Granted Patent B2

US 12,611,328 · App. 17/732,494 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Inventors: Christoph Kuebler (Oberkochen, DE); Susanne Kohlhammer (Blaustein, DE); Markus Neumaier (Aalen, DE)

Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG

A61F9/00745

Abstract

Claims (31)

1 . An ophthalmosurgical appliance, comprising:

an irrigation fluid line, arranged between an irrigation fluid container and an ophthalmosurgical handpiece for phacoemulsification, through which irrigation fluid can flow from the irrigation fluid container to the ophthalmosurgical handpiece, wherein the irrigation fluid container and the ophthalmosurgical handpiece are connected to the ophthalmosurgical appliance;

a first fluid pump arranged, in a first direction of flow, between the irrigation fluid container and the ophthalmosurgical handpiece and configured to convey the irrigation fluid to the ophthalmosurgical handpiece;

a first volumetric flow meter arranged, in the first direction of flow, between the first fluid pump and the ophthalmosurgical handpiece and configured to determine a first volumetric flow rate;

an aspiration fluid line, arranged between the ophthalmosurgical handpiece and a collecting container connected to the ophthalmosurgical appliance, through which aspiration fluid can flow from the ophthalmosurgical handpiece to the collecting container;

a second fluid pump arranged, in a second direction of flow, between the ophthalmosurgical handpiece and the collecting container and configured to convey the aspiration fluid to the collecting container;

a second volumetric flow meter arranged, in a second direction of flow, between the ophthalmosurgical handpiece and the second fluid pump and configured to determine a second volumetric flow rate;

a differential flow meter coupled to the first volumetric flow determination device meter and to the second volumetric flow meter and configured to determine a difference between the first volumetric flow rate and the second volumetric flow rate and to output a differential volumetric flow rate signal; and

a first controller with a first input configured to:

receive the differential volumetric flow rate signal as a first input and a signal for an irrigation fluid setpoint pressure as a second input,

generate, from the differential volumetric flow rate signal and an irrigation fluid setpoint pressure signal, a signal for an irrigation fluid control pressure, and

supply the signal for the irrigation fluid control pressure to the first fluid pump.

2 . The ophthalmosurgical appliance as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first controller includes an adder,

wherein the adder has a first input, a second input, and an output,

wherein the first controller is further configured to:

receive the differential volumetric flow rate signal,

generate a signal for a differential pressure,

provide the signal for the irrigation fluid setpoint pressure to the first input of the adder,

provide the signal for the differential pressure to the second input of the adder, and,

supply the signal for the irrigation fluid control pressure from the output of the adder to an output of the first controller.

3 . The ophthalmosurgical appliance as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a foot pedal; and

second controller in communication with the foot pedal, coupled to the second input of the first controller, and configured to predefine a profile of the irrigation fluid setpoint pressure as a function of time depending on a degree of actuation of the foot pedal.

4 . The ophthalmosurgical appliance as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising a third controller in communication with the foot pedal, configured to predefine an aspiration fluid setpoint pressure as a function of time depending on a degree of actuation of the foot pedal and to supply the predefined aspiration fluid setpoint pressure to the second fluid pump.

5 . The ophthalmosurgical appliance as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the second controller has a first time constant, and

wherein the first time constant is adjustable.

6 . The ophthalmosurgical appliance as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the first time constant lies in a range of 50 milliseconds to 1000 milliseconds.

7 . The ophthalmosurgical appliance as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the third controller has a second time constant, and

wherein the second time constant is adjustable.

8 . The ophthalmosurgical appliance as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the second time constant lies in a range of 50 milliseconds to 1000 milliseconds.

9 . The ophthalmosurgical appliance as claimed in claim 7 , wherein a difference between the first time constant and the second time constant has a quantity that lies in a range of larger than zero and less than 200 milliseconds.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (38)