Medical fluid cassette and control system

Claim 1

A medical fluid cassette for use with a medical control unit of the type having an operable assembly for controlling fluid to and from a surgical instrument at an operative site, the control unit having a surface configured to support said cassette and a movable member having at least a relatively rigid portion selectively cooperable with said cassette when said cassette is supported on said control unit surface, said cassette comprising: a supporting member being made of a flexible material and being sized and shaped to supportingly cooperate with the supporting surface of the control unit; fluid circuitry means positioned to be supported by said supporting member, said circuitry means being controllable by the operable assembly for controlling fluid flow therethrough, such that when said supporting member is supported on the supporting surface, the rigid portion of the movable member forms a reaction surface in cooperating relationship with said fluid circuitry means and the operable assembly can control the flow of fluid through said circuitry means.

Claim 9

A system comprising: a medical fluid cassette in combination with a medical control unit which controls the flow of fluid to and from a surgical instrument at an operative site, said control unit including a vacuum assembly for aspirating body tissue and fluids from a surgical instrument at an operative site and an irrigating assembly for supplying irrigating fluid to the operative site, a supporting surface configured to support said fluid cassette assembly, and a movable retaining member having rigid means cooperable with said fluid cassette on said supporting surface; said fluid cassette including a supporting member made of a thin-walled flexible material which is sized and shaped to cooperate with said supporting surface; fluid irrigating and aspirating means for transporting fluids to and from the surgical instrument at the operative site; means for holding said irrigating and aspirating means in cooperable relationship with said vacuum and irrigating assemblies of said control unit, respectively, said cassette when supported on said supporting surface by said retaining member has said rigid means providing a reaction surface so that said irrigating and aspirating assemblies cooperate with said irrigating and aspirating means such that fluid flow therethrough can be controlled by operation of said irrigating and aspirating assemblies.

Claim 10

A system comprising: a medical fluid cassette in combination with a medical control unit which controls the flow of fluid to and from a surgical instrument at an operative site, said control unit including a vacuum assembly for aspirating body tissue and fluids from a surgical instrument at an operative site and an irrigating assembly for supplying irrigating fluid to the operative site, a supporting surface configured to support said fluid cassette assembly, and a movable retaining member having rigid means cooperable with said fluid cassette on said supporting surface; said fluid cassette including a supporting member made of a thin-walled flexible material which is sized and shaped to cooperate with said supporting surface; fluid irrigating and aspirating means for transporting fluids to and from the surgical instrument at the operative site; means for holding said irrigating and aspirating means in cooperable relationship with said vacuum and irrigating assemblies of said control unit, respectively, said cassette when supported on said supporting surface by said retaining member has said rigid means providing a reaction surface so that said irrigating and aspirating assemblies cooperate with said irrigating and aspirating means such that fluid flow therethrough can be controlled by operation of said irrigating and aspirating assemblies.