US4764165A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator with valve
Assignee: Mentor ORC Inc
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Filing: 1987-06-25
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Granted: 1988-08-16
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Expires: 2007-06-25
Abstract
Abstract An ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator system 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. 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, a control box operable by the foot pedal and a power cord 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. A vacuum limiting valve assembly permits the system readily to be adapted to posterior capsule polishing following the break-up and removal of the cortex.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry G. Reimels
- 👤 David A. Walsh
- 👤 Michael J. Arsenault
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:37
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: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 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 via an aspiration tubing, 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; (f) a container for enclosing said cannula and said pressure-differential creating means; and (g) a pressure-differential limiting valve assembly operatively connected between said cannula and said pressure-differential creating means by being spliced into said aspiration tubing, said valve assembly comprising a solid member having a hole in fluid communication with said aspiration tubing and a soft member releasably mated thereto and provided with a plug to seal said hole.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 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 via an aspiration tubing, 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; (f) a container for enclosing said cannula and said pressure-differential creating means; and (g) a pressure-differential limiting valve assembly operatively connected between said cannula and said pressure-differential creating means by being spliced into said aspiration tubing, said valve assembly comprising a solid member having a hole in fluid communication with said aspiration tubing and a soft member releasably mated thereto and provided with a plug to seal said hole.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 1 wherein said solid member of said pressure-differential limiting valve assembly comprises a tube portion and a U-shaped portion formed integrally therewith, and said soft member comprises a bowl-shaped diaphragm releasably to be secured within said U-shaped portion and having a slit therein, said plug designed removably to fit within said bowl-shaped diaphragm so as to seal said slit therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 2 wherein said plug is connected to said bowl-shaped diaphragm by a flap integrally formed therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 3 wherein said tube and U-shaped portions of said solid member are respectively provided with annular rims, and wherein said bowl-shaped diaphragm is formed with an annular skirting part, said annular skirting part is designed to fit about said annular rim of said U-shaped portion, whereby said soft member is releasably secured to and about said U-shaped portion of said solid member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 4 wherein said slit is about forty mils in length and said soft member is formed of silicone having a durometer of about 40 shore A.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ophthalmic aspirator-irrigator of claim 5 wherein said solid member is injection formed of a plastic material of a group including teflon, acetal, nylon and polypropylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
112 words
A vacuum limiting valve assembly for use in aspirator systems of the kind including a tube and means for creating a pressure-differential within said tube, said vacuum limiting valve assembly comprising: (a) a solid member formed with an integral tube portion and U-shaped portion provided with a hole communicating with said tube portion; (b) said tube portion of said solid member designed to be spliced into said tube; and (c) a soft member formed with a bowl-shaped diaphragm provided with a slit and designed to be releasably secured within said U-shaped portion of said solid member and a plug designed removably to be received within said bowl-shaped diaphragm, to seal said slit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
112 words
A vacuum limiting valve assembly for use in aspirator systems of the kind including a tube and means for creating a pressure-differential within said tube, said vacuum limiting valve assembly comprising: (a) a solid member formed with an integral tube portion and U-shaped portion provided with a hole communicating with said tube portion; (b) said tube portion of said solid member designed to be spliced into said tube; and (c) a soft member formed with a bowl-shaped diaphragm provided with a slit and designed to be releasably secured within said U-shaped portion of said solid member and a plug designed removably to be received within said bowl-shaped diaphragm, to seal said slit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vacuum limiting valve assembly of claim 7 wherein said plug is connected to said bowl-shaped diaphragm by a flap formed integrally therewith.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
The vacuum limiting valve assembly of claim 8 wherein said tube and U-shaped portions of said solid member are respectively provided with annular rims, and wherein said bowl-shaped diaphragm is formed with an annular skirting part, said annular skirting part is designed to fit about said annular rim of said U-shaped portion, whereby said soft member is releasably secured to and about said U-shaped portion of said solid member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vacuum limiting valve assembly of claim 9 wherein said slit is about forty mils in length and said soft member is formed of silicone having a durometer of about 40 Shore A.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vacuum limiting valve assembly of claim 10 wherein said solid member is injection formed of a plastic material of a group including teflon, acetal, nylon and polypropylene.
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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) | 1991-08-16 | 1992-02-15 | 1992-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-16 | 1996-02-15 | 1996-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-16 | 2000-02-15 | 2000-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |