VACUUM SURGE SUPPRESSOR FOR SURGICAL ASPIRATION SYSTEMS
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A vacuum surge suppressor, for a surgical aspiration system that includes a surgical instrument and a vacuum pump, the vacuum surge suppressor comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A surgical aspiration system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of reducing vacuum surges in a surgical aspiration system, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification