High speed pneumatic valve
First Claim
1. A surgical system comprising:
- a dual action vitrectomy probe comprising a first port and a second port;
a utility generator configured to supply a pressurized fluid to the dual action vitrectomy probe;
a fluid exhaust manifold configured to direct a fluid exhaust from the dual action vitrectomy probe;
a pneumatic valve configured to rotate from a first position in which the pneumatic valve places the first port of the dual action vitrectomy probe in fluid communication with the utility generator and places the second port of the dual action vitrectomy probe in fluid communication with the fluid exhaust manifold, to a second position in which the pneumatic valve places the first port of the dual action vitrectomy probe in fluid communication with the fluid exhaust manifold and the second port of the dual action vitrectomy probe in fluid communication with the utility generator, and the pneumatic valve is configured to rotate within a housing from the second position back to the first position, in one rotational direction;
wherein the pneumatic valve comprises;
an axially symmetric valve body; and
the housing configured to accommodate the axially symmetric valve body, wherein the axially symmetric valve body is configured to rotate within the housing from the first position to the second position and back to the first position in the one rotational direction;
wherein the housing comprises;
a chamber configured to accommodate the axially symmetric valve body;
a first port opening formed on an inner wall of the chamber and in fluid communication with the first port of the dual action vitrectomy probe;
a second port opening formed on the inner wall of the chamber and in fluid communication with the second port of the dual action vitrectomy probe;
a fluid pressure opening formed on the inner wall of the chamber and in fluid communication with the utility generator; and
a fluid exhaust opening formed on the inner wall of the chamber and in fluid communication with the fluid exhaust manifold;
wherein the axially symmetric valve body comprises;
a first connection channel formed through the axially symmetric valve body and configured to place the first port opening and the fluid pressure opening in fluid communication when the axially symmetric valve body is in the first position;
a second connection channel formed through the axially symmetric valve body and configured to place the second port opening and the fluid exhaust opening in fluid communication when the axially symmetric valve body is in the first position;
a third connection channel formed through the axially symmetric valve body and configured to place the first port opening and the fluid exhaust opening in fluid communication when the axially symmetric valve body is in the second position; and
a fourth connection channel formed through the axially symmetric valve body and configured to place the second port opening and the fluid pressure opening in fluid communication when the axially symmetric valve body is in the second position;
wherein the axially symmetric valve body further comprises flow grooves formed on a circumferential surface of the axially symmetric valve body and extending from openings of the one or more of the first, second, third, or fourth connection channels, wherein the flow grooves keep the first port opening, second port opening, fluid pressure opening, and fluid exhaust openings in fluid communication with the one or more of the first, second, third, or fourth connection channels through portions of the rotation of the axially symmetric valve body to define opening or closing timing sequences between the first port opening, second port opening, fluid pressure opening, and fluid exhaust openings such that a rotational speed of the pneumatic valve corresponds to a cutting rate of the dual actuation vitreous probe.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pneumatic valve directs pressurized air to and air exhaust from a surgical implement, such as a dual actuation vitreous probe. The pneumatic valve includes an axially symmetric valve body configured to rotate from a first position, in which the pneumatic valve places a first port of the surgical implement in fluid communication with the pressurized air and a second port of the surgical implement in fluid communication with the air exhaust, to a second position, in which the pneumatic valve places the first port in fluid communication with the air exhaust and the second port in fluid communication with the pressurized air, and back to the first position, in one rotational direction. As such, the axially symmetric valve body continuously rotates in one rotational direction to alternate the pressurized air and the air exhaust between the two ports of the surgical implement to drive the dual actuation operation.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A surgical system comprising:
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a dual action vitrectomy probe comprising a first port and a second port; a utility generator configured to supply a pressurized fluid to the dual action vitrectomy probe; a fluid exhaust manifold configured to direct a fluid exhaust from the dual action vitrectomy probe; a pneumatic valve configured to rotate from a first position in which the pneumatic valve places the first port of the dual action vitrectomy probe in fluid communication with the utility generator and places the second port of the dual action vitrectomy probe in fluid communication with the fluid exhaust manifold, to a second position in which the pneumatic valve places the first port of the dual action vitrectomy probe in fluid communication with the fluid exhaust manifold and the second port of the dual action vitrectomy probe in fluid communication with the utility generator, and the pneumatic valve is configured to rotate within a housing from the second position back to the first position, in one rotational direction; wherein the pneumatic valve comprises; an axially symmetric valve body; and the housing configured to accommodate the axially symmetric valve body, wherein the axially symmetric valve body is configured to rotate within the housing from the first position to the second position and back to the first position in the one rotational direction; wherein the housing comprises; a chamber configured to accommodate the axially symmetric valve body; a first port opening formed on an inner wall of the chamber and in fluid communication with the first port of the dual action vitrectomy probe; a second port opening formed on the inner wall of the chamber and in fluid communication with the second port of the dual action vitrectomy probe; a fluid pressure opening formed on the inner wall of the chamber and in fluid communication with the utility generator; and a fluid exhaust opening formed on the inner wall of the chamber and in fluid communication with the fluid exhaust manifold; wherein the axially symmetric valve body comprises; a first connection channel formed through the axially symmetric valve body and configured to place the first port opening and the fluid pressure opening in fluid communication when the axially symmetric valve body is in the first position; a second connection channel formed through the axially symmetric valve body and configured to place the second port opening and the fluid exhaust opening in fluid communication when the axially symmetric valve body is in the first position; a third connection channel formed through the axially symmetric valve body and configured to place the first port opening and the fluid exhaust opening in fluid communication when the axially symmetric valve body is in the second position; and a fourth connection channel formed through the axially symmetric valve body and configured to place the second port opening and the fluid pressure opening in fluid communication when the axially symmetric valve body is in the second position; wherein the axially symmetric valve body further comprises flow grooves formed on a circumferential surface of the axially symmetric valve body and extending from openings of the one or more of the first, second, third, or fourth connection channels, wherein the flow grooves keep the first port opening, second port opening, fluid pressure opening, and fluid exhaust openings in fluid communication with the one or more of the first, second, third, or fourth connection channels through portions of the rotation of the axially symmetric valve body to define opening or closing timing sequences between the first port opening, second port opening, fluid pressure opening, and fluid exhaust openings such that a rotational speed of the pneumatic valve corresponds to a cutting rate of the dual actuation vitreous probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A surgical system pneumatic valve configured to direct a pressurized fluid to and a fluid exhaust from a dual action vitrectomy probe of a surgical system, the surgical system pneumatic valve comprising:
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an axially symmetric valve body; and a housing configured to accommodate the axially symmetric valve body, wherein the axially symmetric valve body is configured to rotate within the housing from a first position, in which the pneumatic valve places a first port of the dual action vitrectomy probe in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid and places a second port of the dual action vitrectomy probe in fluid communication with the fluid exhaust, to a second position, in which the pneumatic valve places the first port of the dual action vitrectomy probe in fluid communication with the fluid exhaust and places the second port of the dual action vitrectomy probe in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid, and the axially symmetric valve body is configured to rotate within the housing from the second position back to the first position while rotating in one rotational direction; wherein the housing comprises; a chamber configured to accommodate the axially symmetric valve body; a first port opening formed on an inner wall of the chamber and in fluid communication with the first port of the dual action vitrectomy probe; a second port opening formed on the inner wall of the chamber and in fluid communication with the second port of the dual action vitrectomy probe; a fluid pressure opening formed on the inner wall of the chamber and in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid; and a fluid exhaust opening formed on the inner wall of the chamber and in fluid communication with the fluid exhaust; wherein the axially symmetric valve body comprises; a first connection channel formed through the axially symmetric valve body and configured to place the first port opening and the fluid pressure opening in fluid communication when the axially symmetric valve body is in the first position; a second connection channel formed through the axially symmetric valve body and configured to place the second port opening and the fluid exhaust opening in fluid communication when the axially symmetric valve body is in the first position; a third connection channel formed through the axially symmetric valve body and configured to place the first port opening and the fluid exhaust opening in fluid communication when the axially symmetric valve body is in the second position; and a fourth connection channel formed through the axially symmetric valve body and configured to place the second port opening and the fluid pressure opening in fluid communication when the axially symmetric valve body is in the second position; wherein the axially symmetric valve body further comprises flow grooves formed on a circumferential surface of the axially symmetric valve body and extending from openings of the one or more of the first, second, third, or fourth connection channels, wherein the flow grooves keep the first port opening, second port opening, fluid pressure opening, and fluid exhaust openings in fluid communication with the one or more of the first, second, third, or fourth connection channels through portions of the rotation of the axially symmetric valve body to define opening or closing timing sequences between the first port opening, second port opening, fluid pressure opening, and fluid exhaust openings such that a rotational speed of the pneumatic valve corresponds to a cutting rate of the dual actuation vitreous probe. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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providing a pneumatic valve in a surgical system to direct a pressurized fluid to and a fluid exhaust from a dual action vitrectomy probe; and rotating an axially symmetric valve body of the pneumatic valve in one rotational direction to move the axially symmetric valve body from a first position in which the pneumatic valve places a first port of the dual action vitrectomy probe in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid and a second port of the dual action vitrectomy probe in fluid communication with the fluid exhaust, to a second position, in which the pneumatic valve places the first port of the dual action vitrectomy probe in fluid communication with the fluid exhaust and the second port of the dual action vitrectomy probe in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid, and back to the first position; adjusting a rotational speed of the axially symmetric valve body to adjust a cutting rate of the dual actuation vitreous probe; wherein the pneumatic valve comprises; a housing configured to accommodate the axially symmetric valve body; wherein the housing comprises; a chamber configured to accommodate the axially symmetric valve body; a first port opening formed on an inner wall of the chamber and in fluid communication with the first port of the dual action vitrectomy probe; a second port opening formed on the inner wall of the chamber and in fluid communication with the second port of the dual action vitrectomy probe; a fluid pressure opening formed on the inner wall of the chamber and in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid; and a fluid exhaust opening formed on the inner wall of the chamber and in fluid communication with the fluid exhaust; wherein the axially symmetric valve body further comprises flow grooves formed on a circumferential surface of the axially symmetric valve body and extending from openings of one or more connection channels formed through the axially symmetric valve body between the first port opening, second port opening, fluid pressure opening, and fluid exhaust openings, wherein the flow grooves keep the first port opening, second port opening, fluid pressure opening, and fluid exhaust openings in fluid communication with the one or more connection channels through portions of the rotation of the axially symmetric valve body to define opening or closing timing sequences between the first port opening, second port opening, fluid pressure opening, and fluid exhaust openings such that a rotational speed of the pneumatic valve corresponds to a cutting rate of the dual actuation vitreous probe. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification