Irrigation in a phacoemulsification system
In one example, a phacoemulsification system includes a phacoemulsification probe including a distal end comprising a needle, and a piezoelectric crystal configured to vibrate the needle so as to emulsify a lens of an eye, an irrigation reservoir configured to store irrigation fluid, an irrigation line extending from the irrigation reservoir to the distal end of phacoemulsification probe, a pumping sub-system configured to pump the irrigation fluid from the irrigation reservoir to the distal end of the phacoemulsification probe via the irrigation line, and a pressure damping insert disposed in the irrigation line between the pumping sub-system and the distal end, and comprising multiple paths therethrough configured to divide a flow of the irrigation fluid entering the pressure damping insert in order to dampen pressure elevations in the irrigation fluid exiting the pumping sub-system.
1 . A phacoemulsification system, comprising:
a phacoemulsification probe including:
a distal end comprising a needle; and
a piezoelectric crystal configured to vibrate the needle so as to emulsify a lens of an eye;
an irrigation reservoir configured to store irrigation fluid;
an irrigation line extending from the irrigation reservoir to the distal end of phacoemulsification probe;
a pumping sub-system configured to pump the irrigation fluid from the irrigation reservoir to the distal end of the phacoemulsification probe via the irrigation line; and
a pressure damping insert disposed in the irrigation line between the pumping sub-system and the distal end, and comprising multiple paths therethrough configured to divide a flow of the irrigation fluid entering the pressure damping insert in order to dampen pressure elevations in the irrigation fluid exiting the pumping sub-system.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a filter disposed in the irrigation line between the pumping sub-system and the distal end configured to prevent fragments deposited in the irrigation fluid by the pumping sub-system from reaching the distal end.
3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the filter is configured to filter fragments smaller than 20 microns.
4 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the filter and the pressure damping insert are comprised in a unitary item.
5 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure damping insert includes an elastic material forming the multiple paths.
6 . The system according to claim 5 , wherein the elastic material includes pores forming the multiple paths.
7 . The system according to claim 6 , wherein the elastic material includes expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).
8 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein a size of each of the pores in between 0.5 and 20 microns.
9 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein the pressure damping insert includes an ePTFE membrane having a thickness between 50 and 300 microns.
10 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure damping insert includes a mesh material.
11 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the mesh material includes fiberglass.