Automatically switching different aspiration levels and/or pumps to an ocular probe

• US 9,566,188 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Medical Optics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Raney, Rob, Claus, Michael J., Gerg, James, Wong, Wayne S., King, David A., Staggs, James W., Lee, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, LARRY ROSS
• Application Number:
  US12/614,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20100280435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,657 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22, 604/28, 604/35, 604131-133, 604/140, 604/141, 604/149, 604/151, 604/153, 604/173, 604/500
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: A61F 9/00754 for cutting or perforating the anterior lens capsule, e.g. capsulotomes
• 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 1/75 Intermittent or pulsating suction A61M1/63, A61M1/772 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/76 Handpieces specially for suction-irrigation A61M1/774, aspiration tips A61M1/84
• 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 1/772 operating alternately
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/80 Suction pumps A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/804 using Laval or Venturi jet pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 Nose

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for automatically switching different aspiration levels to an ocular probe are disclosed herein. The probe may be a phacoemulsification probe. A first aspiration level, supplied by a first pump, may be applied to the probe simultaneously with ultrasonic energy. A second aspiration level, supplied by a second pump, may be automatically switched from the first aspiration level. Control feed back of the pumps may be varied according to set thresholds.

Claims

1. A method for applying aspiration to a probe, the method comprising:

applying a base vacuum level from a first pump to the probe to achieve a base level flow-rate;

applying a secondary vacuum level from a second pump to the probe to achieve an additive level flow-rate, wherein the additive level flow-rate is additional to the base level flow-rate;

increasing an irrigation flow-rate to match the additive level flow-rate;

decreasing the additive flow-rate to match the irrigation flow-rate on a condition that the irrigation flow-rate exceeds a maximum irrigation rate; and

detecting that the probe is at least partially occluded based on a measured change in pressure in the second pump.

2. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising applying ultrasonic energy to the probe when the probe is occluded.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is computer implemented.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pump comprises a flow based pump and the second pump comprises a vacuum based pump.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the vacuum based pump comprises a venturi pump.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the flow based pump comprises a peristaltic pump.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting that the probe is at least partially occluded causes a change in an ultrasonic energy delivered to the probe.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising switching the first pump off to allow aspiration to be performed by the second pump.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying the secondary vacuum level from the second pump to the probe occurs when the first pump is operating at its maximum aspiration level.

10. A method for removing material from an eye, comprising:

generating a base level aspiration flow to a probe by applying a base aspiration pressure differential using a pressure pump to an aspiration flow pathway from the eye;

generating an additive level flow to the probe, during the base level flow, by ramping-up the additive level flow with a volumetric pump;

increasing an irrigation flow to match the additive level flow;

decreasing the additive flow to match the irrigation flow on a condition that the irrigation flow exceeds a maximum irrigation rate; and

detecting an occlusion of the aspiration flow pathway based upon a measured pressure differential above the base pressure differential generated by the pressure pump.

11. The method of claim 10, additionally comprising applying ultrasonic energy to a probe device when the probe is occluded.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the pressure pump comprises a venturi pump and the volumetric pump comprises a peristaltic pump.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said detecting causes a change in an ultrasonic energy delivered to the probe.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising switching the pressure pump off to allow aspiration to be performed by the volumetric pump.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the generating the additive level flow to the probe occurs when the pressure pump is operating at its maximum aspiration level.