Fluid transfer system incorporating disposable cassette

• US 5,282,787 A
• Filed: 11/13/1992
• Issued: 02/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Surgin Surgical Instrumentation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Surgin Surgical Instrumentation Incorporated
• Inventors: Wortrich, Theodore S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirsch, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US07/975,870
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 604/30, 604/34, 604/35, 604/200
• US Class Current: 604/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand caps with means for protecting the eyes A42B1/018; visors for helmets A42B3/22; retractors A61B17/02; manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; appliances to aid invalids to move about A61H3/00; exercisers for the eyes A61H5/00; eye baths A61H35/02; sunglasses or goggles having the same features as spectacles G02C
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/72 Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• 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 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0201 Cassettes therefor

Abstract

A system for controlling the irrigation and aspiration functions in flow lines cooperative with a surgical control console employs separate interacting cooperative units for the segregation of different functions in units employed in different ways. A receiver unit is configured to fit within a cassette receptacle in a console but does not perform any function apart from transferring forces with internal slider bars. The receiver accepts a slidable adapter which in turn receives a small disposable cassette that provides some internal irrigation and aspiration lines, and an external aspiration line that is separately threadable through the adapter unit to cooperate with a peristaltic pump in the console.

Claims

1. A system for use in a cassette receiving surface of a console having a flow control mechanism for controlling the flow of sterile fluid to an operative site from a source and pump means for controlling the flow of non-sterile fluid from the operative site to a waste collection means, comprising:

a receiver configured to seat against the cassette receiving surface and including means for holding a cassette adapter defining an interior volume open to the side opposite the console and a slider disposed to engage a flow control mechanism extending from the console;

a cassette adapter in the form of a panel slidably fixed to the receiver and having a cassette receiving volume open to the side opposite the console, the adapter being aligned with the slider and having an adjacent open-tapped tubing pathway including backup surface means in alignment with the pump means of the console; and

a disposable cassette configured to mate within the interior volume in the cassette adapter, the cassette including external fitting means for coupling sterile fluid flows into and out of the cassette, and an external tubing section positioned to be insertable into the tubing pathway when the cassette is inserted within the adapter.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the receiver forms a service apron for supporting the cassette adapter while the disposable cassette is inserted into the cassette adapter.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the console includes a peristaltic pump means for drawing fluid from the operative site in response to the flow control mechanism, and where the receiver includes reciprocable means for blocking fluid flow in response to system actuation of the flow control mechanism.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3 above, wherein the cassette adapter includes at least one backup surface disposed opposite the reciprocable means.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4 above, wherein the disposable cassette includes flexible tubing for sterile fluid interposed between the reciprocable means and the backup surface to be clamped selectively in response to operation of the flow control mechanism against the reciprocable means.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the flow control system includes a peristaltic pump and the cassette adapter includes means for directing the non-sterile flows from the operative site past the pump to the waste collection means.

7. A system as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein the flow control system includes a pump and the receiver includes reciprocal means for blocking fluid flow in response to system actuation of the flow control mechanism, the cassette adapter includes means for directing non-sterile fluid from the operative site to the waste collection means and the disposable cassette includes means for transferring sterile fluid from the source to the operative site under control of the flow control mechanism.

8. An apparatus for use with an aspiration/irrigation system having a cassette-receiving receptacle including a roller pump disposed to engage an adjacent flexible line, a control means for a vacuum control orifice and at least one actuator for compressing flexible lines, the apparatus comprising:

a receiver insertable within the receptacle, the receiver including an interior volume accessible to the exterior of the console when the receiver is inserted, and at least one slider disposed to engage an actuator;

a cassette adapter in the form of a panel slidably insertable in the receiver and having a cassette receiving volume open to the side opposite the console and a first backup surface facing the pump roller; and

a disposable cassette mechanism having an aspiration input fitting, an irrigation input fitting and an irrigation output fitting, the cassette being insertable in the cassette adapter and including a second backup surface, flexible tubing and an interior line, said backup surface being disposed opposite the interior end of the first slider when the cassette is inserted in the cassette adapter, said tubing being coupled between the irrigation input and irrigation output and interposed between the interior end of the slider and the second backup surface, said interior line intercoupling the aspiration input line to the aspiration line fitting of the receptacle.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 above, wherein the receiver includes a second slider, the cassette mechanism includes a third backup surface and a shunt line coupling the irrigation input to the aspiration input, the shunt line also incorporating a flexible line interposed between the second slider and the third backup member in the cassette mechanism.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 9 above, wherein the cassette mechanism incorporates an irrigation manifold coupled to the irrigation input fitting, and an aspiration manifold coupled to the aspiration input fitting, and wherein the shunt line intercouples the irrigation manifold to the aspiration manifold.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 10, wherein the aspiration input line includes a flow dampening means therein and is further coupled to a vacuum control connection.

12. The invention as set forth in claim 11 above, wherein the cassette has an anterior position thereof when inserted and includes means for suspending a waste bag therefrom at the anterior portion.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 12 above, wherein the receiver comprises a pair of side rails disposed to engage side edges of the receptacle when the receiver is inserted.

14. The invention as set forth in claim 13 above, wherein the receiver further comprises means for engaging the receptacle, and wherein said cassette adapter includes means for slidably engaging the side rails of the receiver.

15. The invention as set forth in claim 14 above, wherein the first backup surface comprises a substantially semicircular boss and wherein the cassette includes, in the aspiration line, a female aspiration fitting engaging the male aspiration fitting in the receptacle, and wherein the aspiration line manifold includes a hydrophobic bacteriological filter and an extension tube engaging the female aspiration fitting.

16. The invention as set forth in claim 15 above, wherein the system includes a pump roller, first and second clamp actuators and a suction control means for drawing fluid from an operative site disposed along an interior surface in the receptacle, first and second slider ends extending from the inserted edge of the receiver into the region of the cassette for engagement against the respective flexible lines when the clamp actuators are energized, and wherein the cassette adapter includes a leading edge having the first backup surface.

17. The method of using sterile disposable tubing sets in conjunction with a system having a receptacle for receiving disposable cassettes, the receptacle including tubing engaging a pump, a variable position occluder accessible to a vacuum control system orifice and at least one actuator for clamping a line in an inserted cassette, comprising the steps of:

inserting a receiver unit having a cassette adapter slidably fixed thereto for providing a cassette receiving volume open to the side opposite the console and an open-tapped pathway including a peristaltic pump backup surface in alignment with peristaltic pump receiver;

sliding the cassette adapter away from the receptacle onto an apron extending from the receiver;

inserting a disposable cassette into the cassette adapter by first placing an aspiration line attached to the disposable cassette into a channel disposed within the cassette adapter;

lowering the posterior end of the cassette into the cassette adapter;

lowering the anterior end of the cassette into the cassette adapter while aligning a guide slot attached to the side of the cassette into a guide notch disposed in the corresponding side of the cassette adapter;

sliding the loaded cassette adapter into the receiver thus interconnecting the cassette to the pump line, the vacuum control orifice and the clamp actuator; and

interconnecting inlet and outlet lines to the cassette.

18. A combination for installation in a console having a receptacle in which a peristaltic pump and at least one actuator are aligned but spaced apart on different sides within the receptacle, comprising:

a receiver having an open interior volume configured to mate within the receptacle, the receiver having an extending front apron for operator use in cassette replacement when the receiver is inserted in the receptacle, the receiver providing unobstructed access to the pump;

an adapter unit insertable in the open interior volume and having a pump side and an actuator side, the pump side including means for placement of tubing in operative relation to the pump and the actuator side including means for receiving a cassette with interior tubing;

a cassette with interior tubing configured to fit in the means for receiving in the adapter unit; and

means coupling at least one actuator to the tubing in the cassette when inserted in the receiver.

19. A combination as set forth in claim 18 above, wherein upper portions of the adapter unit and cassette are configured to be accessible on the front apron while the receiver is within the receptacle, and the cassette includes tubing placeable in the means of the adapter unit for coaction with the pump when the adapter unit and cassette are inserted.

20. A combination as set forth in claim 19 above, wherein the receiver includes at least one slider in alignment with the at least one actuator and cooperative with tubing in the cassette.

21. A combination as set forth in claim 18 above, further including means coupled to the receiver for releasably retaining the adapter unit in the inserted position.

22. A combination as set forth in claim 21 above, wherein said means for releasably retaining the adapter unit comprises a spring loaded step means protruding into the open interior volume of the receiver adjacent the apron, and wherein the adapter unit includes a latch lever means actuable by an operator to depress the protruding stop means and allow release of the adapter unit.

23. A combination as set forth in claim 22 above, wherein the receiver includes means defining a slot in the path of the adapter means the spring loaded stop means comprises a stop plate principally disproved below the receiver and including an upper edge protruding through the slot in the receiver, and spring means for biasing the stop plate upwardly, and wherein the latch lever means comprises an elongated member coupled to the underside of the adapter unit in the interior thereof and extending to the front side of the adapter unit, the elongated member including a segment engaging the upper edge of the stop plate, and wherein the adapter unit includes a underside shoulder positioned for engagement against the protruding edge of the stop plate.

24. A cassette mechanism for use in an irrigation/aspiration system wherein irrigation input and output tubing lines and shunt tubing lines are to be internally changed, comprising:

a cassette housing having a substantially rectangular principal body forming three sides thereof and a central nose portion protruding from side shoulders on the fourth side thereof, the side shoulders including apertures for access to tubing therein;

internal tubing including irrigation tubing and shunt tubing having portions adjacent the respective apertures;

external ports for irrigation input and output and for aspiration input disposed on one side of the cassette body; and

an aspiration output line extending from a second side of the cassette body.

25. A cassette mechanism as set forth in claim 24 above, wherein the rectangular body includes internal backup surfaces facing the apertures in the side shoulders, wherein the aspiration output line includes flow dampener means, and wherein the nose portion of the cassette includes vacuum control system fitting means.