Shared Vane Pump for Synchronized Irrigation and Aspiration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical systems face challenges in controlling the simultaneous and equal flow rates of irrigation and aspiration during procedures like cataract surgery, as peristaltic pumps have long ramp-up times and calibration issues, leading to potential eye damage from flow rate discrepancies.
Innovation Solution
A medical system utilizing a shared vane pump that simultaneously pumps irrigation fluid and aspirated matter at the same flow rate through a single pumping chamber, with an auxiliary vane pump for additional control, ensuring precise and non-oscillating fluid management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If peristaltic pumps are used for irrigation and aspiration, then the system can provide fluid management capability, but the pumps have long ramp-up times and calibration issues leading to flow rate discrepancies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces peristaltic pumps (mechanical compression system) with a vane pump system that uses a rotor with radially movable vanes to create expanding and collapsing chambers. This mechanical substitution eliminates the ramp-up time issue and calibration problems associated with peristaltic pumps while providing precise flow rate control through the geometric design of the pumping chambers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters by using a positive displacement vane pump mechanism where flow rate is directly controlled by the rotational speed and chamber geometry rather than by compression force and tube elasticity. This parameter change enables immediate response to control signals and eliminates the need for calibration between irrigation and aspiration flow rates.
2Ease of operation
If separate irrigation and aspiration systems are used, then each function can be independently controlled, but maintaining equal flow rates is difficult leading to potential eye damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the irrigation and aspiration functions into a single vane pump system where both fluid paths share the same rotor and chamber mechanism. This merging ensures that irrigation and aspiration flow rates are inherently equal because they are driven by the same rotational motion and chamber geometry, eliminating the risk of flow rate discrepancies that could damage the eye.
Solution Approach 2:
The vane pump is designed as a universal pump that can simultaneously perform both irrigation and aspiration functions through different fluid paths. The single pump mechanism provides multi-functionality while maintaining precise control over both flow rates, ensuring they remain equal throughout the surgical procedure.
3Reliability
If a single shared pump is used for both irrigation and aspiration, then flow rate equality is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single pumping chamber into multiple independent fluid paths within the same rotor mechanism. Each path has its own inlet and outlet ports but shares the common rotating vanes and chamber structure. This segmentation allows simultaneous irrigation and aspiration with equal flow rates while maintaining a compact, integrated design rather than requiring completely separate pump systems.
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 achieves stable, synchronized irrigation and aspiration flows, minimizing eye pressure fluctuations and reducing the risk of damage by quickly reaching steady state and maintaining equal flow rates.
Implementation Method 1
The rotor is configured to apply a radially outward force to the vanes to maintain contact of the vanes with the inner surface
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A medical system includes a medical instrument including an irrigation and aspiration channel to carry irrigation fluid to, and remove aspirated matter from, a distal end of the medical instrument, a reservoir to store the irrigation fluid, a receptacle to collect the aspirated matter, and a vane pump including a pump housing having an inner surface around a pumping chamber, the pump housing including irrigation inlet and outlet ports coupled to the pumping chamber and respectively connected to the reservoir and the irrigation channel, and aspiration inlet and outlet ports coupled to the pumping chamber and respectively connected to the aspiration channel and the receptacle, and wherein the vane pump is configured to simultaneously pump via the pumping chamber, at substantially the same flow rate, the irrigation fluid from the reservoir to the distal end and the aspirated matter from the distal end to the receptacle.