Device for controlling fluid flow in an aspiration system

• US 20050113741A1
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Original Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Inventors: Huang, David, Hall, John D., Thompson, David L., Goodin, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US10/965,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20050113741A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/35
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00736 Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments A61F9/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/774 Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently

Abstract

A device for, when connected to a vacuum system, conducting aspiration fluid away from a surgical site includes a conduit having a portion adapted for insertion into the surgical site. The device also includes a flow limiter interposed between the vacuum system and the conduit and in fluid communication with the conduit. The flow limiter has at least two orifices arranged in series and a flow path interconnecting the at least two orifices. The flow path has a flow area that is greater than a flow area of each one of the at least two orifices. Aspiration fluid flows through the conduit and the flow limiter in response to a pressure drop between the surgical site and the vacuum system. The flow limiter produces a non-linear relationship between a rate of aspiration fluid flow and the pressure drop.

Claims

1. A device for, when connected to a vacuum system, conducting aspiration fluid away from a surgical site, the device comprising:

a conduit including a portion adapted for insertion into the surgical site; and

a flow limiter interposed between the vacuum system and the conduit and in fluid communication with the conduit, the flow limiter having at least two orifices arranged in series and a flow path interconnecting the at least two orifices, the flow path having a flow area that is greater than a flow area of each one of the at least two orifices;

wherein aspiration fluid flows through the conduit and the flow limiter in response to a pressure drop between the surgical site and the vacuum system, the flow limiter producing a non-linear relationship between a rate of aspiration fluid flow and the pressure drop.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the at least two orifices has a diameter that is substantially equal to the diameter of the portion of the conduit that is adapted for insertion into the surgical site.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the flow path connecting the at least two orifices comprises a spacer plate.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the spacer plate has an axial length that is greater than the diameter of the at least two orifices.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the at least orifices is located in and extends through an orifice plate.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the flow limiter comprises at least two orifices plates that are separated by a spacer plate that defines the flow path.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein each of the at least two orifices is radially offset from a centerline of the flow limiter.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the orifice in one of the at least two orifice plates is offset 180°

relative to the centerline from the orifice in an adjacent one of the at least two orifice plates.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least two orifices have a circular shape.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the at least two orifices comprises a slit.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein each of the at least two slits is located in and extends through an orifice plate.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the orifice plates are made from a flexible plastic material that is deformable to allow fragments to pass through the orifices.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the flow limiter comprises at least two orifices plates that are separated by a spacer plate that defines the flow path.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the flow limiter comprises at least three orifice plates separated by respective spacer plates.

15. A phacoemulsification system for, when connected to a vacuum system, conducting aspiration fluid and emulsified fragments of ocular lens components away from an eye, the phacoemulsification system comprising:

a conduit including a needle portion adapted for insertion into the surgical site; and

a flow limiter interposed between the vacuum system and the conduit and in fluid communication with the conduit, the flow limiter having at least two orifice plates arranged in series and a spacer plate extending between the at least two orifice plates, each of the orifice plates having an orifice extending therethrough, the spacer plate defining a flow path having a flow area that is greater than a flow area of each one of the at least two orifices;

wherein aspiration fluid flows through the conduit and the flow limiter in response to a pressure drop between the surgical site and the vacuum system, the flow limiter producing a non-linear relationship between a rate of aspiration fluid flow and the pressure drop.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein each of the at least two orifices has a diameter that is substantially equal to the diameter of the needle portion of the conduit.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the spacer plate has an axial length that is greater than the diameter of the at least two orifices.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein each of the at least two orifices is radially offset from a centerline of the flow limiter.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the orifice in one of the at least two orifice plates is offset 180°

relative to the centerline from the orifice in an adjacent one of the at least two orifice plates.

20. The device of claim 15 wherein the at least two orifices have a circular shape.

21. The device of claim 15 wherein each of the at least two orifices comprises a slit.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein each of the at least two slits is located in and extends through a respective one of the orifice plates.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the orifice plates are made from a flexible plastic material that is deformable to allow fragments to pass through the orifices.