AVS System Vacuum Surge Detection Phacoemulsification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
During phacoemulsification surgery, sharp changes in vacuum within the aspiration line can lead to traumatic consequences for the eye due to potential vacuum surges.
Innovation Solution
An Anti-Vacuum Surge (AVS) system is activated to prevent vacuum surges by detecting occlusions in the aspiration line through image analysis and controlling fluid flow, thereby minimizing damage to the eye.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the aspiration pump maintains high vacuum to aspirate particles and fluid from the eye, then the efficiency of particle removal is improved, but the risk of vacuum surge and eye trauma increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of occlusion events using image analysis before vacuum surge can occur. The processor continuously monitors images from the microscope to detect when particles occlude the aspiration line, and preemptively activates the AVS system to close the valve and reduce vacuum, preventing eye trauma before it can happen.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where image analysis results continuously inform vacuum control decisions. The processor analyzes images in real-time, detects occlusion events, and feeds this information back to the AVS system which adjusts the vacuum level by closing or opening the valve, creating a closed-loop control system that dynamically responds to surgical conditions.
2Reliability
If the AVS system is activated to prevent vacuum surges, then eye safety is improved, but the complexity of the surgical system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary AVS system that acts as a buffer between the aspiration pump and the eye. This intermediary component (comprising the valve and control logic) absorbs the harmful vacuum fluctuations, protecting the eye while allowing the pump to maintain high vacuum for efficient particle removal. The intermediary translates complex safety requirements into simple valve control actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automated image analysis and autonomous AVS activation. The processor automatically detects occlusion events from microscope images and triggers the AVS system without requiring surgeon intervention or additional sensors, making the safety function self-activating and reducing operational complexity.
3Speed
If image analysis is used to detect occlusions in real-time, then vacuum surge detection speed is improved, but the processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the critical information needed for occlusion detection from the full microscope images. Rather than processing entire high-resolution images, the processor focuses analysis on specific regions and features relevant to particle occlusion, such as the aspiration line opening and adjacent particles, significantly reducing computational time while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by performing image analysis at a reduced frame rate or with reduced processing depth for routine monitoring, and only intensifies processing when suspicious patterns are detected. This allows the system to maintain low computational overhead during normal operation while providing rapid response when occlusion events occur.
Data Source
AI summary
A phacoemulsification system and method, the system having a probe with a needle at its distal end, the needle configured to be inserted into a patient's eye, the probe having an ultrasonic transducer; an aspiration line fluidly coupled with the needle; an AVS system configured to control fluid flow in the aspiration line; and a processor, configured to: obtain a first set of images having a first image depicting a part of the needle and a particle of a lens of the eye occluding an aspiration line of the needle; obtain a second image depicting the part of the needle, the second image captured later than the first image; determine based on the first image and the second image whether an aspiration-stopping criteria is met; and subject to the aspiration-stopping criteria being met, control the AVS system to restrict fluid flow along the aspiration line.