Optimized pneumatic drive lines
In one exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a system. The system includes a pneumatic surgical instrument and a surgical console operable to provide compressed gas to the pneumatic surgical instrument. Additionally, the system includes a pneumatic drive line coupling the pneumatic surgical instrument to the surgical console. The pneumatic drive line has an internal bore configured to deliver the compressed gas to the pneumatic surgical instrument. The internal bore has a non-uniform cross-section along a length of the pneumatic drive line.
1 . An ophthalmic surgical instrument, the instrument comprising:
a pneumatically-powered surgical cutter; and
a first pneumatic tubing assembly transmitting a first plurality of pneumatic pulses from a pneumatic pulse source of a surgical console to the pneumatically-powered surgical cutter; and
a second pneumatic tubing assembly transmitting a second plurality of pneumatic pulses from the pneumatic pulse source to the pneumatically-powered surgical cutter; and
the first pneumatic tubing assembly comprising a multi-stage tubing having a length and including
a first-stage, the first-stage having
a first end coupled to a port of the surgical console,
a second end opposite the first end, and
a first inner channel for transmitting the first plurality of pneumatic pulses to the pneumatically-powered surgical cutter, the first inner channel having a first cross-sectional area, and
a second-stage, the second-stage having
a first end in pneumatic communication with the second end of the first-stage,
a second end opposite the first end of the second-stage coupled to the pneumatically-powered surgical cutter, and
a second inner channel for transmitting the first plurality of pneumatic pulses to the pneumatically-powered surgical cutter, the second inner channel having a second cross-sectional area different than the first cross-sectional area.
2 . The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the second pneumatic tubing assembly comprises a multi-stage tubing having a length and including
a first-stage, the first-stage having
a first end coupled to a port of the surgical console,
a second end opposite the first end, and
a first inner channel for transmitting the second plurality of pneumatic pulses to the pneumatically-powered surgical cutter, the first inner channel having a first cross-sectional area, and
a second-stage, the second-stage having
a first end in pneumatic communication with the second end of the first-stage,
a second end opposite the first end of the second-stage coupled to the pneumatically-powered surgical cutter, and
a second inner channel for transmitting the second plurality of pneumatic pulses to the pneumatically-powered surgical cutter, the second inner channel having a second cross-sectional area different than the first cross-sectional area.
3 . The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the first end of the first-stage of the first pneumatic tubing assembly is configured to be connected to a first port of the surgical console and wherein the first end of the first-stage-of the second pneumatic tubing assembly is configured to be connected to a second port of the surgical console.
4 . The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the second cross-sectional area is smaller than the first cross-sectional area.
5 . The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first-stage has a first length and the second-stage has a second length.
6 . The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the second length is shorter than the first length.
7 . The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the first cross-sectional area is substantially constant along the entire first length.
8 . The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 5 , wherein the second cross-sectional area is substantially constant along the entire second length.
9 . The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first pneumatic tubing assembly includes a sleeve coupling the first-stage to the second-stage.
10 . The ophthalmic surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first cross-sectional area is a circular cross-sectional area with a diameter of about 0.150 inches and the second cross-sectional area is a circular cross-sectional area with a diameter of about 0.06 inches.