# US 12,594,372 B2 · Methods and systems for controlling aspiration flow rate > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,594,372 B2 - Document ID: US12594372B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/691,675 - Filed: 2019-11-22 - Published: 2020-05-28 - Granted: 2026-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-26 - Assignees: Alcon Inc. - Applicants: Alcon Inc. - Inventors: Raphael Gordon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12594372B2 ## CPC - A61M 3/0208: {before use} - A61M 1/72: {Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit} - A61M 1/73: {comprising sensors or indicators for physical values} - A61M 1/74: {Suction control (underwater drainage A61M1/61)} - A61M 1/77: {Suction-irrigation systems (aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463)} - A61M 3/0201: {Cassettes therefor} - A61M 3/0216: {Pressure} - A61M 3/022: {Volume; Flow rate} - A61M 3/0258: {by means of electric pumps} - A61M 2205/103: rotating - A61M 2205/12: with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit - A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow - A61M 2205/3334: Measuring or controlling the flow rate - A61M 2205/3341: stabilising pressure or flow to avoid excessive variation - A61M 2205/3351: Controlling upstream pump pressure - A61M 2205/3355: Controlling downstream pump pressure - A61M 2205/3365: Rotational speed - A61M 2205/3379: Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates - A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers - A61M 2210/0612: Eyes - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a surgical system comprising a pump motor configured to couple to a pump for pumping material through a probe, wherein the probe is connected to the pump through a connector. The surgical system also comprises a control module configured to determine a real-time flow rate through the probe and adjust a current pump rate of the pump to achieve a target flow rate, wherein the current pump rate is adjusted based on the real-time flow rate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical system comprising: a pump motor configured to couple to a pump for pumping material through a probe, wherein the probe is connected to the pump through a connector; and a control module configured to: initiate operation of the pump at an initial pump rate; determine a real-time inlet vacuum pressure associated with the pump; determine a real-time pump efficiency of the pump based on the real-time inlet vacuum pressure; determine a real-time flow rate through the probe based on a function of the initial pump rate, the real-time pump efficiency of the pump, and a volume per rotation of the pump; and adjust the initial pump rate of the pump to achieve a target flow rate, wherein the initial pump rate is adjusted based on the real-time flow rate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the control module being configured to determine the real-time flow rate through the probe comprises the control module being configured to: receive a signal from an initiation element to initiate operation of the pump at the initial pump rate; and operate the pump at the initial pump rate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surgical system of claim 2, wherein: the pump is an aspiration pump for aspirating the material through the probe. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the volume per rotation corresponds to a volume of material sealed within an active region of the pump. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the control module being configured to adjust the initial pump rate of the pump comprises the control module being configured to: compare the real-time flow rate and the target flow rate; upon determining that the real-time flow rate and the target flow rate are not within a threshold of each other, calculate a target pump rate based on a function of the real-time pump efficiency and the target flow rate; and change the initial pump rate of the pump to the calculated target pump rate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the control module being configured to adjust the initial pump rate of the pump comprises the control module being configured to: calculate an amount to change the initial pump rate to achieve the target flow rate based on a difference between the real-time flow rate and the target flow rate; and change the initial pump rate of the pump by the calculated amount. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to keep the target flow rate constant during an operation of the pump. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the real-time inlet vacuum pressure associated with the pump is determined utilizing a sensor in a surgical cassette coupled to the pump. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the control module being configured to adjust the initial pump rate comprises the control module being configured to: determine a target pump rate based on the function used to determine the real-time flow rate. ### Claim 10 A method of operating a pump, performed by a surgical system, for pumping material through a probe, comprising: receiving a signal from an initiation element to initiate operation of the pump at an initial pump rate for pumping the material through the probe, wherein the probe is connected to the pump through a connector; operating the pump at the initial pump rate; determining a real-time inlet vacuum pressure associated with the pump; determining a real-time pump efficiency of the pump based on the real-time inlet vacuum pressure; determining a real-time flow rate through the probe based on a function of the initial pump rate, the real-time pump efficiency of the pump, and a volume per rotation of the pump; and adjusting the initial pump rate of the pump to achieve a target flow rate, wherein the initial pump rate is adjusted based on the real-time flow rate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: the pump is an aspiration pump for aspirating the material through the probe. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The surgical system of claim 10, wherein the volume per rotation corresponds to a volume of material sealed within an active region of the pump. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the initial pump rate comprises: comparing the real-time flow rate and the target flow rate; upon determining that the real-time flow rate and the target flow rate are not within a threshold of each other, calculating a target pump rate based on a function of the real-time pump efficiency of the pump and the target flow rate; and changing the initial pump rate of the pump to the calculated target pump rate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the initial pump rate comprises: calculating an amount to change the current initial pump rate to achieve the target flow rate based on a difference between the real-time flow rate and the target flow rate; and changing the initial pump rate of the pump by the calculated amount. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting further comprises: keeping the target flow rate constant during the operation of the pump. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the real-time inlet vacuum pressure associated with the pump is determined utilizing a sensor in a surgical cassette coupled to the pump. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the initial pump rate of the pump to achieve the target flow rate comprises: determining a target pump rate based on the function used to determine the real-time flow rate. ### Claim 18 A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a surgical system, cause the surgical system to perform a method comprising: receiving a signal from an initiation element to initiate operation of a pump at an initial pump rate for pumping material through a probe, wherein the probe is connected to the pump through a connector; operating the pump at the initial pump rate; determining a real-time inlet vacuum pressure associated with the pump; determining a real-time pump efficiency of the pump based on the real-time inlet vacuum pressure; determining a real-time flow rate through the probe based on a function of the initial pump rate, the real-time pump efficiency of the pump, and a volume per rotation of the pump; and adjusting the initial pump rate of the pump to achieve a target flow rate, wherein the initial pump rate is adjusted based on the real-time flow rate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the real-time inlet vacuum pressure associated with the pump is determined utilizing a sensor in a surgical cassette coupled to the pump. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the surgical system is further configured to execute the instructions to adjust the initial pump rate of the pump to achieve the target flow rate by: determining a target pump rate based on the function used to determine the real-time flow rate.