METHOD FOR OPERATING A FLUID PUMP, AND OPHTHALMIC SURGICAL SYSTEM WITH SAME

Abstract

A cartridge for a panel of an ophthalmic surgical system for treating an eye is configured for insertion in a cartridge accommodation region of the panel and has at least one fluid pump for conveying a treatment fluid, the fluid pump has a pump chamber and a drive chamber separated from the pump chamber with a partition element that is at least regionally deflectable, wherein a drive fluid is feedable to the drive chamber and the treatment fluid is feedable to the pump chamber. The partition element has at least one plate element made of an at least electrically conductive or at least ferromagnetic material, said plate element also being deflected in the case of a deflection of at least one region of the partition element. Further, a panel and an ophthalmic surgical system are provided.

Claims

1. A cartridge for a panel of an ophthalmic surgical system for treating an eye, the cartridge being configured for insertion in a cartridge accommodation region of the panel, the cartridge comprising: at least one fluid pump configured to convey a treatment fluid, the fluid pump having a pump chamber and a drive chamber separated from the pump chamber with a fluid-tight and ion-tight partition element that is at least regionally deflectable, wherein a drive fluid is feedable to the drive chamber and the treatment fluid is feedable to the pump chamber, wherein the partition element has at least one plate element made of an at least electrically conductive or at least ferromagnetic material, wherein the plate element is also deflected in case of a deflection of at least one region of the partition element and the plate element is spaced apart from an edging of the partition element that holds the partition element and is arranged in a central accommodation region of the partition element, with a ring region running around the accommodation region such that the partition element is in the form of a plate.

2. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thickness of the plate element is smaller than a thickness of the partition element.

3. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate element has a coating.

4. The cartridge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the partition element has at least one connection element located on the drive chamber side and serving for the mechanical connection of the plate element arranged in the accommodation region to the partition element.

5. The cartridge as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one connection element has at least one receiving groove for an edge of the plate element.

6. A panel of an ophthalmic surgical system for treating an eye, the panel comprising: a cartridge accommodation region configured to accommodate a cartridge having at least one fluid pump for conveying a treatment fluid, the fluid pump having a pump chamber and a drive chamber separated from the pump chamber with a partition element that is at least regionally deflectable, wherein a drive fluid is feedable to the drive chamber and the treatment fluid is feedable to the pump chamber; a drive fluid supply system configured to feed the drive fluid into the drive chamber; and a sensor unit configured to detect a deflection position of the partition element, wherein the sensor unit is configured to use a magnetic field to detect a deflection position of the plate element which is part of a cartridge as claimed in claim 1 and arranged on the partition element.

7. An ophthalmic surgical system for treating an eye, the ophthalmic surgical system comprising: a cartridge insertable in a cartridge accommodation region of a panel and having at least one fluid pump configured to convey a treatment fluid, the fluid pump having a pump chamber and a drive chamber separated from the pump chamber with a partition element that is at least regionally deflectable, wherein a drive fluid is feedable to the drive chamber and a treatment fluid is feedable to the pump chamber; the panel which has the cartridge accommodation region for accommodating the cartridge, a drive fluid supply system configured to feed a drive fluid into the drive chamber and a sensor unit configured to detect a deflection position of the partition element; and an ophthalmic surgical handpiece for treating a crystalline lens of the eye, which can be coupled to the panel or the cartridge, wherein at least the cartridge is configured as claimed in claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] The disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of the ophthalmic surgical system according to a first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure,

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a panel of the system according to

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of a connection side of a cartridge for the system according to FIG. 1, and

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional representation of a section of the cartridge according to FIG. 3 arranged in a cartridge accommodation region of the panel according to FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of an ophthalmic surgical system 100 according to the disclosure. The system 100 has a panel 1, to which an irrigation fluid container 2 with an irrigation fluid 3 present therein is coupled. In addition, the system 100 has a cartridge 4 which is insertable into the panel 1. In addition to conveying the irrigation fluid 3 to a surgical instrument 5 as a medical treatment instrument, which serves for phacoemulsification of a lens 7 in an eye 6 as a treatment, the cartridge 4 also serves to remove an aspiration fluid, arising in the process, from a treatment region of the eye 6. In the present case, the surgical instrument 5 is in the form of a handpiece and serves for phacoemulsification of the lens 7 in the eye 6. FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective illustration of the panel 1 without the cartridge 4. FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of an attachment side of the cartridge 4 for connection to the panel 1.

[0048] The system 100 further includes an irrigation fluid flow path 8, which runs from the irrigation fluid container 2 to the surgical instrument 5 via the cartridge 4. In addition, the system 100 has a first fluid pump 10 with a first pump chamber 11, and a first drive chamber 13 separated therefrom by a first partition element 12. The partition element 12 typically has a deformable embodiment. The first partition element 12 has an edge 14, with which it is fixedly connected in the fluid pump 10. At its edge 14, the partition element 12 is not displaceable in an axial direction that runs parallel to a partition element center axis. The partition element 12 is typically securely clamped at its edge 14.

[0049] The irrigation fluid 3 can be delivered to the first pump chamber 11 via the irrigation fluid flow path 8 and a first inlet valve 15 of the first pump chamber 11, depending on a valve state of the inlet valve 15. Moreover, it can be removed from the pump chamber 11 again via an outlet valve 16, depending on the valve state of the latter. The first drive chamber 13 can be acted upon by a first drive fluid 17, which can be delivered with a proportional valve 18 arranged in the panel 1. Depending on a differential pressure between the first drive fluid 17 in the first drive chamber 13 and the irrigation fluid 3 as treatment fluid in the first pump chamber 11, there is a regional deflection of the first partition element 12. A magnitude of the pressure in the first drive chamber 13 is greater than a magnitude of the pressure in the first pump chamber 11. When the inlet valve 15 is closed and the outlet valve 16 is open, the irrigation fluid 3 can flow out of the first pump chamber 11 into a subsidiary path 83 attached to the outlet valve.

[0050] A deflection position of the first partition element 12 can be detected with a first deflection position sensor 19, which is arranged outside the first fluid pump 10, for example in the panel 1. In the present case, the first deflection position sensor 19 is in the form of a sensor unit in the style of an inductive position encoder. The function of the deflection position sensor 19 will be explained further below.

[0051] As is evident from FIG. 1, the drive chamber 13 and the pump chamber 11 with the partition element 12 are arranged in the cartridge 4. As a result, the fluid pump 10 is coupled to a drive fluid feed of the panel 1 and to the deflection position sensor 19 arranged in the panel 1 as a result of arranging the cartridge 4 in the panel 1, and so it is possible to obtain the desired pump function and the detection function for detecting the deflection position of the first partition element 12.

[0052] It is also evident from FIG. 1 that a second fluid pump 20 is fluidically connected in parallel to the fluid pump 10. In the present case, the fluid pump 20 is configured like the fluid pump 10. Therefore, the irrigation fluid flow path 8 in the cartridge 4 is divided into a first subsidiary path 81 and a second subsidiary path 82. The first subsidiary path 81 is attached to the first inlet valve 15, and the second subsidiary path 82 is attached to a second inlet valve 25 of the second fluid pump 20.

[0053] The second fluid pump 20 has a second pump chamber 21, and a second drive chamber 23 separated from the latter with a second partition element 22. The partition element 22 has a second edge 24, which is mounted fixedly in the second fluid pump 20. The second drive chamber 23 can be acted upon by a second drive fluid 27 via a second proportional valve 28 arranged in the panel 1. A deflection position of the partition element 22 can be detected with a deflection position sensor 29, which in the present case is formed in accordance with the deflection position sensor 19. By way of a second outlet valve 26, the irrigation fluid 3 can again leave the second pump chamber 21 into the subsidiary path 84. By way of the subsidiary paths 83, 84, which are attached to the first and second outlet valve 16, 26 respectively, the irrigation fluid leaving the respective fluid pump 10, 20 can be delivered again to the irrigation fluid flow path 8, in order to be delivered to the instrument 5.

[0054] In a region of the fluidic connection of the subsidiary path 83 to the subsidiary path 84, i.e., for example in the downstream irrigation fluid flow path 8, an elastic membrane 50 is formed which can contact the irrigation fluid 3. The membrane 50 is arranged at the cartridge 4. The membrane 50 is contacted by a force sensor 51, which for its part is arranged in the panel 1 when the cartridge 4 is arranged in the cartridge accommodation region 56 (FIG. 4). The membrane 50, in conjunction with the force sensor 51, forms a detection sensor 52.

[0055] During the comminution of the crystalline lens 7, small lens particles are released and can be aspirated together with the delivered irrigation fluid. The irrigation fluid, contaminated with lens particles, is then referred to as aspiration fluid and is conveyed via an aspiration fluid flow path 9 to an aspiration fluid collection container 53. For this purpose, two further fluid pumps 30, 40 connected in parallel are presently provided which, in principle, are embodied comparably to the fluid pumps 10, 20 for the irrigation fluid. For this purpose, provision is made inside the cartridge 4 that the aspiration flow path 9 likewise divides into two subsidiary paths 91, 92, which are attached via respective inlet valves 35, 45 to the respective fluid pumps 30, 40, specifically here to the respective pump chambers 31, 41. Here too, the pump chambers 31, 41 are separated from respective drive chambers 33, 43 by respective partition elements 32, 42. The partition elements 32, 42 have respective edges 34, 44, which are mounted fixedly in the respective fluid pump 30, 40. By way of respective outlet valves 36, 46 and subsidiary paths 93, 94 attached thereto, the aspiration fluid can then be removed via the aspiration fluid flow path 9. A third drive fluid 37 can be guided to the third drive chamber 33 with a third proportional valve 38. Correspondingly, a fourth drive fluid 47 can be guided to a fourth drive chamber 43 with a fourth proportional valve 48. The proportional valves 38, 48 are arranged in the panel 1. The deflection positions of the partition elements 32, 42 can be detected with respective deflection position sensors 39, 49. In the present case, the two fluid pumps 30, 40 are likewise operated alternately like the fluid pumps 10, 20.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective representation of the panel 1 of the ophthalmic surgical system 100 according to FIG. 1. It is evident from FIG. 2 that the panel 1 has the cartridge accommodation region 56, which serves for the detachable arrangement of the cartridge 4. The panel 1 further has a drive fluid supply system 63, which serves to provide the respective drive fluid for the respective drive chambers 13, 23, 33, 43, the drive fluid being formed by air in the present case. The drive fluid supply system 63 has respective drive fluid sources 17, 27, 37, 47 (FIG. 1) for each of the fluid pumps 10, 20, 30, 40, said drive fluid sources being connected to respective proportional valves 18, 28, 38, 48. The drive fluid can be applied to the respective drive chamber 13, 23, 33, 43 by way of the proportional valves 18, 28, 38, 48 during intended operation.

[0057] It is further evident from FIG. 1 that each of the partition elements 12, 22, 32, 42 has a plate element 57 which is also deflected when a central region of the partition element 12, 22, 32, 42 is deflected. In the present case, the plate element 57 is designed as a metal plate and formed from a ferromagnetic substance. A thickness of the plate element 57 is smaller than a thickness of the partition element 12, 22, 32, 42.

[0058] The panel 1 further has a respective deflection position sensor 19, 29, 39, 49 for each of the fluid pumps 10, 20, 30, 40, the deflection position sensor in each case presently providing a sensor unit which uses a magnetic field in order to detect the position of the respective plate element 57 and hence of the respective partition element 12, 22, 32, 42.

[0059] FIG. 4 schematically shows a section of the cartridge 4 according to FIG. 3 arranged in the cartridge accommodation 56 of the panel 1 according to FIG. 2, to be precise in the region of the fluid pump 10. The following explanations are equally applicable to the fluid pumps 20, 30, 40. It is evident from FIG. 4 that the plate element 57 is arranged at a distance from an edging 58 of a housing (not labeled) of the cartridge 4 which holds the partition element 12.

[0060] The plate element 57 is provided on the drive chamber side of the partition element 12 such that the pump chamber 11 is arranged separated from the plate element 57 by the partition element 12. This is advantageous for reasons of sterility. To protect the plate element 57 from corrosion on account of an interaction with the drive fluid, the plate element 57 has a coating formed by a resin in the present case.

[0061] On the drive chamber side, the partition element 12 has a central accommodation region 59 for arranging the plate element 57, with a ring region 60 of the partition element 12 extending around the accommodation region 59 in the circumferential direction. In the present case, the accommodation region 59 is positioned in the central region of the partition element 12. This can ensure that the partition element 12 can be moved in substantially unimpeded fashion for an intended pump function.

[0062] To connect the partition element 12 to the plate element 57, provision is made in the present case for the partition element 12 to be provided on the drive chamber side with a connection element 61 for mechanically connecting the plate element 57 arranged in the accommodation region 59 to the partition element 12. In the present case, the connection element 61 is formed in the style of a frame which has a receiving groove 62 for an edge of the plate element 57. In particular, this makes it possible to easily remove the respective plate element 57 from the respective partition element 12, 22, 32, 42 once the cartridge 4 has been used, in order to be able to continue to use the substances separately.

[0063] However, a cohesive connection may also be provided in principle, in the case of which the plate element 57 is completely surrounded by a material of the partition element 12. By way of example, this can be implemented during the production of the partition element 12 by virtue of the plate element 57 being insert-molded into the substance, or the like. In principle, an adhesive connection may also be provided between the partition element 12 and the plate element 57. Naturally, these deliberations are equally applicable to the further fluid pumps 20, 30, 40 as well.

[0064] The partition element 12 is held in an edging 58 on a housing of the cartridge 4. The edging 58 not only seals the pump chamber 11 from the drive chamber 13 but also ensures reliable positioning of the partition element 12 during the intended operation of the fluid pump 10.

[0065] In the present case, the deflection position sensor 19 is in the form of an inductive sensor which, for example by using a substantially constant magnetic field, detects the position of the plate element 57 and transmits a corresponding sensor signal to a control device (not illustrated) of the panel 1. The control device of the panel 1 can evaluate this signal and can control the fluid pump 10 and the associated valves accordingly.

[0066] In this configuration, the partition element 12 has a geometry in the style of a circular panel. However, an at least partly polygonal contour may also be provided in alternative configurations. Thus, the plate element may also have a rectangular embodiment or the like.

[0067] In this configuration, the partition element 12 further has a bulge in an edge region that is the ring region 60. Proceeding from its edging 58, the partition element 12 therefore does not continue in planar fashion in the cross section, instead continuing in an arched manner, and so the partition element 12 has a plate-like embodiment in the cross section. This edge region 60 arched in plate-shaped fashion is advantageous since the partition element 12 can bulge out in the direction of an inner wall of the fluid chamber 11 when drive fluid is fed to the drive chamber 13 and can rest against the entirety of this inner wall in homogeneous fashion. Hence, the treatment fluid contained in the pump chamber 11 can be drained completely, and the pump chamber can be completely emptied. Hence, no residue of treatment fluid remains in the pump chamber 11, and so a maximally large conveying volume can be fed and removed. Additionally, what the edge region 60 arched like a plate achieves is that the plate element 57 is movable along the center axis of the partition element 12 with great accuracy and there is no wobble movement of the plate element 57. The partition element 12 is typically dimensioned such that a spring constant of less than 50 mmHg/10 mm is obtained.

[0068] It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0069] 1 Panel [0070] 2 Irrigation fluid container [0071] 3 Irrigation fluid [0072] 4 Cartridge [0073] 5 Surgical instrument [0074] 6 Eye [0075] 7 Crystalline lens [0076] 8 Irrigation fluid flow path [0077] 9 Aspiration flow path [0078] 10 Fluid pump [0079] 11 Pump chamber [0080] 12 Partition element [0081] 13 Drive chamber [0082] 14 Edge [0083] 15 Inlet valve [0084] 16 Outlet valve [0085] 17 Drive fluid source [0086] 18 Proportional valve [0087] 19 Deflection position sensor [0088] 20 Fluid pump [0089] 21 Pump chamber [0090] 22 Partition element [0091] 23 Drive chamber [0092] 24 Edge [0093] 25 Inlet valve [0094] 26 Outlet valve [0095] 27 Drive fluid source [0096] 28 Proportional valve [0097] 29 Deflection position sensor [0098] 30 Fluid pump [0099] 31 Pump chamber [0100] 32 Partition element [0101] 33 Drive chamber [0102] 34 Edge [0103] 35 Inlet valve [0104] 36 Outlet valve [0105] 37 Drive fluid source [0106] 38 Proportional valve [0107] 39 Deflection position sensor [0108] 41 Pump chamber [0109] 42 Partition element [0110] 43 Drive chamber [0111] 44 Edge [0112] 45 Inlet valve [0113] 46 Outlet valve [0114] 47 Drive fluid source [0115] 48 Proportional valve [0116] 49 Deflection position sensor [0117] 50 Membrane [0118] 51 Force sensor [0119] 52 Detection sensor [0120] 53 Aspiration fluid collection container [0121] 54 Adjustment mechanism [0122] 55 Coupling [0123] 56 Cartridge accommodation region [0124] 57 Metal plate [0125] 58 Edging [0126] 59 Accommodation region [0127] 60 Ring region [0128] 61 Connection element [0129] 62 Groove [0130] 63 Drive fluid supply system [0131] 81, 82, 83, 84, 91, 92, 93, 94 Subsidiary path [0132] 100 Ophthalmic surgical system