Surgical cassette having an aspiration pressure sensor

• US 6,962,488 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2003
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Gordon, Raphael, Morgan, Michael D., Leukanech, Kurt D., Sorensen, Gary P., Davis, Sherman G., Wilson, Daniel J., Injev, Valentine P., Oliveira, Mel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Solak, Timothy P.
• Application Number:
  US10/407,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20030190244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 417/477.2, 417/476, 417/477.5, 417/477.8, 604/153, 604/250
• US Class Current: 417/477.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/72 Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/73 comprising sensors or indicators for physical values
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• 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 1/82 Membrane pumps, e.g. bulbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0201 Cassettes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1269 the rotary axes of the rollers lying in a plane perpendicular to the rotary axis of the driving motor

Abstract

A cassette having a molded flow channel contained on an elastomeric sheet that is bonded or mechanically attached to a rigid substrate. The flow channel projects outwardly from the exterior of the cassette so that a peristaltic pump having pump head rollers mounted radially from the axis of rotation of the pump motor compress the elastomeric flow channels against the rigid substrate during operation.

Claims

1. A cassette, comprising:

a) a body having an exterior;

b) a relatively flexible sheet attached to the body, the sheet containing at least one molded fluid channel, the fluid channel projecting outwardly from the exterior of the body;

c) an aspiration pressure sensor interface on the exterior of the body, the interface having a well, the well having an outlet;

d) a first aspiration exit port in the well, the aspiration exit port being located above a bottom of the well; and

e) at least one vent port in the pressure sensor well, the vent port providing a second aspiration exit port into the well.

2. The cassette of claim 1 wherein the sheet comprises a molded aspiration fluid channel and a molded irrigation fluid channel.

3. The cassette of claim 1 wherein the sheet comprises a flexible, easily molded material.

4. The cassette of claim 3 wherein the sheet comprises silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.

5. The cassette of claim 1 wherein the fluid channel is planar.

6. The cassette of claim 1 wherein the fluid channel has at least one transition region wherein the cross-sectional area of the fluid channel tapers.

7. The cassette of claim 1 wherein the fluid channel has at least one pinch valve site.

8. The cassette of claim 1 wherein the cassette further comprises a plurality of identifying tabs projecting from the exterior of the body.

9. A cassette, comprising:

a) a body having an exterior;

b) a relatively flexible sheet attached to the body, the sheet containing at least one molded fluid channel, the fluid channel projecting outwardly from the exterior of the body;

c) an aspiration pressure sensor interface on the exterior of the body;

d) a raised boss around the pressure sensor interface;

e) a pressure sensor well and an aspiration exit port located above a bottom of the well; and

f) at least one vent port in the pressure sensor well.

10. The cassette of claim 9 wherein the sheet comprises a molded aspiration fluid channel and a molded irrigation fluid channel.

11. The cassette of claim 9 wherein the sheet comprises a flexible, easily molded material.

12. The cassette of claim 11 wherein the sheet comprises silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.

13. The cassette of claim 9 wherein the fluid channel is planar.

14. The cassette of claim 9 wherein the fluid channel has at least one transition region wherein the cross-sectional area of the fluid channel tapers.

15. The cassette of claim 9 wherein the fluid channel has at least one pinch valve site.

16. The cassette of claim 9 wherein the cassette further comprises a plurality of identifying tabs projecting from the exterior of the body.

17. A cassette, comprising:

a) a body having an exterior;

b) a relatively flexible sheet attached to the body, the sheet containing at least one molded fluid channel, the fluid channel projecting outwardly from the exterior of the body and containing at least one pinch valve site;

c) an aspiration pressure sensor interface on the exterior of the body;

d) a raised boss around the pressure sensor interface;

e) a plurality of identifying tabs projecting from the exterior of the body;

f) a pressure sensor well and an aspiration exit port located above a bottom of the well; and

g) at least one vent port in the pressure sensor well.

18. The cassette of claim 17 wherein the sheet comprises a molded aspiration fluid channel and a molded irrigation fluid channel.

19. The cassette of claim 17 wherein the sheet comprises a flexible, easily molded material.

20. The cassette of claim 19 wherein the sheet comprises silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.

21. The cassette of claim 17 wherein the fluid channel is planar.

22. The cassette of claim 17 wherein the fluid channel has at least one transition region wherein the cross-sectional area of the fluid channel tapers.

23. A cassette, comprising:

a) a body having an exterior, the exterior having sides;

b) a relatively flexible sheet attached to the body, the sheet containing at least one molded fluid channel, the fluid channel projecting outwardly from the exterior of the body;

c) an aspiration pressure sensor interface on the exterior of the body;

d) a plurality of latching surfaces formed in the sides of the body;

e) a pressure sensor well and an aspiration exit port located above a bottom of the well; and

f) at least one vent port in the pressure sensor well.

24. The cassette of claim 23 wherein the sheet comprises a molded aspiration fluid channel and a molded irrigation fluid channel.

25. The cassette of claim 23 wherein the sheet comprises a flexible, easily molded material.

26. The cassette of claim 25 wherein the sheet comprises silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.

27. The cassette of claim 23 wherein the fluid channel is planar.

28. The cassette of claim 23 wherein the fluid channel has at least one transition region wherein the cross-sectional area of the fluid channel tapers.

29. The cassette of claim 23 wherein the fluid channel has at least one pinch valve site.

30. The cassette of claim 23 wherein the cassette further comprises a plurality of identifying tabs projecting from the exterior of the body.

31. A cassette, comprising:

a) a body having an exterior, the exterior having sides;

b) a relatively flexible sheet attached to the body, the sheet containing at least one molded fluid channel, the fluid channel projecting outwardly from the exterior of the body and containing at least one pinch valve site;

c) an aspiration pressure sensor interface on the exterior of the body;

d) a raised boss around the pressure sensor interface;

e) a plurality of identifying tabs projecting from the exterior of the body;

f) a plurality of latching surfaces formed in the sides of the body;

g) a pressure sensor well and an aspiration exit port located above a bottom of the well; and

h) at least one vent port in the pressure sensor well.

32. The cassette of claim 31 wherein the sheet comprises a molded aspiration fluid channel and a molded irrigation fluid channel.

33. The cassette of claim 31 wherein the sheet comprises a flexible, easily molded material.

34. The cassette of claim 33 wherein the sheet comprises silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.

35. The cassette of claim 31 wherein the fluid channel is planar.

36. The cassette of claim 31 wherein the fluid channel has at least one transition region wherein the cross-sectional area of the fluid channel tapers.

37. A cassette, comprising:

a) a body having an exterior;

b) a relatively flexible sheet attached to the body, the sheet containing at least one molded fluid channel, the fluid channel projecting outwardly from the exterior of the body;

c) an aspiration pressure sensor interface on the exterior of the body, the interface having a well, the well having an outlet;

d) a plurility of alignment features in the exterior;

e) a pressure sensor well and a first aspiration exit port located above a bottom of the well; and

f) at least one vent port in the pressure well, the vent port providing a second aspiration exit port into the well.

38. The cassette of claim 37 wherein the sheet comprises a molded aspiration fluid channel and a molded irrigation fluid channel.

39. The cassette of claim 37 wherein the sheet comprises a flexible, easily molded material.

40. The cassette of claim 39 wherein the sheet comprises silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.

41. The cassette of claim 37 wherein the fluid channel is planar.

42. The cassette of claim 37 wherein the fluid channel has at least one transition region wherein the cross-sectional area of the fluid channel tapers.

43. The cassette of claim 37 wherein the fluid channel has at least one pinch valve site.

44. The cassette of claim 37 wherein the cassette further comprises a plurality of identifying tabs projecting from the exterior of the body.