Patent Application
20070000301
The present invention generally pertains to controlling reflux in microsurgical systems and more particularly to controlling reflux in ophthalmic microsurgical systems.
During small incision surgery, and particularly during ophthalmic surgery, small probes are inserted into the operative site to cut, remove, or otherwise manipulate tissue. During these surgical procedures, fluid is typically infused into the eye, and the infusion fluid and tissue are aspirated from the surgical site. These probes have small orifices that are easily clogged with tissue. Such clogging is typically referred to as “occlusion”, “tip occlusion”, or “port occlusion”. The process of clearing such occlusions is typically referred to as “reflux”.
A traditional method of reflux is to create a backpressure pulse of fluid that travels through the aspiration circuit to the tip or port of the probe to clear the incarcerated tissue. Because a single pulse of fluid often does not clear the occlusion, a surgeon must typically utilize a series of pulses until he or she visually observes the tip or port of the probe to be clear through the operating microscope. Despite this method of clearing occlusion, a need continues to exist for an improved method of controlling reflux in a microsurgical system.
The present invention is a method of controlling reflux in a microsurgical system. A pump is operated to provide irrigating fluid at a constant flow rate to an occluded port of a surgical device. A reflux pressure is sensed proximate the port over time. The reflux pressure is monitored as a function of time to detect an occlusion break.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and for further objects and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The preferred embodiment of the present invention and its advantages is best understood by referring to
Pump 14 may be any suitable device for generating pressure or vacuum but is preferably a peristaltic pump, a scroll pump, or a vane pump. Pressure transducer 24 may be any suitable device for directly or indirectly measuring pressure or vacuum. Surgical device 18 may be any microsurgical instrument, probe, or handpiece but is preferably an ultrasound probe, a phacoemulsification probe, a liquefracture handpiece, an aspiration probe, or a vitrectomy probe. As shown in
In operation, aspirated fluid and tissue are provided to the aspiration circuit of microsurgical system 10 via aspiration port 30. An occlusion of port 30 may be detected by a surgeon through the operating microscope or automatically by microprocessor 20. Upon occlusion detection, microprocessor 20 sends an appropriate signal to pump 14 via interface 26 to rotate at a constant speed to provide irrigating fluid 13 at a constant flow rate to port 32. Pressure sensor 16 repeatedly senses the reflux pressure in fluid line 22 (and thus port 32) in real time and provides a corresponding signal to microprocessor 20 via interface 24. As shown in
From the above, it may be appreciated that the present invention provides an improved method of controlling reflux in a microsurgical system. In contrast to traditional reflux, only a single reflux cycle is required to clear port 32, and only the exact pressure and volume of irrigating fluid 13 required to clear port 32 is provided by pump 14. Therefore, occlusion is cleared more quickly, and reflux is safer for the patient.
The present invention is illustrated herein by example, and various modifications may be made by a person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, while the present invention is described above relative to controlling reflux in an ophthalmic microsurgical system, it is also applicable to other microsurgical systems.
It is believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the apparatus and methods shown or described above have been characterized as being preferred, various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
