Auto Phaco Energy Control for Post-Occlusion Surge Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
During phacoemulsification surgery, surgeons face challenges in managing intraocular pressure and preventing post-occlusion surge, which can lead to eye trauma due to the limitations of human reaction time and existing techniques for controlling ultrasonic energy and fluid flow.
Innovation Solution
A system that records and learns phaco energy setpoints during occlusion breaks, using a surgical console with a computing processor to determine optimal energy settings based on historical data and surgeon-specific inputs, thereby minimizing excessive energy application and improving surgical efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the surgeon manually controls ultrasonic energy delivery during phacoemulsification, then the surgeon can adjust energy settings based on real-time visual assessment, but the human reaction time (approximately 350 ms) creates a delay that allows excessive energy application after occlusion breaks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors aspiration flow rate and automatically detects occlusion breaks by identifying deviations from baseline flow patterns. When an occlusion break is detected, the system immediately responds by reducing or stopping ultrasonic energy delivery, creating a closed-loop feedback control system that eliminates the delay inherent in manual surgeon response.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-monitoring and self-regulation of ultrasonic energy delivery based on real-time aspiration flow rate analysis. The control system automatically adjusts energy settings without requiring continuous surgeon intervention, enabling the system to correct itself when occlusion breaks occur based on pre-programmed safety parameters.
2Productivity
If the surgeon continuously monitors and adjusts energy settings in real-time, then energy application can be optimized, but this requires significant surgeon attention and experience, increasing the complexity of the surgical procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors aspiration flow rate and regulates ultrasonic energy delivery without requiring continuous surgeon intervention. The control system performs self-adjustment based on real-time flow rate deviations, freeing the surgeon from the burden of constant manual control while maintaining optimized energy application throughout the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical control system (surgeon's hand-eye coordination and manual pedal control) is replaced with an automated electronic control system that uses sensors to monitor flow rate and electronically regulates ultrasonic power delivery, substituting human skill and attention with automated sensing and actuation mechanisms.
3Power
If higher ultrasonic energy is applied to emulsify dense cataract tissue, then emulsification effectiveness improves, but the risk of post-occlusion surge and eye trauma increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system preemptively prevents post-occlusion surge by continuously monitoring aspiration flow rate and detecting early signs of occlusion breaks. When deviations from baseline flow patterns are detected, the system immediately reduces or stops ultrasonic energy delivery before excessive energy can cause tissue damage, applying counter-action in advance to offset potential harmful effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic monitoring of aspiration flow rate and cyclic adjustment of ultrasonic energy delivery based on detected occlusion patterns. The control system repeatedly cycles through monitoring and energy adjustment phases, dynamically adapting power levels to the real-time surgical conditions to maintain effective emulsification while preventing surge.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces the risk of eye trauma by automatically determining appropriate phaco energy settings, minimizing ultrasonic energy exposure, and optimizing fluid flow, leading to more efficient and safer cataract extraction procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The handpiece includes a distal tip that emits ultrasonic energy to emulsify a crystalline lens within the patient's eye
Implementation Method 2
The handpiece further includes an aspiration port at the distal tip that is coupled to the aspiration pump via an aspiration output line
Data Source
AI summary
A system for learning actual phacoemulsification energy setpoints at the time of occlusion breaks during ophthalmic surgery. Phacoemulsification energy setpoints may be recorded over different periods of time, such as during current cases and over a lifetime of cases. The recorded data would then be used to determine future phacoemulsification energy setting amounts.