US3902495A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flow control system
Assignee: Cooper Companies Inc
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Filing: 1974-01-28
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Granted: 1975-09-02
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Expires: 1994-01-28
Abstract
Abstract A fluidic control system for use in irrigation and aspiration of the anterior chamber of the eye during ultrasonic emulsification of a cataract therein. The system comprises a handpiece with an (ultrasonically vibrated) hollow tip, the hollow tip being connected to the fluid withdrawal or aspirating portion, while an annular passage around the tip is used to introduce fluid for irrigation purposes. The aspirating portion comprises a withdrawal hose attached to the output manifold of the handpiece in fluid communication with the hollow tip, a constant flow pump attached to the other end of the withdrawal hose, and a vacuum relief valve connected to the withdrawal hose intermediate the pump and the handpiece. The irrigation portion comprises a fluid supply bottle at a predetermined height above the eye, and administration set attached to the bottle, and an inflow hose attached to the intake manifold of the handpiece and in fluid communication with the annular passage. All the aforementioned components are in fluid communication with the anterior chamber of the eye during removal of a cataract by insertion of the handpiece tip into the eye chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven N Weiss
- 👤 Alan Broadwin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 18:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M3/00; A61M3/02; A61M3/0233; A61M3/0241; A61M1/00; A61M1/71; A61M1/74; A61M1/742; A61M1/77; A61M3/0204; A61M3/0208; A61M3/0212; A61M3/0216; A61M3/022; A61F; A61F9/00; A61M2210/00; A61M2210/06; A61M2210/0612
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
A fluidic flow system for use in irrigation-aspiration of a small elastic pressure responsive chamber, said system compising a fluid source at a pressure of from about 10 to 100 mm Hg, fluid inflow means connected to said fluid source and in fluid communication with said chamber for (introducing) conducting from said source into said chamber, thereby providing irrigation, said fluid inflow means having a flow resistivity of from about 0.42 to 18.5 mm. Hg. per ml per min, fluid withdrawal means in fluid communication with said chamber for aspirating fluid from said chamber, said fluid withdrawal means having a flow resistivity of from about 0.35 to 21.5 mm Hg. per ml per min., thereby aspirating said chamber at a rate to limit rapid pressure changes in said chamber, constant flow pump means connected to said fluid withdrawal means at a point remote from said chamber, said pump means having a flow rate of from about 5 to 50 ml per min. and acting to draw fluid from said chamber into said fluid withdrawal means, and pressure responsive valve means connected to said fluid withdrawal means intermediate said chamber and said pump means, said pressure responsivE valve means opening said fluid withdrawal means to atmosphere at a predetermined pressure differential of between about 10 and 100 min Hg. to thereby limit vacuum buildup in said fluid withdrawal means, said flow resistivities, flow rates and pressure differential act in combination to prevent excessive pressure and pressure transients in said chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
A fluidic flow system for use in irrigation-aspiration of a small elastic pressure responsive chamber, said system compising a fluid source at a pressure of from about 10 to 100 mm Hg, fluid inflow means connected to said fluid source and in fluid communication with said chamber for (introducing) conducting from said source into said chamber, thereby providing irrigation, said fluid inflow means having a flow resistivity of from about 0.42 to 18.5 mm. Hg. per ml per min, fluid withdrawal means in fluid communication with said chamber for aspirating fluid from said chamber, said fluid withdrawal means having a flow resistivity of from about 0.35 to 21.5 mm Hg. per ml per min., thereby aspirating said chamber at a rate to limit rapid pressure changes in said chamber, constant flow pump means connected to said fluid withdrawal means at a point remote from said chamber, said pump means having a flow rate of from about 5 to 50 ml per min. and acting to draw fluid from said chamber into said fluid withdrawal means, and pressure responsive valve means connected to said fluid withdrawal means intermediate said chamber and said pump means, said pressure responsivE valve means opening said fluid withdrawal means to atmosphere at a predetermined pressure differential of between about 10 and 100 min Hg. to thereby limit vacuum buildup in said fluid withdrawal means, said flow resistivities, flow rates and pressure differential act in combination to prevent excessive pressure and pressure transients in said chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fluidic flow system according to claim 1 wherein said chamber is the anterior chamber of the eye.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
The fluid flow system according to claim 2 wherein said fluid supply pressure is about 45 mm Hg, the pressure response means opens at a pressure differential of about 40 mm Hg, said pump has a flow rate of about 25 ml per min, the flow resistivity of said inflow means between said fluid source and said chamber opening is about 1.06 mm Hg per ml per min. and said fluid withdrawal means flow resistivity between said chamber and said pump is about 1.57 mm Hg per ml per min.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
112 words
The fluidic flow system according to claim 1 wherein said fluid source pressure is in the range of from about 30 to 60 mm Hg, said fluid inflow means has a flow resistivity of from about 0.5 to 2.5 mm Hg per ml per min. between said fluid source and said chamber, said fluid withdrawal means has a flow resistivity of from about 1.33 to 3.0 mm Hg per ml per min. between said chamber and said pump, said constant flow pump has a flow rate of from about 20 to 30 ml per min. and said pressure response means opens at a differential pressure between about 30 and 50 mm Hg.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
104 words
The fluidic flow system according to claim 2 which additionally comprises a handpiece having an inflow manifold therethrough connected said fluid inflow means, a hollow tip mounted on the distal portion of said handpiece, said hollow tip being in fluid communication with said fluid withdrawal means, and capable of being inserted into the chamber of the eye, a fluid passage mounted adjacent said tip on said handpiece, said fluid passage being in fluid communication with said handpiece inflow manifold, said passage having an opening which is in fluid communication with the anterior chamber of the eye when the tip is inserted in the eye.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fluidic flow system according to claim 5 wherein said hollow tip is ultrasonically vibrated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The fluid flow system according to claim 6 wherein said fluid source is a fluid supply bottle supported at a predetermined height about the level of the eye, thereby establishing a constant pressure, and said fluid inflow means comprises an administration set between said supply bottle and a fluid hose connected to said handpiece fluid inflow manifold.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
The fluidic flow system according to claim 1 wherein said chamber is the anterior chamber of the eye, said eye chamber being characterized by being a small elastic pressure responsive volume, said system being further characterized by said fluid source applying a limited pressure of about 45 mm Hg applied thereto to limit pressure imposed within the chamber of the eye,
Claim 10
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of providing irrigationaspiration to a small elastic pressure responsive chamber, said method comprising, supplying fluid to a chamber at a pressure of from about 30 to 60 mm Hg and a flow resistivity to said chamber of from about 0.5 to 2.5 mm Hg. per ml per min. pumping fluid from the chamber at a limited rate (into) through a flow withdrawal means at a flow rate of from about 5 to 50 ml per min. subject to a flow resistivity of from about 0.35 to 21.5 mm Hg. per ml per min. responsively opening said flow withdrawal means to ambiant pressure in response to a per determined pressure differential of between about 10 and 100 mm Hg. between pressure on said withdrawal means and pressure. slowing fluid flow from the chamber in order to prevent pressure transmient from occUring between said flow withdrawal means and the chamber immediately after said opening.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of providing irrigationaspiration to a small elastic pressure responsive chamber, said method comprising, supplying fluid to a chamber at a pressure of from about 30 to 60 mm Hg and a flow resistivity to said chamber of from about 0.5 to 2.5 mm Hg. per ml per min. pumping fluid from the chamber at a limited rate (into) through a flow withdrawal means at a flow rate of from about 5 to 50 ml per min. subject to a flow resistivity of from about 0.35 to 21.5 mm Hg. per ml per min. responsively opening said flow withdrawal means to ambiant pressure in response to a per determined pressure differential of between about 10 and 100 mm Hg. between pressure on said withdrawal means and pressure. slowing fluid flow from the chamber in order to prevent pressure transmient from occUring between said flow withdrawal means and the chamber immediately after said opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said step of pumping fluid from the chamber comprises applying a flow resistivity in the flow withdrawal means of from about 1.33 to 3.0 mm Hgs per ml per min. at a constant pumping rate of from about 20 to 30 ml per min. while simultaneously limiting the pressure differential between about 30 and 50 mm Hg.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 including the step of supplying fluid to the anterior chamber of the eye.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of providing irrigation-aspiration to the anterior chamber of the eye, said method comprising, supplying fluid to said chamber at a pressure of about 45 mm Hg. and a flow resistivity to said chamber of 1 mm Hg. per ml per min. pumping fluid from the chamber at a limited rate through a flow withdrawal means at a flow rate of about 25 ml per min. subject to a flow resistivity of about 1.6 mm Hg. per ml per min. responsively opening said flow withdrawal means to ambiant pressure in response to a predetermined pressure differential of about 40 mm Hg. between pressure on said withdrawal means and ambiant pressure.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of providing irrigation-aspiration to the anterior chamber of the eye, said method comprising, supplying fluid to said chamber at a pressure of about 45 mm Hg. and a flow resistivity to said chamber of 1 mm Hg. per ml per min. pumping fluid from the chamber at a limited rate through a flow withdrawal means at a flow rate of about 25 ml per min. subject to a flow resistivity of about 1.6 mm Hg. per ml per min. responsively opening said flow withdrawal means to ambiant pressure in response to a predetermined pressure differential of about 40 mm Hg. between pressure on said withdrawal means and ambiant pressure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-01 | 1979-03-03 | 1979-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-01 | 1983-03-03 | 1983-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-01 | 1987-03-03 | 1987-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |