Burst Mode Vitrectomy System Reducing Retinal Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vitrectomy procedures face challenges with high retinal traction forces leading to complications like retinal tears and detachments, as existing cutting methods do not allow sufficient time for vitreous fibrils to retract between cuts, resulting in residual traction.
Innovation Solution
A vitrectomy surgical system with a controller that operates in both continuous and burst modes, incorporating a recovery period after series of cuts to allow vitreous fibrils to retract, featuring a vitrectomy probe with an inner and outer tube and an aspiration port, where the controller generates control signals for evenly spaced cuts with optional recovery periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If higher cut rates are used to reduce average and peak traction, then cutting speed is improved, but residual traction between cuts remains higher
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic cutting cycles with distinct phases: an active cutting phase where multiple cuts are performed at high speed, followed by a recovery phase where the port remains closed to allow vitreous fibrils to retract. This periodic alternation between high-speed cutting and recovery periods enables the system to maintain high average cutting speed while periodically eliminating residual traction forces through the closed-port retraction period.
2Productivity
If the port is closed for shorter time between cuts, then cutting efficiency is improved, but vitreous fibrils do not have time to retract
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic cutting cycles that alternate between active cutting phases and recovery phases. During the active cutting phase, the port is open and cuts are performed at high efficiency. During the recovery phase, the port remains closed for a specified duration to allow vitreous fibrils to retract completely. This periodic structure ensures that productivity is maximized during cutting phases while reliability is maintained through guaranteed retraction periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary retraction action by maintaining the port in a closed state before the next cutting sequence begins. This preliminary closed-port period allows vitreous fibrils to retract and withdraw from the field of influence in advance, ensuring that when the next cutting phase starts, the port is clear and ready for efficient cutting without residual traction interference.
3Productivity
If continuous cutting is performed, then productivity is improved, but retinal traction forces increase leading to complications
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic cutting cycles that interrupt continuous cutting with recovery phases. During active cutting phases, multiple cuts are performed at high speed to maintain productivity. Between these phases, the system transitions to a recovery phase where the port remains closed, allowing vitreous fibrils to retract and reducing cumulative retinal traction forces. This periodic interruption prevents the harmful effects of continuous high-speed cutting while maintaining overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuity of useful action by ensuring that the recovery phase is integrated into the cutting cycle rather than being a separate interruption. The closed-port recovery period is timed to coincide with natural pauses in the cutting process, and the system automatically transitions between cutting and recovery phases without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining continuous productive operation while periodically eliminating harmful traction forces.
Data Source
AI summary
A vitrectomy surgical system includes a vitrectomy probe having a cutting portion comprising an inner tube, an outer tube, and an aspiration port. The inner tube may be movable relative to the outer tube to cut vitreous fibers. The system also includes a controller associated with the vitrectomy probe and configured to control movement of the inner tube by generating control signals corresponding to a cutting scheme including a plurality of series of cuts with each cut being evenly spaced in time, the plurality of series of cuts separated by a recovery period.