettes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0241 the liquid being supplied by gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0258 by means of electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0279 Cannula; Nozzles; Tips; their connection means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0283 with at least two inner passageways, a first one for irrigating and a second for evacuating suction-irrigation systems A61M1/77; aspiration tips with fluid supply means A61M1/85; for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92

Abstract

Various arrangements of fluidics systems are disclosed. In one arrangement, an aspiration circuit for a fluidics system is disclosed that selectively controls aspiration. The aspiration circuit comprises an aspiration line operatively connected to a surgical instrument, an aspiration exhaust line operatively connected to a waste receptacle; an aspiration vent line connected at a first end to the aspiration line; and a selectively variable vent valve operatively connected to the aspiration vent line. The variable vent valve may be selectively moved to vary aspiration pressure within the aspiration line. Other fluidics systems are disclosed that include a selectively positionable irrigation valve that may also be incorporated into a fluidics system that includes a variable vent valve.

Claims

1. An aspiration circuit for a fluidics system for selectively controlling aspiration, comprising:

an aspiration line operatively connected to a surgical instrument;

an aspiration pump to create an aspiration flow in the aspiration line;

an aspiration exhaust line operatively connected to the aspiration pump on one end and to a waste receptacle on an opposing end;

an aspiration vent line connected at a first end to the aspiration line between the aspiration pump and the surgical instrument; and

a selectively variable vent valve operatively connected to the aspiration vent line, wherein the variable vent valve may be selectively moved to selectively change aspiration pressure within the aspiration line;

wherein the vent valve is a rotary valve that further comprises an input opening, an output opening and a channel that connects the input opening to the output opening;

wherein the vent valve may be selectively rotated to selectively position the channel in at least partial communication with the aspiration vent line.

2. The aspiration circuit of claim 1, wherein the aspiration vent line is connected at a second end to the aspiration exhaust line to form a bypass around the aspiration pump.

3. The aspiration circuit of claim 1, wherein the aspiration vent line is connected at a second end to atmosphere.

4. The aspiration circuit of claim 1, wherein the aspiration vent line is connected at a second end to a vent pressure source of pressurized fluid or saline.

5. The aspiration circuit of claim 1, wherein the aspiration vent line is connected at a second end to an irrigation line.

6. The aspiration circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a pressure sensor and an actuator, the pressure sensor being operatively connected to the aspiration line and the actuator being operatively connected to the vent valve,

wherein the pressure sensor and the actuator are connected to a controller, and

wherein the controller is operative to initiate the actuator to move the vent valve in response to predetermined pressure values detected by the pressure sensor to vary the aspiration pressure within the aspiration line.

7. The aspiration circuit of claim 6, wherein the actuator is a motor.

8. The aspiration circuit of claim 1, wherein the variable vent valve is operatively connected to an irrigation line such that the variable vent valve may be selectively moved so as to selectively interrupt fluid flow in the irrigation line and to selectively vary aspiration pressure within the aspiration line.

9. The aspiration circuit of claim 8, wherein the variable vent valve is configured with first and second flow paths formed therein, wherein the first flow path may be selectively, and at least partially, aligned with an irrigation supply line and the irrigation line to open the irrigation line to an irrigation supply source, and wherein the second flow path may be selectively, and at least partially, aligned with the aspiration line and the aspiration exhaust line to selectively vary the aspiration pressure within the aspiration line.

10. The aspiration circuit of claim 1, wherein the vent valve is operably connected to an actuator having an angular position encoder.

11. The aspiration circuit of claim 10, wherein the actuator is configured to move the vent valve to provide a variable orifice size to selectively modulate aspiration within the aspiration line.

12. The aspiration circuit of claim 6, wherein the controller is operative to move the vent valve by a predetermined amount to reduce the aspiration pressure in the aspiration line wherein a predetermined pressure value is detected.

13. The aspiration circuit of claim 1, wherein the aspiration pump comprises a series of rollers acting upon an elastomeric sheet defining part of the aspiration line.

14. The aspiration circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

an irrigation line operatively connected to the surgical instrument;

an irrigation pressure sensor and an actuator, the irrigation pressure sensor being positioned to detect irrigation pressure in the irrigation line and the actuator being operatively connected to the vent valve,

wherein the irrigation pressure sensor and the actuator are connected to a controller, and

wherein the controller is operative to initiate the actuator to move the vent valve in response to pressure detected by the irrigation pressure sensor to vary the aspiration pressure within the aspiration line.

15. The aspiration circuit of claim 14, wherein the irrigation pressure sensor is located in the surgical instrument.

16. The aspiration circuit of claim 15, wherein the surgical instrument is a surgical handpiece.

17. The aspiration circuit of claim 14,

wherein the irrigation line provides irrigation fluid to the surgical instrument from an irrigation source;

and

wherein the irrigation pressure sensor is located in the irrigation line between the irrigation source and the surgical instrument.

18. The aspiration circuit of claim 14,

wherein the controller, using information from the irrigation pressure sensor, is configured to detect an occlusion break onset, and

wherein the controller is configured to minimize the occlusion break onset by initiating the actuator to move the vent valve.

19. The aspiration circuit of claim 6,

wherein the controller, using information from the pressure sensor operatively connected to the aspiration line, is configured to detect an occlusion break onset, and

wherein the controller is configured to minimize the occlusion break onset by initiating the actuator to move the vent valve.