IP Library Granted Patent US 9,445,943
Granted Patent B2
US 9,445,943 · App. 14/050,428 · Granted Sep 20, 2016

Phacoemulsification hand piece with integrated aspiration and irrigation pump

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,445,943
App. No.
14/050,428
Granted
Sep 20, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of irrigating a surgical site and aspirating fluid from the surgical site. The method includes directing a fluid through an aspiration conduit in a phacoemulsification hand piece using a vacuum pressure created from a pump in the hand piece interfacing with the aspiration conduit and directing an irrigation fluid through an irrigation conduit in the hand piece using a pressure created from the pump interfacing with the irrigation conduit. The method also includes increasing an irrigation fluid flow through the irrigation conduit by activating the pump in the hand piece, detecting a pressure associated with a surgical site using a sensor, and controlling intraocular pressure (IOP) by adjusting the pump speed based on the detected pressure.

Claims (32)

1. An aspiration and irrigation system comprising:

a hand piece comprising a graspable body having a distal end and a proximal end;

an aspiration conduit configured to transport an aspiration fluid away from a surgical site;

an irrigation conduit configured to transport an irrigation fluid towards the surgical site;

a pump disposed within the hand piece, wherein at least a portion of the pump interfaces with the aspiration conduit and the irrigation conduit, such that upon activation of the pump, the irrigation fluid within the irrigation conduit flows in a direction towards the surgical site, and the aspiration fluid within the aspiration conduit flows in a direction away from the surgical site;

an aspiration valve disposed within the hand piece and in the aspiration conduit between the pump and a drain reservoir, the aspiration valve configured to control a flow rate of aspiration fluid within the aspiration conduit; and

an aspiration sensor detecting an aspiration pressure at or along the aspiration conduit; and

a controller in communication with the pump, the aspiration valve, and the aspiration sensor,

wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of the pump and the aspiration valve based on information from the aspiration sensor.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to change IOP by adjusting the pump speed or by adjusting the state of the valve or both.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aspiration sensor is located within the hand piece along the irrigation conduit or along the aspiration conduit.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the irrigation conduit comprises a first cross-sectional area and the aspiration conduit comprises a second cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area being larger than the second cross-sectional area.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hand piece further comprises:

a removable cartridge disposed in the body having at least a portion of the aspiration conduit and at least a portion of the irrigation conduit.

6. The system of claim 1 , comprising a second controlled valve controlling flow through a line connecting the irrigation line to the aspiration line.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the controller controls TOP by adjusting a state of the second controlled valve.

8. An aspiration and irrigation system comprising:

a hand piece comprising a graspable body having a distal end and a proximal end;

an aspiration conduit configured to transport an aspiration fluid away from a surgical site;

an irrigation conduit configured to transport an irrigation fluid towards the surgical site;

a shunt line fluidly coupled at a proximal end to the irrigation conduit and fluidly coupled at a distal end to the aspiration conduit;

a pump disposed within the hand piece, wherein at least a portion of the pump interfaces with the aspiration conduit and the irrigation conduit, such that upon activation of the pump, the irrigation fluid within the irrigation conduit flows in a direction towards the surgical site, and the aspiration fluid within the aspiration conduit flows in a direction away from the surgical site;

an aspiration valve disposed within the hand piece and in the aspiration conduit between the pump and a drain reservoir, the aspiration valve configured to control a flow rate of aspiration fluid within the aspiration conduit;

an irrigation valve located in the shunt line;

an aspiration sensor detecting an aspiration pressure at or along the aspiration conduit;

an irrigation sensor detecting an irrigation pressure at or along the irrigation conduit;

a controller in communication with the pump, the aspiration valve, the aspiration sensor, the irrigation valve, and the irrigation sensor;

wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of the pump, the aspiration valve, and the irrigation valve based on information from the aspiration sensor and the irrigation sensor.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to change TOP by adjusting the pump speed, by adjusting a state of the irrigation valve, or by adjusting a state of the aspiration valve.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the irrigation conduit comprises a first cross-sectional area and the aspiration conduit comprises a second cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area being larger than the second cross-sectional area.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the hand piece further comprises:

a removable cartridge disposed in the body having at least a portion of the aspiration conduit and at least a portion of the irrigation conduit.

Assignments (4)
CONFIRMATORY DEED OF ASSIGNMENT EFFECTIVE APRIL 8, 2019 Recorded Jul 23, 2020
From: ALCON RESEARCH, LLC
To: ALCON INC.
Reel/Frame 053293/0484 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 21, 2020
From: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
To: ALCON RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 053273/0022 →
CONFIRMATORY DEED OF ASSIGNMENT EFFECTIVE APRIL 8, 2019 Recorded Dec 10, 2019
From: NOVARTIS AG
To: ALCON INC.
Reel/Frame 051454/0788 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2013
From: WILSON, DANIEL J.; CHANDRAKANT, PARTHA
To: ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
Reel/Frame 031378/0550 →