Variable Vent Valve for Aspiration Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical systems for cataract removal face challenges in managing aspiration and irrigation flows, particularly in preventing occlusion break surge, which can lead to anterior chamber shallowing or collapse due to inadequate control over vacuum levels.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a selectively variable vent valve in the aspiration circuit, which allows for dynamic control of aspiration pressure by modulating the orifice size within the vent line, enabling precise management of vacuum levels and reducing the risk of occlusion break surge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed orifice vent valve is used to control aspiration pressure, then vacuum levels can be limited to prevent occlusion break surge, but aspiration efficiency is reduced and surgical time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vent valve incorporates a movable valve element that can dynamically adjust the orifice size between a first position (larger orifice for higher aspiration efficiency) and a second position (smaller orifice for vacuum level control). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize between reliability and productivity based on surgical needs, resolving the contradiction between limited vacuum control and aspiration efficiency.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If vacuum levels are limited to prevent occlusion break surge, then patient safety is improved, but the maximum aspiration capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The movable valve element enables dynamic adjustment of the vent valve orifice size, allowing the system to provide higher aspiration capability when needed while maintaining safety by limiting vacuum levels during critical phases. This resolves the contradiction between patient safety and aspiration power by allowing both states to be accessed as required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of orifice size to control aspiration pressure characteristics. By adjusting the orifice size, the system can modify the vacuum level and aspiration flow characteristics to prevent occlusion break surge while maintaining adequate aspiration capability when the orifice is enlarged.
3Reliability
If a selectively variable vent valve is introduced to dynamically control aspiration pressure, then both safety and efficiency can be optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vent valve mechanism is integrated into the existing surgical instrument assembly, combining the venting function with the aspiration control system. The movable valve element is incorporated into the valve body structure, merging multiple functions into a single integrated component to minimize the increase in device complexity while achieving dynamic vacuum control.
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
This solution effectively reduces the risk of occlusion break surge by allowing higher maximum aspiration levels while maintaining control over vacuum levels, thereby enhancing the efficiency and safety of cataract removal procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The crystals supply the required ultrasonic vibration needed to drive both the horn and the attached cutting tip during phacoemulsification
Implementation Method 2
The cutting tip is ultrasonically vibrated along its longitudinal axis within the irrigation sleeve by the crystal-driven ultrasonic horn, thereby emulsifying the selected tissue in situ
Implementation Method 3
A reduced pressure or vacuum source in the console draws or aspirates the emulsified tissue from the eye through the open end of the cutting tip, through the cutting tip and horn bores and through the aspiration line
Implementation Method 4
The variable vent valve is configured to be selectively actuated to vary aspiration pressure within the aspiration line
Data Source
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AI summary
An aspiration circuit for a fluidics system (11) for selectively controlling aspiration, including an aspiration line (52) operatively connected to a surgical instrument; an aspiration pump to create an aspiration flow in the aspiration line; an aspiration exhaust line (54) operatively connected to the aspiration pump on one end and to a waste receptacle (58) on an opposing end; an aspiration vent line (60) connected at a first end to the aspiration line between the aspiration pump and the surgical instrument; and a selectively variable vent valve (62) operatively connected to the aspiration vent line (60), wherein the variable vent valve (62) may be selectively moved to selectively change aspiration pressure within the aspiration line; The aspiration circuit further includes an irrigation line (50) operatively connected to the surgical instrument (42); an irrigation pressure sensor (475) and an actuator, the irrigation pressure sensor being positioned to detect irrigation pressure in the irrigation line and the actuator being operatively connected to the vent valve; wherein the irrigation pressure sensor (475) and the actuator are connected to a controller, and wherein the controller (40) is operative to initiate the actuator to move the vent valve in response to pressure detected by the irrigation pressure sensor to vary the aspiration pressure within the aspiration line (52).