Surgical instrument for minimally invasive aspiration of tissue
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Publication Number
US-10925769-B2
Publication Date
2021-02-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus for disruption of cataracts in lens tissue. The apparatus includes a housing; a source of pulsed laser radiation; and an optical waveguide. The optical waveguide is configured to transmit the pulsed laser radiation from the source of pulsed laser radiation, and is coupleable to the source of pulsed laser radiation at a proximal end of the optical waveguide to receive the pulsed laser radiation from the source of pulsed laser radiation. The apparatus also includes a driving mechanism coupled to the optical waveguide for controllably changing the position of the optical waveguide relative to a distal end of the housing.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an apparatus for disruption of cataracts in lens tissue using pulsed laser radiation delivered through an optical waveguide. The optical waveguide includes a flexible optical fiber configured to transmit the pulsed laser radiation and is coupleable to a source of pulsed laser radiation at a proximal end to receive the pulsed laser radiation from the source.
A housing contains the optical waveguide, and the apparatus includes aspiration and irrigation channels with at least one of a flow rate sensor or a pressure sensor positioned within the channels. The at least one of the flow rate sensor or the pressure sensor is coupled to a control system, and the control system uses sensed vacuum pressure and/or a flow rate received from the sensors.
A driving mechanism coupled to the optical waveguide controllably changes the position of the optical waveguide relative to a distal end of the housing. The driving mechanism is controlled by the control system to position the optical fiber in response to at least one of the vacuum pressure from the pressure sensor or the flow rate from the flow rate sensor received by the control system.
Claims Coverage
The disclosure includes one independent claim (clm-00001), which defines an apparatus with a flexible optical-fiber laser delivery path and sensor-driven positioning coordinated with aspiration/irrigation channels. The independent claim’s coverage centers on controlling fiber position based on pressure and/or flow sensor signals from a control system.
Flexible optical waveguide for delivering pulsed laser radiation to disrupt cataracts
An optical waveguide at least partially housed within a housing, including a flexible optical fiber, configured to transmit pulsed laser radiation for causing disruption of cataracts and coupleable to a source of pulsed laser radiation at a proximal end of the optical waveguide to receive the pulsed laser radiation.
Aspiration/irrigation sensing coupled to a control system
At least one of a flow rate sensor or a pressure sensor positioned within aspiration and irrigation channels of the apparatus, wherein at least one of the flow rate sensor or the pressure sensor is coupled to a control system.
Sensor-responsive driving mechanism for positioning the optical waveguide relative to a distal end
A driving mechanism coupled to the optical waveguide for controllably changing the position of the optical waveguide relative to a distal end of the housing, where the driving mechanism is controlled by the control system to position the optical fiber in response to at least one of a vacuum pressure from the pressure sensor or a flow rate from the flow rate sensor received by the control system.
Overall, the independent claim ties together pulsed laser disruption via a flexible optical fiber, aspiration/irrigation sensor inputs (flow rate and/or pressure), and a driving mechanism that controllably repositions the optical fiber relative to the distal end in response to vacuum pressure and/or flow rate signals received by the control system.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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