Pneumatic controls for ophthalmic surgical system
First Claim
1. An improved intraocular pressure system of the type powered by a source of compressed gas and including at least one pressure regulator means for limiting gas pressure to a predetermined maximum value, first electromagnetically-actuated valve means for controlling flow of the compressed gas from the source to a location where such gas is put to use, and a second electromagnetically-actuated valve means for controlling flow of the compressed gas from the location to atmosphere to reduce pressure at such location, the improvement comprising:
- third electromagnetically-actuated valve means for interrupting flow from the first valve means to the location; and
variable volume gas reservoir means for accumulating additional compressed gas for later use, the reservoir means being located downstream of the first and third valve means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pneumatic control system for providing pressurized air and vacuum to ophthalmic microsurgical instruments. The pneumatic system is constructed in a drawer assembly to allow it to be readily inserted into or removed from a modularly constructed cabinet of a microsurgical control console. In addition, the pneumatic system improves upon existing pneumatic control systems by providing a third mode of microscissors operation from a single-pneumatic port. The third mode is made possible by a high speed three-way solenoid control valve which provides rapid pulses of air to the pneumatic port. A second improvement involves the use of a pneumatic pressure transducer to monitor pneumatic pressure being supplied to the pneumatic system in order to recognize non-hazardous transient drops in air pressure which can occur under certain normal operating conditions. A third improvement relates to the use of an intraocular pressure accumulator downstream from a final solenoid-operated pinch valve, which reduces fluctuations in air pressure and has other advantages.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. An improved intraocular pressure system of the type powered by a source of compressed gas and including at least one pressure regulator means for limiting gas pressure to a predetermined maximum value, first electromagnetically-actuated valve means for controlling flow of the compressed gas from the source to a location where such gas is put to use, and a second electromagnetically-actuated valve means for controlling flow of the compressed gas from the location to atmosphere to reduce pressure at such location, the improvement comprising:
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third electromagnetically-actuated valve means for interrupting flow from the first valve means to the location; and variable volume gas reservoir means for accumulating additional compressed gas for later use, the reservoir means being located downstream of the first and third valve means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification