Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system includes a vitrectomy handpiece and a pneumatic assembly coupled to the vitrectomy handpiece. The vitrectomy handpiece includes a cutting assembly, and a diaphragm disposed in a drive chamber and coupled to the cutting assembly. The pneumatic assembly includes an airflow controlling member and an actuating assembly. The airflow controlling member is configured to direct air to the drive chamber to move the diaphragm, thereby actuating the cutting assembly. The actuating assembly is configured to actuate the airflow controlling member.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method of identifying a composition of an aspirated material includes: controlling a surgical instrument to aspirate material through a probe that is fluidly connected with a vacuum source in an aspiration path. The method further includes estimating, during aspiration of the material, a flow rate of the material at the probe. The method further includes determining, using one or more sensors disposed along one or both of the aspiration path and infusion path, a change in pressure across the probe during aspiration. The method further includes determining a fluidic resistance of the material using the flow rate and the change in pressure, and providing feedback based, at least in part, on the fluidic resistance of the material and a reference value.

Abstract: In one exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a system. The system includes a pneumatic surgical instrument and a surgical console operable to provide compressed gas to the pneumatic surgical instrument. Additionally, the system includes a pneumatic drive line coupling the pneumatic surgical instrument to the surgical console. The pneumatic drive line has an internal bore configured to deliver the compressed gas to the pneumatic surgical instrument. The internal bore has a non-uniform cross-section along a length of the pneumatic drive line.

Abstract: In one exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a system. The system includes a pneumatic surgical instrument and a surgical console operable to provide compressed gas to the pneumatic surgical instrument. Additionally, the system includes a pneumatic drive line coupling the pneumatic surgical instrument to the surgical console. The pneumatic drive line has an internal bore configured to deliver the compressed gas to the pneumatic surgical instrument. The internal bore has a non-uniform cross-section along a length of the pneumatic drive line.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical console, a surgical cassette, and a method for utilizing an image sensor to acquire grayscale image(s) and an embedded microcontroller to then process the image(s) to decode the barcode and/or determine the current level of fluid within the surgical cassette. The image sensor is utilized to detect external light that comes into the field of view of the image sensor. A software algorithm stored within a microcontroller in the surgical console determines whether the potential is high for external light interference. If there is a high potential for external light interference, an advisory or alarm is generated to warn the user to remove the external light source or to turn the console away from the external light source. Once the user has removed the external light and then cleared the advisory, normal console operations and functions can resume.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical cassette including pump assemblies with improved contact between a displacement sensor disposed within a surgical console and a diaphragm disposed within the surgical cassette. Each pump assembly includes a diaphragm retainer ring that provides a sufficient creepage and clearance margin, acts as a lead-in for the displacement sensor, assists in preventing misalignment, and provides robustness for the ultrasonic welding process which couples the diaphragm retainer ring to the surgical console. The diaphragm retainer ring is impregnated with a lubricant so to facilitate seating of the displacement sensor with the cassette. A cantilever portion of the diaphragm retainer ring increases a creepage and clearance margin, as well as increases overall part strength in the event of a collision with the displacement sensor and during ultrasonic welding. An insulator is also provided that further increases the creepage and clearance margin.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical cassette that functions as an interface between a patient and a surgical console used to perform a variety of different ophthalmic surgeries.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical cassette including a housing having a base and a cover coupled to the base, wherein the cover and the base each at least partially define one or more channels. The housing further includes a plurality of ports formed in the base and in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more channels, a plurality of bores formed in the base and configured to receive one of a plurality of valve assemblies, and at least one pump landing formed in the base and configured to receive at least one pump assembly. A plurality of valve assemblies is disposed within the plurality of bores and configured to control fluid flow in the one or more channels of the housing. At least one pump assembly is disposed within the at least one pump landing and configured to provide a source of pressure or vacuum to the one or more channels of the housing.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a vitrectomy probe may include an inner cutting tube reciprocating in an outer tube. The outer tube includes a side port and the inner tube includes a distal cutting port, and, in some embodiments, an additional side port. In some embodiments, the inner tube may also include a flat upper edge that cuts across the outer tube side port. In some embodiments, a diaphragm drives the inner tube and may have an open-stroke side with a lower hardness material than a closed-stroke side. In some embodiments, an aspiration tube coupled to the vitrectomy probe may include a first aspiration tubing and a second aspiration tubing with a lower hardness than the first aspiration tubing. In some embodiments, the vitrectomy probe may be coupled to pneumatic tubing that is stepped or tapered.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for reducing pulsations in peristaltic pumps. In some examples, a cassette comprises a cassette body and a flexible sheet joined to the cassette body, wherein a transition region of the flexible sheet comprises at least one ridge that has a maximum height at a position that is offset from a center line of a cassette body transition channel. In some examples, a cassette body transition channel comprises side walls that taper toward an active region of the fluid path and/or toward a bottom of the transition channel. An example method of operating a peristaltic pump comprises operating rollers at a higher speed during portions of a revolution that otherwise would result in a lower than average flow rate and at a lower speed during portions of the revolution that otherwise would result in a higher than average flow rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for reducing pulsations in peristaltic pumps. In some examples, a cassette comprises a cassette body and a flexible sheet joined to the cassette body, wherein a transition region of the flexible sheet comprises at least one ridge that has a maximum height at a position that is offset from a center line of a cassette body transition channel. In some examples, a cassette body transition channel comprises side walls that taper toward an active region of the fluid path and/or toward a bottom of the transition channel. An example method of operating a peristaltic pump comprises operating rollers at a higher speed during portions of a revolution that otherwise would result in a lower than average flow rate and at a lower speed during portions of the revolution that otherwise would result in a higher than average flow rate.

Abstract: In one exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a system. The system includes a pneumatic surgical instrument and a surgical console operable to provide compressed gas to the pneumatic surgical instrument. Additionally, the system includes a pneumatic drive line coupling the pneumatic surgical instrument to the surgical console. The pneumatic drive line has an internal bore configured to deliver the compressed gas to the pneumatic surgical instrument. The internal bore has a non-uniform cross-section along a length of the pneumatic drive line.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a vitrectomy probe may include an inner cutting tube reciprocating in an outer tube. The outer tube includes a side port and the inner tube includes a distal cutting port, and, in some embodiments, an additional side port. In some embodiments, the inner tube may also include a flat upper edge that cuts across the outer tube side port. In some embodiments, a diaphragm drives the inner tube and may have an open-stroke side with a lower hardness material than a closed-stroke side. In some embodiments, an aspiration tube coupled to the vitrectomy probe may include a first aspiration tubing and a second aspiration tubing with a lower hardness than the first aspiration tubing. In some embodiments, the vitrectomy probe may be coupled to pneumatic tubing that is stepped or tapered.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a vitrectomy probe may include an inner cutting tube reciprocating in an outer tube. The outer tube includes a side port and the inner tube includes a distal cutting port, and, in some embodiments, an additional side port. In some embodiments, the inner tube may also include a flat upper edge that cuts across the outer tube side port. In some embodiments, a diaphragm drives the inner tube and may have an open-stroke side with a lower hardness material than a closed-stroke side. In some embodiments, an aspiration tube coupled to the vitrectomy probe may include a first aspiration tubing and a second aspiration tubing with a lower hardness than the first aspiration tubing. In some embodiments, the vitrectomy probe may be coupled to pneumatic tubing that is stepped or tapered.

Abstract: Provided herein are vitrectomy instruments and related systems and methods in which the vitrectomy instruments may include a forward needle stop and a cutter stop to reduce dimensional variation of a cutter of the vitrectomy instruments, allowing for a location of the port formed in a needle of the cutter to be positioned closer to a distal tip of the cutter. With the port located closer to a distal end of the cutter, the port is able to be positioned closer to the retina of an eye.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cutting tip has a hollow shaft with a proximal and distal end. The proximal end is configured to be attached to an ultrasonic hand piece, and the distal end has a smooth continuous surface. An opening is located near the distal end of the hollow shaft. The opening is configured to cut vitreous when the cutting tip is vibrated ultrasonically in a torsional manner.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an illuminated microsurgical instrument system includes a microsurgical instrument having a distally projecting tubular member arranged to perform a medical procedure. The tubular member has a distal tip and an outer surface, the outer surface having a flat surface formed therein. The instrument includes a sheath member surrounding a portion of the tubular member and extending toward the distal tip of the tubular member and an optical fiber extending along a length of the flat surface between the tubular member and the sheath member. The instrument may include an opening such as a slot in the distal end of the sheath member to direct exiting air away from the tip of the optical fiber. The instrument may further include a slack chamber, collar structure, and fiber guard member to support and guide the optical fiber to the distal tip.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for reducing pulsations in peristaltic pumps. In some examples, a cassette comprises a cassette body and a flexible sheet joined to the cassette body, wherein a transition region of the flexible sheet comprises at least one ridge that has a maximum height at a position that is offset from a center line of a cassette body transition channel. In some examples, a cassette body transition channel comprises side walls that taper toward an active region of the fluid path and/or toward a bottom of the transition channel. An example method of operating a peristaltic pump comprises operating rollers at a higher speed during portions of a revolution that otherwise would result in a lower than average flow rate and at a lower speed during portions of the revolution that otherwise would result in a higher than average flow rate.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a vitrectomy system is adapted to use photodisruption to rupture eye tissue. In some aspects, a photodisruption-based vitrectomy system includes a laser source configured to generate optical pulses having a pulse energy greater than a threshold energy for causing photodisruption in vitreous humor. The system also includes an optical switching device arranged to receive an output of the laser source, and an optical fiber with multiple cores that is arranged to receive an output of the optical switching device. The optical switching device is configured to select a core of the optical fiber and direct optical pulses received from the laser source into the selected core.

Abstract: A vitrectomy apparatus for performing an ocular surgery may include a vitrectomy probe body graspable by a user and a cutter extending from the body and comprising an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner tube may be moveable relative to the outer tube. The apparatus also may include an actuator within the body and configured to actuate the inner tube relative to the outer tube. A valve may be carried by the body and may be configured to selectively direct a pressurized fluid to the actuator to actuate the inner tube relative to the outer tube.