US5032111A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for ocular perfusion
Assignee: Alcon Research LLC
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Filing: 1989-11-20
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Granted: 1991-07-16
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Expires: 2009-11-20
Abstract
Abstract Ocular perfusion during intraocular surgery of the anterior or posterior ocular cavity is optimized through the method of using a gas pump having a discernible and controllable output pressure to pressurize a reservoir of liquid infusate, which is supplied under pressure to a surgical infusion instrument for perfusion of the selected ocular chamber (Gas Forced Liquid Infusion, GFLI). The infusate selection and the infusate pressure can be controlled with a high degree of accuracy and both can be rapidly varied by audible command. Preferentially a human sensible indication of pressure is constantly available at the gas pump.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E. Morris
- 👤 Clark D. Witherspoon
- 👤 William E. Goggans, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M3/00; A61M3/02; A61M3/0233; A61F; A61F9/00; A61M2202/00; A61M2202/02; A61M2202/04; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/80; A61M3/0202; A61M3/0204; A61M3/0208; A61M3/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
Apparatus for controlling the intraocular pressure during closed wound intraocular surgery consisting essentially of: (a) a gas pump having a variable output pressure; (b) a liquid infusate reservoir operatively connected to said gas pump to receive pressurized gas therefrom such that liquid infusate in said reservoir is pressurized in accordance with the output pressure of said gas pump, with said reservoir confining both said liquid infusate and a volume of gas in direct communication with said gas pump; and (c) an ocular surgical infusion instrument operatively connected to said liquid infusate reservoir to receive infusate therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus for controlling the intraocular pressure during closed wound intraocular surgery consisting essentially of: (a) a gas pump having a variable output pressure; (b) a liquid infusate reservoir operatively connected to said gas pump to receive pressurized gas therefrom such that liquid infusate in said reservoir is pressurized in accordance with the output pressure of said gas pump, with said reservoir confining both said liquid infusate and a volume of gas in direct communication with said gas pump; and (c) an ocular surgical infusion instrument operatively connected to said liquid infusate reservoir to receive infusate therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
150 words
A connector for use in combination with a gas pump having a variable output pressure, a gas outlet, and a liquid infusate reservoir containing an infusate, and an ocular surgical infusion instrument, comprising: (a) a first flexible conduit operatively connected at one end thereof to the outlet of said gas pump; (b) sealing means operatively connected to a second end of said first flexible conduit to provide gaseous communication between the interior of said reservoir and said first flexible conduit and for sealing said reservoir; (c) an infusate outlet port located in said sealing means through which liquid infusate is discharged from said reservoir; and (d) second flexible conduit operatively connected to said infusate outlet port at one end and in communication with said infusion instrument at a second end, wherein said first and second flexible conduits define a closed system interconnected between said gas pump and said infusion instrument.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
150 words
A connector for use in combination with a gas pump having a variable output pressure, a gas outlet, and a liquid infusate reservoir containing an infusate, and an ocular surgical infusion instrument, comprising: (a) a first flexible conduit operatively connected at one end thereof to the outlet of said gas pump; (b) sealing means operatively connected to a second end of said first flexible conduit to provide gaseous communication between the interior of said reservoir and said first flexible conduit and for sealing said reservoir; (c) an infusate outlet port located in said sealing means through which liquid infusate is discharged from said reservoir; and (d) second flexible conduit operatively connected to said infusate outlet port at one end and in communication with said infusion instrument at a second end, wherein said first and second flexible conduits define a closed system interconnected between said gas pump and said infusion instrument.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A connector as defined in claim 2 further comprising an antibacterial filter operatively connected intermediate said first flexible conduit and said gas pump.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A connector as defined in claim 3 further comprising a valve operatively connected between said infusion instrument and said second flexible conduit for regulating the flow of infusate to said instrument.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A connector as defined in claim 2 wherein said first and second flexible conduits comprise lengths of flexible silicon tubing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for providing gas forced liquid infusion to a selected anterior or posterior ocular chamber comprising: (a) a gas pump having a variable pressure output, selectively variable over a predetermined range of pressures encountered in intraocular surgery; (b) a reservoir containing a liquid infusate; (c) a conduit member including a microbacterial filler, connected directly from the output of said gas pump to said reservoir to pressurize the liquid infusate in said reservoir; (d) a second conduit member operatively connected between said reservoir and an intraocular surgical instrument for delivery of the liquid infusate under pressure to the eye of a patient undergoing surgery; and (e) human sensible means for indicating the pressure in the eye during intraocular surgery.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for providing gas forced liquid infusion to a selected anterior or posterior ocular chamber comprising: (a) a gas pump having a variable pressure output, selectively variable over a predetermined range of pressures encountered in intraocular surgery; (b) a reservoir containing a liquid infusate; (c) a conduit member including a microbacterial filler, connected directly from the output of said gas pump to said reservoir to pressurize the liquid infusate in said reservoir; (d) a second conduit member operatively connected between said reservoir and an intraocular surgical instrument for delivery of the liquid infusate under pressure to the eye of a patient undergoing surgery; and (e) human sensible means for indicating the pressure in the eye during intraocular surgery.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said human sensible means is a visible digital display showing the current output pressure of the pump.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of ocular perfusion using Gas Forced Liquid Infusion (GFLI) comprising: (a) supplying pressurized gas to a selected output pressure from a gas pump; (b) pressurizing the contents of a liquid infusate bottle with the output pressure of said gas pump; (c) supplying the contents of said liquid infusate bottle to a surgical infusion instrument for infusion into a selected anterior or posterior ocular chamber as infusate; (d) selectively varying the pressure of the infusate within the ocular chamber by controlling the output pressure of said gas pump; and (e) providing a human sensible indication of the pressure within the eye wherein said human sensible indicator of the output pressure is a visual signal indicating the output pressure of the pump.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of ocular perfusion using Gas Forced Liquid Infusion (GFLI) comprising: (a) supplying pressurized gas to a selected output pressure from a gas pump; (b) pressurizing the contents of a liquid infusate bottle with the output pressure of said gas pump; (c) supplying the contents of said liquid infusate bottle to a surgical infusion instrument for infusion into a selected anterior or posterior ocular chamber as infusate; (d) selectively varying the pressure of the infusate within the ocular chamber by controlling the output pressure of said gas pump; and (e) providing a human sensible indication of the pressure within the eye wherein said human sensible indicator of the output pressure is a visual signal indicating the output pressure of the pump.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-15 | 1995-01-14 | 1995-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-15 | 1999-01-14 | 1999-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-15 | 2003-01-14 | 2003-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |