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US5417246A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Pneumatic controls for ophthalmic surgical system

Assignee: Wyeth Holdings LLC
•
Filing: 1993-09-27
•
Granted: 1995-05-23
•
Expires: 2013-09-27
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Abstract

Abstract A pneumatic control system for providing pressurized air and vacuum to ophthalmic microsurgical instruments. The pneumatic system is constructed in a drawer assembly to allow it to be readily inserted into or removed from a modularly constructed cabinet of a microsurgical control console. In addition, the pneumatic system improves upon existing pneumatic control systems by providing a third mode of microscissors operation from a single-pneumatic port. The third mode is made possible by a high speed three-way solenoid control valve which provides rapid pulses of air to the pneumatic port. A second improvement involves the use of a pneumatic pressure transducer to monitor pneumatic pressure being supplied to the pneumatic system in order to recognize non-hazardous transient drops in air pressure which can occur under certain normal operating conditions. A third improvement relates to the use of an intraocular pressure accumulator downstream from a final solenoid-operated pinch valve, which reduces fluctuations in air pressure and has other advantages.

Inventors

  • 👤 James T. Perkins
  • 👤 Peter F. Appelbaum
  • 👤 John A. Painter

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 17:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/71; A61M1/74; A61M1/72; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1402; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00544; A61B2017/00973; A61B90/00; A61B90/30; A61B2090/306; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00736; A61F9/00745; A61F9/013; A61M1/77; A61M1/80; A61M1/804; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/12; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2544; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7758; Y10T137/7761; Y10T137/8376; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/877; Y10T137/87708; Y10T137/87772; Y10T137/87877; Y10T137/87885

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 125 words
An improved intraocular pressure system of the type powered by a source of compressed gas and including at least one pressure regulator means for limiting gas pressure to a predetermined maximum value, first electromagnetically-actuated valve means for controlling flow of the compressed gas from the source to a location where such gas is put to use, and a second electromagnetically-actuated valve means for controlling flow of the compressed gas from the location to atmosphere to reduce pressure at such location, the improvement comprising: third electromagnetically-actuated valve means for interrupting flow from the first valve means to the location; and variable volume gas reservoir means for accumulating additional compressed gas for later use, the reservoir means being located downstream of the first and third valve means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 125 words
An improved intraocular pressure system of the type powered by a source of compressed gas and including at least one pressure regulator means for limiting gas pressure to a predetermined maximum value, first electromagnetically-actuated valve means for controlling flow of the compressed gas from the source to a location where such gas is put to use, and a second electromagnetically-actuated valve means for controlling flow of the compressed gas from the location to atmosphere to reduce pressure at such location, the improvement comprising: third electromagnetically-actuated valve means for interrupting flow from the first valve means to the location; and variable volume gas reservoir means for accumulating additional compressed gas for later use, the reservoir means being located downstream of the first and third valve means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
A control system as in claim 1, wherein the first and third valve means are each two-way normally-closed solenoid-operated spring-returned valves, and the second valve is a two-way normally-open solenoid-operated spring-returned valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
A control system as in claim 2, further comprising a transducer for measuring the pressure level achieved at the location.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
A control system as in claim 1, wherein the variable volume gas reservoir means includes a collapsible pliable bladder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 56 words
A control system as in claim 1, wherein the first, second and third valves are in fluid communication with a common node, and the control system further comprises a fluid passage between the common node and the second valve having an orifice of predetermined diameter in the range of about 0.010 inch to about 0.35 inch.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4727791A Cited
US5065794A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-05-22 1998-11-21 1999-05-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-05-22 2002-11-21 2003-05-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-05-22 2006-11-21 2007-05-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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