305 results about "Phacoemulsification" patented technology

A phacoemulsification system includes a phacoemulsification handpiece including a cutting tip ultrasonically vibrated by an ultrasonic transducer. A power supply is provided for driving the ultrasonic transducer at a resonant frequency of the transducer and cutting tip and varying power to the transducer, in response to loading of the cutting tip, by phase shifting drive signals to the resonant converter which supplies power to the transducer.

The phacoemulsification needle according to the invention comprises a shaft, a tip disposed at a distal end of said shaft, the tip having a larger outer diameter than said shaft and an aspiration lumen extending through said shaft and said tip. The tip has an opening communicating with said aspiration lumen, a ball-shaped surface and a flat distal end comprising said opening. This needle can be used for removal of the cataract nucleus as well as for removal of the residual tissue.

A method and apparatus for performing modulated fluid delivery and aspiration during a surgical procedure such as phacoemulsification is provided. The method and apparatus include delivering fluid and/or aspirating fluid in a modulated or pulsed manner during a surgical procedure, including applying fluid and/or aspirating fluid in connection with ultrasonic energy at a level and for a time period sufficient to induce transient cavitation. Fluid may be applied and/or aspirated at a timing sequence and duty cycle similar to or different from application of ultrasonic energy delivery.

Phacoemulsification apparatus includes a phacoemulsification handpiece having a needle and an electrical circuitry for ultrasonic vibrating the needle. A power source provides pulsed electrical power to the handpiece electrical circuitry and an input is provided for enabling a surgeon to select an amplitude of dislighted pulses and a pulse width. A control system and pulse duty cycle is provided for controlling the off duty cycle to insure heat dissipation before a subsequent pulse is activated, including a foot pedal switch.

The invention is generally directed to systems and methods for ophthalmic surgery, and more particularly to systems and methods for phacoemulsification using vacuum-based aspiration pumps. In accordance with one embodiment, a vacuum-based phacoemulsification system, having a handpiece, includes a subsystem to detect an occlusion occurring at the handpiece during operation.

A phacoemulsification fluidics system for irrigating and aspirating a surgical site includes a sterile solution reservoir, an irrigation path configured to extend from the sterile solution reservoir to the surgical site, and an aspiration path configured to extend from the surgical site. The system also includes a single flow control pump head associated with both the irrigation path and the aspiration path. The flow control pump head is arranged within the system to simultaneously pressurize the irrigation path in a manner that drives the irrigation fluid to the surgical site and pressurize the aspiration path in a manner that vacuums waste fluid from the surgical site.

A design for dynamically adjusting parameters applied to a surgical instrument, such as an ocular surgical instrument, is presented. The method includes detecting surgical events from image data collected by a surgical microscope focused on an ocular surgical procedure, establishing a desired response for each detected surgical event, delivering the desired response to the ocular surgical instrument as a set of software instructions, and altering the surgical procedure based on the desired response received as the set of software instructions.

A post-occlusion surge controller 90 for a phacoemulsification machine 30 is adapted to detect a post-occlusion surge in an aspiration conduit 41 of the machine 30, and to cause the conduit 41 to be vented in response to detecting the surge.

A method and apparatus for precisely controlling particle movement relative to a phacoemulsification needle tip is provided. The design monitors actual vacuum present and calculates a pulse shape amplitude waveform proportional to the amount of measured vacuum. An increase in vacuum indicates that the handpiece/needle is becoming occluded by a large particle. The present design determines whether additional power is required to bump or move a large particle away from the needle tip. The present design may employ a control loop that senses and continuously monitors vacuum. The design may dynamically vary the amount of ultrasonic energy delivered to the surgical area in response to the observed actual vacuum, and can actively vary the amount of power delivered to the surgical area based on the size of the particle and the resultant vacuum realized.

A surgical cassette for use with a phacoemulsification system having a front plate, a back plate, and a gasket therebetween. The front plate having molded fluid channels that mate with the gasket. The gasket having multiple valves and a sensor or diaphragm accessible through the back plate.

An intraocular light probe has a mask or shield affixed at its distal end thereof which forms a directed light beam for intraocular illumination of target tissues or intraocular application of therapeutic light. The mask or shield serves to more fully focus, intensify and direct the beam toward the target tissues. The mask or shield also helps direct light away from other tissues and away from the eyes of the surgeon. This lessens unwanted glare. By placing a light probe beneath a surgical instrument such as a phacoemulsifier or vitrector, laser, cutting instrument (e.g., scissors or knife), forceps or probe/manipulator, whether as part of or separate from an infusion sleeve, a mask or shield effect is created. This has the same benefits of directing the beam toward target tissues, away from other tissues and away from the eyes of the surgeon. The mask or shield is opaque or semi-opaque and made of a soft, semi-rigid or rigid material. The shield can be rigid enough to serve as the shaft of an instrument with a probe or manipulator at its distal tip. It may also be reflective on the side adjacent to the fiber bundle to help direct, magnify, and intensify the beam of light. The shape of the shield can be flat, curved or circular with an opening along one side. The mask/shield can be removed from the fiberoptic light for sterilization. The device of the invention is preferably introduced into the eye via the primary or side-port incision to provide intraocular cross-lighting of tissues during surgical procedures such as cataract surgery, corneal surgery, vitrectomy, intraocular lens implantation, refractive surgery, glaucoma surgery and vitreo/retinal surgery.

A surgical system comprises a pressurized irrigation fluid source; an irrigation line fluidly coupled to the pressurized irrigation fluid source; a hand piece fluidly coupled to the irrigation line; an irrigation pressure sensor located at or along the pressurized irrigation fluid source or irrigation line; and a controller for controlling the pressurized irrigation fluid source. The controller controls the pressurized irrigation fluid source based on a reading from the irrigation pressure sensor and an estimated flow value modified by a compensation factor.

A phacoemulsification system with enhanced user utility and tactile operability includes a control unit and a handpiece with a needle and a vibrating unit that is configured to ultrasonically vibrate the needle. The handpiece includes a needle and a vibrating unit for ultrasonically vibrating the needle according to a variable parameter, such as frequency, shape, size, duty cycle, and so on. The control unit is configured to adjust the value of the parameter. A monitor is operably connected to the control unit for displaying a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes an adjustable control element, such as a slider bar, radio buttons, or handles, and an indication element that indicates the value of the parameter, either numerically or graphically. An interface device, such as a touchscreen, a mouse, or a keyboard, is operably connected to the control unit for enabling a user to adjust the control element. The control unit is configured to change the value of the parameter at least in response to adjustments of the control element by the user.

Methods and systems for automatically pulsing different aspiration levels to an ocular probe are disclosed. 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, and applied to the probe in a pulsed manner.

A phacoemulsification needle is disclosed having a hollow member with an inner surface, an outer surface, and a distal end tip. The distal end tip has an outer edge portion and an inner edge portion both of which are rounded to eliminate any sharp edges. The needle can be used to deliver ultrasonic energy to a surgical site, such as a cataract, to emulsify unwanted tissue and to aspirate the tissue through the lumen of the hollow member without using any sharp surfaces for cutting. The rounded outer and inner edge portions of the distal end tip of the needle increase the safety of the surgical procedure by reducing the risk of damage to the capsule or other intraocular structures or tissues near the surgical site. This improvement in safety has allowed the development of new needle configurations to improve the efficiency of phacoemulsification, several of which are disclosed herein.

A surgical system comprises a pressurized irrigation fluid source; an irrigation line fluidly coupled to the pressurized irrigation fluid source; a hand piece fluidly coupled to the irrigation line; an irrigation pressure sensor located at or along the pressurized irrigation fluid source or irrigation line; and a controller for controlling the pressurized irrigation fluid source. The controller controls the pressurized irrigation fluid source based on a reading from the irrigation pressure sensor and an estimated flow value modified by a compensation factor.

A method and system for use in an ocular surgical procedure is provided. The design includes a handpiece having an ultrasonically vibrating tip operational within a plurality of operating modes including a first operating mode and a sensing device, such as a vacuum pressure sensor. A controller is connected to the handpiece and sensing device and is configured to receive data from the sensing device and adjust at least one operational parameter (time/duty cycle of operation, power during operation) associated with the first operating mode and adjust at least one parameter associated with another operating mode based on the data received from the sensing device. Operational modes may include multiple longitudinal or non-longitudinal modes (torsional, transversal, etc.) or combinations of longitudinal and/or non-longitudinal modes.

An infusion pressure monitoring system for a phacoemulsification or vitrectomy machine to be operated by a health care provider includes an irrigation path configured to carry an irrigation solution to a surgical site and a fluid sensor configured to detect a fluid parameter in the irrigation path. An input device receives a variable fluid flow command from the health care provider commanding an irrigation fluid flow through the irrigation path at a flow rate corresponding to the command. A controller communicates with both the fluid sensor and the input device. The controller determines an expected fluid pressure value and a dynamically variable threshold pressure value based upon the variable fluid flow command.