Pneumatic module for intraocular microsurgery

Claim 1

A pneumatic module for controlling an intraocular microsurgery probe, which severs and removes material from an eye, the module comprising: (a) a first unit for aspirating suctioned material from an eye comprising: (i) pressure valve means for venting out any excess suction in the eye, the pressure valve controlling an upstream vacuum source; (ii) mechanically controlled pneumatic valve means downstream from the pressure valve means for permitting the control of the level of suction of the material being severed by the probe; and (iii) vacuum display means connected to the pneumatic valve means for displaying the level of suction at the probe, the module further comprising (b) a second unit for reciprocating an internal needle in the probe, the second unit comprising: (i) pneumatic valve means downstream from a source of air pressure for permitting control of the level of air pressure that is channeled to the probe; (ii) an air reservoir downstream from the pneumatic valve means; (iii) a manometer operably connected to the air reservoir for gauging the pressure level of the air pressure flow; and (iv) a two-way valve alternately receiving pressurized air from an air reservoir and receiving a vacuum flow from a second source of vacuum; (v) an electronic circuit operably connected to the two-way valve for controlling the frequency that the two-way valve alternates between the vacuum flow and air pressure flow.