Surgical Flow Limiter Managing Pressure Pulses in Aspiration Branch
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Solution Overview
Problem
In phacoemulsification surgical systems, pressure pulses during particle breakthrough in the aspiration branch can cause damage to the eye, and existing solutions like bypass bores or flow limiters with grooves and recesses fail to effectively manage these pulses, leading to suboptimal suction and pressure drops.
Innovation Solution
A flow limiter with a limiter element featuring a flow channel arrangement of a main channel and a secondary channel opening at an angle of 90° or more, designed to generate turbulent flow and achieve a high pressure loss coefficient, effectively limiting pressure pulses and oscillations during particle breakthroughs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the suction pressure is increased to clear blocked particles in the aspiration branch, then the particle breakthrough is achieved, but a large volume of fluid is briefly suctioned out of the eye causing a strong decrease in intraocular pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The flow limiter is installed in advance in the aspiration branch to cushion the harmful pressure pulses before they can reach the eye. The limiter element with its flow channels creates a buffer zone that absorbs and dissipates the shock waves generated during particle breakthrough, preventing the harmful effect of sudden intraocular pressure decrease.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow limiter acts as an intermediary component between the suction source and the eye. It mediates the interaction by introducing a controlled resistance element that modifies the fluid dynamics, allowing particle breakthrough while preventing excessive pressure pulses from reaching the eye.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a bypass bore is created between irrigation and aspiration branches to prevent pressure pulses, then pressure pulse damage is reduced, but the suction pressure is significantly reduced affecting basic system functionality
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating a bypass connection, the flow limiter segments the main aspiration channel into multiple flow paths through its flow channel arrangement. This segmentation creates turbulence and resistance without providing an alternative bypass route, thereby maintaining suction pressure while reducing pressure pulse amplitude.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow limiter changes the flow parameters by introducing controlled resistance and turbulence in the aspiration branch. The limiter element modifies the velocity profile, pressure distribution, and flow pattern to dampen pressure pulses while maintaining adequate suction pressure for effective operation.
3Productivity
If grooves and recesses are formed on the inner side of the tube-shaped flow limiter to generate turbulent flow, then flow limitation is achieved, but only relatively small pressure loss can be attained
Solution Approach 1:
The flow channel arrangement extends into the longitudinal dimension of the flow limiter, creating a three-dimensional flow path with multiple channels that open at angles. This dimensional approach generates more effective turbulence and flow resistance compared to surface-level grooves and recesses, achieving higher pressure loss coefficients while maintaining flow limitation.
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 flow limiter significantly reduces pressure pulses and oscillations, preventing large volumes from being suctioned out of the eye, thus minimizing the risk of damaging the eye's intraocular pressure and ensuring a more successful cataract operation.
Implementation Method 1
designed to generate turbulent flow and achieve a high pressure loss coefficient, effectively limiting pressure pulses and oscillations during particle breakthroughs
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a flow limiter for a fluid flowing in an aspiration branch of a surgical system, which fluid is a surgical fluid and has emulsified particles in a surgical intervention, with a limiter element that comprises at least one flow channel arrangement with at least one main channel and at least one subsidiary channel that opens into the main channel at an angle of greater than or equal to 90°. The invention also relates to a surgical system, in particular an ophthalmic microsurgical system for lens surgery.