RECESSED ELECTRODES FOR SENSING FLOW IN OPHTHALMIC SURGICAL SYSTEM

摘要

A flow measurement device (100) is provided that includes anelectrode terminal chamber (102) with an inlet (104) in communication with aflow channel (108) for receiving fluid and viscoelastic material aspiratedfrom asurgical site, and an outlet (106) that tapers into a flow channel (108). Theoutlet(108) has a taper angle that is sufficient to smooth flow and causeviscoelastic ma-terialentering the electrode terminal chamber (102) to flow substantially within acenter portion of the chamber and through the outlet (106). The electrodeterminalchamber (102) further includes first and second electrode terminals (130) and(140) disposed on generally opposite sides of the electrode terminal chamber(102) in a spaced-apart manner. The first and second electrode terminals (130)and (140) are positioned a distance from the center of the chamber (102) thatissufficient to substantially avoid contact between the terminals andviscoelasticmaterials flowing through the chamber (102).