Cyclic Aperture Flow Regulator System

摘要

A cyclic aperture flow regulator system is disclosed to control flow exiting from a body cavity during surgery in a way that post-occlusion surges are effectively suppressed. The system is composed by an adjustable fluid aperture installed in a fluid path connecting the aspiration port of a surgical probe with a vacuum source, the probe to be inserted in a body cavity. The cross-sectional area of the fluid aperture can be modified by the action of an actuator portion driven by a controller. The controller commands the actuators in the actuator portion to modify the cross-sectional area of the adjustable fluid aperture in cycles. Each cycle of aperture dimension fluctuation includes at least one segment where the fluid aperture cross-sectional area is substantially reduced. The segment of each cycle where the cross-sectional area of the fluid aperture is substantially reduced can optionally include a transient complete closure of the aperture. The cycles of fluid aperture fluctuation are programmed to occur at a rate fast enough to produce a substantially steady flow, with minimum flow ripple and pressure ripple. Flow rate across the cyclic aperture flow regulator system is a function of the vacuum level of the vacuum source and can be regulated by adjusting the level of the vacuum. Flow rate across the cyclic aperture flow regulator system is also a function of the RMS value of the cross-sectional area of the fluid aperture and can be regulated by adjusting the amplitude of the waveform of each cycle.

主权项

1. A cyclic aperture flow regulator system for use in surgical aspiration of fluid and tissue fragments through an aspiration opening of a surgical probe that is connected to a vacuum source by a fluid path, the flow regulator system comprising:
a) a flow regulator valve defining a fluid aperture with adjustable cross-sectional area said fluid aperture being in said fluid path connecting said aspiration opening of said surgical probe with said vacuum source, b) an actuator associated with said flow regulator valve, the actuator operable to adjust the cross-sectional area of said fluid aperture, and c) a controller, the controller providing a command signal to said actuator to drive the actuator to cause cycles of variation of the cross-sectional area of said fluid aperture, each of said cycles including at least one time segment where said cross-sectional area of said fluid aperture is substantially reduced or closed, said cycles occurring at a frequency sufficiently high to produce a flow that is substantially steady at said aspiration opening of said surgical probe.