Fluid chamber

• US 20070161954A1
• Filed: 01/11/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Svetic, Ralph
• Granted Patent: US 7,942,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/131
• 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 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463

Abstract

A fluid chamber having an inlet and an outlet at the top of the chamber. The inlet is arrange so that fluid entering the chamber at the inlet sweeps the top of the chamber so as to direct any air bubbles naturally collecting at the top of the chamber or which may be trapped in the entering fluid stream toward the outlet.

Claims

1. A fluid chamber, comprising:

a) a top having a roughened surface;

b) an inlet; and

c) an outlet located opposite the inlet at the top of the chamber so that fluid flowing into the chamber through the inlet is directed across the top and toward the outlet.

2. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the roughened surface minimizes an air bubble contact area of the top.

3. A cassette, comprising:

a) a body;

b) a fluid chamber formed in the body, the fluid chamber being formed as a hollow void in the body;

c) an inlet in the fluid chamber;

d) an outlet in the fluid chamber, the outlet located opposite the inlet at a top of the chamber so that fluid flowing into the chamber through the inlet is directed across the top and toward the outlet.

4. The cassette of claim 3 wherein the cassette further comprises a pumping segment in fluid communication with the outlet.

5. The cassette of claim 3 wherein the chamber further comprises a top having roughened surface, the roughened surface constructed so as to minimize an air bubble contact area of the top.

6. The cassette of claim 3 further comprising an aspiration tubing connected to the cassette.

7. The cassette of claim 4 further comprising an aspiration tubing connected to the cassette and in fluid communication with the pumping segment.

8. A surgical system, comprising:

a) a surgical console having a cassette receiving portion;

b) a surgical cassette received by the console in the cassette receiving portion, the cassette having

i) a body;

ii) a fluid chamber formed in the body;

iii) an inlet in the fluid chamber; and

iv) an outlet in the fluid chamber, the outlet located opposite the inlet at a top of the chamber so that fluid flowing into the chamber through the inlet is directed across the top and toward the outlet.

9. The surgical system of claim 8 wherein the cassette further comprises a pumping segment.

10. The surgical system of claim 8 further comprising an aspiration tubing connected to the cassette and in fluid communication with the inlet.

11. The surgical system of claim 8 further comprising an aspiration tubing connected to the cassette and in fluid communication with the pumping segment.