U.S. patent application number 10/891642 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-16 for liquid venting surgical cassette.
Invention is credited to Morgan, Michael D., Sorensen, Gary P..
Application Number | 20040253129 10/891642 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33515015 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040253129 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sorensen, Gary P. ; et
al. |
December 16, 2004 |
Liquid venting surgical cassette
Abstract
A surgical system having a cassette with an aspirant vent line
that permits a fluidic connection between the inlet to a aspirant
pump and the outlet of the aspirant pump through a vent valve. When
the aspiration vent valve is open, fluid flows from the pump outlet
into the pump inlet, thereby releasing any pressure within the pump
inlet. Such a system does not require a second source of irrigation
fluid, minimizes pressure surges into the irrigation fluid line and
does not affect the fluidic performance of the aspiration
system.
Inventors: |
Sorensen, Gary P.; (Irvine,
CA) ; Morgan, Michael D.; (Costa Mesa, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALCON RESEARCH, LTD.
R&D COUNSEL, Q-148
6201 SOUTH FREEWAY
FORT WORTH
TX
76134-2099
US
|
Family ID: |
33515015 |
Appl. No.: |
10/891642 |
Filed: |
July 15, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10891642 |
Jul 15, 2004 |
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10430974 |
May 7, 2003 |
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10430974 |
May 7, 2003 |
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10407388 |
Apr 4, 2003 |
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10407388 |
Apr 4, 2003 |
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09846724 |
May 1, 2001 |
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6572349 |
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09846724 |
May 1, 2001 |
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09437392 |
Nov 10, 1999 |
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6293926 |
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10407388 |
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10153371 |
May 28, 2002 |
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10407388 |
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09925989 |
Aug 9, 2001 |
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6740074 |
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09925989 |
Aug 9, 2001 |
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09771945 |
Jan 29, 2001 |
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6632214 |
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09771945 |
Jan 29, 2001 |
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09387357 |
Aug 31, 1999 |
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6261283 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
417/435 ;
417/572 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 2205/123 20130101;
F04B 43/1269 20130101; A61M 2205/3337 20130101; A61B 2017/00199
20130101; A61M 1/742 20210501; A61M 1/0058 20130101; A61M 2205/12
20130101; A61B 90/98 20160201; A61B 90/90 20160201; A61M 2205/6063
20130101; A61M 1/74 20210501; A61M 1/80 20210501; A61M 2205/6018
20130101; A61M 1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/435 ;
417/572 |
International
Class: |
F04B 039/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A cassette, comprising: a) a body; b) an aspiration line
extending through the body; c) an aspiration exhaust line extending
through the body and connected to a waste bag; d) an aspiration
vent line extending through the body, the aspiration vent line
connected on one end to the aspiration exhaust line and to the
aspiration line on the other end; and e) a vent valve located in
the body in the aspiration vent line.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/430,974, filed May 7, 2003, currently
co-pending which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/407,388, filed Apr. 4, 2003, which is a
continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 09/846,724, filed May 1, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,349 B2,
which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/437,392, filed Nov. 10, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,926 B1,
and a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/153,371, filed May 28, 2002, and is a continuation-in-part
application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/925,989, filed
Aug. 9, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,740,074 B1, which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/771,945, filed Jan. 29, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,632,214 B1,
which is a divisional of U.S. patent application No. 09/387,357,
filed Aug. 31, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,283 B1.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to the field of cataract
surgery and more particularly to an aspiration system for a
handpiece for practicing the phacoemulsification technique of
cataract removal.
[0003] The human eye in its simplest terms functions to provide
vision by transmitting light through a clear outer portion called
the cornea, and focusing the image by way of the lens onto the
retina. The quality of the focused image depends on many factors
including the size and shape of the eye, and the transparency of
the cornea and lens.
[0004] When age or disease causes the lens to become less
transparent, vision deteriorates because of the diminished light
which can be transmitted to the retina. This deficiency in the lens
of the eye is medically known as a cataract. An accepted treatment
for this condition is surgical removal of the lens and replacement
of the lens function by an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).
[0005] In the United States, the majority of cataractous lenses are
removed by a surgical technique called phacoemulsification. During
this procedure, a thin phacoemulsification cutting tip is inserted
into the diseased lens and vibrated ultrasonically. The vibrating
cutting tip liquifies or emulsifies the lens so that the lens may
be aspirated out of the eye. The diseased lens, once removed, is
replaced by an artificial lens.
[0006] A typical ultrasonic surgical device suitable for ophthalmic
procedures consists of an ultrasonically driven handpiece, an
attached cutting tip, and irrigating sleeve and an electronic
control console. The handpiece assembly is attached to the control
console by an electric cable and flexible tubings. Through the
electric cable, the console varies the power level transmitted by
the handpiece to the attached cutting tip and the flexible tubings
supply irrigation fluid to and draw aspiration fluid from the eye
through the handpiece assembly.
[0007] The operative part of the handpiece is a centrally located,
hollow resonating bar or horn directly attached to a set of
piezoelectric crystals. The crystals supply the required ultrasonic
vibration needed to drive both the horn and the attached cutting
tip during phacoemulsification and are controlled by the console.
The crystal/horn assembly is suspended within the hollow body or
shell of the handpiece by flexible mountings. The handpiece body
terminates in a reduced diameter portion or nosecone at the body's
distal end. The nosecone is externally threaded to accept the
irrigation sleeve. Likewise, the horn bore is internally threaded
at its distal end to receive the external threads of the cutting
tip. The irrigation sleeve also has an internally threaded bore
that is screwed onto the external threads of the nosecone. The
cutting tip is adjusted so that the tip projects only a
predetermined amount past the open end of the irrigating sleeve.
Ultrasonic handpieces and cutting tips are more fully described in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,589,363; 4,223,676; 4,246,902; 4,493,694;
4,515,583; 4,589,415; 4,609,368; 4,869,715; 4,922,902; 4,989,583;
5,154,694 and 5,359,996, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
[0008] In use, the ends of the cutting tip and irrigating sleeve
are inserted into a small incision of predetermined width in the
cornea, sclera, or other location. The cutting tip is
ultrasonically vibrated along its longitudinal axis within the
irrigating sleeve by the crystal-driven ultrasonic horn, thereby
emulsifying the selected tissue in situ. The hollow bore of the
cutting tip communicates with the bore in the horn that in turn
communicates with the aspiration line from the handpiece to the
console. A reduced pressure or vacuum source in the console draws
or aspirates the emulsified tissue from the eye through the open
end of the cutting tip, the cutting tip and horn bores and the
aspiration line and into a collection device. The aspiration of
emulsified tissue is aided by a saline flushing solution or
irrigant that is injected into the surgical site through the small
annular gap between the inside surface of the irrigating sleeve and
the cutting tip.
[0009] During surgery, the hollow, resonating tip can become
occluded. During occlusion, vacuum can build in the aspiration line
downstream of the occlusion. When the occlusion eventually breaks
apart, this pent up vacuum is released into the eye which can,
depending upon the amount of vacuum, draw a significant amount of
fluid from the eye, thereby increasing the risk of anterior chamber
collapse. To address this concern, modem surgical console can
detect increases in aspiration line vacuum beyond normal operating
parameters and therefore predict occlusions. These consoles can
then either stop or slow the aspiration pump, or sound an alarm so
that the surgeon can take appropriate precautions.
[0010] The cassettes used in modem consoles also allow the
aspiration line to be vented, either to atmosphere or to a liquid
so as to reduce or eliminate vacuum surge upon occlusion break.
Prior art air vented cassettes allow ambient air to enter the
aspiration line, however, venting air into the aspiration line
changes the fluidic performance of the aspiration system. Liquid
venting systems allow irrigation fluid to bleed into the aspiration
line, thereby reducing any impact on the fluidic performance of the
aspiration system. Liquid venting cassettes are more fully
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,832,685 and 4,935,005 (Haines) and
U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,051 (Steppe, et al.), the entire contents of
which being incorporated herein by reference. When higher
aspiration vacuums are used, cassettes that vent the aspiration
line to the irrigation line can cause high pressure surges in the
irrigation line. Other systems provide a separate source of
irrigation fluid to vent the aspiration line, requiring the use of
two irrigation fluid sources and increasing the cost and complexity
of the system.
[0011] Therefore, a need continues to exist for a simple surgical
system that allows rapid venting of excess aspiration vacuum
without introducing pressure variations in the irrigation line or
the downstream aspiration line.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention improves upon the prior art by
providing a surgical system having a cassette with an aspirant vent
line that permits a fluidic connection between the inlet to a
aspirant pump and the outlet of the aspirant pump through a vent
valve. When the aspiration vent valve is open, fluid flows from the
pump outlet into the pump inlet, thereby releasing any pressure
within the pump inlet. Such a system does not require a second
source of irrigation fluid, minimizes pressure surges into the
irrigation fluid line and does not affect the fluidic performance
of the aspiration system.
[0013] Accordingly, one objective of the present invention is to
provide a surgical system having a aspiration line vent.
[0014] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
surgical system having a cassette that allows the aspiration line
to be vented of excess vacuum.
[0015] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
surgical system having a cassette that vents the aspiration line to
an aspirant collection chamber.
[0016] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
surgical system that vents the aspiration line without introducing
pressure surges in the irrigation line.
[0017] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
surgical system that vents the aspiration line without affecting
the fluidic performance of the aspiration system.
[0018] These and other advantages and objectives of the present
invention will become apparent from the detailed description and
claims that follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of
the system and cassette of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of
the system and cassette of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] As best seen in FIG. 1, first embodiment of system 10 of the
present invention generally includes surgical console 12 and
cassette 14. Console 12 may be any suitably modified commercially
available surgical console, such as the SERIES TWENTY THOUSAND.RTM.
LEGACY.RTM.V, INFINITI.RTM. or ACCURUS.RTM. surgical systems
available from Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, Tex. Cassette 14 may
be any suitably modified commercially available surgical cassettes,
such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,267,956, 5,364,342 and
5,499,969 (Beuchat, et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,674 (Jung, et
al.), the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by
reference. Cassette 14 is held in operative association with
console 12 by means well-known in art.
[0022] As seen in the FIG. 1, console 12 generally contains
aspiration pump mechanism 16, which may be any suitable flow or
vacuum based pump, such pumps being widely known in the art. For
example, pump mechanism 16 may be a peristaltic pump roller head
that interacts with a peristaltic pump tube formed by aspiration
line 20 and aspiration exhaust line 34. Aspiration line 20 is
connected to surgical handpiece 22 on one end and end 18 of
aspiration line 20 opposite handpiece 22 interacts with pump
mechanism 16 so as to draw fluid through handpiece 22. Aspiration
line 20 is intersected between handpiece 22 and 18 by aspiration
vent line 24. In fluid communication with aspiration vent line 24
is pressure sensor 26, which may be one of a variety of invasive or
non-invasive pressure sensors well-known in the art.
[0023] Cassette 14 generally contains fluid reservoir 28. Extending
from reservoir 28 at or near bottom 29 is aspiration vent line 32,
which fluidly connects to aspiration vent line 24 through vent
valve 30. Aspirant or exhaust from pump mechanism 16 is directed
into reservoir 28 through aspiration exhaust line 34. Reservoir 28
may also vent to ambient through fluid line 41, waste bag 40 and
vent line 36, which may contain antimicrobial filter 38.
[0024] As discussed above, while it is preferred that pump
mechanism 16 be a peristaltic roller head and aspiration line 20
and aspiration exhaust line 34 be formed in one continuous length
so as to form a peristaltic pump tube that interacts with pump
mechanism 16, one skilled in the art will recognize that aspiration
line 20 and aspiration exhaust line may be formed as a separate
piece or pieces or may be formed integrally with cassette 14 and
that pump mechanisms 16 other that peristaltic pump roller heads
may be used, such as linear peristaltic pumps.
[0025] In addition, pressure sensor 26 is depicted as being
contained within console 12. One skilled in the art will recognize
that portions of pressure sensor 26, such as a pressure diaphragm
(not shown) may be contained in or on cassette 14 and interact with
a force transducer or other means (not shown) contained within
console 12.
[0026] In use, cassette 14 is installed on or within console 12 and
held in operative association with console 12 by means well-known
in the art. System 10 is primed initially with clean surgical fluid
so that a small amount of fluid fills reservoir 28. During surgery,
pump mechanism 16 draws aspirant through handpiece 22 and into
reservoir 28. If the vacuum within aspiration line 20 is too high
and needs to be vented, vent valve 30 is opened allowing aspirant
to be drawn off of bottom 29 of reservoir 28 (reservoir 28 being at
or near ambient) and into aspiration line 20 (which contains a
vacuum) through aspiration vent line 24. One skilled in the art
will recognize that by varying the vertical position of reservoir
28 relative to aspiration line 20, various vent head pressures may
be achieved. Reservoir 28 may be relatively small, and not capable
of holding all of the aspirant collected during surgery. Waste bag
40 may be used to drain and hold excess fluid from reservoir 28,
through fluid line 41 above bottom 29 of reservoir 28. Waste bag 40
may be integrally formed within cassette 14 or may be formed as a
separate collapsible bag attached to cassette 14, as is well-known
in the art.
[0027] As best seen in FIG. 2, second embodiment of system 100 of
the present invention generally includes surgical console 112 and
cassette 114. Console 112 may be any suitably modified commercially
available surgical console, such as the SERIES TWENTY THOUSAND.RTM.
LEGACY.RTM. or ACCURUS.RTM. surgical systems available from Alcon
Laboratories, Fort Worth, Tex. Cassette 114 may be any suitably
modified commercially available surgical cassettes, such as those
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,267,956, 5,364,342 and 5,499,969
(Beuchat, et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,674 (Jung, et al.), the
entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference.
Cassette 114 is held in operative association with console 112 by
means well-known in art.
[0028] As seen in FIG. 2, console 112 generally contains aspiration
pump mechanism 116, which may be any suitable flow or vacuum based
pump, such pumps being widely known in the art. For example, pump
mechanism 116 may be a peristaltic pump roller head that interacts
with a peristaltic pump tube formed by aspiration line 120 and
aspiration exhaust line 134. Aspiration line 120 is connected to
surgical handpiece 122 on one end and end 118 of aspiration line
120 opposite handpiece 122 interacts with pump mechanism 116 so as
to draw fluid through handpiece 122. Aspiration line 120 is
intersected between handpiece 122 and 118 by aspiration vent line
124. In fluid communication with aspiration vent line 124 is
pressure sensor 126, which may be one of a variety of invasive or
non-invasive pressure sensors well-known in the art.
[0029] Extending from vent line 134 is aspiration vent line 132,
which fluidly connects to aspiration vent line 124 through vent
valve 130. Aspirant or exhaust from pump mechanism 116 is directed
into vent line 132 through aspiration exhaust line 134 but is
prevented from entering line 124 by valve 130. Exhaust line 134
empties into waste bag 40, which may vent waste bag 140 to
atmosphere through vent line 136, which may contain antimicrobial
filter 38.
[0030] As discussed above, while it is preferred that pump
mechanism 116 be a peristaltic roller head and aspiration line 120
and aspiration exhaust line 134 be formed in one continuous length
so as to form a peristaltic pump tube that interacts with pump
mechanism 116, one skilled in the art will recognize that
aspiration line 120 and aspiration exhaust line 134 may be formed
as a separate piece or pieces or may be formed integrally with
cassette 114 and that pump mechanisms 116 other that peristaltic
pump roller heads may be used, such as linear peristaltic
pumps.
[0031] In addition, pressure sensor 126 is depicted as being
contained within console 112. One skilled in the art will recognize
that portions of pressure sensor 126, such as a pressure diaphragm
(not shown) may be contained in or on cassette 114 and interact
with a force transducer or other means (not shown) contained within
console 112.
[0032] In use, cassette 114 is installed on or within console 112
and held in operative association with console 112 by means
well-known in the art. System 100 is primed initially with clean
surgical fluid so that a small amount of fluid fills exhaust line
134 and waste bag 140. During surgery, pump mechanism 116 draws
aspirant through handpiece 122 and into exhaust line 134. If the
vacuum within aspiration line 120 is too high and needs to be
vented, vent valve 130 is opened allowing aspirant to be drawn out
of exhaust line 134 and into aspiration line 120 (which contains a
vacuum) through aspiration vent line 124, effectively shunting
positively pressurized fluid from exhaust line 134 into negatively
pressurized aspiration line 120.
[0033] This description is given for purposes of illustration and
explanation. It will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant
art that changes and modifications may be made to the invention
described above without departing from its scope or spirit. For
example, one skilled in the art will recognize that by varying the
vertical position of the distal end of exhaust line 134 relative to
aspiration line 120, various vent head pressures can be
achieved.
* * * * *