Patent EP0253478A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0253478A1
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EP
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Ophtalmic aspirator-irrigator
Assignee: Mentor ORC Inc
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Filing: 1987-05-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-05-26
Abstract
Abstract An ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator system (10) for use during cataract surgery is disclosed. The system frees both hands of the surgeon for the surgical tasks. and leaves the automatic operation of the system to a single control input operated by a foot pedal (24). The pedal controls both the aspiration and ejection functions as well as their respective speeds. The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator system essentially comprises a hand-held device (12), a control box (20) operable by the foot pedal and a power cord (22) connecting the device with the box. A source of fluid is connected via a tube to the device to effect the irrigation function. The control box includes a power source and a circuit coupled to the source and via the cord to the device. Preferably, the circuit includes a bridge output network controlled by a linear motion slide type potentiometer controlled by the foot pedal. The circuit further includes dual DC amplifiers and a pulse-width modulated gate circuit to operate the device bidirectionally with a smooth, continuous and variable speed. The foot pedal has two zero control positions: in its off, non-depressed position and in its off position about midway through the pedal's downward travel.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry G. Reimels
- 👤 David A. Walsh
- 👤 Michael J. Arsenault
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00736; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00973; A61B2017/00977; A61B46/00; A61B46/20; A61B46/23; A61B2046/236
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
An ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator comprising: (a) a hand-held device; (b) said device including a cannula having an axial channel and a surrounding annular channel, pressure-differential creating means connected to said axial channel, and drive means operatively connected to said last means for driving the same; (c) a source of fluid connected via a flexible tube to said annular channel; (d) foot-operable control means for controlling the operation of said drive means and provided with a pedal, a power source, a circuit connected to said source, and a socket coupled to said circuit; (e) a flexible power cord having a plug designed to be connected to said socket for coupling power from said power source to said drive means; and (f) a container for maintaining said cannula and said pressure-differential creating means in a sterile condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
An ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator comprising: (a) a hand-held device; (b) said device including a cannula having an axial channel and a surrounding annular channel, pressure-differential creating means connected to said axial channel, and drive means operatively connected to said last means for driving the same; (c) a source of fluid connected via a flexible tube to said annular channel; (d) foot-operable control means for controlling the operation of said drive means and provided with a pedal, a power source, a circuit connected to said source, and a socket coupled to said circuit; (e) a flexible power cord having a plug designed to be connected to said socket for coupling power from said power source to said drive means; and (f) a container for maintaining said cannula and said pressure-differential creating means in a sterile condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 1 wherein said cannula is provided with a tapered tip, an aspiration port formed in the side of said tapered tip and connecting with said axial channel and at least one irrigation opening also formed in the side of said tapered tip and at a right angle thereto and connecting with said surrounding annular channel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 1 wherein said hand-held device, said pressure-differential creating means and said flexible tube are disposable, and wherein said pressure differential creating means includes a D.C. micro-motor, a gear head connected to said motor, a peristaltic pump and a shaft coupling said motor via said gear head to said pump.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 1 wherein said circuit includes dual D.C. amplifiers and a pulse-width modulated gate circuit and wherein said circuit controls said drive means bidirectionally with a smooth, continuous speed control effected by an electrical signal generated by said dual D.C. amplifiers, said signal coupled to said pulse-width modulated gate circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 4 further including an audio signal generating means, wherein said pedal's position controls both the direction and the speed of said drive means and also the operation of said audio signal generating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 5 wherein said circuit includes a linear motion slide-type potentiometer controlled by said pedal, andwherein said pedal is in its normally-off, non-depressed position, hence its gradual depression first effects the generation of a gradually decreasing positive pressure in said pressure-differential creating means until about midway through its downward motion, said pedal effects a zero output of said pressure-differential creating means, from where the further gradual depression of said pedal effects the generation of a gradually increasing negative pressure in said pressure-differential creating means until the farthest depression of said pedal maintains a maximum negative pressure generated by said pressure-differential creating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 1 wherein said power source comprises a battery pack and said foot-operable control means is portable, and wherein said pressure-differential creating means is provided with an externally-threaded sleeve and said drive means is provided with an internally-threaded connecting ring, whereby said drive means is releasably connected to said pressure-differential creating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
An ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator comprising: (a) a hand-held device; (b) a pressure-differential creating means coupled via a flexible tube to said device; (c) a foot-operable control box; (d) a power cord for operatively connecting said control box to said pressure differential creating means; (e) a pouch coupled to said pressure-differential creating means; (f) a source of fluid connected via a flexible tube to said hand-held device; and (g) fastening means respectively provided for said pressure-differential creating means and said pouch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
An ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator comprising: (a) a hand-held device; (b) a pressure-differential creating means coupled via a flexible tube to said device; (c) a foot-operable control box; (d) a power cord for operatively connecting said control box to said pressure differential creating means; (e) a pouch coupled to said pressure-differential creating means; (f) a source of fluid connected via a flexible tube to said hand-held device; and (g) fastening means respectively provided for said pressure-differential creating means and said pouch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 8 wherein said foot-operable control box is provided with a pedal and includes a power source and a circuit, whereby a gradual depression of said pedal first effects the generation of a gradually decreasing positive pressure in said pressure-differential creating means, followed by a full stop about midway in the downward motion of said pedal, whence the further depression of said pedal effects a gradually increasing negative pressure in said pressure-defferential creating means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 9 further including an audio signal generating means and wherein said circuit provides said drive means bidirectionally with a smooth, continuous and variable speed control, said circuit controlling both the speed and the direction of said drive means and the operation of said audio signal generating means via a single control unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
102 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 10 wherein said single control unit comprises a linear motion slide-type potentiometer controlled by said pedal and wherein said circuit comprises dual DC amplifiers coupled to said potentiometer, electronic switch means connected to the outputs of said DC amplifiers, and a pulse-width modulated gate circuit coupled to said drive means and via said electronic switch means to one of the outputs of said DC amplifiers, whereby the position of said foot pedal along its arc of displacement controls both the speed and the direction of said drive means and the operation of said audio signal generating means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 8 further including a surgical drape draped about a patient adjacent a surgical site, said pressure differential creating means and said pouch respectively secured to said surgical drape via said fastening means adjacent said surgical site.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 11 wherein said foot pedal has two zero control positions: first, in its normally-off, non-depressed position and, second, in its off position located about midway of the foot pedal's downward travel along its said arc of displacement, and wherein said circuit further includes a comparator network to disable said switch means between the output of said pulse-width modulated gate circuit and said bridge circuit when said foot pedal is located about midway along said arc of displacement.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
215 words
An ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator comprising: (a) a hand-held device including a cannula, a pressure-differential creating means connected to said cannula, drive means for bidirectionally driving said pressure-differential creating means, and connecting means for releasably securing said cannula to said pressure-differential creating means; (b) a portable control box for controlling both the speed and the direction of said drive means and provided with a foot pedal having an arc of displacement, a power source, and a circuit coupled via a switch to said foot pedal and said power source; (c) a flexible power cord connecting said power source to said drive means; (d) said circuit including a linear motion slide type potentiometer operatively connected to said foot pedal and generating a voltage linearly proportional to the position of said pedal along its said arc of displacement, dual DC amplifiers coupled to said potentiometer to receive said voltage at one of their inputs, a reference voltage connected to the other inputs of said amplifiers, switch means coupled to the outputs of said amplifiers, a pulse-width modulated gate circuit coupled to the output of said switch means, a bridge circuit operatively connected via said flexible power cord to said drive means, and a direction control switch coupling the output of said pulse-width modulated gate circuit to said bridge circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
215 words
An ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator comprising: (a) a hand-held device including a cannula, a pressure-differential creating means connected to said cannula, drive means for bidirectionally driving said pressure-differential creating means, and connecting means for releasably securing said cannula to said pressure-differential creating means; (b) a portable control box for controlling both the speed and the direction of said drive means and provided with a foot pedal having an arc of displacement, a power source, and a circuit coupled via a switch to said foot pedal and said power source; (c) a flexible power cord connecting said power source to said drive means; (d) said circuit including a linear motion slide type potentiometer operatively connected to said foot pedal and generating a voltage linearly proportional to the position of said pedal along its said arc of displacement, dual DC amplifiers coupled to said potentiometer to receive said voltage at one of their inputs, a reference voltage connected to the other inputs of said amplifiers, switch means coupled to the outputs of said amplifiers, a pulse-width modulated gate circuit coupled to the output of said switch means, a bridge circuit operatively connected via said flexible power cord to said drive means, and a direction control switch coupling the output of said pulse-width modulated gate circuit to said bridge circuit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 14 wherein said cannula is formed with an axial channel and a surrounding annular channel and further including a source of gravity-fed fluid connected via a flexible tube to said surrounding annular channel of said cannula, and further including a plastic container for maintaining said cannula and said pressure-differential creating means in a sterile condition.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 15 wherein said cannula is formed with a tapered tip, an aspiration port formed in said tapered tip and being in communication with said axial channel, and a pair of irrigation openings formed in said tapered tip adjacent to but at right angles to said aspiration port and being in communication with said annular channel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
64 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 14 wherein said cannula and said pressure-differential creating means are disposable, said power source comprises a battery pack, and wherein said circuit further includes a comparator network to disable said switch means between the output of said pulse width modulated gate circuit and said bridge circuit when said foot pedal is located about midway along said arc of displacement.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
237 words
An ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator comprising: (a) a hand-held device; (b) said device including a cannula formed with a hollow cone and a concentric needle, said needle having a central channel in communication with said hollow cone at one end and terminating in a port at the other end and an annular channel surrounding said central channel and terminating in a pair of irrigation openings at its free end; (c) a pressure-differential creating means operatively connected to said hollow cone and drive means for said pressure-differential creating means mounted adjacent thereto; (d) a foot operable control box including a source of power; (e) a power cord for operatively connecting said pressure differential creating means to said control box; and (f) a source of fluid connected via a flexible tube to said annular channel of said cannula; (g) said foot-operable control box provided with a jack for said power cord, visible and manually operable test means for said source of power, an audio signal generating means, means for varying the intensity of said audio signal, and a pedal and including a power source and a circuit, whereby a gradual depression of said pedal first effects the generation of a gradually decreasing positive pressure in said pressure-differential creating means, followed by a full stop about midway in the downward motion of said pedal, whence the further depression of said pedal effects a gradually increasing negative pressure in said pressure-differential creating means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
237 words
An ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator comprising: (a) a hand-held device; (b) said device including a cannula formed with a hollow cone and a concentric needle, said needle having a central channel in communication with said hollow cone at one end and terminating in a port at the other end and an annular channel surrounding said central channel and terminating in a pair of irrigation openings at its free end; (c) a pressure-differential creating means operatively connected to said hollow cone and drive means for said pressure-differential creating means mounted adjacent thereto; (d) a foot operable control box including a source of power; (e) a power cord for operatively connecting said pressure differential creating means to said control box; and (f) a source of fluid connected via a flexible tube to said annular channel of said cannula; (g) said foot-operable control box provided with a jack for said power cord, visible and manually operable test means for said source of power, an audio signal generating means, means for varying the intensity of said audio signal, and a pedal and including a power source and a circuit, whereby a gradual depression of said pedal first effects the generation of a gradually decreasing positive pressure in said pressure-differential creating means, followed by a full stop about midway in the downward motion of said pedal, whence the further depression of said pedal effects a gradually increasing negative pressure in said pressure-differential creating means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
65 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 18 wherein said circuit provides said drive means bidirectionally with a smooth, continuous and variable speed control, said circuit controlling both the speed and the direction of said drive means and the operation of said audio signal generating means via a single control unit, and wherein said single control unit comprises a linear motion slide-type potentiometer controlled by said pedal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 18 further including a plastic container for maintaining said cannula and said pressure-differential creating means in a sterile condition.
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