Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for automatically switching different aspiration levels to an ocular probe are disclosed herein. The probe may be a phacoemulsification probe. A first aspiration level, supplied by a first pump, may be applied to the probe simultaneously with ultrasonic energy. A second aspiration level, supplied by a second pump, may be automatically switched from the first aspiration level. Control feed back of the pumps may be varied according to set thresholds.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow provided by an apparatus to a patient's eye during a surgical procedure. The method includes automatically adjusting an irrigation fluid source to a predetermined height during the surgical procedure using the apparatus, receiving a request either that the irrigation fluid source be moved to a different height from the predetermined height or that a manual adjustment mode be entered, and ceasing automatic adjusting and requiring manual adjustment of the height of the irrigation fluid source until the surgical procedure is completed or an indication received to resume automatic height adjustment of the irrigation fluid source. As an alternative, fluid flow rate or intraocular pressure may be maintained, and the design may include making adjustments to default values in other modes based on the adjustment made.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for automatically switching different aspiration levels to an ocular probe are disclosed herein. The probe may be a phacoemulsification probe. A first aspiration level, supplied by a first pump, may be applied to the probe simultaneously with ultrasonic energy. A second aspiration level, supplied by a second pump, may be automatically switched from the first aspiration level. Control feed back of the pumps may be varied according to set thresholds.

Abstract: A design for dynamically adjusting parameters applied to a surgical instrument, such as an ocular surgical instrument, is presented. The method includes detecting surgical events from image data collected by a surgical microscope focused on an ocular surgical procedure, establishing a desired response for each detected surgical event, delivering the desired response to the ocular surgical instrument as a set of software instructions, and altering the surgical procedure based on the desired response received as the set of software instructions.

Abstract: A design for dynamically adjusting parameters applied to a surgical instrument, such as an ocular surgical instrument, is presented. The method includes detecting surgical events from image data collected by a surgical microscope focused on an ocular surgical procedure, establishing a desired response for each detected surgical event, delivering the desired response to the ocular surgical instrument as a set of software instructions, and altering the surgical procedure based on the desired response received as the set of software instructions.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification system for operating a surgical handpiece having a handpiece; an irrigation fluid source for supplying irrigation fluid to the eye; an aspiration source coupled to the handpiece in order to aspirate the irrigation fluid from the eye through the handpiece; and a controller for controlling a vacuum in the handpiece, the controller comprising: a sensor for sensing the vacuum in the handpiece; an occlusion parameter, the occlusion parameter being a vacuum level corresponding to an occlusion of the handpiece or a flow rate corresponding to an occlusion of the handpiece; a maximum allowable vacuum level in the handpiece, the maximum allowable vacuum level having at least a first predetermined level; and a trigger value that is set based in part on the occlusion parameter.

Abstract: A method and system for acquiring and transmitting video image data with parameter data superimposed thereon is provided. The design includes an input device configured to receive said video image data and separately receiving said parameter data, the input device configured to transmit the video image data and parameter data as separate data streams. The design further includes a computing device comprising a computer based utility configured to receive the separate data streams, store the separate data streams, edit at least one data stream, and generate combined video data. Combined video data represents combined video image data and parameter data. The design also includes a display device configured to present the combined video data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for remotely controlling a medical device are disclosed. Such systems and methods may include the providing of computer executable instructions for presenting a graphical user interface capable of providing remote user input to the medical device, wherein the graphical user interface is at least substantially a true screen representation of an interface of the at least one medical device. At least one network port may be capable of remotely receiving the user input information. Responsive to the input information, a driver associated with the medical device may be configured to control the medical device responsive to the input at the remote graphical user interface.

Abstract: A method and system of establishing communications between at least two independent software modules in a safety critical system, such as a medical system, is provided. The design comprises providing an exclusive Bluetooth connection between at least two wireless devices. A master wireless device is configured with Bluetooth master device functionality and a slave wireless device is configured with Bluetooth slave device functionality. The wireless devices are employed in performing a medical procedure. The method further comprises acquiring a stored unique address from the slave wireless device over the Bluetooth connection, comparing the stored unique address to a master wireless device unique address available at the master wireless device, and exclusively pairing the master wireless device and the slave wireless device when the unique address acquired from the slave wireless device is found to identically match the master wireless device unique address.

Abstract: A method and system of establishing communications between at least two independent software modules in a safety critical system, such as a medical system, is provided. The design comprises providing an exclusive Bluetooth connection between at least two wireless devices. A master wireless device is configured with Bluetooth master device functionality and a slave wireless device is configured with Bluetooth slave device functionality. The wireless devices are employed in performing procedures in a safety critical environment. The method further comprises acquiring a stored unique address from the slave wireless device over the Bluetooth connection, comparing the stored unique address to a master wireless device unique address available at the master wireless device, and exclusively pairing the master wireless device and the slave wireless device when the unique address acquired from the slave wireless device is found to identically match the master wireless device unique address.

Abstract: A design for dynamically adjusting parameters applied to a surgical instrument, such as an ocular surgical instrument, is presented. The method includes detecting surgical events from image data collected by a surgical microscope focused on an ocular surgical procedure, establishing a desired response for each detected surgical event, delivering the desired response to the ocular surgical instrument as a set of software instructions, and altering the surgical procedure based on the desired response received as the set of software instructions.

Abstract: A design for dynamically adjusting parameters applied to a surgical instrument, such as an ocular surgical instrument, is presented. The method includes detecting surgical events from image data collected by a surgical microscope focused on an ocular surgical procedure, establishing a desired response for each detected surgical event, delivering the desired response to the ocular surgical instrument as a set of software instructions, and altering the surgical procedure based on the desired response received as the set of software instructions.

Abstract: A medical system is provided having a system host and a control device connected to the system host. The medical system further includes a handpiece having a sleeve with a port opening configured to enable fluid to pass there through, a fluid channel connected to the port opening, and a fluid flow restrictor configured to restrict fluid flow of the fluid channel through the port opening. The control unit is configured to receive input from a user and control an amount of fluid provided by the fluid flow restrictor based on the input received from the user. In one aspect, the medical system is a phacoemulsification system, the handpiece a phacoemulsification handpiece, and the control device a footpedal.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling access to a system in a medical environment is provided. The method includes calculating a signature value for at least one file usable with the medical system, transferring the calculated signature value to a signature file, and providing at least one signature value in the signature file and at least one associated file to a file system configured to be received by the medical system. At least one signature value and at least one associated file are inspected by the medical system to verify the associated file is a known medical software application asset. The medical system comprises an input/output data port configured to receive the external memory storage device, and an operating system capable of reading medical system data from and writing medical system data to the memory storage device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of controlling access to a system containing vital corporation software and storing confidential data assets situated in an open accessible environment is provided. The method includes calculating a signature value for at least one file usable with the system, transferring the calculated signature value to a signature file, and providing at least one signature value in the signature file and at least one associated file to a file system configured to be received by the system. At least one signature value and at least one associated file are inspected by the system to verify the associated file is a known system software application asset. The system comprises an input/output data port configured to receive the external memory storage device, and an operating system capable of reading system data from and writing system data to the memory storage device.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system (or engine) that monitors a system's performance during a surgery, analyzes that performance, and makes recommendations to the user/surgeon for changes in his settings and/or programs that will result in more effective and time-efficient surgeries. Further, the system may comprise one or more components, including, but not limited to, a user preference filter, a surgical circumstances filter, a surgical instrument, a real time data collection module, and an analysis module.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow provided by an apparatus to a patient's eye during a surgical procedure. The method includes automatically adjusting an irrigation fluid source to a predetermined height during the surgical procedure using the apparatus, receiving a request either that the irrigation fluid source be moved to a different height from the predetermined height or that a manual adjustment mode be entered, and ceasing automatic adjusting and requiring manual adjustment of the height of the irrigation fluid source until the surgical procedure is completed or an indication received to resume automatic height adjustment of the irrigation fluid source. As an alternative, fluid flow rate or intraocular pressure may be maintained, and the design may include making adjustments to default values in other modes based on the adjustment made.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification system for operating a surgical handpiece having a handpiece; an irrigation fluid source for supplying irrigation fluid to the eye; an aspiration source coupled to the handpiece in order to aspirate the irrigation fluid from the eye through the handpiece; and a controller for controlling a vacuum in the handpiece, the controller comprising: a sensor for sensing the vacuum in the handpiece; an occlusion parameter, the occlusion parameter being a vacuum level corresponding to an occlusion of the handpiece or a flow rate corresponding to an occlusion of the handpiece; a maximum allowable vacuum level in the handpiece, the maximum allowable vacuum level having at least a first predetermined level; and a trigger value that is set based in part on the occlusion parameter.

Abstract: A controller for a phacoemulsification system having a handpiece; an irrigation fluid source configured to supply an irrigation fluid to the eye; an aspiration source configured to aspirate the irrigation fluid from the eye through the handpiece; and a controller comprising a duration timer configured to provide a duration of an occlusion, the controller configured to: sense a value of an occlusion indicating parameter corresponding to an occlusion of the handpiece; measure a time since the occlusion of the handpiece; and control the aspiration source to the handpiece based at least in part on the measured time since the occlusion. The occlusion indicating parameter may be a vacuum level, an irrigation flow rate, and/or an aspiration flow rate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for calibrating a vacuum component of a phacoemulsification system at different elevations. The design comprises running a vacuum component to be calibrated at an elevation; determining a maximum vacuum pressure available at the elevation; determining a range of vacuum pressure available from running the vacuum component at the elevation; calibrating the vacuum component based at least in part on a the maximum vacuum pressure available and the range of vacuum pressure available. The design also comprises a to be calibrated vacuum component; a pressure delivery device; an altimeter configured to determine the elevation of the vacuum component; component reading hardware configured to read at least one measured value from the pressure sensing components of the vacuum component when exposed to at least one pressure value from the pressure delivery device; and a computer configured to correlate a plurality of measured values to the elevation.