Abstract: A phacoemulsification probe includes a distal end, an aspiration channel, and an anti-vacuum surge (AVS) module. The distal end is configured for insertion into an eye of a patient. The aspiration channel is coupled with the distal end for evacuating material from the eye. The AVS module includes (i) a disposable portion, which is detachably coupled with the aspiration channel, and comprises a valve part configured to be moved to regulate flow in the aspiration channel, and (ii) a reusable portion, which is configured to move the valve part in response to one or more command signals.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification apparatus includes a phacoemulsification probe, an electromechanical valve, and an electromechanical mechanism. The probe having a fluid channel for exchanging fluid with a patient's eye. The electromechanical valve is coupled with the fluid channel and is configured to regulate a fluid flow through the fluid channel. The valve including a cylinder, a piston inside the cylinder, wherein the piston divides the cylinder into a first cavity that is in fluid communication with the fluid channel, and a second cavity, and one or more fluid communication links, which are formed between the first and second cavities. The piston is configured to move inside the cylinder to regulate the flow of the fluid, and the one or more fluid communication links are configured to allow the fluid to flow between the first and second cavities during motion of the piston. The electromechanical mechanism is configured to move the piston.

Abstract: A catheter with a distal end assembly, an elongate flexible PCB (Printed Circuit Board) being housed within a shaft of the catheter, the elongate flexible PCB extending substantially along a full length of the shaft and including a PCB distal portion including a plurality of electrical connection pads, a PCB proximal portion including a plurality of conductive traces corresponding to the plurality of electric connection pads of the PCB distal portion, a PCB median portion including a plurality of conductive traces laid longitudinally along more than 75% of a length of the elongate flexible PCB, the conductive traces continuing the conductive traces of the PCB proximal portion and electrically connected to the plurality of electrical pads of the PCB distal portion, and a plurality of slits cutting through the PCB median portion between the conductive traces and extending along the conductive traces. Related apparatus and methods are also described.

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 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: A phacoemulsification system includes a phacoemulsification probe and a processor. The phacoemulsification probe includes (a) a needle configured for insertion into a lens capsule of an eye, and to be vibrated to emulsify a lens of the eye, (b) an irrigation channel for flowing irrigation fluid into the lens capsule, (c) an aspiration channel for removing material from the lens capsule, (d) a bypass channel fluidly coupled with the irrigation channel and with the aspiration channel, (e) a processor-controlled valve configured to control a level of fluid communication between the irrigation channel and the aspiration channel via the bypass channel, and (f) one or more sensors configured to measure fluid pressure at a distal portion of one or both of the irrigation channel and the aspiration channel. The processor is configured to adaptively adjust the valve based on the fluid pressure measured by the one or more sensors.

Abstract: Methods and systems provide a disposable cutting section which is removably attachable from a multiple use motor section, to form a handpiece for use in ophthalmic procedures, such as vitrectomies. The motor section includes a motor for driving a needle of the cutting section.

Abstract: A method for assembling a vitrector, including: providing a distal housing portion for the vitrector, a transmission unit driving a needle into oscillation, an assembly pin to be inserted into the transmission unit to fix the needle in position, and a needle casing, having a lumen, the casing enclosing the needle within the lumen. The transmission unit is fixed to the distal housing portion, and the assembly pin is inserted into the transmission unit to fix a distal tip of the needle at a most distal position of the oscillation. The transmission unit is inserted, with the assembly pin inserted, to a predetermined position in the distal housing portion. The casing is inserted into the distal housing portion so that the distal tip butts a termination of the casing. The casing is fixed to the distal housing portion, and the assembly pin is removed from the transmission unit.

Abstract: A sealing assembly for a progressive cavity pump and a progressive cavity pump assembly having a retaining sleeve, a ring, and an elastic diaphragm terminating in a first end of the diaphragm in a first opening, and in a second end of the diaphragm, opposite the first end, in a second opening larger than the first opening. The second opening is held in contact with the retaining sleeve by the ring, and the first opening is configured to grip a rotor of the progressive cavity pump, and the ring is configured to hold the second opening fixed with respect to a stator of the progressive cavity pump.

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: Surgical apparatus, including a needle configured to be inserted into an organ of a human subject, a counterweight, and a needle driver. The needle driver includes a cylindrical cam configured to rotate about a cam axis and having a curved circumferential groove extending around a radial surface of the cam. There is a motor coupled to rotate the cylindrical cam about the cam axis. A first follower is mounted to travel in the groove at a first azimuthal location and is coupled to the needle so as to cause the needle to oscillate at a predefined frequency parallel to the cam axis as the cam rotates. A second follower is coupled to the counterweight and is mounted to travel in the groove at a second azimuthal location selected so as to cause the counterweight to oscillate parallel to the cam axis in antiphase to the needle.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a proximal shaft configured to mechanically couple to a motor, a first universal joint, a middle shaft coupled to the proximal shaft via the first universal joint, a housing having a bore, a second universal joint within the bore, a distal shaft coupled to the middle shaft via the second universal joint, and a connector disposed over the distal shaft. The bore limits a downward tilt of the distal shaft such that, as a rotor approaches the distal shaft, the distal shaft becomes axially aligned with the rotor by virtue of the proximal end of the rotor entering the connector or vice versa. A spring connected proximally to the connector and distally to the second universal joint is configured to decompress, thereby reversibly coupling the connector to the proximal end of the rotor, upon the motor rotationally aligning the connector with the proximal end of the rotor.

Abstract: A trocar for insertion into an organ of a patient includes a cannula, a channel inside the cannula, and a camera. The cannula has a longitudinal axis, and the channel inside the cannula is fitted parallel to the longitudinal axis. The camera is disposed at a distal end of the channel and is configured to provide images in a direction of a distal opening of the cannula.

Abstract: A trocar for insertion into an organ of a patient includes a cannula, an obturator body, and two or more interchangeable obturator heads. The cannula has a longitudinal axis. The obturator body is configured to be inserted into the cannula. The two or more interchangeable obturator heads are each configured to be detachably fitted at a distal end of the obturator body.

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 medical device having a housing, an annular fixture contained in the housing and having a central opening, a needle having a proximal end contained within the central opening of the annular fixture and a distal end protruding out of the housing, a motion assembly, which is configured to move the needle longitudinally back and forth relative to the annular fixture and the housing, and a flexible diaphragm comprising a peripheral part that seals externally around the annular fixture and an inner sleeve that seals around the proximal end of the needle, whereby movement of the needle back and forth causes the sleeve to evert and invert within the central opening while maintaining a vacuum seal between the annular fixture and the needle.

Abstract: A sealing assembly for a progressive cavity pump and a progressive cavity pump assembly having a retaining sleeve, a ring, and an elastic diaphragm terminating in a first end of the diaphragm in a first opening, and in a second end of the diaphragm, opposite the first end, in a second opening larger than the first opening. The second opening is held in contact with the retaining sleeve by the ring, and the first opening is configured to grip a rotor of the progressive cavity pump, and the ring is configured to hold the second opening fixed with respect to a stator of the progressive cavity pump.

Abstract: A pacing system includes a signal generator and an electromechanical switch. The signal generator is configured to generate a pacing signal. The electromechanical switch has a plurality of outputs that are configured to be coupled to a plurality of electrodes inserted into a heart of a patient, each output configured to deliver the pacing signal to a respective electrode. The electromechanical switch is configured to route the pacing signal to no more than a single selected one of the outputs at any given time, so as to pace the heart using no more than a single selected one of the electrodes.

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.