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Publication Number
US-10219941-B2
Publication Date
2019-03-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for conducting a vitrectomy includes: a gas source; a vitrector including a cutting mechanism that opens and closes according to a pressure at the vitrector; and a pulse-generating system receiving gas from the gas source and generating pulses at the vitrector. The pulses cause the pressure at the vitrector to vary according to a cycle, and the varying pressure at the vitrector causes the cutting mechanism of the vitrector to open and close. At a first time in the cycle, the pulse-generating system, raises the pressure at the vitrector to a maximum pressure. At a second time in the cycle, the pulse-generating system reduces the pressure at the vitrector to a minimum pressure that is greater than ambient, the pressure at the vitrector being maintained at least at the minimum pressure. The difference between the maximum pressure and minimum pressure is minimized to reduce gas consumption.
Core Innovation
A portable gas-driven vitrectomy system is provided in which a vitrector includes a cutting mechanism that opens and closes according to a pressure at the vitrector and a resisting force. A pulse-generating system generates pulses at the vitrector, and the pulses cause the pressure at the vitrector to vary according to a cycle. The varying pressure and the resisting force cause the cutting mechanism of the vitrector to repeatedly open and close.
In the cycle, at a first time in the cycle, the pulse-generating system generates a pulse and raises the pressure at the vitrector to a maximum pressure to close the cutting mechanism. At a second time in the cycle, the pulse-generating system reduces the pressure at the vitrector to a minimum pressure that is greater than ambient, and the pressure at the vitrector is maintained at least at the minimum pressure. The resisting force causes the cutting mechanism to open when the minimum pressure is maintained above ambient.
The pulse-generating architecture supports gas pressure pulses that cyclically vary pressure while minimizing pressure difference between maximum and minimum to reduce gas consumption. The system is configured with portable gas cylinders sized for the pulse-generating system, and valve-based pulse/pressure control to pressurize to a maximum and exhaust to a minimum above ambient. Additional portable-system features include an internal aspiration vacuum and a low-pressure air for fluid-air exchange independent of external hospital gas/air supplies.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims (system, method, and alternative system) grounded in a cycle-based pulse-generating approach that varies vitrector pressure so that, together with a resisting force, the vitrector cutting mechanism opens and closes. Across the independent claims, the main inventive features focus on a maximum-to-minimum pressure cycle with a minimum pressure greater than ambient and maintained at least at that minimum, and a pulse cycle structure that in one claim includes only a single pulse.
Cycle-based pressure pulses for open-close vitrector cutting mechanism
A vitrector including a cutting mechanism that opens and closes according to a pressure and a resisting force at the vitrector, and a pulse-generating system generating pulses at the vitrector causing the pressure at the vitrector to vary according to a cycle, wherein the varying pressure and the resisting force cause the cutting mechanism of the vitrector to open and close.
Maximum pressure closes and minimum-above-ambient maintains opening
At a first time in the cycle, generating a pulse and raising pressure at the vitrector to a maximum pressure to close the cutting mechanism, and at a second time in the cycle reducing the pressure at the vitrector to a minimum pressure that is greater than ambient, maintaining the pressure at the vitrector at least at the minimum pressure such that the resisting force causes the cutting mechanism to open.
Single pulse per cycle pressure variation opens and closes
A system in which the cycle includes only a single pulse, the varying pressure at the vitrector causing the cutting mechanism of the vitrector to open and close, wherein at a first time in the cycle the single pulse raises the pressure at the vitrector to a maximum pressure, and at a second time in the cycle the pulse-generating system reduces the pressure at the vitrector to a minimum pressure that is greater than ambient and maintains the pressure at least at the minimum pressure.
Generate pulses method for maximum closes and minimum-above-ambient maintains open
Providing a pulse-generating system and generating pulses at a vitrector, wherein the pulses cause the pressure at the vitrector to vary according to a cycle such that the varying pressure and a resisting force cause the cutting mechanism to open and close, including raising at a first time the pressure at the vitrector to a maximum pressure to close the cutting mechanism, and reducing at a second time the pressure at the vitrector to a minimum pressure greater than ambient and maintaining the pressure at the vitrector at least at the minimum pressure so that the resisting force causes the cutting mechanism to open.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on generating vitrector pressure pulses according to a pressure cycle with a maximum pressure at a first time that closes the cutting mechanism, followed by a reduction to a minimum pressure greater than ambient that is maintained at least at that minimum so the resisting force opens the cutting mechanism. An alternative independent system further requires the cycle to include only a single pulse.
Stated Advantages
Minimizing pressure difference between maximum and minimum pressures to reduce gas consumption.
Documented Applications
Portable use of a gas-driven vitrectomy system, including operation with internal aspiration vacuum and low-pressure air for fluid-air exchange independent of external hospital gas/air supplies.
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