VACUUM SURGE SUPPRESSOR FOR SURGICAL ASPIRATION SYSTEMS

• US 20080312594A1
• Filed: 04/25/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dana Companies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dana Companies, LLC
• Inventors: Maaskamp, Armand, Urich, Alex
• Granted Patent: US 7,914,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/149
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/79 Filters for solid matter specially adapted for dental use A61C17/065
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/804 using Laval or Venturi jet pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/84 Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes

Abstract

An apparatus and method to suppress vacuum surges in a surgical aspiration system is disclosed and claimed. A vacuum surge suppressor includes a first fluid path for coupling to a surgical instrument, and a filter attached to the first fluid path. A flow restrictor is coupled to the filter with the filter disposed upstream of the flow restrictor. The vacuum surge suppressor also includes a second fluid path for coupling to a vacuum pump. The second fluid path is connected to the flow restrictor and disposed downstream of the flow restrictor. The second fluid path defines a path internal pressure. A third fluid path is coupled to the filter and is connected to the second fluid path, bypassing the flow restrictor. A valve in the third fluid path obstructs flow in the third fluid path in response to the path internal pressure.

Claims

1. A vacuum surge suppressor, for a surgical aspiration system that includes a surgical instrument and a vacuum pump, the vacuum surge suppressor comprising:

a first fluid path for coupling to the surgical instrument;

a filter attached to the first fluid path;

a flow restrictor coupled to the filter, the filter being disposed upstream of the flow restrictor;

a second fluid path for coupling to the vacuum pump, the second fluid path connected to the flow restrictor and disposed downstream of the flow restrictor, the second fluid path defining a path internal pressure;

a third fluid path coupled to the filter and connected to the second fluid path, bypassing the flow restrictor; and

a valve in the third fluid path that obstructs flow in the third fluid path in response to the path internal pressure.

2. The vacuum surge suppressor of claim 1 wherein the first fluid path comprises a tube adapted to be connected to a corresponding tube of the surgical instrument.

3. The vacuum surge suppressor of claim 1 wherein the second fluid path comprises a tube adapted to be connected to a corresponding tube of the vacuum pump.

4. The vacuum surge suppressor of claim 1 wherein the filter includes a filter housing, and the first fluid path is connected to the filter housing.

5. The vacuum surge suppressor of claim 1 wherein the filter includes a filter housing, and the flow restrictor is connected to the filter housing.

6. The vacuum surge suppressor of claim 1 wherein the filter includes a filter housing, and the third fluid path is connected to the filter housing.

7. The vacuum surge suppressor of claim 1 wherein the flow restrictor comprises an orifice defining an orifice inner diameter in the range 0.005 to 0.025 inches and an orifice length in the range 1 to 2 inches.

8. The vacuum surge suppressor of claim 1 wherein the valve comprises a flexible tube that collapses when the path internal pressure is sufficiently less than an ambient pressure.

9. The vacuum surge suppressor of claim 1 further comprising a pressure sensor capable of sensing the path internal pressure, and wherein the valve is a discrete automated valve that is responsive to an output of the pressure sensor.

10. The vacuum surge suppressor of claim 9 wherein the third fluid path comprises a rigid plastic tube.

11. The vacuum surge suppressor of claim 9 wherein the discrete automated valve is a solenoid driven valve.

12. The vacuum surge suppressor of claim 1 wherein the filter is an in-line filter.

13. A surgical aspiration system comprising:

a surgical instrument that includes a distal tip;

a vacuum pump

a first fluid path coupled to the surgical instrument;

a filter attached to the first fluid path;

a flow restrictor coupled to the filter, the filter being disposed upstream of the flow restrictor;

a second fluid path coupled to the vacuum pump, the second fluid path connected to the flow restrictor and disposed downstream of the flow restrictor, the second fluid path defining a path internal pressure;

a third fluid path coupled to the filter and connected to the second fluid path, bypassing the flow restrictor; and

a valve in the third fluid path that obstructs flow in the third fluid path in response to the path internal pressure.

14. The surgical aspiration system of claim 13 wherein the first fluid path comprises a tube connected to the surgical instrument, and the second fluid path comprises a tube connected to the sub-ambient pressure pump.

15. The surgical aspiration system of claim 13 wherein the filter includes a filter chamber housing, and the flow restrictor is connected to the filter chamber housing.

16. The surgical aspiration system of claim 13 wherein the filter includes a filter chamber housing, and the third fluid path is connected to the filter chamber housing.

17. The surgical aspiration system of claim 13 wherein the flow restrictor comprises an orifice defining an orifice inner diameter in the range 0.005 to 0.025 inches and an orifice length in the range 1 to 2 inches.

18. The surgical aspiration system of claim 13 wherein the valve comprises a flexible tube that collapses on itself when the path internal pressure is sufficiently less than an ambient pressure.

19. The surgical aspiration system of claim 13 further comprising a pressure sensor capable of sensing the path internal pressure, and wherein the valve is a discrete automated valve that is responsive to an output of the pressure sensor.

20. The surgical aspiration system of claim 13 wherein the subambient pressure pump is a peristaltic pump.

21. The surgical aspiration system of claim 19 further comprising a switch capable of interrupting operation of the subambient pressure pump in response to the output of the pressure sensor.

22. A method of reducing vacuum surges in a surgical aspiration system, the method comprising:

providing a first fluid path in fluid communication with a surgical instrument and with a filter;

interposing a flow restrictor between the first fluid path and a second fluid path;

applying a sub-ambient pressure to the second fluid path;

bypassing the flow restrictor with a third fluid path that is coupled to the filter and connected to the second fluid path;

obstructing flow in the third fluid path when the sub-ambient pressure falls beneath a first threshold.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein applying a sub-ambient pressure comprises using a peristaltic pump.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising sensing the sub-ambient pressure using a pressure sensor, and wherein obstructing flow in the third fluid path comprises actuation of a valve.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising turning off the peristaltic pump when the sub-ambient pressure falls beneath a second threshold.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the surgical instrument is a phacoemulsification tip and the first threshold is no more than 250 mm Hg below an ambient pressure.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the surgical instrument is a phacoemulsification tip and the second threshold is at least 500 mm Hg below an ambient pressure.