Rotating Vane Aspiration Flow Control Device for Ophthalmic Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ophthalmic microsurgical systems require continuous fluid aspiration and collection, but large cassette volumes lead to delays in vacuum establishment, necessitating the use of both a vacuum pump and a peristaltic pump for efficient fluid management.
Innovation Solution
An aspiration flow control device with a rotating structure having three vanes that divides the enclosed volume into fluid collection chambers, allowing continuous communication with vacuum and aspiration ports for fluid reception and ejection, eliminating the need for a second pump by managing fluid flow through sequential positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large cassette volume is used to hold sufficient fluid during surgery, then the fluid collection capacity is improved, but the vacuum build-up time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The single large collection chamber is segmented into multiple smaller chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber) that operate in sequence. Each chamber can be independently evacuated and filled, allowing the system to maintain large total collection capacity while reducing the volume that needs to be evacuated at any one time, thus reducing vacuum build-up delay.
2Loss of time
If a small collection volume is used to reduce vacuum delay, then the vacuum build-up time is improved, but the cassette must be emptied multiple times during surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous fluid collection by operating multiple chambers in a rotating sequence. While one chamber is being filled, another is being evacuated, and a third is being emptied. This continuous cyclic operation eliminates idle time and removes the need for manual intervention to empty a single small chamber, simplifying control while maintaining fast vacuum response.
3Device complexity
If a single vacuum pump is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity of fluid aspiration and ejection is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically allocates the single vacuum pump to different chambers at different times through rotational positioning. The pump connects to different chambers in sequence as they rotate into position, allowing one pump to service multiple chambers efficiently. This dynamic time-multiplexed operation maintains high productivity while using simpler hardware.
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
Enables efficient and continuous aspiration and expulsion of fluids with reduced vacuum rise time, allowing for smaller vacuum pump usage and simplified fluid collection systems without the need for a second pump.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum source adapted to apply a vacuum to the at least one vacuum port
Implementation Method 2
a structure configured to rotate within the housing. The rotating structure has at least three vanes that divide the enclosed volume within the housing into at least three rotating fluid collection chambers
Data Source
AI summary
An aspiration flow control device includes a housing having at least one vacuum port, at least one aspiration port, and an ejection port. The at least one vacuum port is adapted to be connected to a vacuum source, and the aspiration port is adapted to be connected to an aspiration line for receiving fluids from a surgical site. The device further includes a rotating structure having at least three vanes, which structure is configured to rotate within the housing. The at least three vanes divide an enclosed volume within the housing into at least three rotating fluid collection chambers. During rotation of the rotating structure, at least one fluid collection chamber is in communication with at least one vacuum port and the aspiration port through which fluid is received, and at least one other fluid collection chamber is simultaneously in communication with the ejection port through which fluid is expelled.