Surgical cassette with multi area fluid chamber

• US 20070049898A1
• Filed: 07/24/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Gao, Shawn, Hopkins, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,594,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/403
• 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 1/60 Containers for suction drainage, adapted to be used with an external suction source containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/72 Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/732 Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/743 by changing the cross-section of the line, e.g. flow regulating valves A61M1/7413 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/804 using Laval or Venturi jet pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0201 Cassettes therefor

Abstract

A surgical cassette having an aspiration chamber or infusion chamber with a sensing portion and a storage portion. The sensing portion has a small transverse cross sectional area and facilitates accurate fluid level measurements. The storage portion has a larger transverse cross sectional area to facilitate fluid storage.

Claims

1. A surgical cassette having an aspiration chamber disposed therein, said aspiration chamber comprising:

a sensing portion having a first transverse cross sectional area; and

a storage portion fluidly coupled to said sensing portion and having a second transverse cross sectional area larger than said first transverse cross sectional area, wherein said sensing portion is disposed within said aspiration chamber so that a surgical aspiration fluid first enters said sensing portion and substantially fills said sensing portion before entering said storage portion.

2. The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein said sensing portion is disposed proximate a bottom of said aspiration chamber, and said storage portion is disposed proximate a top of said aspiration chamber.

3. The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein said second transverse cross sectional area is approximately 7.5 times larger than said first cross sectional area.

4. The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein said sensing portion functions to provide accurate and precise evidence of fluid level changes, and said storage portion functions to provide adequate fluid storage during operation.

5. The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein the angle between said sensing portion and said storage portion is about 90 degrees.

6. A surgical cassette having an infusion chamber disposed therein, said infusion chamber comprising:

a sensing portion having a first transverse cross sectional area; and

a storage portion fluidly coupled to said sensing portion and having a second transverse cross sectional area larger than said first transverse cross sectional area, wherein said sensing portion is disposed within said infusion chamber so that a surgical infusion fluid first enters said sensing portion and substantially fills said sensing portion before entering said storage portion.

7. The surgical cassette of claim 6 wherein said sensing portion is disposed proximate a bottom of said infusion chamber, and said storage portion is disposed proximate a top of said infusion chamber.

8. The surgical cassette of claim 6 wherein said second transverse cross sectional area is approximately 7.5 times larger than that of said first transverse cross sectional area.

9. The surgical cassette of claim 6 wherein said sensing portion functions to provide accurate and precise evidence of fluid level changes, and said storage portion functions to provide adequate fluid storage during operation.

10. The surgical cassette of claim 6 wherein the angle between said sensing portion and said storage portion is about 90 degrees.