Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A system includes an enclosure, an irrigation retainer, one or more sensors, and a processor. The irrigation retainer is coupled with the enclosure and configured to accept an irrigation container holding irrigation fluid for pumping to a phacoemulsification handpiece. The one or more sensors are coupled with the irrigation retainer and configured to provide at least one signal indicative of a remaining amount of the irrigation fluid. The processor is configured to receive the at least one signal, and in response to the at least one signal, output an estimation of the remaining amount of the irrigation fluid in the irrigation container or an estimation of the amount of irrigation fluid used.

Abstract: A system and method that includes inserting a needle of a phacoemulsification handpiece into an eye of a patient and vibrating the needle in a first trajectory. Matter from the eye is aspirated via an aspiration line while the needle is vibrated in the first trajectory. An indication is received, of a vacuum level in the aspiration line. Determined is, that the vacuum level has changed by at least a preset vacuum level change, and in response vibrating the needle is switched to a second trajectory, different from the first trajectory.

Abstract: A system and method include vibrating a needle of a phacoemulsification handpiece by driving one or more piezoelectric crystals in the handpiece with one or more electrical signals having different respective frequencies using one or more respective drive modules. The needle is inserted into an eye of a patient. The frequencies of the electrical signals are tuned to respective one or more target frequencies, and respective electrical impedances seen by the drive modules are registered. In response to an electrical impedance seen by at least one of the drive modules undergoing a change exceeding a preset impedance change, an indication is provided that material in the eye surrounding the needle has changed, a level of vibration of the needle is changed, and/or the frequency of at least one of the drive modules is adjusted to an electrical resonant frequency thereof.

Abstract: An ENT tool has a tool chassis having a chassis channel and a tool chassis distal end. A tubular probe is dimensioned to be inserted into a human patient orifice, the probe is rotatable about a probe axis of symmetry, and the probe has a probe proximal end rotatingly connected to the tool chassis distal end. A balloon insertion mechanism is slidingly located within the chassis channel, and is configured to fixedly accept a balloon sinuplasty mechanism penetrating the tubular probe. A guidewire adjustment section is fixedly attached to the balloon insertion mechanism, and the section has a rotatable enclosure. A plurality of rollers are disposed within the enclosure and are configured so that on rotation of the enclosure the rollers grip and rotate a guidewire positioned between the rollers, and, absent rotation of the enclosure, release the guidewire and permit distal and proximal translation of the guidewire.

Abstract: A medical tool includes, a deflectable distal end, at least a pull wire, and a deflection assembly. The at least pull wire having a first end coupled to the distal end of the medical tool and configured to be moved for deflecting the distal end. The deflection assembly is coupled to a second end of at least the pull wire and is configured to control a deflection of the distal end. The deflection assembly includes a first gear having a first rotation axis, and a second gear, having a second rotation axis and including a jagged surface for integrating with the first gear. The jagged surface is slanted relative to the second rotation axis, and when the first gear rotates, the second gear is configured to be rotated by the first gear, to move along the second rotation axis and to deflect the distal end by moving the pull wire.

Abstract: A medical tool includes, a deflectable distal end, at least a pull wire, and a coupling element. The at least pull wire has a first end coupled to the distal end of the medical tool, and configured to be moved for deflecting the distal end. The coupling element is coupled to a second end of the pull wire and having at least two boreholes configured to receive at least two respective rods traversing therethrough. The coupling element is configured to be moved along a rotation axis of a rotatable element coupled thereto, and the boreholes and the respective rods are configured to prevent rotation of the coupling element.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a fluid dynamics system includes a solenoid valve including a valve body, which includes a valve cavity having a direction of elongation, a first channel, and a second channel, a solenoid coil disposed in the valve body around the valve cavity, and a plunger comprising a magnetic element 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 opening the first channel and closing the second channel when the plunger is in the first position, and closing the first channel and opening the second channel when the plunger is in the second position, and a controller configured to control 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.

Abstract: In one example, a phacoemulsification system includes a phacoemulsification probe including a distal end comprising a needle, and a piezoelectric crystal configured to vibrate the needle so as to emulsify a lens of an eye, an irrigation reservoir configured to store irrigation fluid, an irrigation line extending from the irrigation reservoir to the distal end of phacoemulsification probe, a pumping sub-system configured to pump the irrigation fluid from the irrigation reservoir to the distal end of the phacoemulsification probe via the irrigation line, and a pressure damping insert disposed in the irrigation line between the pumping sub-system and the distal end, and comprising multiple paths therethrough configured to divide a flow of the irrigation fluid entering the pressure damping insert in order to dampen pressure elevations in the irrigation fluid exiting the pumping sub-system.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a cartridge having an outer surface shaped to define a ridge includes a rigid piece of material configured to lock the cartridge in place by resting against the ridge, a button, configured to move the rigid piece of material from the cartridge, thereby unlocking the cartridge, upon a pushing of the button, one or more motors, and a mechanical coupling mechanism, configured to mechanically couple the motors to the cartridge while the cartridge is locked in place. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A medical probe includes a probe body shaped to define a distal section of a fluid channel, a cartridge, which is shaped to define a proximal section of the fluid channel and comprises a valve configured to regulate flow of a fluid through the proximal section of the fluid channel, and a clip configured to reversibly couple the cartridge with the probe body by sliding over the probe body and the cartridge while the cartridge contacts the probe body such that the proximal section of the fluid channel is in fluidic communication with the distal section of the fluid channel. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Apparatus, including a tube having proximal and distal ends and an internal lumen. The distal end may bend up to 270°, and the tube may be inserted into an eye. A planar resilient strip, having proximal and distal ends, is inserted into the internal lumen, and the strip distal end is fixed to the tube distal end. A coil spring is fixed to the strip proximal end so that a coil spring symmetry axis is coplanar with the strip. A camera, mounted with the strip distal end, images the eye interior. A wire is fixed to the strip distal end, so that a predetermined force on the wire causes the tube distal end to bend by a preset angle. A magnetometer at the tube proximal end is configured, when a nonvarying magnetic field traverses it, to provide a signal that, when taken with the preset angle, indicates a camera orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a schlieren imaging assembly and a processor. The schlieren imaging assembly includes one or more two-dimensional (2D) schlieren imaging systems and is configured to acquire two-dimensional (2D) schlieren images of turbulence occurring in fluid media from a plurality of viewing angles. The processor is configured to produce, from the 2D schlieren images, a time-series of three-dimensional (3D) schlieren images corresponding to respective time instances.

Abstract: A module for controlling irrigation and aspiration of a phacoemulsification probe inserted into an eye includes an irrigation link, an aspiration link, a bypass channel, an aspiration valve, a diversion valve, a first and second sensors and a processor. The first sensor and second sensor are configured to measure fluid parameters in the irrigation link and in the aspiration link. The processor is in communication with the sensors, and is configured to identify a change in at least one of the fluid parameters by reading at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor, and, in response to the identified change in the at least one of the fluid parameters, (i) close the aspiration valve and (ii) maintain a pressure of the irrigation fluid delivered to the probe within a predefined range, by regulating the fluid flow via the bypass channel using the diversion valve.