Patent ID: 9149568
Filing Date: 2015-10-06
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 the aspiration line in order to aspirate the irrigation fluid from the eye through the handpiece; and an occlusion detecting system coupled to the aspiration line, wherein the occlusion detecting system is configured to detect a reduction in a rate of irrigation fluid flow in at least one of the aspiration line or the aspiration port using a thermodilution technique; wherein the occlusion detecting system comprises a first temperature sensor operatively coupled to the aspiration line, a second temperature sensor operatively coupled to the aspiration line at a point downstream from the first temperature sensor, wherein at least one of the first temperature sensor and second temperature sensor is at least partially disposed within the drainage cassette, a computer program product that includes a computer-usable medium having a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes said processor to execute a process for measuring a temperature differential between the first and second temperature sensors, and a heating element to heat the fluid within the line to a desired temperature; wherein the processor, the computer program product, and the sequence of instructions are configured to provide an indication of the reduction in a rate of irrigation fluid flow in the at least one of the aspiration line or the aspiration port when the temperature differential exceeds a predetermined temperature differential boundary level and control a vacuum level within the aspiration line upon an indication of the reduction in a rate of irrigation fluid flow.