Aspiration control system
First Claim
1. A surgical aspiration control system for aspirating fluid and cut tissue from an operative site through a fluid conduit from a surgical handpiece into a vacuum chamber, the system comprising:
- a vacuum pump for creating a negative pressure with the vacuum chamber, said vacuum pump being connectable in fluid communication to the vacuum chamber;
a motor mechanically coupled to said vacuum pump for operating said vacuum pump;
transducer means adapted for placement in pressure communication with the vacuum chamber, for sensing the vacuum within the vacuum chamber and for generating a first signal in response thereto;
a proportional control valve having an orifice which is variable in size and is disposed between a valve inlet and a valve outlet, said valve inlet communicatable with a fluid at a higher pressure than the pressure within the vacuum chamber, and said valve outlet being connectable in fluid communication to the vacuum chamber;
input means for selecting an appropriate vacuum level for aspirating and cutting tissue and for generating a second signal which corresponds to said appropriate level; and
controller means, connected to said transducer means and said input means, for comparing the first and second signals and for selectively regulating the rotational speed of said motor and the size of said orifice of said control valve to precisely control the vacuum level within the vacuum chamber and the surgical handpiece.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An aspiration control system includes a proportional control valve and a motor, for driving a vacuum pump, which are controlled by a system controller in accordance with input commands to provide a precise, continuously variable vacuum or negative pressure within a vacuum chamber and surgical handpiece. A pressure transducer samples the vacuum output and produces a signal which is fed to the system controller. The signal is compared with an input command, and the motor speed and valve orifice size are coordinated to control the vacuum level.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A surgical aspiration control system for aspirating fluid and cut tissue from an operative site through a fluid conduit from a surgical handpiece into a vacuum chamber, the system comprising:
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a vacuum pump for creating a negative pressure with the vacuum chamber, said vacuum pump being connectable in fluid communication to the vacuum chamber; a motor mechanically coupled to said vacuum pump for operating said vacuum pump; transducer means adapted for placement in pressure communication with the vacuum chamber, for sensing the vacuum within the vacuum chamber and for generating a first signal in response thereto; a proportional control valve having an orifice which is variable in size and is disposed between a valve inlet and a valve outlet, said valve inlet communicatable with a fluid at a higher pressure than the pressure within the vacuum chamber, and said valve outlet being connectable in fluid communication to the vacuum chamber; input means for selecting an appropriate vacuum level for aspirating and cutting tissue and for generating a second signal which corresponds to said appropriate level; and controller means, connected to said transducer means and said input means, for comparing the first and second signals and for selectively regulating the rotational speed of said motor and the size of said orifice of said control valve to precisely control the vacuum level within the vacuum chamber and the surgical handpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A surgical aspiration control system for aspirating fluid and cut tissue from an operative site through a fluid conduit from a surgical handpiece into a vacuum chamber, the system comprising:
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a vacuum pump for creating a negative pressure within the vacuum chamber, said vacuum pump being connectable in fluid communication to the vacuum chamber; a motor mechanically coupled to said vacuum pump for operating said vacuum pump; transducer means adapted for placement in pressure communication with the vacuum chamber, for sensing the vacuum within the vacuum chamber and for generating a first signal in response thereto; a proportional control valve having an orifice which is variable in size and is disposed between a valve inlet and a valve outlet, said valve inlet communicatable with a fluid at a higher pressure than the pressure within the vacuum chamber, and said valve outlet being connectable in fluid communication to the vacuum chamber; a console having at least one key to enable selection of a maximum vacuum level; a foot pedal having a continuously variable range of angular position settings to enable selection of an appropriate vacuum level, no greater than said maximum vacuum level, for aspirating and cutting tissue and for generating a second signal which corresponds to said appropriate level; and controller means, connected to said transducer means and said input means, for comparing the first and second signals and for selectively regulating the rotational speed of said motor and the size of said orifice of said control valve to precisely control the vacuum level within the vacuum chamber and the surgical handpiece by driving a measured difference between the first and second signals toward zero. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for controlling a surgical aspiration system for aspirating fluid and cut tissue from an operative site through a surgical handpiece into a vacuum chamber, comprising:
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providing a proportional control valve having a variable orifice size, a vacuum pump, and a motor for driving the vacuum pump; connecting the vacuum pump to the vacuum chamber for creating a negative pressure level within the vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber being in fluid communication with the surgical handpiece; connecting the control valve between the vacuum chamber and the vacuum pump; producing a first signal corresponding to the negative pressure level within the vacuum chamber; producing a second signal corresponding to the desired negative pressure within the vacuum chamber; comparing the first and second signals; and producing a third, control signal to selectively control the speed of the motor and a fourth, control signal to selectively control the orifice size of the control valve to regulate the negative pressure level within the vacuum chamber, the control signals corresponding to the comparison of the first and second signals.
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Specification