US5106367A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Eye surgery apparatus with vacuum surge suppressor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-11-28
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Granted: 1992-04-21
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Expires: 2009-11-28
Abstract
Abstract Collapse of the cornea into the cavity formed when material such as the lens is removed from an eye in the irrigation-aspiration method is minimized by incorporating a pressure responsive, variable flow resistance element in the aspiration line of the irrigation-aspiration apparatus. A preferred pressure responsive, variable resistance element is a length of thin walled tubing which is easily collapsed to smaller flow path area in response to increasing negative pressure in the aspiration line.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander Ureche
- 👤 Stephan Gaspar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M1/00; A61M1/71; A61M1/74; A61M1/743; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00736; A61M1/77; A61M39/00; A61M39/22; A61M39/227; A61M39/228
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for performing surgery on an eye, wherein the surgery produces material, comprising: a supply line for providing a fluid to the eye; an aspiration line for removing said fluid and the material from the eye, said aspiration line having a first end near the eye and a second end opposite from said first end; and a flow tube having a fluid resistance and being connected to said aspiration line between said first and second ends of said aspiration line, said flow tube having a wall constructed to contract when the material from the human body causes the fluid pressure within said aspiration line to decrease to a predetermined value, wherein said flow tube fluid resistance increases such that said first end of said aspiration line will have a greater fluid pressure than said second end of said aspiration line.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for performing surgery on an eye, wherein the surgery produces material, comprising: a supply line for providing a fluid to the eye; an aspiration line for removing said fluid and the material from the eye, said aspiration line having a first end near the eye and a second end opposite from said first end; and a flow tube having a fluid resistance and being connected to said aspiration line between said first and second ends of said aspiration line, said flow tube having a wall constructed to contract when the material from the human body causes the fluid pressure within said aspiration line to decrease to a predetermined value, wherein said flow tube fluid resistance increases such that said first end of said aspiration line will have a greater fluid pressure than said second end of said aspiration line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said flow tube collapses when the fluid pressure within the flow line decreases to a predetermined value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said flow tube has a cross-sectional area between 0.0005 and 0.05 inches and a wall thickness over a length greater than 0.15 inches which is between 0.02 and 0.001 inches.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said flow tube is surrounded by a chamber in fluid communication with said supply line, such that said wall movement is dependent upon said aspiration line and said supply line fluid pressures.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus within a flow line having a first point and a second point, the flow line having a fluid that flows from the first point to the second point, comprising: a flow tube having a fluid resistance and being connected to the flow line between the first and second points of the flow line, said flow tube having a wall constructed to collapse when the fluid pressure within the flow line decreases to a predetermined value, such that said flow tube resistance increases, said flow tube further having a cross-sectional area between 0.0005 and 0.05 inches and a wall thickness over a length greater than 0.15 inches which is between 0.02 and 0.001 inches.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus within a flow line having a first point and a second point, the flow line having a fluid that flows from the first point to the second point, comprising: a flow tube having a fluid resistance and being connected to the flow line between the first and second points of the flow line, said flow tube having a wall constructed to collapse when the fluid pressure within the flow line decreases to a predetermined value, such that said flow tube resistance increases, said flow tube further having a cross-sectional area between 0.0005 and 0.05 inches and a wall thickness over a length greater than 0.15 inches which is between 0.02 and 0.001 inches.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus within an aspiration line of a system used to remove material from a human body, the aspiration line having a fluid that flows from a first point in the aspiration line to a second point in the aspiration line, comprising: a flow tube having a fluid resistance and being connected to the aspiration line between the first and second points of the aspiration line, said flow tube having a wall constructed to contract when the fluid pressure within the aspiration line decreases, such that said flow tube fluid resistance increases, said flow tube further having a cross-sectional area between 0.0005 and 0.05 inches and a wall thickness over a length greater than 0.15 inches which is between 0.02 and 0.001 inches.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus within an aspiration line of a system used to remove material from a human body, the aspiration line having a fluid that flows from a first point in the aspiration line to a second point in the aspiration line, comprising: a flow tube having a fluid resistance and being connected to the aspiration line between the first and second points of the aspiration line, said flow tube having a wall constructed to contract when the fluid pressure within the aspiration line decreases, such that said flow tube fluid resistance increases, said flow tube further having a cross-sectional area between 0.0005 and 0.05 inches and a wall thickness over a length greater than 0.15 inches which is between 0.02 and 0.001 inches.
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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) | 1995-04-21 | 1995-10-21 | 1996-04-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-21 | 1999-10-21 | 2000-04-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-21 | 2003-10-21 | 2004-04-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |