Determining Tip Size in a Phacoemulsification Probe

A method for determining a size of a needle, comprising:

• providing a phacoemulsification probe having a distal tip, the probe comprising:
• an aspiration channel configured to transfer aspiration fluid from the distal tip and having a first pressure sensor coupled with the aspiration channel;
• and
• an irrigation channel configured to transfer irrigation fluid to the distal tip and having a second pressure sensor coupled with the irrigation channel;
• configuring a needle-sleeve combination, comprising a sleeve coaxially surrounding at least a portion of the needle, to attach to the distal tip of the probe;
• acquiring from the first pressure sensor a first pressure profile of the aspiration fluid passing the first pressure sensor;
• acquiring from the second pressure sensor a second pressure profile of the irrigation fluid passing the second pressure sensor;
• formulating a difference between the first pressure profile and the second pressure profile, and
• determining the size of the needle of the combination in response to the difference.

A method, comprising:

• providing a phacoemulsification probe having a distal tip, the probe comprising:
• an aspiration channel configured to transfer aspiration fluid from the distal tip and having a first pressure sensor coupled with the aspiration channel;
• and
• an irrigation channel configured to transfer irrigation fluid to the distal tip and having a second pressure sensor coupled with the irrigation channel;
• for each of a plurality of iterations:
• attaching a needle-sleeve combination comprising a sleeve coaxially surrounding at least a portion of a needle, to the distal tip of the probe;
• recording a size of the needle;
• acquiring from the first pressure sensor a first pressure profile of the aspiration fluid passing the first pressure sensor;
• acquiring from the second pressure sensor a second pressure profile of the irrigation fluid passing the second pressure sensor;
• formulating a difference between the first pressure profile and the second pressure profile;
• and
• generating a correspondence between the size of the needle of the combination and the difference for the plurality of iterations.

Apparatus, comprising:

• a phacoemulsification probe having a distal tip, the probe comprising:
• an irrigation channel configured to transfer irrigation fluid to the distal tip and having a first pressure sensor coupled with the irrigation channel and a second pressure sensor coupled, distally from the first pressure sensor, with the irrigation channel;
• a needle-sleeve combination, comprising a sleeve coaxially surrounding at least a portion of a needle, configured to couple with the distal tip of the probe;
• and
• a processor, configured to:
• acquire from the first pressure sensor a first reading in response to the irrigation fluid passing the first pressure sensor,
• acquire from the second pressure sensor a second reading in response to the irrigation fluid passing the second pressure sensor,
• formulate a difference between the first pressure reading and the second pressure reading, and
• determine a size of the sleeve of the needle-sleeve combination in response to the difference.

A method, comprising:

• providing a phacoemulsification probe having a distal tip, the probe comprising:
• an irrigation channel configured to transfer irrigation fluid to the distal tip and having a first pressure sensor coupled with the irrigation channel and a second pressure sensor coupled, distally from the first pressure sensor, with the irrigation channel;
• forming a needle-sleeve combination, comprising a sleeve coaxially surrounding at least a portion of a needle;
• coupling the needle-sleeve combination with the distal tip of the probe;
• acquiring from the first pressure sensor a first reading in response to the irrigation fluid passing the first pressure sensor;
• acquiring from the second pressure sensor a second reading in response to the irrigation fluid passing the second pressure sensor;
• formulating a difference between the first reading and the second reading;
• and
• determining a size of the sleeve of the needle-sleeve combination in response to the difference.