Ophthalmic Flow Control via Leakage Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ophthalmic surgical procedures face challenges in controlling fluid flow to prevent eye trauma, such as collapsing or over-pressurizing the eye, due to the risks associated with fluid introduction and suction during microsurgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
An ophthalmic surgical system that includes a sleeve and needle combination with adjustable infusion and aspiration mechanisms, featuring a controller that estimates intraocular eye pressure by accounting for infusion pressure, fluid flow rate, and leakage, allowing for precise control of irrigation flow to maintain a desired eye pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fluid flow is increased for effective irrigation during surgery, then surgical effectiveness is improved, but intraocular pressure increases causing eye trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously measures actual fluid flow rate and leakage rate, then uses this feedback to dynamically adjust infusion pressure and vacuum pressure, maintaining intraocular pressure within safe ranges while ensuring adequate irrigation flow for surgical effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts infusion and aspiration parameters in real-time based on measured flow rates and pressure conditions, transitioning from static fixed-parameter operation to adaptive dynamic control that responds to changing surgical conditions
2Device complexity
If leakage rate is not accounted for in flow control, then system complexity is reduced, but intraocular pressure estimation accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures actual leakage rate through sensors and feeds this information back to the controller, which then compensates for leakage in real-time calculations of intraocular pressure and adjusts flow parameters accordingly, transforming leakage from an uncontrolled variable to a measured and compensated parameter
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces simple mechanical flow control with an intelligent control system that uses sensors, processors, and algorithms to calculate and compensate for leakage effects, substituting complex electronic control for simple mechanical operation
3Ease of operation
If fixed infusion pressure is used, then ease of operation is improved, but ability to maintain stable intraocular pressure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment by automatically measuring flow rates, calculating required pressure adjustments, and modifying infusion and vacuum parameters without surgeon intervention, making the complex control function autonomous while maintaining simplicity of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses continuous feedback from flow sensors and pressure measurements to automatically adjust infusion pressure, replacing fixed manual control with adaptive automated control that maintains stable intraocular pressure
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 regulates fluid flow to maintain a stable intraocular pressure, reducing the risk of eye trauma by accurately estimating and adjusting infusion pressure based on real-time fluid dynamics and leakage rates, ensuring safe and controlled surgical conditions.
Implementation Method 1
provides an adjustable infusion pressure for urging the flow of irrigation fluid within the container towards the sleeve for infusion to the surgical site
Implementation Method 2
a vacuum source that is configured to establish a vacuum pressure, for urging the aspiration of fluid from a surgical site through the passage in the needle
Implementation Method 3
estimate an intraocular eye pressure based on the infusion pressure, less a pressure drop due to a predetermined resistance to the irrigation flow
Data Source
AI summary
An ophthalmic surgical system utilizes a needle through which fluid is aspirated from a surgical site, and a sleeve coaxially received over the needle to define a flow passage between the sleeve and needle through which fluid is communicated to the surgical site. The system further includes a container that provides an adjustable infusion pressure for urging the flow of irrigation fluid to the surgical site. An aspiration pump urges aspiration of fluid from the surgical site, and a sensor detects the rate of aspiration flow. A controller is configured to calculate an intraocular eye pressure based on the infusion pressure and a pressure drop due to a resistance to the flow rate, which flow includes the sensed flow rate and a predicted leakage selected from a look-up table based on a size of the needle, a size of a sleeve, and a size of an incision through which the needle and the sleeve are placed.