HOLDING TANK DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR SURGICAL FLUIDICS CASSETTE

• US 20080114301A1
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Medical Optics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: King, David, Muri, John I., Bandhauer, Mark H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,414,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/153
• 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: A61F 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/71 Suction drainage systems containers therefor A61M1/60, A61M1/64; negative pressure wound therapy systems A61M1/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/72 Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/73 comprising sensors or indicators for physical values
• 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 1/774 Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/78 Means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems combined with drainage containers A61M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/784 by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2925 using electrical detecting means

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to improved methods, devices, and systems for eye surgery. In some embodiments, the invention may provide new and/or improved devices, systems, and methods for detecting surgical fluids in a fluidics cassette, particularly cassettes which are used to couple an eye treatment probe to an eye treatment console. Rather than relaying on internal reflection by a gas-liquid interface, the fluid detection techniques described herein may make use of the changes in propagation of light through a portion of the holding tank when the portion varies between empty and full. For example, light may propagate directly through the holding tank portion when there is no surgical fluid, but may be directed away from a light detector when the portion of the holding tank is filled with surgical fluid. As the light may be controllably refracted using the interface between the transparent holding tank material and the surgical fluid, the propagation properties of the light may be more reliably predicted and controlled. While the sensor may not determine the actual liquid level within the holding tank, a plurality of individual liquid detectors may be sufficient to determine when it is appropriate to (for example) turn drain pumps on and off, when the holding tank is in danger of being overfilled, and the like. Other aspects of the invention may provide devices, systems, and methods for producing different types of fluidics cassette using a single cassette body type.

Claims

1. A surgical system comprising:

a treatment console having a fluid aspiration drive system;

an eye treatment probe having a fluid aspiration port;

a fluid detector system comprising an emitter and a signal receiver; and

a cassette having a surgical fluid aspiration system configured to couple the treatment console to the eye treatment probe, the aspiration system including a fluid container having a first wall and a second wall with a volume portion therebetween, to produce a first signal and a second signal;

the system configured to produce a first signal when a light beam transmits through the first wall, the volume portion, the second wall, and into a detector;

the system configured to produce a second signal when the second wall directs the light beam away from the detector by refraction and/or reflection.

2. The surgical cassette of claim 1, wherein the light emitter produces radiation in the infrared, visible, and/or ultraviolet wavebands.

3. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the emitter directs the light along a light path, wherein the first wall is at a first angle relative to the light path, and wherein the second wall is at a second angle relative to the first wall, and wherein the container is configured so that when no surgical fluid is disposed in the volume portion the light is refracted from the first wall into the volume portion and proceeds through the second wall and to the detector.

4. The surgical system of claim 3, wherein the light path from the first wall proceeds, when the surgical fluid is disposed in the volume portion, away from the detector so that a reduction of the light at the detector defines the first signal.

5. The surgical system of claim 4, wherein the light from the first wall into the surgical fluid proceeds along the path to the second wall at a sufficient angle relative to the second wall that the light is reflected by a surface of the second wall.

6. The surgical system of claim 3, wherein the first wall has first and second parallel surfaces so that the path of the light refracted into air in the volume portion is parallel to the path of the light from the emitter, wherein the first wall is at a first oblique angle relative to the path from the emitter, and wherein the second wall has first and second parallel surfaces and is at a second oblique angle relative to the path of the light through the air, the second angle complementary to the first angle so that the path of the light from the second wall is substantially coaxial with the path of light toward the first wall when no surgical fluid is in the volume.

7. The surgical system of claim 2, wherein the second signal corresponds to a condition in which the volume portion contains fluid and the first signal correspond to a condition in which the fluid volume contains only a gas.

8. A surgical cassette for use with an eye treatment system, the eye treatment system including an eye treatment probe having a fluid aspiration port, and an eye treatment console having a fluid detector system and a fluid aspiration drive system, the fluid detector system including a light emitter and a signal receiver, the cassette comprising:

a surgical fluid aspiration system configured to couple the aspiration drive of the console to the aspiration port of the probe, the aspiration system including a fluid container having a first wall and a second wall with a volume portion therebetween, the first and second walls configured so that when the cassette is mounted to the console and light from the emitter is directed to the first wall;

the light defines a first signal at the detector when the volume portion is filled with surgical fluid; and

the light defines a second signal at the detector when no surgical fluid is disposed in the volume portion.

9. An eye treatment method comprising:

aspirating surgical fluid from an eye through an aspiration port of an treatment probe;

holding aspirated surgical fluid in a fluid container having a first wall, a second wall, and a volume portion therebetween;

controlling the amount of surgical fluid in the fluid container in response to first and second signals,

generating the first signal by transmitting a light beam through the first wall, the volume portion, the second wall, and into a detector; and

generating the second signal by directing the light beam away from the detector by refraction and/or reflection of the light beam by the second wall.

10. The surgical cassette of claim 9, wherein the light emitter produces radiation in the infrared, visible, and/or ultraviolet wavebands.