Surgical cassette with multi area fluid chamber

• US 7,594,901 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2006
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Hopkins, Mark A., Gao, Shawn X.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eisenberg; Rebecca E
• Application Number:
  US11/491,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20070049898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 604/27, 604/30, 604/403, 604 65- 67, 417/477.2
• US Class Current: 604/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00736 Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments A61F9/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/60 Containers for suction drainage, adapted to be used with an external suction source containers not adapted for subjection to vacuum A61M1/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/72 Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/732 Visual indicating means for vacuum pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/743 by changing the cross-section of the line, e.g. flow regulating valves A61M1/7413 takes precedence
• 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 1/804 using Laval or Venturi jet pumps
• 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 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0201 Cassettes therefor

Abstract

A surgical cassette having an aspiration chamber or infusion chamber with a sensing portion and a storage portion. The sensing portion has a small transverse cross sectional area and facilitates accurate fluid level measurements. The storage portion has a larger transverse cross sectional area to facilitate fluid storage.

Claims

1. A surgical cassette having an aspiration chamber disposed therein, said aspiration chamber comprising:

a fluid level sensing portion having a first transverse cross sectional area, said sensing portion providing accurate and precise evidence of continuous fluid level changes during use of said cassette; and

a storage portion fluidly coupled to said sensing portion during application of vacuum to said aspiration chamber and having a second transverse cross sectional area larger than said first transverse cross sectional area, said storage portion providing adequate fluid storage during use of said cassette;

whereby said sensing portion is disposed proximate a bottom of said aspiration chamber so that a surgical aspiration fluid first enters said sensing portion at a bottom of said aspiration chamber and substantially fills said sensing portion before entering said storage portion, said storage portion being disposed proximate a top of said aspiration chamber;

whereby said first transverse cross sectional area provides improved measurement sensitivity of both said continuous fluid level changes and a calculated aspiration flow rate of said surgical fluid; and

whereby said second transverse cross sectional area provides a sufficient amount of said surgical fluid to support a non-interrupted surgical procedure during exchange of a collection bag fluidly coupled to said aspiration chamber.

2. The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein said second transverse cross sectional area is approximately 7.5 times larger than said first cross sectional area.

3. The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein the angle between said sensing portion and said storage portion is about 90 degrees.

4. The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein said aspiration chamber is not vented to atmosphere.