Variable Gas Pressure Vitrectomy Control via Accumulator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pneumatic vitrectomy systems are limited in cutting speed range and lack precise control, restricting the surgeon's ability to adjust cutting speeds during ocular surgical procedures, which can impact the efficacy of procedures like retinal detachment repairs.
Innovation Solution
A system with a variable gas pressure arrangement, including multiple pressure regulators and an accumulator, allows for selective adjustment of gas pressure to achieve a wide range of cutting speeds, enabling precise control of the cutting device's speed through a control module and delivery valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If variable gas pressure arrangement with multiple pressure regulators and accumulator is used, then cutting speed range and control precision are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas pressure control system is segmented into multiple independent pressure regulators, each capable of delivering a specific pressure level. This segmentation allows the system to provide discrete, selectable pressure levels to the accumulator, enabling a wide range of cutting speeds while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The accumulator stores compressed gas in advance at selected pressure levels before cutting operations begin. This preliminary action allows the cutting device to access pre-stored pressure levels instantly, providing rapid speed adjustment without requiring complex real-time pressure regulation during the cutting process
2Ease of operation
If fixed frequency control signal is used to open and close the valve, then valve timing is simplified, but cutting speed control flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a fixed frequency valve control signal to a dynamic control mechanism where the accumulator delivers gas at variable pressure levels. This dynamic approach maintains simple valve timing while achieving cutting speed adjustability through the variable pressure delivery from the accumulator, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and speed control flexibility
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 enables higher cutting speeds and more precise control of the cutting device, enhancing the capability to perform complex ocular surgeries with improved accuracy and safety.
Implementation Method 1
storing gas at approximately the desired gas pressure value in an accumulator
Implementation Method 2
supplying gas pressure to a variable gas pressure arrangement, providing for selectability of a desired gas pressure value
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for controlling the cutting speed of a cutting device employable in an ocular surgical procedure is provided. The apparatus includes a control module, a variable gas pressure regulator arrangement configured to receive gas from a gas pressure supply, wherein the variable pressure regulator arrangement is connected to the control module and the control module is configured to regulate gas received from the gas pressure supply, and an accumulator configured to store gas received from the variable gas regulator arrangement at a selected gas pressure. Gas at the desired pressure is delivered from the accumulator to the cutting device. The gas may be air, and the variable gas pressure arrangement may include a single variable pressure regulator or multiple pressure regulators which typically are not variable with respect to the pressure delivered.