Holding tank devices, systems, and methods for surgical fluidics cassette
First Claim
1. A surgical system comprising:
- a fluid detector system comprising a first emitter and a first signal receiver and a second emitter and a second signal receiver, wherein the first emitter is configured to emit a first color and the second emitter is configured to emit a second color, or the first emitter and first signal receiver are configured to employ light having a first polarization and the second emitter and second signal receiver are configured to employ light having a second polarization; and
a cassette including a fluid container having a first wall and a second wall with a volume portion therebetween;
the system configured to produce a first signal and a second signal when a light beam transmits through the first wall, the volume portion, the second wall, and into the first or second signal receiver;
the system configured to produce a second signal when the second wall directs the light beam away from the first or second signal receiver by refraction and/or reflection;
wherein the first emitter and first signal receiver are disposed at a first vertical height relative to the fluid container, and the second emitter and second signal receiver are disposed at a second vertical height, the second vertical height below the first vertical height to detect differing quantities of fluid in the fluid container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is generally directed to improved methods, devices, and systems for eye surgery. In some embodiments, the invention may provide new and/or improved devices, systems, and methods for detecting surgical fluids in a fluidics cassette, particularly cassettes which are used to couple an eye treatment probe to an eye treatment console. Rather than relaying on internal reflection by a gas-liquid interface, the fluid detection techniques described herein may make use of the changes in propagation of light through a portion of the holding tank when the portion varies between empty and full. For example, light may propagate directly through the holding tank portion when there is no surgical fluid, but may be directed away from a light detector when the portion of the holding tank is filled with surgical fluid. As the light may be controllably refracted using the interface between the transparent holding tank material and the surgical fluid, the propagation properties of the light may be more reliably predicted and controlled. While the sensor may not determine the actual liquid level within the holding tank, a plurality of individual liquid detectors may be sufficient to determine when it is appropriate to (for example) turn drain pumps on and off, when the holding tank is in danger of being overfilled, and the like. Other aspects of the invention may provide devices, systems, and methods for producing different types of fluidics cassette using a single cassette body type.
81 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A surgical system comprising:
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a fluid detector system comprising a first emitter and a first signal receiver and a second emitter and a second signal receiver, wherein the first emitter is configured to emit a first color and the second emitter is configured to emit a second color, or the first emitter and first signal receiver are configured to employ light having a first polarization and the second emitter and second signal receiver are configured to employ light having a second polarization; and a cassette including a fluid container having a first wall and a second wall with a volume portion therebetween; the system configured to produce a first signal and a second signal when a light beam transmits through the first wall, the volume portion, the second wall, and into the first or second signal receiver; the system configured to produce a second signal when the second wall directs the light beam away from the first or second signal receiver by refraction and/or reflection; wherein the first emitter and first signal receiver are disposed at a first vertical height relative to the fluid container, and the second emitter and second signal receiver are disposed at a second vertical height, the second vertical height below the first vertical height to detect differing quantities of fluid in the fluid container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 17)
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8. A surgical cassette for use with an eye treatment system, the eye treatment system including a fluid detector system and a fluid aspiration drive system, wherein the fluid detector system comprises a first emitter and a first signal receiver and a second emitter and a second signal receiver, wherein the first emitter is configured to emit a first color and the second emitter is configured to emit a second color, or the first emitter and first signal receiver are configured to employ light having a first polarization and the second emitter and second signal receiver are configured to employ light having a second polarization, a fluid aspiration drive system, and a cassette frame configured to interchangeably receive a single mode cassette and a dual mode cassette, the cassette comprising:
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a surgical fluid aspiration system including a fluid container having a first wall and a second wall with a volume portion therebetween, the first and second walls configured so that when the cassette is mounted in the eye treatment system and light from the first or second emitter is directed to the first wall; the light defines a first signal at the first signal receiver when the volume portion is filled with surgical fluid; and the light defines a second signal at the second signal receiver when no surgical fluid is disposed in the volume portion; wherein the first emitter and first signal receiver are disposed at a first vertical height relative to the fluid container, and the second emitter and second signal receiver are disposed at a second vertical height, the second vertical height below the first vertical height to detect differing quantities of fluid in the fluid container. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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9. An eye treatment method comprising:
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aspirating surgical fluid from an eye; holding aspirated surgical fluid in a fluid container having a first wall, a second wall, and a volume portion therebetween; providing a fluid detector system comprising a first emitter and a first signal receiver and a second emitter and a second signal receiver, wherein the first emitter is configured to emit a first color and the second emitter is configured to emit a second color, or the first emitter and first signal receiver are configured to employ light having a first polarization and the second emitter and second signal receiver are configured to employ light having a second polarization; controlling the amount of surgical fluid in the fluid container in response to first and second signals, generating the first signal by transmitting a light beam through the first wall, the volume portion, the second wall, and into the first or second signal receiver; and generating the second signal by directing the light beam away from the first or second signal receiver by refraction and/or reflection of the light beam by the second wall; wherein the first emitter and first signal receiver are disposed at a first vertical height relative to the fluid container, and the second emitter and second signal receiver are disposed at a second vertical height, the second vertical height below the first vertical height to detect differing quantities of fluid in the fluid container. - View Dependent Claims (10, 14, 15, 16, 19)
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Specification