Patent ID: 8652086
Filing Date: 2014-02-18
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M

Abstract:
1. A surgical system for eye surgery comprising: a handpiece configured to be placed in an operative relationship with an eye for a surgical procedure; an irrigation fluid source configured to supply an irrigation fluid to the eye; an aspiration line having an aspiration port coupled to the handpiece; a vacuum-based aspiration source configured to apply a vacuum to the handpiece via a drainage cassette and via the aspiration line; an upstream pressure/vacuum sensor configured to measure both pressure and vacuum and configured to measure an upstream pressure/vacuum value; a downstream pressure/vacuum sensor configured to measure both pressure and vacuum and configured to measure a downstream pressure/vacuum value, both the sensors operatively coupled to the aspiration line and located between the aspiration source and the aspiration port, wherein at least one of the upstream pressure/vacuum sensor and downstream pressure/vacuum sensor is at least partially disposed within the drainage cassette; and an occlusion detecting system comprising a controller connected to the aspiration line that is configured to detect an occlusion at the handpiece and selectively inhibit fluid flow based on the occlusion detected by determining a difference value equal to a difference between the upstream pressure/vacuum value and the downstream pressure/vacuum value, wherein the occlusion detecting system comprises a variable flow restrictor coupled to the aspiration line in between the upstream pressure/vacuum sensor and the downstream pressure/vacuum sensor, the variable flow restrictor configured to selectively deform the aspiration line to selectively restrict flow therethrough upon receiving a command from the controller to restrict flow, the command from the controller based on the difference value determined by the controller exceeding a predetermined difference value.