All The Claims

1. A thin film transistor, comprising:
a gate electrode, formed on a substrate, wherein the gate electrode has at least one notch;
a gate dielectric layer, formed over the substrate, covering the gate electrode;
a source region, formed on the gate dielectric layer, wherein the source region is located over a region outside the notch of the gate electrode and the source region overlaps a portion of the gate electrode;
a drain region, formed over the gate dielectric layer exposed by the source region, wherein the drain region is over the notch of the gate electrode and the drain region overlaps a portion of the gate electrode at the edge of the notch; and
a channel layer formed on the gate dielectric layer and located over the gate electrode and between the source region and drain region.
2. The thin film transistor of claim 1, further comprising an etch stop layer formed between the channel layer and the source and drain regions.
3. The thin film transistor of claim 1, further comprising an ohmic-contact layer formed between the channel layer and the source and drain regions.
4. The thin film transistor of claim 1, wherein the source region overlaps the gate electrode.
5. The thin film transistor of claim 1, wherein the source region comprises two strip regions, each of the two strip regions adjacent to each longitude of the drain region.
6. The thin film transistor of claim 1, wherein the shape of the notch of the gate electrode is a triangle, a quadrilateral or a non-regular shape.
7. A pixel structure, comprising:
a scan line, formed on a substrate;
a gate electrode, formed on the substrate and electrically connected to the scan line, wherein the gate electrode has at least one notch;
a gate dielectric layer, formed over the substrate, covering the scan line and the gate electrode;
a channel layer, formed over the gate dielectric layer and located over the gate electrode;
a source region, formed on the channel layer, wherein the source region is over a region outside the notch of the gate electrode and the source region overlaps a portion of the gate electrode;
a drain region, formed over the channel layer exposed by the source region, wherein the drain region is over the notch of the gate electrode and the drain region overlaps a portion of the gate electrode at the edge of the notch;
a data line, formed on the gate dielectric layer, wherein the data line is electrically connected to the source region;
a protection layer, formed over the substrate, covering the gate electrode, the gate dielectric layer, the channel layer, the source region, the drain region, the scan line and the data line;
a contact, formed within the protection layer and electrically connected to the drain region; and
a pixel electrode, formed on the protection layer, the pixel electrode electrically connected to the drain region through the contact.
8. The pixel structure of claim 7, further comprising an etch stop layer formed between the channel layer and the source and drain regions.
9. The pixel structure of claim 7, further comprising an ohmic-contact layer formed between the channel layer and the source and drain regions.
10. The pixel structure of claim 7, wherein the source region overlaps the gate electrode.
11. The pixel structure of claim 7, wherein the source region comprises two strip regions, each of the two strip regions adjacent to each longitude of the drain region.
12. The pixel structure of claim 11, wherein the source region further extends over the gate dielectric layer formed on the scan line.
13. The pixel structure of claim 7, wherein the shape of the notch of the gate electrode is a triangle, a quadrilateral or a non-regular shape.
14. A thin film transistor, comprising:
a scan line, formed on a substrate;
a gate electrode, formed on the substrate and electrically connected to the scan line, wherein the gate electrode has at least one notch;
a gate dielectric layer, formed over the substrate, covering the scan line and the gate electrode;
a drain region, formed over the notch of the gate electrode and the drain region overlapping a portion of the gate electrode at the edge of the notch and a portion of scan line;
a trident source region, formed on the gate dielectric layer, wherein the trident source region comprises:
two first projecting portions formed on the gate dielectric layer, wherein the two first projecting portions are over a region outside the notch of the gate electrode and the two first projecting portions overlap a portion of the gate electrode;
a second projecting portion, formed over the scan line between the two first projecting portions, wherein the second projecting portion is shorter than the two first projecting portions; and
a connection portion, connecting the second projecting portion and the two first projecting portions; and
a channel layer, formed between the gate electrode and the drain and trident source regions.
15. The thin film transistor of claim 14, further comprising an etch stop layer formed between the channel layer and the drain and trident regions.
16. The thin film transistor of claim 14, further comprising an ohmic-contact layer formed between the channel layer and the drain and trident source regions.
17. The thin film transistor of claim 14, wherein the connection portion of the trident source region extends over the scan line.
18. The thin film transistor of claim 14, wherein the shape of the notch of the gate electrode is a triangle, a quadrilateral or a non-regular shape.
19. The thin film transistor of claim 14, further comprising a data line formed on the gate dielectric layer, the data line electrically connected to the trident source region.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of modulating the human meridian system using a small bar magnet having a length of 3 cm or less and a coercivity of 1000 gauss or greater,
wherein the small bar magnet is attached to the skin corresponding to at least two acupuncture points on the meridian line of the human body,
wherein a first small bar magnet is attached to the skin corresponding to a first acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the first small bar magnet is the same as the direction of flow of the meridian system to promote the meridian system (Bo-method), or attached to the skin corresponding to the first acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the first small bar magnet is opposite to the direction of the meridian system to inhibit the meridian system (Sa-method), and
a second small bar magnet is attached to the skin corresponding to a second acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the second small bar magnet is opposite to the direction of the meridian system to inhibit the meridian system (Sa-method) when the first small magnet bar is attached to the skin corresponding to a first acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the first small bar magnet is the same as the direction of flow of the meridian system to promote the meridian system (Bo-method), or attached to the skin corresponding to a second acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the second small bar magnet is the same as the direction of flow of the meridian system to promote the meridian system (Bo-method) when the first small magnet bar is attached to the skin corresponding to the first acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the first small magnet is opposite to the direction of the meridian system to inhibit the meridian system (Sa-method).
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the small bar magnet has a length of 1 cm or less and a thickness of 0.5 mm or less.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the small bar magnet has a length of 5 mm or less and a thickness of 0.3 mm or less.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the small bar magnet is attached to parts of pain in multiple lines in the same direction with or different directions from each other.
5. A method of modulating the human meridian system using a small bar magnet having a length of 3 cm or less and a coercivity of 1000 gauss or greater,
wherein the small bar magnet is attached to the skin corresponding to at least two acupuncture points on the meridian line of the human body,
wherein a first small bar magnet unit is attached to the skin corresponding to a first acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the first small bar magnet unit is the same as the direction of flow of the meridian system to promote the meridian system (Bo-method), or attached to the skin corresponding to the first acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the first small bar magnet unit is opposite to the direction of the meridian system to inhibit the meridian system (Sa-method), and
a second small bar magnet unit is attached to the skin corresponding to a second acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the second small bar magnet unit is opposite to the direction of the meridian system to inhibit the meridian system (Sa-method) when the first small magnet bar is attached to the skin corresponding to a first acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the first small bar magnet unit is the same as the direction of flow of the meridian system to promote the meridian system (Bo-method), or attached to the skin corresponding to a second acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the second small bar magnet unit is the same as the direction of flow of the meridian system to promote the meridian system (Bo-method) when the first small magnet bar is attached to the skin corresponding to the first acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the first small magnet is opposite to the direction of the meridian system to inhibit the meridian system (Sa-method),
wherein the first small bar magnet unit comprises a pair of small bar magnets which are positioned in the vicinity of the first acupuncture point and spaced apart from each other by a distance of 1 cm, and
the second small bar magnet unit comprises a pair of small bar magnets which are positioned in the vicinity of the second acupuncture point and spaced apart from each other by a distance of 1 cm.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the small bar magnet has a length of 1 cm or less and a thickness of 0.5 mm or less.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the small bar magnet has a length of 5 mm or less and a thickness of 0.3 mm or less.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the small bar magnet is attached to parts of pain in multiple lines in the same direction with or different directions from each other.
9. A method of modulating the human meridian system using a small bar magnet having a length of 3 cm or less and a coercivity of 1000 gauss or greater,
wherein the small bar magnet is implanted into the skin corresponding to at least two acupuncture points on the meridian line of the human body,
wherein a first small bar magnet is implanted into the skin corresponding to a first acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the first small bar magnet is the same as the direction of flow of the meridian system to promote the meridian system (Bo-method), or implanted into the skin corresponding to the first acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the first small bar magnet is opposite to the direction of the meridian system to inhibit the meridian system (Sa-method), and
a second small bar magnet is implanted into the skin corresponding to a second acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the second small bar magnet is opposite to the direction of the meridian system to inhibit the meridian system (Sa-method) when the first small magnet bar is implanted into the skin corresponding to a first acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the first small bar magnet is the same as the direction of flow of the meridian system to promote the meridian system (Bo-method), or implanted into the skin corresponding to a second acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the second small bar magnet is the same as the direction of flow of the meridian system to promote the meridian system (Bo-method) when the first small magnet bar is implanted into the skin corresponding to the first acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the first small magnet is opposite to the direction of the meridian system to inhibit the meridian system (Sa-method).
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the small bar magnet has a length of 1 cm or less and a thickness of 0.5 mm or less.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the small bar magnet has a length of 5 mm or less and a thickness of 0.3 mm or less.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the small bar magnet is implanted into parts of pain in multiple lines in the same direction with or different directions from each other.
13. A method of modulating the human meridian system using a small bar magnet having a length of 3 cm or less and a coercivity of 1000 gauss or greater,
wherein the small bar magnet is implanted into the skin corresponding to at least two acupuncture points on the meridian line of the human body,
wherein a first small bar magnet unit is implanted into the skin corresponding to a first acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the first small bar magnet unit is the same as the direction of flow of the meridian system to promote the meridian system (Bo-method), or implanted into the skin corresponding to the first acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the first small bar magnet unit is opposite to the direction of the meridian system to inhibit the meridian system (Sa-method), and
a second small bar magnet unit is implanted into the skin corresponding to a second acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the second small bar magnet unit is opposite to the direction of the meridian system to inhibit the meridian system (Sa-method) when the first small magnet bar is implanted into the skin corresponding to a first acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the first small bar magnet unit is the same as the direction of flow of the meridian system to promote the meridian system (Bo-method), or implanted into the skin corresponding to a second acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the second small bar magnet unit is the same as the direction of flow of the meridian system to promote the meridian system (Bo-method) when the first small magnet bar is implanted into the skin corresponding to the first acupuncture point such that the direction of flow of a magnetic force of the first small magnet is opposite to the direction of the meridian system to inhibit the meridian system (Sa-method),
wherein the first small bar magnet unit comprises a pair of small bar magnets which are positioned in the vicinity of the first acupuncture point and spaced apart from each other by a distance of 1 cm, and
the second small bar magnet unit comprises a pair of small bar magnets which are positioned in the vicinity of the second acupuncture point and spaced apart from each other by a distance of 1 cm.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the small bar magnet has a length of 1 cm or less and a thickness of 0.5 mm or less.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the small bar magnet has a length of 5 mm or less and a thickness of 0.3 mm or less.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the small bar magnet is implanted into parts of pain in multiple lines in the same direction with or different directions from each other.

1.-7. (canceled)
8. A system, comprising:
a touchscreen display of a handheld device; and
a processor programmed to:
provide, on the touchscreen display of the handheld device, a user thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard design interface that allows a user to create a user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard;
detect, via the user thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard design interface in response to user thumb gestures on the touchscreen display, a set of user inputs comprising: a user-specified outline on the touchscreen display of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard with boundaries within a range of motion of a thumb of the user on the touchscreen display, a plurality of different user-specified touchscreen input key locations and input key shapes of a plurality of user-specified touchscreen input keys within the user-specified outline of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard, and user-specified touchscreen input key processor-input function assignments of the plurality of user-specified touchscreen input keys; and
implement the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard as a touchscreen display user input interface to the processor.
9. The system of claim 8, where, in being programmed to detect, via the user thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard design interface in response to the user thumb gestures on the touchscreen display, the set of user inputs comprising the user-specified outline on the touchscreen display of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard, the processor is programmed to:
detect a user thumb-drawn perimeter of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard on the touchscreen display.
10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a memory; and
where the processor is further programmed to:
download a user-modifiable thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard template that comprises a shape of a quarter-circle;
display the downloaded user-modifiable thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard template on the touchscreen display; and
where, in being programmed to detect, via the user thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard design interface in response to the user thumb gestures on the touchscreen display, the set of user inputs comprising the user-specified outline on the touchscreen display of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard, the processor is programmed to:
detect a plurality of user thumb-push operations on the touchscreen display that cross a boundary along a perimeter of the user-modifiable thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard template;
adjust, in response to each detected boundary-crossing thumb-push operation, the displayed shape of the user-modifiable thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard template in a direction of each detected boundary-crossing thumb-push operation; and
store, in response to detection of a finalizing input, the adjusted displayed shape of the user-modifiable thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard template as a finalized shape of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard within the memory.
11. The system of claim 8, where the processor is further programmed to:
provide a plurality of keyboard category specification options to the user comprising a word category option, a sentencephrase category option, a letter and attribute category option, and a keyboard control category option; and
where, in being programmed to detect, via the user thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard design interface in response to the user thumb gestures on the touchscreen display, the set of user inputs comprising the plurality of different user-specified touchscreen input key locations and input key shapes of the plurality of user-specified touchscreen input keys within the user-specified outline of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard, and the user-specified touchscreen input key function assignments of the plurality of user-specified touchscreen input keys, the processor is programmed to:
detect user selections of:
a plurality of category options from the plurality of keyboard category specification options;
a quantity of keys per selected category option;
keyboard category boundaries within the user-specified outline of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard of each selected category option;
the input key shapes of each of the plurality of user-specified touchscreen input keys; and
the user-specified touchscreen input key processor-input function assignments of each of the plurality of user-specified touchscreen input keys.
12. The system of claim 8, where the processor is further programmed to:
detect, via the user thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard design interface in response to additional user thumb gestures on the touchscreen display, assignment of a user-specified image to a user-specified touchscreen input key that comprises a plurality of user-specified selectable text phrases; and
assign the user-specified image as a rendered image of the user-specified touchscreen input key;
where a detected selection of a user contact with the user-specified touchscreen input key with the rendered image causes display of a pop-up dialog box that comprises the plurality of user-specified selectable text phrases rendered for selection, and a detected termination of the user contact over one of the rendered plurality of user-specified selectable text phrases selects the one of the rendered plurality of user-specified selectable text phrases as input to the processor.
13. The system of claim 8, where:
in being programmed to implement the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard as the touchscreen display user input interface to the processor, the processor is programmed to:
integrate the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard as a selectable touchscreen keyboard of the processor with a keyboard toggle operation that toggles between the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard and a processor-implemented default touchscreen keyboard; and
the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard comprises a first user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard, the processor being further programmed to:
detect, via the user thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard design interface in response to user thumb gestures on the touchscreen display, a first user-specified keyboard toggle input key and an additional set of user inputs that specify a second user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard that comprises a second user-specified keyboard toggle input key; and
implement, via the first user-specified keyboard toggle input key and the second user-specified keyboard toggle input key, the second user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard as a second touchscreen display user input interface to the processor;
where a detected selection of the first user-specified keyboard toggle input key of the first user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard toggles to the second user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard, and a detected selection of the second user-specified keyboard toggle input key of the second user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard toggles to the first user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard.
14. A computer program product, comprising:
a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, where the computer readable program code when executed on a computer causes the computer to:
provide, on a touchscreen display of a handheld device, a user thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard design interface that allows a user to create a user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard;
detect, via the user thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard design interface in response to user thumb gestures on the touchscreen display, a set of user inputs comprising: a user-specified outline on the touchscreen display of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard with boundaries within a range of motion of a thumb of the user on the touchscreen display, a plurality of different user-specified touchscreen input key locations and input key shapes of a plurality of user-specified touchscreen input keys within the user-specified outline of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard, and user-specified touchscreen input key computer-input function assignments of the plurality of user-specified touchscreen input keys; and
implement the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard as a touchscreen display user input interface to the computer.
15. The computer program product of claim 14, where, in causing the computer to detect, via the user thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard design interface in response to the user thumb gestures on the touchscreen display, the set of user inputs comprising the user-specified outline on the touchscreen display of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard, the computer readable program code when executed on the computer causes the computer to:
detect a user thumb-drawn perimeter of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard on the touchscreen display.
16. The computer program product of claim 14, where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to:
download a user-modifiable thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard template that comprises a shape of a quarter-circle;
display the downloaded user-modifiable thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard template on the touchscreen display; and
where, in causing the computer to detect, via the user thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard design interface in response to the user thumb gestures on the touchscreen display, the set of user inputs comprising the user-specified outline on the touchscreen display of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard, the computer readable program code when executed on the computer causes the computer to:
detect a plurality of user thumb-push operations on the touchscreen display that cross a boundary along a perimeter of the user-modifiable thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard template;
adjust, in response to each detected boundary-crossing thumb-push operation, the displayed shape of the user-modifiable thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard template in a direction of each detected boundary-crossing thumb-push operation; and
store, in response to detection of a finalizing input, the adjusted displayed shape of the user-modifiable thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard template as a finalized shape of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard within a memory.
17. The computer program product of claim 14, where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to:
provide a plurality of keyboard category specification options to the user comprising a word category option, a sentencephrase category option, a letter and attribute category option, and a keyboard control category option; and
where, in causing the computer to detect, via the user thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard design interface in response to the user thumb gestures on the touchscreen display, the set of user inputs comprising the plurality of different user-specified touchscreen input key locations and input key shapes of the plurality of user-specified touchscreen input keys within the user-specified outline of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard, and the user-specified touchscreen input key function assignments of the plurality of user-specified touchscreen input keys, the computer readable program code when executed on the computer causes the computer to:
detect user selections of:
a plurality of category options from the plurality of keyboard category specification options;
a quantity of keys per selected category option;
keyboard category boundaries within the user-specified outline of the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard of each selected category option;
the input key shapes of each of the plurality of user-specified touchscreen input keys; and
the user-specified touchscreen input key computer-input function assignments of each of the plurality of user-specified touchscreen input keys.
18. The computer program product of claim 14, where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to:
detect, via the user thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard design interface in response to additional user thumb gestures on the touchscreen display, assignment of a user-specified image to a user-specified touchscreen input key that comprises a plurality of user-specified selectable text phrases; and
assign the user-specified image as a rendered image of the user-specified touchscreen input key;
where a detected selection of a user contact with the user-specified touchscreen input key with the rendered image causes display of a pop-up dialog box that comprises the plurality of user-specified selectable text phrases rendered for selection, and a detected termination of the user contact over one of the rendered plurality of user-specified selectable text phrases selects the one of the rendered plurality of user-specified selectable text phrases as input to the computer.
19. The computer program product of claim 14, where, in causing the computer to implement the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard as the touchscreen display user input interface to the computer, the computer readable program code when executed on the computer causes the computer to:
integrate the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard as a selectable touchscreen keyboard of the computer with a keyboard toggle operation that toggles between the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard and a computer-implemented default touchscreen keyboard.
20. The computer program product of claim 14, where the user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard comprises a first user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard and the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to:
detect, via the user thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard design interface in response to user thumb gestures on the touchscreen display, a first user-specified keyboard toggle input key and an additional set of user inputs that specify a second user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard that comprises a second user-specified keyboard toggle input key; and
implement, via the first user-specified keyboard toggle input key and the second user-specified keyboard toggle input key, the second user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard as a second touchscreen display user input interface to the computer;
where a detected selection of the first user-specified keyboard toggle input key of the first user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard toggles to the second user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard, and a detected selection of the second user-specified keyboard toggle input key of the second user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard toggles to the first user-designed thumb-operated touchscreen keyboard.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A surgical system for eye surgery comprising:
a handpiece configured to be placed in an operative relationship with an eye for a surgical procedure;
an irrigation fluid source configured to supply an irrigation fluid to the eye;
an aspiration line having an aspiration port coupled to the handpiece;
a vacuum-based aspiration source configured to apply a vacuum to the handpiece via a drainage cassette and via the aspiration line;
an upstream pressurevacuum sensor configured to measure both pressure and vacuum and configured to measure an upstream pressurevacuum value;
a downstream pressurevacuum sensor configured to measure both pressure and vacuum and configured to measure a downstream pressurevacuum value, both the sensors operatively coupled to the aspiration line and located between the aspiration source and the aspiration port, wherein at least one of the upstream pressurevacuum sensor and downstream pressurevacuum sensor is at least partially disposed within the drainage cassette; and
an occlusion detecting system comprising a controller connected to the aspiration line that is configured to detect an occlusion at the handpiece and selectively inhibit fluid flow based on the occlusion detected by determining a difference value equal to a difference between the upstream pressurevacuum value and the downstream pressurevacuum value, wherein the occlusion detecting system comprises a variable flow restrictor coupled to the aspiration line in between the upstream pressurevacuum sensor and the downstream pressurevacuum sensor, the variable flow restrictor configured to selectively deform the aspiration line to selectively restrict flow therethrough upon receiving a command from the controller to restrict flow, the command from the controller based on the difference value determined by the controller exceeding a predetermined difference value.
2. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the occlusion detecting system includes:
a computer program product that includes a computer-usable medium having a sequence of instructions;
wherein, the sequence of instructions, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to execute a process to measure a pressurevacuum differential equal to a value at the upstream pressurevacuum sensor and a value at the downstream pressurevacuum sensor.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to:
control a controlled system parameter to be greater than or equal to the lower value or to be less than or equal to an upper value;
sense an occlusion in the aspiration line based on the pressurevacuum differential;
determine a duration of occlusion; and
control fluid flow rate based at least in part on at least one of (1) the sensing of an occlusion and (2) the duration of occlusion.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the fluid flow rate controlled consists of one of supply irrigation rate and aspiration rate.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the variable flow restrictor for controlling the aspiration rate.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the handpiece is a phacoemulsification handpiece.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the variable flow restrictor and the upstream pressurevacuum sensor are associated with the drainage cassette and the drainage cassette is configured to be removed from the system.
8. A surgical system comprising:
an aspiration line having an aspiration port configured to aspirate irrigation fluid therethrough;
a vacuum-based aspiration source configured to apply a vacuum to the aspiration line via a drainage cassette;
an upstream pressurevacuum fluid sensor for measuring an upstream pressurevacuum value;
a downstream pressurevacuum fluid sensor for measuring a downstream pressurevacuum value, both the sensors operatively coupled to the aspiration line, wherein at least one of the upstream pressure sensor and downstream pressure sensor is at least partially disposed within the drainage cassette; and
an occlusion detecting system coupled to the aspiration line comprising a controller configured to detect an occlusion encountered at a device connected to a remote end of the aspiration line by determining a difference value equal to a difference between the upstream pressurevacuum value and the downstream pressurevacuum value;
wherein the occlusion detecting system further comprises a variable flow restrictor coupled to the aspiration line in between the upstream pressurevacuum sensor and the downstream pressurevacuum sensor and configured to selectively deform the aspiration line to selectively restrict flow therethrough upon receiving a command from the controller to restrict flow, the command from the controller based on the difference value determined by the controller exceeding a predetermined pressurevacuum difference value.
9. The surgical system of claim 8, wherein the occlusion detecting system includes:
a computer program product that includes a computer-usable medium having a sequence of instructions;
wherein, the sequence of instructions, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to execute a process to measure a pressurevacuum differential equal to a value of the upstream pressurevacuum fluid sensor and a value of the downstream pressurevacuum fluid sensor.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to:
control a controlled system parameter to be greater than or equal to the lower value or to be less than or equal to an upper value;
sense an occlusion in the aspiration line based on the pressurevacuum differential;
determine a duration of occlusion; and
control a system parameter based at least in part on at least one of (1) the sensing of an occlusion and (2) the duration of occlusion.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controlled system parameter is at least one of supply irrigation pressure, supply irrigation rate, aspiration rate, aspiration vacuum level, and applied power.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the variable flow restrictor for controlling the aspiration rate.