Magnetic Pump Plug System for Ophthalmic Fluid Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluid management systems in ophthalmic surgical procedures, such as cataract surgery and vitrectomy, face inefficiencies in moving fluid due to limitations in existing pumps, which can affect the maintenance of target intraocular pressure (IOP) during surgeries.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a fluid management system that incorporates magnetic pumps with a plug system and a magnetic field system, utilizing electromagnetic coils or magnets to generate a magnetic field that moves fluid through the system, allowing for precise control and efficient fluid movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pumps are used to move fluid in the fluid management system, then the system can operate with conventional mechanical components, but the pumps suffer from inefficiencies including backlash, hysteresis, stiction, and higher manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical pump components (gears, valves, moving parts) with a magnetic field-based system. Electromagnetic coils generate magnetic fields that directly act on ferromagnetic plugs to move fluid, eliminating mechanical contact and associated problems like backlash, hysteresis, and stiction. This substitution of mechanical systems with electromagnetic fields resolves the technical contradiction by improving reliability while reducing mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ferromagnetic plugs as intermediaries between the electromagnetic field and the fluid. The magnetic field system actuates these plugs, which then push and move the fluid through the system. This intermediary approach allows the magnetic field to efficiently transfer energy to the fluid without requiring direct mechanical contact, thereby improving fluid movement efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple device structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional mechanical pumps are used, then the system has established manufacturing processes, but the pumps have more moving parts leading to higher costs and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing mechanical pump components with electromagnetic coils and ferromagnetic plugs, the patent eliminates complex mechanical assemblies that are expensive to manufacture and prone to failure. The magnetic field system requires fewer precision-machined parts and has no wear-prone moving components, thereby improving reliability while simplifying manufacturing processes and reducing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the problematic moving parts from traditional mechanical pumps, retaining only the essential fluid movement function. By taking out gears, valves, seals, and other complex mechanical components, the design achieves higher reliability with fewer parts that could fail, while also reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Manufacturing precision
If magnetic pumps with plug systems are implemented, then precise control of fluid movement is achieved with minimal backlash and hysteresis, but the system requires electromagnetic field generation components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical control mechanisms with electromagnetic field control. Electromagnetic coils can be precisely controlled through electrical signals to generate magnetic fields with exact strength and timing, enabling precise control of fluid movement without the backlash and hysteresis inherent in mechanical systems. This substitution achieves high manufacturing precision while the electromagnetic components remain relatively simple in structure.
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
This solution provides more precise control over fluid movement with minimal backlash, hysteresis, or stiction, is potentially less expensive to manufacture, and has fewer moving parts, making it more reliable and effective in maintaining target IOP during ophthalmic surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
The magnetic field system generates a magnetic field to move one or more of the plugs in order to move the fluid in a pumping direction
Implementation Method 2
The coil system includes one or more electromagnetic coils disposed about the housing. The coil system may comprise coils comprising first and second coils. The first coil generates the magnetic field to move the plug.
Implementation Method 3
The fluid comprises ferromagnetic nanoparticles to yield a ferrofluid. The magnetic field system generates a magnetic field to move the fluid with the ferromagnetic nanoparticles in a pumping direction
Implementation Method 4
A magnetic field moves the fluid itself. For example, the fluid may be a superparamagnetic ferrofluid that can be moved by the magnetic field.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid management system for an ophthalmic surgical system includes an irrigation system and an aspiration system. The irrigation system carries fluid toward a handpiece and includes an irrigation pump or a plurality of pumps. The aspiration system carries fluid away from the handpiece and includes an aspiration pump or the plurality of pumps. The pumps include at least one magnetic pump configured to move the fluid. The magnetic pump includes a plug system and a magnetic field system. The plug system includes one or more plugs disposed within a housing, where each plug comprises a magnetic material. The magnetic field system generates a magnetic field to move one or more of the plugs in order to move the fluid in a pumping direction.