Patent Description:
The human eye provides vision by transmitting light through a clear outer portion called the cornea, and focusing the image by way of a crystalline lens onto a retina. The quality of the focused image depends on many factors including the size and shape of the eye and the transparency of the cornea and the lens. When age or disease causes the lens to become less transparent, vision deteriorates because of the diminished light that can be transmitted to the retina. This deficiency in the lens of the eye is medically known as a cataract. An accepted treatment for this condition is surgical removal of the lens and replacement of the lens function by an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).

Cataractous lenses may be removed using a surgical technique called phacoemulsification. A typical surgical probe used in phacoemulsification procedures includes a handpiece or handheld probe having an ultrasonically driven cutting needle. During the procedure, a surgeon brings the tip of the cutting needle into contact with the lens of the eye. The cutting needle rapidly vibrates such that contact with tip fragments the lens. Throughout the procedure, irrigating fluid is delivered into the eye. Fluid including the lens fragments is also aspirated out of the eye. In some instances, the cutting needle includes an aspiration lumen through which the fluid is aspirated. The fluid may be aspirated from the eye, through the aspiration lumen, through elastic tubing, and to a drain reservoir. Prior Art Document <CIT> discloses a handheld probe for use in ophthalmic surgery, with a peristaltic pump arranged in the housing of the handheld probe.

A common phenomenon during a phacoemulsification procedure arises from a blockage, or occlusion, of the aspiration lumen. As the irrigation fluid and lens fragments are aspirated away from the interior of the eye through the aspiration lumen of the cutting needle, pieces of tissue that are larger than the diameter of the aspiration lumen may occlude or clog the aspiration lumen, particularly at the opening of the aspiration lumen at the tip of the cutting needle. While the aspiration lumen is clogged, vacuum pressure builds up, causing collapse of the elastic tubing. When occlusion is cleared, an undesirably large quantity of fluid and tissue may be drawn from the eye into the aspiration lumen too quickly. This is known as post-occlusion surge. The post-occlusion surge can, in some cases, cause the eye to collapse and/or the lens capsule to be torn.

The present disclosure describes example ophthalmic surgical systems that may include a handheld probe. The probe may include a housing sized and shaped for grasping by a user. The probe may also include a tip extending from the housing and being sized to penetrate and treat an eye of a patient. The tip may include an aspiration lumen arranged to carry fluid away from the eye. The probe may also include a peristaltic pump disposed within the housing. The pump may include a deformable conduit comprising a conduit lumen extending therethrough. The conduit lumen may be in fluid communication with the aspiration lumen. The pump may also include a roller in contact with the deformable conduit and include an outer peripheral surface. The roller may be engaged with the deformable conduit to cause the deformable tubing to deform. The pump may also include a roller driver in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the roller. The roller may be movable along the deformable conduit in response to movement of the roller driver to cause movement of material within the conduit lumen therealong.

The present disclosure may also disclose ophthalmic surgical systems that may include a handheld probe. The handheld probe may include a housing sized and shaped for grasping by a user, a tip extending from the housing and being sized to penetrate an eye, and a peristaltic pump disposed within the housing. The tip may include a tip lumen arranged to carry fluid. The pump may include a deformable conduit defining a conduit lumen. The conduit lumen may be in fluid communication with the tip lumen. The pump may also include a plurality of rollers in contact with the deformable conduit. The plurality of rollers may form localized deformation in the deformable conduit. Each of the plurality of rollers may include an outer peripheral surface. The pump may also include a roller driver in contact with the outer peripheral surface of each roller of the plurality of rollers. The plurality of rollers may be moveable in response to movement of the roller driver to transport material within the conduit lumen therealong. The probe may also include a motor disposed within the housing. The motor may include a motor shaft coupled to the roller driver. The roller driver may be moveable in response to movement of the motor shaft.

In addition, the present disclosure is directed to ophthalmic surgical methods. An exemplary method may include inserting a tip of a surgical probe into an eye of a patient. The tip may include an aspiration lumen arranged to carry material away from the eye. The method may also include contacting a plurality of rollers with a deformable conduit to cause localized deformation of the deformable conduit by each of the plurality of rollers; engaging an outer peripheral surface of each of the plurality of rollers by a roller driver; and aspirating material from the eye by moving the roller driver to cause movement of the plurality of rollers along the deformable conduit to peristaltically pump material contained within a lumen of the deformable conduit.

In different implementations, the various aspects of the disclosure may include one or more of the following features. A roller driver may not include an axle extending through the roller. The peristaltic pump may include a plurality of rollers arranged in a circular configuration. The plurality of rollers may be in contact with the deformable conduit and disposed between the deformable conduit and the roller driver. The roller driver may include a surface in contact with the plurality of rollers. The peristaltic pump further may include a track housing defining a channel. The channel may define a track along which the plurality of rollers travels. The deformable conduit may be positioned within the channel, and the plurality of rollers may be arranged to move along the track while in contact with the deformable conduit and the roller driver. The track may include a contact surface that limits deformation of the deformable conduit by limiting movement of the plurality of rollers into the channel. The peristaltic pump may also include a guide member having a plurality of recesses. Each of the plurality of rollers may be positioned in a respective one of the plurality of recesses. The probe may also include a motor disposed within the housing. The motor may include a motor shaft coupled to the roller driver. The motor may rotate the roller driver. A roller may be spherical. The deformable conduit may include a first segment carrying the material in a first direction and a second segment carrying the material in a second direction.

A controller may be operable to transmit a control signal to the motor to increase and decrease a speed of the motor. A drain reservoir may be in fluid communication with the deformable conduit. Material transported within the conduit lumen may be deposited in the drain reservoir. The handheld probe may be a phacoemulsification probe.

The roller driver may be coupled to a motor disposed within the surgical probe, and the motor may include a motor shaft coupled to the roller driver. The deformable conduit may be disposed within a channel formed in a track housing, and the plurality of rollers may be moved along a track formed by the channel.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following drawings and detailed description are exemplary and explanatory in nature and are intended to provide an understanding of the present disclosure without limiting the scope of the present disclosure. In that regard, additional aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following.

The accompanying drawings illustrate implementations of the systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.

These figures will be better understood by reference to the following Detailed Description.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the implementations illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe them. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is intended. Any alterations and further modifications to the described devices, instruments, methods, and any further application of the principles of the present disclosure are fully contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates. In particular, it is fully contemplated that the features, components, and/or steps described with reference to one or more implementations may be combined with the features, components, and/or steps described with reference to other implementations of the present disclosure. For simplicity, in some instances the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

The present disclosure relates generally to devices, systems, and methods for aspirating materials, such as fluid, lens particles, other materials, including other biological materials, or a combination thereof, from the eye using a peristaltic pump. In some implementations, the pump is arranged to be fit within a handheld surgical probe, such as a phacoemulsification probe. The pump includes one or more rollers in contact with a flexible/deformable conduit through which the aspiration fluid flows. The pump also includes a roller driver that is in contact with peripheries or outer surfaces of the rollers. For example, the roller driver may be a rotating plate or a rotating cylinder having a surface that frictionally engages and moves the rollers. The roller driver moves the rollers along the conduit to urge the fluid to flow. Conventional peristaltic pumps are discussed more below with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a conventional pump <NUM> utilizing a roller <NUM> to move along the tubing <NUM> in a direction <NUM>. The roller <NUM> may be driven by a motor. Friction between the roller <NUM> and the tubing <NUM> causes the roller <NUM> to rotate about an axle <NUM> in a direction <NUM>. The axle <NUM> translates in the direction <NUM> as the roller <NUM> moves along the tubing <NUM> in the direction <NUM>. The roller <NUM> contacts and deforms the tubing <NUM>, creating regions of high pressure and low pressure within the tubing <NUM> on either side of the roller <NUM>. The high pressure and low pressure regions move along the tubing <NUM> as the roller <NUM> moves along the tubing <NUM> in the direction <NUM>. The rollers <NUM> peristaltically move material within the tubing <NUM> in the direction <NUM> as the rollers <NUM> move in the direction <NUM>.

In such pumping mechanisms, high friction may occur between the roller <NUM> and the axle <NUM> about which the roller <NUM> rotates. Overcoming this friction may complicate design and manufacturing of the phacoemulsification probe. Additional components, such as a bearing <NUM>, may need to be added to the pump <NUM> to minimize the roller-axle friction. A motor with a relatively greater power output to overcome the friction can be used to operate the pump <NUM>. However, such a motor may be too large, too heavy, and/or too expensive to implement in the phacoemulsification probe. Peristaltic pumping mechanisms of a type as shown in <FIG> may involve high friction between the elastic tubing and a component that contacts the tubing. As a result, the probe may require additional lubrication components and/or a more powerful motor to overcome the friction.

However, unlike conventional systems, the peristaltic pumps described herein do not include an axle extending through the rollers. For example, a motor shaft of a motor may be coupled to the roller driver as opposed to the rollers via an axle extending therethrough.

The devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure provide numerous advantages over conventional aspiration pumps. For example, the arrangement of the pump described herein minimizes friction resulting from interaction between the axle and the roller because no axle is utilized. Because friction effects can dominate system dynamics at smaller scales, minimizing friction makes the pump more amenable to miniaturization. A smaller pump can be implemented within a surgical probe, which advantageously reduces or eliminates post-occlusion surge effects. Smaller, lighter, and/or less expensive motors can be used to drive a pump with less friction. Omitting the axle also minimizes the need for lubrication. Some implementations of the pump described herein also utilize rollers having a simple geometry, which may allow for a simple pump design.

<FIG> illustrates an exemplary ophthalmic surgical system <NUM>. <FIG> is a block diagram of the system <NUM> showing various subsystems that operate to perform an ophthalmic surgical procedure. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the example system <NUM> includes a handheld probe <NUM> and a console <NUM>. The console <NUM> includes a movable base housing <NUM> and an associated display screen <NUM> showing data relating to system operation and performance during a surgical procedure.

The system <NUM> includes at least a part of a plurality of subsystems. For example, the system <NUM> includes a foot pedal subsystem <NUM>, a fluidics subsystem <NUM>, and an ultrasonic generator subsystem <NUM>, all of which cooperate with a computer system <NUM> to perform a phacoemulsification surgical procedure. The computer system <NUM> includes a processor and memory and may be disposed within the housing <NUM>. The foot pedal subsystem <NUM> includes a foot pedal <NUM>. The fluidics subsystem <NUM> includes a handheld probe, such as the handheld probe <NUM> having an integrated aspiration pump. The ultrasonic generator subsystem <NUM> provides an ultrasonic oscillation to a cutting needle of the handheld probe <NUM>. In some implementations, some of subsystems <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may include components or elements that are separable from and/or not disposed on the console <NUM>. These subsystems may overlap and cooperate to perform various aspects of a surgical procedure.

One or more of subsystems <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be in electrical communication with a computer system. In the illustrated example, the subsystems <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are in electrical communication with the computer system <NUM>. In some implementations, the computer system <NUM> may transmit control signals to one or more of the subsystems <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to control operation of a probe associated therewith, such as, for example, the probe <NUM>. The probe <NUM> and the console <NUM> may be connected by an electric cable <NUM> and one or more flexible conduits <NUM>. The console <NUM> may transmit power to a driving mechanism that drives the integrated aspiration pump of a probe <NUM>, such as probe <NUM>, for example. The console <NUM> may also transmit power to a probe that supplies other driving mechanism(s). For example, the console <NUM> may provide electrical power to operate an ultrasonic cutting needle. In some implementations, the one or more flexible conduits <NUM> may supply irrigation fluid to the surgical site and carry aspiration fluid from the eye through the probe <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram schematically illustrating a part of the fluidics subsystem <NUM> according to an exemplary implementation. The fluidics subsystem <NUM> includes an irrigation path <NUM>, an aspiration path <NUM>, and the probe <NUM>. The probe <NUM> may include a housing <NUM> sized and shaped for grasping and handheld use by a user, such as a surgeon. In some implementations, the probe <NUM> may be a phacoemulsification probe that includes an irrigation sleeve <NUM> and a cutting needle <NUM>. The irrigation sleeve <NUM> and the cutting needle <NUM> may extend from the housing <NUM>. While the irrigation sleeve <NUM> and the cutting needle <NUM> are separately shown in <FIG> for ease of understanding, the irrigation sleeve <NUM> and the cutting needle <NUM> may be coaxial or otherwise arranged in different implementations. The irrigation sleeve <NUM> and the cutting needle <NUM> may be sized to penetrate and treat the eye <NUM> of the patient.

While the probe <NUM> may be characterized as a phacoemulsification probe in some implementations, it is understood that probe <NUM> may be a standalone aspiration probe. The probe <NUM> may also be another type of surgical probe having an integrated pump <NUM> and/or motor <NUM>. For example, the probe <NUM> may be an illumination probe, a laser probe, and/or a vitreous cutting probe. In the example shown in <FIG>, the probe <NUM> includes the integrated pump <NUM> and a motor <NUM>. In other implementations, the probe <NUM> may include other types of drive mechanisms other than a motor. Further, in other implementations, the probe <NUM> may the integrated pump <NUM> or the motor <NUM> or both.

During the course of some phacoemulsification procedures, a tip <NUM> of the cutting needle <NUM> and an end <NUM> of the irrigation sleeve <NUM> may be inserted into the anterior segment of an eye <NUM> through a small incision in the outer tissue of the eye. To emulsify or otherwise break up a lens, the surgeon brings the tip <NUM> of the cutting needle <NUM> into contact with the lens of the eye <NUM>, so that the vibrating tip <NUM> fragments the lens. Irrigation fluid may be delivered to the surgical site, e.g., into the anterior segment of the eye <NUM> from an irrigation fluid supply <NUM> via an irrigation lumen <NUM> of the sleeve <NUM>. The resulting fragments are aspirated out of the eye <NUM> through an interior bore or lumen <NUM> of the cutting needle <NUM>, along with irrigation solution provided to the eye during the procedure. The aspirated materials are delivered into a drain reservoir <NUM>.

Throughout or during select periods of a procedure, irrigating fluid may be pumped into the eye <NUM>. In some implementations, the cutting needle <NUM> may extend through the irrigation lumen <NUM> of the sleeve <NUM> defining an annular passage. The irrigating fluid may pass between the irrigation sleeve <NUM> and the cutting needle <NUM> in the annular passage and exit into the eye <NUM> at the end <NUM> of the irrigation sleeve <NUM> and/or from one or more ports or openings formed in the irrigation sleeve <NUM> near the end <NUM>.

In the illustrated example, the probe <NUM> includes components of the irrigation path <NUM> including an irrigation conduit <NUM>. In some instances, one or more components of the irrigation path <NUM> may be flexible and/or deformable tubing defining a lumen to convey the irrigation fluid. In the example shown in <FIG>, the conduit <NUM> extends from the irrigation fluid supply <NUM> to the probe <NUM>. At least a portion of the conduit <NUM> is disposed within the housing <NUM> and is in fluid communication with the irrigation fluid supply <NUM> and an irrigation lumen <NUM> of the sleeve <NUM>. During a surgical procedure, irrigation fluid may flow from the irrigation fluid supply <NUM>, through the irrigation conduit <NUM> and the irrigation lumen <NUM>, and into the eye <NUM>. The irrigation fluid may be a saline or balanced salt solution. The irrigation fluid may maintain intraocular pressure and may prevent collapse of the eye <NUM> during the surgical procedure by replacing fluid that is aspirated away from the eye <NUM>. The irrigating fluid may also protect the eye tissue from the heat, such as heat generated by vibrations of the ultrasonic cutting needle <NUM>. Furthermore, the irrigating fluid may suspend the fragments of the emulsified lens for aspiration from the eye <NUM>. In some implementations, the irrigation fluid supply <NUM> may be spaced from the probe <NUM>. For example, some implementations include the irrigation fluid supply <NUM> disposed on an intravenous pole at a fixed or adjustable height. Other implementations include the irrigation fluid supply <NUM> disposed within the console <NUM>.

The probe <NUM> also may include components of the aspiration path <NUM>. For example, the probe <NUM> may include all or part of an aspiration conduit <NUM>. The aspiration conduit <NUM> may be in the form of a flexible and/or deformable tubing having a lumen to convey aspirated material. The conduits <NUM>, <NUM> may be formed of any suitable resilient material, including silicone or other types of polymers.

As shown in <FIG>, the conduit <NUM> extends from the probe <NUM> to the drain reservoir <NUM>. At least a portion of the aspiration conduit <NUM> may be disposed within the housing <NUM>. The aspiration conduit <NUM> is in fluid communication with an aspiration lumen <NUM> of the cutting needle <NUM> and the drain reservoir <NUM>. Aspiration fluid flows from the eye <NUM> through the aspiration lumen <NUM> and the aspiration conduit <NUM> and collects in the drain reservoir <NUM>. Aspiration fluid may include irrigation fluid (such as irrigation fluid that has been delivered to the eye <NUM> via the irrigation path), biological fluid from the eye <NUM>, and/or biological matter from the eye <NUM>, such as emulsified eye lens fragments. The drain reservoir <NUM> may be spaced from the probe <NUM>, and may be disposed, for example, within the console <NUM> in some implementations.

The pump <NUM> may be associated with the aspiration path <NUM>. The pump <NUM> may be arranged to interface with the aspiration conduit <NUM> to urge the aspiration fluid to flow away from the eye <NUM> and towards the drain reservoir <NUM>. For example, the pump <NUM> may be a peristaltic pump driven by the motor <NUM>. A motor shaft of the motor <NUM> may be mechanically coupled to a roller driver, such as a moving plate and/or moving cylinder, of the pump <NUM>. Rotation of the motor shaft causes corresponding rotation of the roller driver. Various exemplary implementations of the motor <NUM> and/or pump <NUM>, along with the motor shaft and the roller driver, are shown and/or described with respect to <FIG>.

In some implementations, the pump <NUM> or another pump may be arranged to interface with the irrigation conduit <NUM>. For example, the pump <NUM> may be arranged to interface with the irrigation conduit <NUM> to urge the irrigation fluid to flow from the irrigation fluid supply <NUM> and towards the eye <NUM>. Accordingly, the pump <NUM> may be implemented within the probe <NUM> to direct fluid from the eye <NUM> (along the aspiration conduit <NUM>) and/or towards the eye <NUM> (along the irrigation conduit <NUM>).

The fluidics subsystem <NUM> may also include a controller <NUM> in electrical communication with the motor <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may include one or more processors and one or more memory devices. In some implementations, the processor may include one or more processing cores capable of performing parallel or sequential operations. In other implementations, the controller <NUM> may be a dedicated piece of hardware such as, for example and without limitation, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The one or more memory devices may include any memory or module and may take the form of volatile or non-volatile memory including, without limitation, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), removable media, or any other suitable local or remote memory component. The one or more memory devices may store one or more programs and/or data for use and/or execution by the one or more processors.

The motor <NUM> may operate in response to control signals transmitted by the controller <NUM>. In some instances, the controller <NUM> may control the on/off status, operating frequency, and/or other parameters of the motor <NUM>. For example, controller <NUM> may transmit a control signal to the motor <NUM> to increase and decrease the speed of the motor <NUM>. Because the pump <NUM> is coupled to the motor <NUM>, operation of the motor <NUM> in turn causes operation of the pump <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be distinct from the computer system <NUM> (<FIG>) in some implementations. In other implementations, the controller <NUM> may be part of the computer system <NUM> and in communication with the motor <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates aspects of an exemplary peristaltic pump <NUM>. The pump <NUM> may be or form a part of the pump <NUM> in <FIG>. The conduit <NUM> may form a portion of the conduit <NUM> in <FIG>.

The pump <NUM> includes a roller <NUM> and a roller driver <NUM>. The roller <NUM> is moved along the conduit <NUM> by the roller driver <NUM>. The conduit <NUM> defines a lumen <NUM>. In the illustrated example, the roller driver <NUM> is a plate having a surface <NUM> in contact with the roller <NUM>. In particular, the surface <NUM> of the roller driver <NUM> engages an outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the roller <NUM>. In the illustrated example, the surface <NUM> of the roller driver <NUM> is generally planar. However, the surface <NUM> may be nonplanar. The roller <NUM> contacts and deforms the conduit <NUM>. Particularly, as shown in <FIG>, the roller <NUM> pinches the conduit <NUM> such that an inner surface <NUM> contacts itself to form a localized occlusion within the conduit <NUM>. Fluid flow within the conduit <NUM> may be momentarily occluded at the point of contact with the roller <NUM>. However, areas of high pressure and low pressure are created within the conduit <NUM> by contact with and movement of the roller <NUM>. The created pressures within the conduit <NUM> causes fluid within the lumen <NUM> to flow in a direction <NUM>. Thus, the pump <NUM> pumps material in a peristaltic manner.

The roller driver <NUM> may be coupled to a motor, such as, for example, the motor <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Here, however, the roller <NUM> is directly driven by the motor <NUM>. Rather, the roller <NUM> rotates in a direction <NUM> and translates in the direction <NUM> as a result of the roller driver <NUM> being driven in the direction <NUM>. Thus, in contrast to the conventional pump <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the roller <NUM> does not have and is not driven by an axle extending through a center of the roller <NUM>. Instead, the roller driver <NUM>, which is driven by the motor <NUM>, contacts the outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the roller <NUM>. Omitting the axle-roller interface in the pump <NUM> advantageously eliminates a friction source and minimizes the total amount of friction the motor <NUM> needs to overcome to operate the pump <NUM>. Accordingly, the pump <NUM> included in the probe <NUM> to operate the pump <NUM> may be lighter, smaller, and less expensive.

The roller <NUM> may be any shape that provides suitable pumping action. In some implementations, the roller <NUM> is shaped as a spherical ball roller. In such implementations, the outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the roller <NUM> is an arc-shaped surface and is in contact with the surface <NUM> of the roller driver <NUM>. In some implementations, the roller <NUM> may be formed from a metal, such as stainless steel. In other implementations, the roller <NUM> may be formed from a non-metallic material, such as silicone or other types of polymeric plastics and/or rubbers. For example, the roller <NUM> may be formed of a high durometer silicone.

Utilizing a spherical ball roller may advantageously simplify manufacturing of the pump <NUM>. Previous peristaltic pumps required complex geometries for rollers and/or other components in contact with the elastic tubing. For example, previous peristaltic pumps utilized rollers with a tapered shape or a helical screw/scroll. Spherical ball rollers, which have simpler geometry, are easier to manufacture, obtain, and/or implement in the pump <NUM>.

The peristaltic pump <NUM> of the probe <NUM> may include any number of rollers. For example, the pump <NUM> includes a single roller <NUM>, illustrated in <FIG>. In other instances, two or more rollers <NUM> may be used. For example, in some implementations, the pump <NUM> may use between two and <NUM> rollers. However, the scope is not so limited. Rather, any number of rollers <NUM> may be used in the pump <NUM>. For example, an exemplary pump <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> utilizes four rollers <NUM>. Exemplary pumps <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, respectively, include six rollers. An exemplary pump <NUM> shown in <FIG> includes twelve rollers <NUM> (four rollers <NUM> are shown and eight rollers <NUM> are hidden in the cross-sectional side view of <FIG>).

Pumps within the scope of the disclosure may have the rollers arranged in a variety of configurations. For example, the rollers may be positioned relative to one another in any combination of longitudinal, axial/radial, and/or circumferential spacing. For example, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, respectively, the rollers <NUM> of the pump <NUM>, the rollers <NUM> of the pump <NUM>, the rollers <NUM> of the pump <NUM>, and the rollers <NUM> of the pump <NUM> are arranged in a generally circular configuration. Further, the rollers may be spaced from one another around a circumference, as shown, for example, in <FIG>. In some implementations, the rollers may be arranged such that there is at least one roller momentarily occluding fluid flow within the conduit to ensure that a pressure differential between high and low pressure regions in the conduit always exists. As shown in <FIG>, the rollers are spaced from one another so that a portion of un-occluded tubing is located between two portions of tubing that are pinched, occluded, or otherwise deformed by adjacent rollers. The fluid within this un-occluded portion of the tubing is urged in the desired direction by the rollers.

In <FIG>, the conduit <NUM> is illustrated as being disposed in a linear configuration. The roller driver <NUM> is moveable in a linear manner in the direction <NUM>. Translation of the roller driver <NUM> causes corresponding linear displacement of the roller <NUM> along the conduit <NUM> in the direction <NUM>. In other implementations, the conduit may be disposed in a non-linear configuration, and the roller driver and roller(s) may move along a non-linear path. For example, the roller driver and roller(s) may be arranged to move in one or more longitudinal, axial/radial, and/or circumferential directions. The roller driver and roller(s) may move along the same or different paths. Generally, the rollers(s) contact, deform, and move along the conduit. The roller driver is arranged to contact the roller(s) and facilitate movement of the roller along the conduit.

<FIG> illustrates a portion of a pump <NUM> having a plurality of rollers <NUM> arranged in a circular configuration over segment of a conduit <NUM>. The segment of the conduit <NUM> shown in <FIG> is disposed in generally circular or ring-shaped manner. The circular configuration may advantageously allow for more compact packaging of the conduit <NUM> within a housing of a probe, such as the housing <NUM> of the example probe <NUM>. In the example shown, the pump <NUM> rotates the rollers <NUM> in a counter-clockwise direction <NUM>, thereby urging the fluid through the segment of the conduit <NUM> in the counter-clockwise direction <NUM>. The pump <NUM> may also be operated in a clockwise direction. Boluses of material (e.g., fluid or a fluid mixture) may be carried by the conduit <NUM> in the volume between adjacent rollers <NUM>. The fluid is pumped into the conduit <NUM> in a direction <NUM> and out of a conduit <NUM> in the direction <NUM>.

The pump <NUM> includes a roller driver <NUM> that is in contact with the rollers <NUM>. The roller driver <NUM> rotates in the counter-clockwise direction <NUM> such that the rollers <NUM> also rotate along the conduit <NUM> in the direction <NUM>. The rollers <NUM> contact and deform the conduit <NUM> as the rollers <NUM> move along the conduit in the direction <NUM> to urge the fluid through the conduit <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate an example pump <NUM>. The pump <NUM> includes rollers <NUM>, a roller driver <NUM>, a track housing <NUM>, and a guide member <NUM>. <FIG> is an illustration of the pump <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional side view of the pump <NUM>. <FIG> is an illustration of the track housing <NUM>.

The pump <NUM> includes a plurality of rollers <NUM> arranged in a circular configuration. The roller driver <NUM> includes a plate <NUM> and a shaft <NUM>. For example, the plate <NUM> and the shaft <NUM> may be integrally formed. In some implementations, the plate <NUM> may be in the form of a flange formed on the shaft <NUM>, such as on an end of the shaft <NUM>. The motor <NUM> may be mechanically coupled to the shaft <NUM> to rotate the shaft <NUM> in a direction <NUM>. The plate <NUM> includes a surface <NUM>, shown in <FIG>, that contacts the outer peripheral surfaces <NUM> of the rollers <NUM> to frictionally drive the rollers <NUM>. The outer peripheral surfaces <NUM> of the rollers <NUM> and the surface <NUM> of the plate <NUM> engage one another such that rotation of the plate <NUM> correspondingly rotates the rollers <NUM>, causing each of the rollers <NUM> to rotate about an individual axis A1, each of the axes A1 extending radially outward from and perpendicular to longitudinal axis A2. Collectively, the rollers <NUM> rotate along a circumferential path about the longitudinal axis A2 of the roller driver <NUM>. The surface <NUM> of the plate <NUM> includes an annular groove <NUM> sized and shaped to receive or accommodate respective portions of the rollers <NUM>. In some implementations, the surface <NUM> may omit the annular groove <NUM> but, rather, include a plurality of individual indentations. Each of the indentations receives one of the rollers <NUM> and has a shape that corresponds to the outer peripheral surface <NUM> of the rollers <NUM>. In other implementations, the surface <NUM> may be generally planar and exclude the annular groove or individual indentations.

As shown in <FIG>, the track housing <NUM> forms a circular channel <NUM>. The channel <NUM> defines a track <NUM> that forms a path for movement of the rollers <NUM>. The track 722includes edges 724a and 724b. In the example shown, the edges 724a and 724b are defined by chamfers formed in outer an inner edges, respectively, of the channel <NUM>. The rollers <NUM> travel along the channel <NUM> between the edges 724a and 724b while portions of the rollers <NUM> are in contact with the edges 724a and 724b. In some implementations, a width of the track <NUM> may be less than a diameter of the rollers <NUM>.

The channel <NUM> includes an annular gap <NUM> formed between the track <NUM> and an end surface <NUM>. A flexible conduit <NUM> is positioned within the annular gap <NUM> formed in the channel <NUM>. In some instances, a depth of the gap <NUM> is selected such that, the conduit <NUM> is fully occluded by the rollers <NUM> as the rollers <NUM> are moved along the track <NUM>. In other implementations, the depth of the gap <NUM> may be such that the conduit <NUM> is prevented from being fully occluded by the rollers <NUM> as the rollers <NUM> are moved along the track <NUM>. The track <NUM> and the channel <NUM> are arranged such that the rollers <NUM> rotate around the track <NUM> while contacting and deforming the flexible conduit <NUM>.

The rollers <NUM> abut and roll along the edges 724a and 724b while rotating around the track <NUM> and along the conduit <NUM>. Contact between the rollers <NUM> and the edges 724a and 724b prevent the roller from deforming of the conduit <NUM> beyond a selected amount by limiting longitudinal ingress of the rollers <NUM> into the channel <NUM>. This advantageously prevents undesirably high loads on the conduit <NUM>, thereby decreasing wear on the conduit <NUM> and preventing tearing of the conduit <NUM>. The track housing <NUM> also includes a port <NUM> through which the conduit <NUM> extends, as shown, for example, in <FIG>. In some instances, both ends of the conduit <NUM> extend through the port <NUM>. In other implementations, the track housing <NUM> may include separate ports through which opposing ends of the conduit <NUM> extend.

In <FIG>, the conduit <NUM> is illustrated as being a distinct length of tubing. However, the scope of the disclosure is not so limited. In other implementations, the conduit <NUM> may be otherwise formed. For example, the conduit <NUM> may be integrated or integrally formed in the track housing <NUM>. In some implementations, a resilient material may be overmolded onto the track housing <NUM> and positioned around the track <NUM>, such that the overmolded resilient material forms a seal around the track <NUM>. In some implementations, the overmolded resilient material forming the conduit <NUM> may have a convex cross-sectional shape. In some implementations, the resilient material and a surface of the channel <NUM> define a lumen through which fluid may be conveyed. Fluid may freely flow within the lumen (e.g., without distinct tubing). The pump <NUM> may urge the fluid to flow by compressing the resilient material with the rollers <NUM> as the rollers <NUM> move along the track <NUM>. An integrally formed conduit may advantageously make manufacturing more efficient and reduce manufacturing costs. The conduit may be formed within the track housing <NUM> at the same time as the track housing <NUM> is manufactured. As a result, an additional step of positioning the distinct tubing within the channel <NUM> may be avoided.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the pump <NUM> includes a guide member <NUM> disposed between the roller driver <NUM> and the track housing <NUM>. The guide member <NUM> includes a plurality of openings <NUM> extending longitudinally through the guide member <NUM>. The openings <NUM> are sized to receive respective rollers <NUM>. The rollers <NUM> are positioned within the openings <NUM> such that portions of the rollers <NUM> protrude from both longitudinal sides of the guide member <NUM>.

The guide member <NUM> is oriented so that a reference plane extending through the centers of all of the rollers <NUM> contains or is parallel with the axes A1 and is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis A2. The guide member <NUM> may be arranged to maintain the circumferential spacing, radial positioning, and/or axial positioning of the rollers <NUM> as the rollers <NUM> are rotated along the conduit <NUM> by the plate <NUM>. In that regard, the guide member <NUM> may preserve the circular configuration of the rollers <NUM> by preventing undesired circumferential movement of the rollers <NUM> relative to one another, radial movement, and/or axial movement of the rollers <NUM>. This may advantageously ensure regular, periodic, peristaltic fluid flow within the conduit <NUM> by keeping the rollers <NUM> at known, fixed locations relative to one another even as the rollers <NUM> are driven along the conduit <NUM> by the roller driver <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional side view of another exemplary pump <NUM> according to another implementation. The pump <NUM> includes a plurality of rollers <NUM>, a roller driver <NUM>, a track housing <NUM>, and a guide member <NUM>. The rollers <NUM>, the track housing <NUM>, the guide member <NUM>, and the roller driver <NUM> may be similar to those described above in the context of the pump <NUM>. However, the roller driver <NUM> also includes a surface <NUM> formed on plate <NUM> that contacts outer peripheral surfaces of a plurality of rollers <NUM>, as explained below. The pump <NUM> additionally includes the plurality of rollers <NUM> positioned within a support member <NUM> and a channel <NUM> formed in a track housing <NUM>. A track <NUM> is defined by and edges 774a and 774b of the channel <NUM>. Similar to the track <NUM>, described above, the edges 774a and 774b are defined by chamfers formed in outer an inner edges, respectively, of the channel <NUM>. The rollers <NUM> are conveyed along the track <NUM> by rotation of the roller driver <NUM>. A conduit <NUM> is positioned within the channel <NUM>. As the rollers <NUM> are moved along the track <NUM> to compress the conduit <NUM>, the rollers <NUM> are in contact with the edges 774a and 774b. The rollers <NUM> contact and deform the conduit <NUM> so as to occlude all or part of a lumen formed within the conduit <NUM>. The edges 774a and 774b of the track <NUM> limit an amount the rollers are permitted to extend into the channel <NUM> and an amount of by which the conduit <NUM> is occluded by the rollers <NUM>.

Also similar to the conduit <NUM>, the conduit <NUM> may be integrated or integrally formed in the track housing <NUM>. In some implementations, a resilient material may be overmolded onto the track housing <NUM> and positioned around the track <NUM>, such that the overmolded resilient material forms a seal around the track <NUM>. In some implementations, the overmolded resilient material forming the conduit <NUM> may have a convex cross-sectional shaped. In some implementations, the resilient material and a surface of the channel <NUM> define a lumen through which fluid may be conveyed, in some instances, and define a lumen for fluid flow including the channel <NUM>.

The channel <NUM> includes an annular gap <NUM> formed between the track <NUM> and an end surface <NUM>. The flexible conduit <NUM> is positioned within the annular gap <NUM> formed in the channel <NUM>. In some instances, a depth of the gap <NUM> is selected such that, the conduit <NUM> is fully occluded by the rollers <NUM> as the rollers <NUM> are moved along the track <NUM>. In other implementations, the depth of the gap <NUM> may be such that the conduit <NUM> is prevented from being fully occluded by the rollers <NUM> as the rollers <NUM> are moved along the track <NUM>. The track <NUM> and the channel <NUM> are arranged such that the rollers <NUM> rotate around the track <NUM> while contacting and deforming the flexible conduit <NUM>.

The rollers <NUM> are positioned within recesses <NUM> formed in the support member <NUM>. The support member <NUM> operates similarly to the guide member <NUM> in that the support member <NUM> maintains a circumferential spacing, radial positioning, and/or axial positioning of the rollers <NUM> as the rollers <NUM> are rotated along the conduit <NUM> by the plate <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the surface <NUM> includes an annular groove <NUM> sized and shaped to receive or accommodate respective portions of the rollers <NUM>. In other implementations, the surface <NUM> may omit the annular groove <NUM>.

In operation, the roller driver <NUM> is rotated about axis A3 relative to both the track housing <NUM> and the track housing <NUM>. The surface <NUM> of the plate <NUM> contacts the outer peripheral surfaces <NUM> of the rollers <NUM>, and the surface <NUM> contacts the outer peripheral surfaces <NUM> of the rollers <NUM>. The surface <NUM> of the plate <NUM> frictionally engages the outer peripheral surfaces <NUM> of the rollers <NUM> to rotate the rollers <NUM>. In a similar manner, the rollers <NUM> are also rotated by the surface <NUM>. The surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> are on opposite sides of the plate <NUM>. The plate <NUM> simultaneously drives the different sets of rollers <NUM> and <NUM> to urge fluid through conduits <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, when the roller driver <NUM> is rotated about axis A3. In some implementations, the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> may be in fluid communication with one another. Accordingly, the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> may be different segments of the same fluid pathway. In other implementations, the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> may be may be separate from each other and, thus, not in fluid communication with each other. In some implementations, the track housing <NUM> may have one or more ports formed therein (which may be similar to port <NUM>, described above), through which the conduit <NUM> may pass.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate a portion of a probe <NUM>. The probe <NUM> includes a motor <NUM> and an exemplary peristaltic pump <NUM> having rollers <NUM> and a roller driver <NUM>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional side view of the probe <NUM> taken along section line <NUM>-<NUM> in <FIG> is a cross-sectional end view of the probe <NUM>.

The pump <NUM> and the motor <NUM> are disposed within a housing <NUM> of the probe <NUM>. An electrical cable <NUM> provides power to the motor <NUM>. The motor <NUM> includes a motor shaft <NUM>. The motor shaft <NUM> is coupled to a roller driver <NUM> of the pump <NUM> such that the roller driver <NUM> is rotated when the motor shaft <NUM> is rotated. In some implementations, the roller driver <NUM> is attached to the motor shaft <NUM>. In the illustrated implementation, the roller driver <NUM> is a rotating cylinder. The motor shaft <NUM> is received within a bore <NUM> of the roller driver <NUM>. Rotation of the shaft <NUM> causes corresponding rotation of the roller driver <NUM>.

The roller driver <NUM> has a generally cylindrical shape. A surface <NUM> of the roller driver <NUM> is in contact with outer peripheral surfaces <NUM> of one or more rollers <NUM>. The surface <NUM> of the roller driver <NUM> may include a groove <NUM> in which the rollers <NUM> are positioned. The groove <NUM> is sized and shaped to accommodate at least one of the rollers <NUM>. In the illustrated example, the groove <NUM> is sized and shaped to receive all of the rollers <NUM>. In some implementations, the roller driver <NUM> is situated orthogonally to a reference plane <NUM> that includes the centers of all of the rollers <NUM>. The reference plane <NUM> divides each of the rollers <NUM> into a first half <NUM> and a second half <NUM>. At least a portion of the groove <NUM> extends around a portion of the first half <NUM>, a portion of the second half <NUM>, or a portion of both the first half <NUM> and the second half <NUM>. In some implementations, at least a distal portion of the roller driver <NUM> extends longitudinally beyond the rollers <NUM> in a first direction <NUM>, a second direction <NUM>, or in both the first and second directions <NUM> and <NUM>.

The pump <NUM> includes a track housing <NUM>. A channel <NUM> is formed in the track housing and defines a track <NUM>. During operation of the pump <NUM>, the rollers <NUM> are moved along the track <NUM>. A conduit <NUM> and a conduit <NUM> are disposed in a portion of the channel <NUM>. The track <NUM> defines a circular path, and the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> are compressed by the rollers <NUM> as the rollers <NUM> are moved along the track <NUM>. The track <NUM> is defined by chamfered edges 824a and 824b of the channel <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, each of the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> is positioned within a respective portion of the channel <NUM> in a generally semicircular configuration. While two conduits <NUM> and <NUM> are shown, it is understood that pump <NUM> may be utilized with one conduit or more than two conduits in some instances. In some implementations, one conduit can be positioned within the channel <NUM> in a generally circular configuration, such as shown, for example, in <FIG>. The edges 824a and 824b limit radial movement of the rollers <NUM> into the channel <NUM> and prevent damaging deformation of the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> by the rollers <NUM>.

In operation, the roller driver <NUM> drives the rollers <NUM> in contact with the edges 824a and 824b along the circular path defined by the track 822about a longitudinal axis A4 of the housing <NUM>. The rollers <NUM> are periodically in contact and occlude the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> to drive material respectively therethrough. Various portions of the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> come into contact with the rollers <NUM> as the rollers <NUM> move in response to motion of the roller driver <NUM>.

Although <FIG> shows lumens <NUM> and <NUM> of the conduits <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, only partially occluded as the rollers <NUM> ride over and compress the conduits <NUM> and <NUM>, the scope of the disclosure is not so limited. In some implementations, the rollers <NUM> may only partially compress the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> such that the lumens <NUM> and <NUM> is only partially restricted. However, in other implementations, the rollers <NUM> may fully compress the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> such that the lumens and fully occlude the lumens <NUM> and <NUM>. In still other implementations, the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> and/or a size of the channel <NUM> or track <NUM> may be selected such that one of the lumens <NUM> and <NUM> is fully occluded while the other of the lumens <NUM> and <NUM> is only partially occluded.

A support member <NUM> is positioned between the roller driver <NUM> and the track housing <NUM>. A plurality of recesses <NUM> are formed in the support member <NUM> are sized and shaped to receive the rollers <NUM>. The support member <NUM> restricts longitudinal movement of the rollers <NUM> (i.e., movement of the rollers <NUM> in the first and second directions <NUM> and <NUM>) as the roller driver <NUM> drives rollers <NUM> to rotate about the longitudinal axis A4.

<FIG> illustrates an exemplary peristaltic pump <NUM>. Rollers <NUM> are arranged in a circular configuration. A roller driver <NUM> drives the rollers <NUM> to rotate in a circular path in a direction <NUM>. The rollers <NUM> contact conduits <NUM> and <NUM> causing material contained within the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> to be conveyed in a manner as described above. The rollers <NUM> may fully or partially occlude lumens formed in the conduits <NUM> and <NUM>. The pump <NUM> is arranged to pump fluid in the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> in different directions. For example, the rollers <NUM> urge the material (e.g., a fluid) in the conduit <NUM> in the direction <NUM> and the material (e.g., a fluid) in the conduits <NUM> in the direction <NUM>. Q<NUM> IN and Q<NUM> OUT represent a flow rate of material into and out of the pump <NUM>, respectively, via the conduit <NUM>. Q<NUM> IN and Q<NUM> OUT represent a flow rate of material into and out of the pump <NUM>, respectively, via the conduit <NUM>. The direction <NUM> is different than the direction <NUM>. Particularly, in the illustrated example, the direction <NUM> is opposite the direction <NUM>. Accordingly, movement of the rollers <NUM> in a single direction <NUM> can urge material in two different directions. In some implementations, the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> may form parts of separate pathways that do not fluidly communicate with each other. In other implementations, the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> may be different segments of the same fluid pathway. Thus, while the material in the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> may flow in different directions <NUM> and <NUM>, the material in both conduits <NUM> and <NUM> may be material being pumped away from the eye <NUM> via an aspiration conduit, such as the aspiration conduit <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a graph <NUM> that illustrates how the arrangement of <FIG> may advantageously minimize pulsations in the output of the pump <NUM>. The benefits associated with graph <NUM> are applicable to the other pumps described herein. Pulsations describe periodic increases and decreases in the fluid output of the pump <NUM> which occur because of the configurations of the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> and/or the rollers <NUM>. Curve <NUM> illustrates the flow rate within the conduit <NUM> alone, and curve <NUM> illustrates the flow rate within the conduit <NUM> alone. The curves <NUM> and <NUM> include minimas <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. The minima <NUM> and <NUM> represent a portion of the conduits <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, that are occluded as a result of contact with the rollers <NUM>. The minima <NUM> and <NUM> reflect a reduced flow rate through the conduits <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. The curves <NUM> and <NUM> also include maxima <NUM> and <NUM>. Where the rollers <NUM> fully occlude the conduits <NUM> and <NUM>, these portions of the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> contain essentially no material. The maxima <NUM> and <NUM> represent a portion of the conduits <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, that are disposed between rollers <NUM>. These portions of the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> contain a volume of material defined by a portion of the respective lumens formed in the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> between the rollers <NUM>. The conduits <NUM> and <NUM> periodically output the boluses of fluid carried within the volume in the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> between adjacent rollers <NUM>. The relatively large variations in the flow rates (the difference between the maxima and minima) illustrated by curves <NUM> and <NUM> may be indicative of this periodic output of fluid when considering the each of the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> independent of the other.

The arrangement of pump <NUM> advantageously minimizes flow rate variations by configuring the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> and the rollers <NUM> so that the flow within conduits <NUM> and <NUM> is <NUM>° out of phase of each other. Thus, the maxima and minima of the flow rates illustrated in the curves <NUM> and <NUM> cancel one another. With such a configuration, as illustrated by the curve <NUM>, variations in the net or combined flow rate (the difference between the maxima and minima) through the conduits <NUM> and <NUM> are reduced, making for a more continuous flow with lower minima as compared to the flow rates through the individual conduits <NUM> and <NUM>. Accordingly, the pump <NUM> advantageously has a smoother (i.e., less fluctuation) and more continuous total fluid output. While two conduits <NUM> and <NUM> are illustrated in <FIG>, it is understood that three or more conduit segments may be implemented in the pump <NUM> to further reduce fluctuation of the fluid flow to an even greater extent.

<FIG> is a flow diagram of an example ophthalmic surgical method <NUM>. It is understood that the steps of method <NUM> may be performed in a different order than shown in <FIG>, additional steps may be provided before, during, and/or after the described steps, and/or some of the steps described may be replaced or eliminated in other implementations. One or more of steps of the method <NUM> may be carried out by a medical professional, such as a surgeon, during an ophthalmic surgical procedure.

At <NUM>, the method <NUM> includes inserting a tip of a surgical probe into a patient's eye. For example, a surgeon may insert a tip of a cutting needle into the anterior portion of the eye <NUM>. For example, the tip <NUM> of the cutting needle <NUM> of the probe <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, may be inserted into a patient's eye. The cutting needle may include an aspiration lumen <NUM>, such as, for example, the aspiration lumen <NUM> formed in the cutting needle <NUM>. At <NUM>, the surgeon contacts the tip with the lens of the eye. The tip is vibrated at a high rate (e.g., ultrasonically), causing the lens to become fragmented or emulsified. The probe also may include an irrigation sleeve, such as, for example, irrigation sleeve <NUM>. The irrigation sleeve includes an irrigation lumen, e.g., irrigation lumen <NUM>, through which irrigation fluid is delivered to the eye.

The method <NUM> also includes aspirating fluid from the eye using a peristaltic pump disposed within the surgical probe, such as using any of the peristaltic pumps described herein. At <NUM>, the pump may interface with an aspiration conduit, such as, for example, the aspiration conduit <NUM>. The aspiration conduit may be flexible or deformable tubing, for example. The aspiration conduit may be placed in fluid communication with an aspiration lumen formed in the cutting needle, such as aspiration lumen <NUM> formed in the cutting needle <NUM>. The pump may include one or more rollers in contact with the aspiration conduit. The roller(s) are placed in contact with the aspiration conduit, and, as the rollers are driven by a roller driver, as explained above, the roller(s) occlude a lumen formed within the aspiration conduit to pump material peristaltically. The roller driver may be a rotating plate or a rotating cylinder, as explained above, and is arranged to translate, rotate, and/or otherwise move the roller(s). The aspiration conduit to pump fluid away from the eye.

Operation of the pump to cause the roller(s) to move along and compress the aspiration conduit in a manner described herein results in pumping and removal of aspiration fluid from the eye, as indicated at <NUM>. The aspiration fluid may include the irrigation fluid and/or biological material, such as the fragmented/emulsified lens particles.

Claim 1:
An ophthalmic surgical system (<NUM>) comprising:
a handheld probe (<NUM>) comprising
a housing (<NUM>) sized and shaped for grasping by a user; and
a tip (<NUM>) extending from the housing and being sized to penetrate and treat an eye of a patient, the tip (<NUM>) including an aspiration lumen (<NUM>) arranged to carry material away from the eye;
and
a peristaltic pump (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) disposed within the housing, the peristaltic pump comprising
a deformable conduit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising a conduit lumen (<NUM>) extending therethrough, the conduit lumen in fluid communication with the aspiration lumen (<NUM>);
a plurality of rollers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), each roller of the plurality of rollers being in contact with the deformable conduit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and comprising an outer peripheral surface (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), each roller being engaged with the deformable conduit to cause the deformable conduit to deform; and
a roller driver (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) in contact with the outer peripheral surface (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of each roller of the plurality of rollers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), the rollers being movable along the deformable conduit (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) in response to movement of the roller driver to cause movement of material within the conduit lumen (<NUM>) therealong;
characterized in that the rollers are spherical and in that the roller driver (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprises a rotating plate or a rotating cylinder having a surface that frictionally engages the outer peripheral surfaces of the rollers to move the rollers along the deformable conduit to urge the material in the deformable conduit to flow.