Systems and methods for controlling continuous irrigation in surgical systems
The present invention comprises a fluid source connected to an irrigation feed line, an aspiration line providing at least a partial vacuum at a surgical site, at least one pressure sensor in communication with the aspiration line, and at least one valve in communication with the irrigation feed line, wherein the at least one valve restricts fluid flow in the irrigation feed line in accordance with at least one measurement of aspiration pressure differential and at least one predetermined system attribute, and wherein the aspiration pressure differential may equal a first measurement of aspiration pressure minus a second measurement of aspiration pressure over a predetermined time.
1 . A system for controlling irrigation fluid flow in a phacoemulsification surgical system, the system comprising:
a surgical handpiece comprising a probe, the probe comprising a probe tip for insertion into a surgical site;
an irrigation fluid source connected to an irrigation feed line, wherein the irrigation feed line coupled with the probe tip;
an aspiration line providing at least a partial vacuum for removing material from the surgical site through the probe tip;
at least one pressure sensor in communication with the aspiration line;
at least one valve in communication with the irrigation feed line; and
a controller coupled with the irrigation fluid source and the at least one valve, wherein the controller and the irrigation fluid source are configured to provide irrigation fluid flow through the irrigation feed line and the probe tip to the surgical site while the probe tip is inserted into the surgical site and while a continuous irrigation function is enabled, a volume of the irrigation fluid flow balancing a volume of the material removed from the surgical site,
wherein the controller is configured to disable the continuous irrigation function when the probe tip is removed from the surgical site, wherein disabling the continuous irrigation function comprises controlling the at least one valve to restrict the irrigation fluid flow through the irrigation feed line for reduced irrigation fluid usage; and
wherein the controller is configured to determine the probe tip is removed from the surgical site at least based upon an aspiration pressure differential exceeding a value and based on at least one predetermined system attribute, wherein the aspiration pressure differential is equal to a first measurement of aspiration pressure minus a second measurement of aspiration pressure over a predetermined time.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the irrigation fluid source provides gravity fed irrigation fluid.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the irrigation fluid source is in a bottle or bag.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the irrigation fluid source provides pressurized irrigation fluid.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one predetermined system attribute is selected from a graphical user interface (GUI).
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one predetermined system attribute is selected from the group consisting of foot pedal position, a minimum aspiration pressure; and a change in operation mode.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the aspiration pressure differential is equal to about 20 mmHg.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the aspiration pressure differential is between about 20 mmHg and 40 mmHg.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time is between 0.5 and 2.5 milliseconds.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time is about 2.5 milliseconds.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time is about 1.5 milliseconds.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time is about 1.0 milliseconds.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined time is about 0.5 milliseconds.
14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to take the first measurement of aspiration pressure on a condition that a measured aspiration pressure has changed by more than about 5% from a previous value.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to take the first measurement of aspiration pressure on a condition that a measured aspiration pressure has changed by more than 10% from a previous value.
16 . A method for controlling irrigation fluid flow in a phacoemulsification surgical system, the method comprising:
measuring a change in aspiration pressure;
providing an irrigation fluid flow through an irrigation feed line and to a surgical site while a probe tip of a probe is inserted into the surgical site and while a continuous irrigation function is enabled, a volume of the irrigation fluid flow balancing a volume of material removed from the surgical site through an aspiration line;
disabling the continuous irrigation function when the probe tip is removed from the surgical site, wherein disabling the continuous irrigation function comprises restricting the irrigation fluid flow through the irrigation feed line by at least one valve for reduced irrigation fluid usage, and
determining the probe tip is removed from the surgical site at least based upon a change in aspiration pressure exceeding a value and based on at least one system attribute,
wherein the change in aspiration pressure is equal to a first measurement of aspiration pressure minus a second measurement of aspiration pressure over a period of time.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one system attribute is selected from the group consisting of foot pedal position, a minimum aspiration pressure; and a change in operation mode.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the change in aspiration pressure is equal to about 20 mmHg.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the change in aspiration pressure is between about 20 mmHg and 40 mmHg.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the measuring occurs between 0.5 and 2.5 milliseconds.
21 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the measuring occurs about every 2.5 milliseconds.
22 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the measuring occurs about every 1.5 milliseconds.
23 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the measuring occurs about every 1.0 milliseconds.
24 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the measuring occurs about every 0.5 milliseconds.
25 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to take the first measurement of aspiration pressure and the second measurement of aspiration pressure.
26 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to reenable the continuous irrigation function when the probe tip is reinserted into the surgical site.
27 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
reenabling the continuous irrigation function when the probe tip is reinserted into the surgical site.