US5520633A — Computer controlled smart phacoemulsification met…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 63 words

A control system for a surgical transducer for operating on a human part, comprising: means for monitoring mechanical impedance of the load to determine changes in characteristics of a load encountered by the surgical transducer; and means for controlling an operating characteristic of said transducer based on a relationship which is at least partly non-linear between said mechanical impedance and said operating characteristic.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 63 words

A control system for a surgical transducer for operating on a human part, comprising: means for monitoring mechanical impedance of the load to determine changes in characteristics of a load encountered by the surgical transducer; and means for controlling an operating characteristic of said transducer based on a relationship which is at least partly non-linear between said mechanical impedance and said operating characteristic.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 33 words

A control system as in claim 1 wherein said controlling means includes means for weighting said mechanical impedance with a weighting factor which is dependent on an amount of driving of said transducer.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

A control system as in claim 2 wherein said amount of driving of said transducer is a power of said transducer or a movement amount of said transducer.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

A control system as in claim 1 wherein said controlling means comprises a processor which stores a map of said non-linear and linear relationship between mechanical impedance and said operating characteristics.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 92 words

A control system for a surgical transducer for operating on a human part, comprising: a monitoring device, which monitors mechanical impedance of a load, to determine changes in characteristics of the load encountered by the surgical transducer, said monitoring device including a solid state microsensor mechanically coupled to said surgical transducer to determine an amount of movement thereof and means for calculating mechanical impedance from said amount of movement and from electrical characteristics supplied to said transducer; and means for controlling an operating characteristic of said transducer based on said mechanical impedance.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 92 words

A control system for a surgical transducer for operating on a human part, comprising: a monitoring device, which monitors mechanical impedance of a load, to determine changes in characteristics of the load encountered by the surgical transducer, said monitoring device including a solid state microsensor mechanically coupled to said surgical transducer to determine an amount of movement thereof and means for calculating mechanical impedance from said amount of movement and from electrical characteristics supplied to said transducer; and means for controlling an operating characteristic of said transducer based on said mechanical impedance.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 26 words

A system as in claim 5, wherein said calculating means calculates said first characteristic by obtaining a quotient between voltage and current driving the surgical transducer.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 116 words

A control system for a surgical transducer for operating on a human part, comprising: a monitoring device, which monitors a first characteristic of a load, said first characteristic being one which is related to hardness of the load as a function of electrical characteristics to the surgical transducer to determine changes in characteristics of the load encountered by the surgical transducer, said monitoring device including a solid state microsensor coupled to said surgical transducer to determine an amount of movement thereof and means for calculating said first characteristic from said amount of movement and from a power supplied to said transducer; and means for controlling an operating characteristic of said transducer based on said first characteristic.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 116 words

A control system for a surgical transducer for operating on a human part, comprising: a monitoring device, which monitors a first characteristic of a load, said first characteristic being one which is related to hardness of the load as a function of electrical characteristics to the surgical transducer to determine changes in characteristics of the load encountered by the surgical transducer, said monitoring device including a solid state microsensor coupled to said surgical transducer to determine an amount of movement thereof and means for calculating said first characteristic from said amount of movement and from a power supplied to said transducer; and means for controlling an operating characteristic of said transducer based on said first characteristic.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 21 words

A system as in claim 7 wherein said solid state microsensor is a piezoelectric element mechanically coupled to said surgical transducer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 12 words

A system as in claim 7 wherein said microsensor is an accelerometer.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 124 words

A method of controlling an operation in a human body part comprising the steps of: forming a map between a mechanical impedance of different portions of said body part and a characteristic of a surgical instrument which will conduct the operation, said map indicating which characteristic should be used for said different mechanical impedances; operating the surgical instrument to conduct said operation; detecting a first mechanical impedance presented to the surgical instrument; determining a relation between the first mechanical impedance presented to the surgical instrument with respect to a second mechanical impedance of a previous load presented to the surgical instrument; automatically changing a function of the surgical instrument if said first mechanical impedance differs from said second mechanical impedance by a predetermined amount.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 124 words

A method of controlling an operation in a human body part comprising the steps of: forming a map between a mechanical impedance of different portions of said body part and a characteristic of a surgical instrument which will conduct the operation, said map indicating which characteristic should be used for said different mechanical impedances; operating the surgical instrument to conduct said operation; detecting a first mechanical impedance presented to the surgical instrument; determining a relation between the first mechanical impedance presented to the surgical instrument with respect to a second mechanical impedance of a previous load presented to the surgical instrument; automatically changing a function of the surgical instrument if said first mechanical impedance differs from said second mechanical impedance by a predetermined amount.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 145 words

A method of controlling an operation in a human body part comprising the steps of: forming a map between a mechanical impedance of different portions of said body part and a characteristic of a surgical instrument which will conduct the operation, said map indicating which characteristic should be used for said different portions, said map including a relationship between said characteristic and said mechanical impedance, which relationship is at least partially non-linear; operating the surgical instrument to conduct said operation; detecting a mechanical impedance presented to the surgical instrument; determining a relation between the mechanical impedance presented to the surgical instrument with respect to a previous load presented to the surgical instrument; automatically increasing an amount of driving if said mechanical impedance is greater than said previous load; and automatically decreasing said amount of driving if said mechanical impedance is less than said previous load.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 145 words

A method of controlling an operation in a human body part comprising the steps of: forming a map between a mechanical impedance of different portions of said body part and a characteristic of a surgical instrument which will conduct the operation, said map indicating which characteristic should be used for said different portions, said map including a relationship between said characteristic and said mechanical impedance, which relationship is at least partially non-linear; operating the surgical instrument to conduct said operation; detecting a mechanical impedance presented to the surgical instrument; determining a relation between the mechanical impedance presented to the surgical instrument with respect to a previous load presented to the surgical instrument; automatically increasing an amount of driving if said mechanical impedance is greater than said previous load; and automatically decreasing said amount of driving if said mechanical impedance is less than said previous load.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method as in claim 11 wherein said automatically increasing and said automatically decreasing steps drive a power of said transducer or a movement amount of said transducer.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 128 words

An apparatus for enabling operations on a human body part comprising: memory means for storing a map between mechanical impedance of said human body parts and a characteristic to be used in operation for that mechanical impedance; a surgical tool, having a characteristic which can conduct the operation on said human body parts; a mechanical sensor, coupled to said surgical tool for detecting properties of movement of said surgical tool; and processing means for detecting an amount of power provided to said surgical tool and calculating a mechanical impedance based on said properties of power and said amount of movement and for using said mechanical impedance to address said map to thereby obtain information indicative of said operation and to use said information to control said surgical tool.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 128 words

An apparatus for enabling operations on a human body part comprising: memory means for storing a map between mechanical impedance of said human body parts and a characteristic to be used in operation for that mechanical impedance; a surgical tool, having a characteristic which can conduct the operation on said human body parts; a mechanical sensor, coupled to said surgical tool for detecting properties of movement of said surgical tool; and processing means for detecting an amount of power provided to said surgical tool and calculating a mechanical impedance based on said properties of power and said amount of movement and for using said mechanical impedance to address said map to thereby obtain information indicative of said operation and to use said information to control said surgical tool.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 50 words

A system as in claim 13 wherein said map also stores a resonant frequency of various portions of said body part and said processing means further includes means for calculating a current resonant frequency and means for using said resonant frequency along with said mechanical impedance to determine said characteristic.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 84 words

A control system for a surgical transducer for operating on a human part, comprising: first means for determining a relationship which is at least partially non-linear between characteristics of the human part and characteristics of the surgical transducer; an impedance monitoring device, monitoring impedance of the human part to determine changes in characteristics of the human part encountered by the surgical transducer; and a processor, controlling an operating characteristic of said transducer based on said mechanical impedance and said at least partly non-linear relationship.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 84 words

A control system for a surgical transducer for operating on a human part, comprising: first means for determining a relationship which is at least partially non-linear between characteristics of the human part and characteristics of the surgical transducer; an impedance monitoring device, monitoring impedance of the human part to determine changes in characteristics of the human part encountered by the surgical transducer; and a processor, controlling an operating characteristic of said transducer based on said mechanical impedance and said at least partly non-linear relationship.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 16 words

A system as in claim 15 wherein said first means is a memory storing a map.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

A system as in claim 15 wherein said operating characteristic includes a characteristic from the group consisting of aspiration control or power supply control.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 15 words

A system as in claim 15 wherein said operating characteristic is frequency of the transducer.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 75 words

A method of controlling a surgical transducer operating on a human part, comprising: determining a relationship which is at least partly non-linear between characteristics of the human part and characteristics of the surgical transducer; monitoring mechanical impedance of the human part to determine changes in characteristics of the human part encountered by the surgical transducer; and controlling an operating characteristic of said transducer based on said mechanical impedance and said at least partly non-linear relationship.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 75 words

A method of controlling a surgical transducer operating on a human part, comprising: determining a relationship which is at least partly non-linear between characteristics of the human part and characteristics of the surgical transducer; monitoring mechanical impedance of the human part to determine changes in characteristics of the human part encountered by the surgical transducer; and controlling an operating characteristic of said transducer based on said mechanical impedance and said at least partly non-linear relationship.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method as in claim 19 wherein said controlling an operating characteristic controls a characteristic from the group consisting of aspiration control or power supply control.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method as in claim 19 wherein said controlling an operating characteristic controls frequency of the transducer.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 66 words

A method of controlling a surgical transducer, comprising the steps of: determining, for a particular transducer, the linearity relationship between hardness of a material encountered by the transducer and resonant frequency; monitoring a characteristic of the transducer during an operation on a load; adjusting said transducer using said determined non-linear relationship, to produce an adjusted characteristic; controlling the operation of said transducer using said adjusted characteristic.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 66 words

A method of controlling a surgical transducer, comprising the steps of: determining, for a particular transducer, the linearity relationship between hardness of a material encountered by the transducer and resonant frequency; monitoring a characteristic of the transducer during an operation on a load; adjusting said transducer using said determined non-linear relationship, to produce an adjusted characteristic; controlling the operation of said transducer using said adjusted characteristic.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 23 words

A method as in claim 22 wherein said controlling operation of said transducer includes controlling driving power to the transducer or controlling aspiration.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method as in claim 22 wherein said monitoring a characteristic step determines said hardness from mechanical impedance, and said determining step is a step of determining a relationship between mechanical impedance and resonant frequency.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 14 words

A method as in claim 22 wherein said monitoring a characteristic comprises determining frequency.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 74 words

A control system for a surgical transducer for operating on a human part, comprising: a monitoring device, which monitors mechanical impedance of a load, to determine changes in characteristics of the load encountered by the surgical transducer, which characteristics affect an amount of reaction of said surgical transducer for a particular driving amount; and means for controlling an operating characteristic of said transducer which changes said amount of reaction, based on said mechanical impedance.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 74 words

A control system for a surgical transducer for operating on a human part, comprising: a monitoring device, which monitors mechanical impedance of a load, to determine changes in characteristics of the load encountered by the surgical transducer, which characteristics affect an amount of reaction of said surgical transducer for a particular driving amount; and means for controlling an operating characteristic of said transducer which changes said amount of reaction, based on said mechanical impedance.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 116 words

A method of controlling an operation in a human body part comprising the steps of: determining a relation which is at least partially non-linear between mechanical impedance of different materials and a characteristic of a surgical instrument which will conduct the operation, said relation indicating an amount of a characteristic which should be used for said different mechanical impedances; operating the surgical instrument to conduct said operation according to said amount of said characteristic; detecting a first impedance presented to the surgical instrument; tracking said first impedance relative to a second impedance of a previous load presented to the surgical instrument; automatically changing the characteristic of the surgical instrument according to said tracking and said relation.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 116 words

A method of controlling an operation in a human body part comprising the steps of: determining a relation which is at least partially non-linear between mechanical impedance of different materials and a characteristic of a surgical instrument which will conduct the operation, said relation indicating an amount of a characteristic which should be used for said different mechanical impedances; operating the surgical instrument to conduct said operation according to said amount of said characteristic; detecting a first impedance presented to the surgical instrument; tracking said first impedance relative to a second impedance of a previous load presented to the surgical instrument; automatically changing the characteristic of the surgical instrument according to said tracking and said relation.

Claim 39

Independent Claim 124 words

An apparatus for enabling operations on a human body part comprising: memory means for storing a relation between mechanical impedance of said human body parts and a characteristic to be used in operation for that mechanical impedance; a surgical tool, having a characteristic which can conduct the operation on said human body parts; a sensor, coupled to said surgical tool for detecting properties of movement of said surgical tool; and processing means for detecting electrical characteristics provided to said surgical tool and determining a mechanical impedance based on said amount of electrical characteristics and said properties of movement and for using said mechanical impedance and said relation to obtain information indicative of said operation and to use said information to control said surgical tool.

Claim 40

Independent Claim 124 words

An apparatus for enabling operations on a human body part comprising: memory means for storing a relation between mechanical impedance of said human body parts and a characteristic to be used in operation for that mechanical impedance; a surgical tool, having a characteristic which can conduct the operation on said human body parts; a sensor, coupled to said surgical tool for detecting properties of movement of said surgical tool; and processing means for detecting electrical characteristics provided to said surgical tool and determining a mechanical impedance based on said amount of electrical characteristics and said properties of movement and for using said mechanical impedance and said relation to obtain information indicative of said operation and to use said information to control said surgical tool.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 50 words

A system as in claim 28 wherein said relation also indicates a resonant frequency of various portions of said body part and said processing means further includes means for calculating a current resonant frequency and means for using said resonant frequency along with said mechanical impedance to determine said characteristic.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-05-28	1999-11-27	2000-05-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-05-28	2003-11-27	2004-05-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-05-28	2007-11-27	2008-05-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Computer controlled smart phacoemulsification method and apparatus

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