Recessed electrodes for sensing flow in ophthalmic surgical system

1. An ophthalmic surgical pump system for providing control of aspiration flow rate, comprising:

an electrode terminal chamber having an inlet in communication with a flow channel for receiving fluid and viscoelastic material aspirated from a surgical site, and an outlet that tapers into a flow, the outlet having a taper angle that is sufficient to smooth flow and cause viscoelastic material entering the electrode terminal chamber to flow substantially within a center portion of the chamber and through the outlet; and

first and second electrode terminals disposed on generally opposite sides of the electrode terminal chamber in a spaced-apart manner, the first and second electrode terminals each being positioned a distance from the center of the chamber that is sufficient to substantially avoid contact with viscoelastic materials flowing through the chamber.

2. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 1 , further comprising first and second recesses within the electrode terminal chamber configured to receive the first and second electrode terminals, the first and second recesses being symmetrically disposed on opposing sides of the electrode terminal chamber and spaced from the center portion of the chamber by a spacing sufficient to prevent viscoelastic material flow from impinging on the first and second electrode terminals.

3. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 1 , wherein the inlet of the electrode terminal chamber includes sharp corners formed between the chamber inlet opening and the flow channel sidewalls, which guide or direct the viscoelastic material through the center of the electrode terminal chamber.

4. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 3 , wherein the outlet has a tapered surface at an angle that causes the viscoelastic materials guided through the center of the chamber by the sharp corners to be substantially directed towards the outlet of the chamber, such that flow of viscoelastic materials does not impinge on either of the first and second electrode terminals.

5. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 1 , wherein said aspirated fluid comprises an electrically conductive saline solution, and the first and second electrode terminals are arranged opposite one another in a spaced-apart relationship sufficient to generate at least one electrical signal indicative of the flow rate of said fluid flowing through the electrode terminal chamber.

6. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 1 , wherein the electrode terminal chamber and flow channel form a disposable electrode assembly that is adapted to connect to an ophthalmic surgical pump system, and the first and second electrodes provide at least one signal indicative of the flow rate of fluid flowing through the disposable electrode assembly.

7. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrode terminals are plated with a corrosion resistant electrically-conductive metal.

8. An ophthalmic surgical pump system for providing control of aspiration flow rate, comprising:

a disposable electrode assembly including a flow channel having an inlet for receiving fluid, tissue, and viscoelastic material aspirated from a surgical site, and an outlet;

an electrode terminal chamber disposed between the flow channel inlet and outlet, the electrode terminal chamber having an outlet end that tapers into the flow channel, said outlet end having a taper that is sufficient to smooth flow and cause viscoelastic material entering the electrode terminal chamber to flow substantially within a center portion of the chamber and through the outlet;

first and second electrode terminals disposed on generally opposite sides of the electrode terminal chamber in a spaced-apart manner, the first and second electrode terminals each being positioned at a distance from the center of the chamber that is sufficient to substantially avoid contact between the first and second electrode terminals and viscoelastic materials flowing through the chamber's center portion; and

wherein the disposable electrode assembly is incorporated in a collection cassette.

9. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 8 , further comprising first and second recesses within the electrode terminal chamber configured to receive the first and second electrode terminals, the first and second recesses being symmetrically disposed on opposing sides of the electrode terminal chamber and spaced from the center portion of the chamber by a spacing sufficient to prevent viscoelastic material flow from impinging on the first and second electrode terminals.

10. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 8 , wherein the chamber outlet is vertically oriented above the chamber inlet, the chamber outlet including a tapered portion at an angle relative to the flow channel that is sufficient to establish a laminar flow region for directing viscoelastic material through a center portion of the chamber, such that flow of viscoelastic materials does not impinge on either of the first and second electrode terminals.

11. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 8 , wherein the inlet of the electrode terminal chamber includes sharp corners formed between the chamber inlet opening and the flow channel sidewalls, which guide or direct the viscoelastic material through the center of the electrode terminal chamber.

12. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 11 , wherein the outlet has a tapered surface at an angle that causes the viscoelastic materials guided through the center of the chamber by the sharp corners to be substantially directed towards the outlet of the chamber, such that flow of viscoelastic materials does not impinge on either of the first and second electrode terminals.

13. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 8 , wherein said fluid comprises an electrically conductive saline solution, and the first and second electrode terminals are arranged opposite one another in a spaced-apart relationship sufficient to generate at least one electrical signal indicative of the flow rate of said fluid flowing through the electrode terminal chamber.

14. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 8 , wherein the electrode terminal chamber and flow channel form a disposable electrode assembly that is adapted to connect to an ophthalmic surgical pump system, and the first and second electrodes provide at least one signal indicative of the flow rate of fluid flowing through the disposable electrode assembly.

15. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 8 , wherein the first and second electrode terminals are plated with a corrosion resistant electrically-conductive metal.

16. An ophthalmic surgical pump system for providing control of aspiration flow rate, comprising:

an electrode assembly including an electrode terminal chamber therein, and a flow channel extending through the electrode terminal chamber for receiving fluid and viscoelastic material that is aspirated from a surgical site, wherein the electrode terminal chamber includes a first recessed area spaced from the flow channel extending through the electrode terminal chamber, a second recessed area spaced from the flow channel extending through the electrode terminal chamber, and an outlet end that tapers into the flow channel, said outlet end having a taper that is sufficient to direct the flow of viscoelastic material through the center of the chamber and away from the first and second recessed areas;

a first electrode terminal made of a corrosion resistant electrically-conductive metal, disposed within the first recessed area proximate to and spaced a distance from the flow channel;

a second electrode terminal made of a corrosion resistant electrically-conductive metal, disposed within the second recessed area, proximate to and spaced a distance from the flow channel; and

wherein the first electrode terminal and second electrode terminal are spaced at a distance that is sufficient to avoid flow of viscoelastic material passing through the chamber, such that flow of viscoelastic materials does not impinge on either of the first and second electrode terminals.

17. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 16 , wherein the first and second recesses are symmetrically disposed on opposing sides of the electrode terminal chamber and flow channel extending through the chamber.

18. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 17 , wherein the inlet of the electrode terminal chamber includes sharp corners formed between the chamber inlet opening and the flow channel sidewalls, which guide or direct the viscoelastic material through the center of the electrode terminal chamber.

19. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 18 , wherein the outlet has a tapered surface at an angle that causes the viscoelastic materials guided through the center of the chamber by the sharp corners to be substantially directed towards the outlet of the chamber, such that flow of viscoelastic materials does not impinge on either of the first and second electrode terminals.

20. The ophthalmic surgical pump system of claim 17 , wherein said fluid comprises an electrically conductive saline solution, and the first and second electrode terminals are arranged opposite one another in a spaced-apart relationship sufficient to generate at least one electrical signal indicative of the flow rate of said fluid flowing through the electrode terminal chamber.