Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc.

Biosense Webster (israel) Ltd.

Biosense Webster, Inc.

Eran Aharon

Assaf Govari

Andres Claudio Altmann

Yehuda Algawi

Ilya Sitnitsky

Amit Fuchs

Stanislav Katzir

Vadim Gliner

Christopher Thomas Beeckler

Joseph Thomas Keyes

An eye surgery system includes an Input/Output (I/O) device and a processor. The I/O device is configured to enable a user to define one or more eye surgery protocols, and further configured to, using the I/O device, present a graphical user interface (GUI) that displays one or more user defined eye surgery protocols. The processor is configured to (a) present the one or more user defined eye surgery protocols on the I/O device using the GUI, (b) test compatibility of the one or more user defined eye surgery protocols with the eye surgery system, and (c) provide an indication of the compatibility to a user of the eye surgery system.

Managing phacoemulsification user defined protocols

A system for visualizing catheter irrigation, the system includes a fluid container, a pump, a schlieren imaging assembly and a processor. The fluid container is configured to: (i) contain a first fluid, which is at least partially transparent and has a first temperature, and (ii) receive into the first fluid a catheter having one or more irrigation holes. The pump is configured to inject, through the one or more irrigation holes, a second fluid, which is at least partially transparent and has a second different temperature. The schlieren imaging assembly is configured to acquire schlieren images of turbulence occurring in the first fluid when injecting the second fluid, and the processor is configured to visualize the irrigation using the schlieren images.

Visualizing catheter irrigation using schlieren images

A system for controlling aspiration of a phacoemulsification probe inserted into an eye includes an anti-vacuum surge (AVS) module, one or more sensors, a vacuum relief valve, and a processor. The AVS module is coupled with an aspiration channel of the probe and is configured to mitigate vacuum surges in the channel by regulating flow via the channel. The one or more sensors are configured to measure fluid parameters in the channel. The vacuum relief valve, which is fluidly coupled with the channel, is configured to controllably relieve vacuum in the channel. The processor is configured to identify a change in at least one of the fluid parameters by reading at least one of the one or more sensors, and, responsively to an identified change in fluid parameters, operate the vacuum relief valve using pulse width modulation (PWM) to maintain a pressure in the channel within a predefined range.

Pulse width modulation (PWM) operated vacuum relief valve in conjunction with an anti-vacuum surge (AVS) module

A phacoemulsification apparatus includes a phacoemulsification probe, an electromechanical valve, and an electromechanical mechanism. The probe having a fluid channel for exchanging fluid with a patient's eye. The electromechanical valve is coupled with the fluid channel and is configured to regulate a fluid flow through the fluid channel. The valve including a cylinder, a piston inside the cylinder, wherein the piston divides the cylinder into a first cavity that is in fluid communication with the fluid channel, and a second cavity, and one or more fluid communication links, which are formed between the first and second cavities. The piston is configured to move inside the cylinder to regulate the flow of the fluid, and the one or more fluid communication links are configured to allow the fluid to flow between the first and second cavities during motion of the piston. The electromechanical mechanism is configured to move the piston.

Reducing irrigation/aspiration valve response time in a phacoemulsification system

A phacoemulsification simulation apparatus includes a trigger device, at least two sensors, and a processor. The trigger device configured to apply, to fluid at an inlet of a needle of a phacoemulsifier, a pressure profile as a function of time in response to an input waveform. The at least two sensors are configured to measure a pressure of the fluid at respective points in the phacoemulsification simulation apparatus. The processor is configured to (a) drive the trigger device with the input waveform, thereby causing the trigger device to apply the pressure profile to the inlet while the fluid is aspirated via an aspiration line, (b) receive measurements of the pressure of the fluid from the at least two sensors, and (c) analyze an aspiration performance of the phacoemulsifier in response to the measurements.

Evaluation of phacoemulsification devices

An apparatus includes a base, including two motors and a mechanical coupling mechanism, and a cartridge shaped to define two stators and respective pairs of ports in fluidic communication with the stators. The cartridge is removably insertable into the base and includes two rotors disposed, respectively, within the stators. The mechanical coupling mechanism is configured to mechanically couple the rotors to the motors, respectively, such that, following insertion of the cartridge into the base, the motors rotate the rotors, thereby pumping fluid through the pairs of ports. Other embodiments are also described.

Disposable pump cartridge

A phacoemulsification system includes a phacoemulsification probe and a processor. The phacoemulsification probe includes (a) a needle configured for insertion into a lens capsule of an eye, and to be vibrated to emulsify a lens of the eye, (b) an irrigation channel for flowing irrigation fluid into the lens capsule, (c) an aspiration channel for removing material from the lens capsule, (d) a bypass channel fluidly coupled with the irrigation channel and with the aspiration channel, (e) a processor-controlled valve configured to control a level of fluid communication between the irrigation channel and the aspiration channel via the bypass channel, and (f) one or more sensors configured to measure fluid pressure at a distal portion of one or both of the irrigation channel and the aspiration channel. The processor is configured to adaptively adjust the valve based on the fluid pressure measured by the one or more sensors.

Aspiration bypass control in a phacoemulsification probe

An apparatus for mechanically coupling a motor to a rotor includes an outer ring including an inner surface shaped to define multiple recesses, an inner ring disposed within the outer ring and shaped to define multiple compartments having respective outer openings, which face the outer ring, and respective inner openings opposite the outer openings, and multiple gripping elements disposed within the compartments, respectively. The inner ring is configured to receive the rotor while the compartments are aligned with the of recesses, by virtue of the gripping elements sitting at least partially within the recesses. The outer ring is configured to couple with a shaft coupled with the motor such that rotation of the shaft by the motor causes the compartments to become misaligned with the recesses, thereby causing the outer ring to push the gripping elements, through the outer openings, against the rotor, through the inner openings.

Clutch for disposable pump cartridge

A system for visualizing one or more bubbles formed by a catheter, the system includes a fluid container, a pulse generator, a schlieren imaging assembly, and a processor. The fluid container is configured to: (i) contain a fluid, and (ii) receive into the fluid the catheter having one or more electrodes. The pulse generator is configured to apply one or more pulses to at least one of the electrodes. The schlieren imaging assembly is configured to acquire schlieren images of the bubbles occurring in the fluid when applying the one or more pulses, and the processor is configured to visualize the bubbles using the schlieren images.

Detecting and visualizing bubbles formed in medical procedure using schlieren images

In one embodiment, an irrigated medical system includes a medical tool, an irrigation line configured to fluidically connect an irrigation reservoir storing irrigation fluid to the medical tool, and provide at least some of the irrigation fluid to the medical tool, a force sensor configured to be coupled with the irrigation reservoir, and provide a signal responsively to a force exerted by the irrigation reservoir on the force sensor over time as irrigation fluid in the irrigation reservoir is depleted, and a controller configured to find an irrigation rate of the irrigation fluid flowing in the irrigation line responsively to the signal.

Accurate irrigation rate measurement system and method

A system includes (i) a solenoid valve, positioned between a handle of a probe, and an aspiration line coupled with the handle for aspirating fluids from the probe, the solenoid valve includes at least a solenoid coil and a plunger movable by the solenoid coil, (ii) a sensor, positioned between the handle and the aspiration line and configured to produce a signal indicative of a fluid metric in the aspiration line, and (iii) a controller, configured to identify, based on the signal, a vacuum surge in the aspiration line, and, in response to identifying the vacuum surge, to apply at least one current to the solenoid coil to selectively move the plunger between a first position and a second position, and to selectively maintain the plunger in the first position and the second position.

Controlling intraocular pressure during phacoemulsification procedure

In some embodiments, a fluid dynamics system includes a solenoid valve including a valve body including ports including an inlet port and an outlet port, and a valve cavity having a direction of elongation and configured to provide fluid connectivity between respective ones of the ports, a solenoid coil disposed in the valve body around valve cavity, and a plunger comprising a permanent magnet, and configured to move back-and-forth along the direction of elongation between a first position and a second position in the valve cavity selectively controlling the fluid connectivity between respective ones of the ports, and a controller configured to apply at least one current to the solenoid coil to selectively move the plunger between the first position and the second position, and to selectively maintain the plunger in the first position and the second position.

Fluid dynamics control

In one embodiment, a fluid dynamics system includes a solenoid valve including a valve body including ports including an inlet and outlet port, and a valve cavity having a direction of elongation and configured to provide fluid connectivity between ones of the ports, a solenoid coil disposed around valve cavity, and a plunger including a permanent magnet, and configured to move back-and-forth along the direction of elongation between a first and a second position in the valve cavity selectively controlling the fluid connectivity between respective ones of the ports, the valve body including shock absorber(s) to soften striking of the plunger against the valve body in the direction of elongation, and a controller configured to apply at least one current to the solenoid coil to selectively move the plunger between the first and second position, and to selectively maintain the plunger in the first position and the second position.

Solenoid valve shock absorber

A ventilator system for a patient includes: an intubation tube configured to flow oxygen-enriched humidified air (OHA) toward patient lungs and to evacuate exhaust air exhaled from the lungs, the intubation tube includes: a distal end, configured to be inserted into patient trachea, and a proximal end, configured to be connected to tubes for receiving the OHA and evacuating the exhaust air; a first microgravity sensor, coupled to the intubation tube at a first position, and configured to produce a first signal indicative of a first micro-acceleration of the intubation tube at the first position; a second microgravity sensor, coupled to the intubation tube at a second different position, and configured to produce a second signal indicative of a second micro-acceleration of the intubation tube at the second position; and a processor, configured to control the ventilation system to apply a ventilation scheme responsively to the first and second signals.

Growing community of inventors

Haifa, Israel

Eran Aharon