Cassette capture mechanism
First Claim
1. A method of coupling a cassette with a console of a phacoemulsification system, comprising:
- placing the cassette in close proximity to a cassette receptacle, wherein the cassette receptacle comprises a surface;
engaging a first sensor apparatus of the console by inserting the cassette into the cassette receptacle;
activating the first sensor apparatus by properly aligning the cassette with the cassette receptacle;
engaging a second sensor apparatus of the console by further inserting the cassette into the cassette receptacle;
activating the second sensor apparatus by coupling a positioning surface of the cassette with the surface of the cassette receptacle; and
engaging an axial translation linkage mechanism comprising two or more latches, to capture the cassette within the cassette receptacle of the console and to move the two or more latches substantially simultaneously.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention pertains to a cassette capture mechanism for uniting a cassette with a console to prevent jamming or damage to the console and/or cassette. The cassette capture mechanism comprises a cassette receptacle, an axial translation linkage, a first sensor apparatus, and a second sensor apparatus. The cassette receptacle is configured to couple with a cassette having a positioning surface. The axial translation linkage is configured to couple the cassette with the cassette receptacle. The first sensor apparatus is configured to detect alignment of the cassette in a horizontal plane with respect to the cassette receptacle when the cassette is initially coupled with the cassette receptacle; and the second sensor apparatus is configured to detect activation of the first sensor apparatus and detect alignment of the cassette in a vertical plane with respect to the cassette receptacle.
270 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A method of coupling a cassette with a console of a phacoemulsification system, comprising:
-
placing the cassette in close proximity to a cassette receptacle, wherein the cassette receptacle comprises a surface; engaging a first sensor apparatus of the console by inserting the cassette into the cassette receptacle; activating the first sensor apparatus by properly aligning the cassette with the cassette receptacle; engaging a second sensor apparatus of the console by further inserting the cassette into the cassette receptacle; activating the second sensor apparatus by coupling a positioning surface of the cassette with the surface of the cassette receptacle; and engaging an axial translation linkage mechanism comprising two or more latches, to capture the cassette within the cassette receptacle of the console and to move the two or more latches substantially simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification