Intraocular pressure control

Abstract

An improved method of controlling intraocular pressure with a microsurgical system using measured flow rate.

1  . A method of controlling intraocular pressure with a microsurgical system, comprising the steps of: 
 providing an infusion chamber containing an irrigating fluid;    selecting a desired intraocular pressure;    pressurizing said infusion chamber with a pressurized gas to provide irrigating fluid to a surgical device;    measuring a flow rate of said fluid within a fluid line fluidly coupled to said surgical device;    providing a signal corresponding to said measured flow rate to a computer;    calculating a predicted intraocular pressure with said computer in response to said signal;    adjusting a level of said pressurized gas in response to a second signal from said computer to maintain said predicted intraocular pressure proximate said desired intraocular pressure.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said adjusting step comprises actuating a proportional valve fluidly coupled to a source of said pressurized gas in response to said second signal.