Tissue Removal Device Using Vacuum Pulses and Thermal Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current phacoemulsification techniques for cataract removal are costly, complex, and cause thermal damage, astigmatism, and endothelial cell loss due to high ultrasonic energy, making them unsuitable for smaller incisions and new IOL technologies, and require excessive fluid use, leading to turbulence and ocular chamber instability.
Innovation Solution
A tissue removal device utilizing vacuum pulses and localized thermal energy to fragment and aspirate tissue through a cannula with a thermally conductive tip, allowing for controlled vacuum and heat application to minimize tissue damage and fluid usage, enabling smaller incisions and reduced surgical time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high ultrasonic energy is utilized to fragment cataract material, then tissue removal effectiveness is improved, but thermal damage to ocular tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical ultrasonic vibration system with a purely aspirative mechanical system. The phaco tip is eliminated and replaced with an aspiration needle that uses vacuum pressure to draw cataract material through a needle opening, fragmenting it through suction forces rather than ultrasonic mechanical vibration. This substitution eliminates the thermal damage associated with ultrasonic energy while maintaining tissue removal effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters from high-energy ultrasonic vibration to controlled vacuum aspiration. By using vacuum pressure parameters instead of ultrasonic power parameters, the system achieves tissue fragmentation and removal without the thermal side effects. The aspiration flow rate and vacuum pressure are carefully controlled to optimize tissue removal while preventing thermal damage.
2Productivity
If phaco technology is used for cataract removal, then tissue fragmentation is achieved, but device cost and procedure complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex ultrasonic generator, transducer, and titanium needle components from the phaco system. By removing these complex elements and replacing them with a simple aspiration needle connected to a vacuum source, the device complexity and cost are dramatically reduced while retaining the essential tissue fragmentation capability through aspirative forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable aspiration needle that is simple in construction and can be discarded after use. This eliminates the need for expensive, complex, reusable ultrasonic tips and their associated maintenance, calibration, and sterilization procedures. The simple disposable nature of the aspiration needle reduces both device cost and procedural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If incision size is reduced to accommodate new IOLs, then adaptability to new technologies is improved, but thermal burn risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the ultrasonic mechanical system with a mechanical aspiration system that generates no thermal energy. This allows the use of very small incisions (2.5mm or smaller) to accommodate new foldable IOLs without the risk of thermal burns at the incision site, since the aspiration process is entirely mechanical and does not generate heat like ultrasonic vibration does.
4Productivity
If high fluid flow is used to draw cataract particles to the tip, then tissue removal is improved, but turbulence and ocular chamber instability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fluid dynamics parameters by using controlled vacuum aspiration through a needle rather than high-flow irrigation through a phaco tip. The vacuum pressure is carefully regulated to achieve effective tissue removal while maintaining laminar flow conditions that do not create turbulence or disrupt ocular chamber stability. The narrow needle opening naturally limits flow rate and prevents excessive turbulence.
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 device effectively breaks down tissue with minimal thermal damage, reduces endothelial cell loss, and allows for smaller incisions, enhancing surgical precision and reducing post-operative complications while minimizing fluid use and surgical time.
Implementation Method 1
The mechanical ultrasound energy delivered through the titanium tip of the phaco device creates a cavitation field that is intended, along with the mechanical movement of the tip, to fragment the cataract material
Implementation Method 2
A tissue removal device includes a handpiece enclosing a handpiece interior and having a proximal handpiece opening and a distal handpiece opening; a vacuum conduit extending from the proximal handpiece opening and through the handpiece interior and the distal handpiece opening
Implementation Method 3
A tissue removal device utilizing vacuum pulses and localized thermal energy to fragment and aspirate tissue through a cannula with a thermally conductive tip
Implementation Method 4
Aspiration is applied through the titanium needle to remove the cataract material from the eye
Data Source
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AI summary
A tissue removal device includes a cannula that can aspirate tissue, and a thermal element located at a tip of the cannula that can apply localized heat to the tissue to be aspirated. The tissue removal device may also include a device for applying a vacuum in the cannula, which may be configured for applying vacuum pulses according to a controlled pulse rate and vacuum level. The tissue removal device may also include a device for applying the heat at the tip according to a controllable pulse rate and power level.