Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an acoustic fluid level sensor for use in a chamber incorporated in a surgical cassette. SOLUTION: The sensor has an ultrasonic transducer attached outside of a lower part of a fluid chamber and is acoustically coupled with the chamber. The transducer transmits ultrasonic signal pulses via the chamber and a liquid in the chamber. The signal is reflected on an interface between the air and the liquid and is received by the transducer. Time required since the signal is transmitted from the transducer until received by the transducer varies, depending on the quantity of the fluid in the chamber and indicates the fluid level in the chamber. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and a method for detecting the level of a fluid in a surgical cassette by projecting light from a linear light source into a wall of a cassette. SOLUTION: The behavior of a light beam 330 and a light beam 330' is shown, the light beam 330 is mainly reflected at the interface between the air and a plastic on the surface 322 of a chamber 310, and the light beam 330' is mainly refracted at the surface 322. In the first case, the light beam 330 comes into a wall 316, passes through the plastic at a corner 320 and is reflected at the interface between the plastic and the air on the surface 322. On the other hand, almost all of the light beam 330' is refracted at the interface between a cassette material and a BSS fluid on the surface 322, and some of the light beam 330' is reflected. In this example, the strongly reflected light (for example the light beam 330) irradiates a linear sensor array 314 and shows the presence of the air at the level. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved dual pump aspiration system. SOLUTION: The dual pump aspiration system is described having both a vacuum level control loop and a flow rate control loop. The system can be operated either as a vacuum priority system or a flow rate priority system. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for operating a peristaltic pump with a roller head. SOLUTION: The method comprises a step of operably connecting the roller head 14 to a cassette 18 which has a body 22, and a sheet 20 mounted on the body and including at least one shaped flow path 26, a step of rotating the roller head 14 so that a plurality of rollers 16 of the roller head 14 contact the flow path 26 to cause the flow of fluid passing through the flow path 26, a step of continuously measuring the positions of the rollers 16, and a step of retaining the rollers 16 at predetermined positions to stop the flow of the fluid passing through the flow path 26, the roller retaining positions being based on the continuously measured positions of the rollers. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide even and parallel light curtain to solve the problem wherein a linear light source of high-resolution optical liquid level for continuous monitoring of a system generally uses high-diffusion LED array, in order to achieve even light intensity, as a result, it will have a very large visual angle that the rays, i.e., light beams no longer become parallel. SOLUTION: The point source is located on focal point of parabolic reflector to illuminate the parabolic reflector. The parabolic reflector reflects light from the point source to generate parallel light curtain. This parallel light curtain becomes parallel to the symmetric axis of the parabolic reflector, to illuminate ophthalmic surgery chamber for storing fluid. Sensor array, combined with the chamber, detects the parallel light curtain for illuminating the chamber and supplies an output to a sensing, processing, control system in order to determine the liquid level of the chamber. This optical method for determining the liquid level of surgical fluid has the advantage of preventing surgical fluid from physical contamination. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and method for controlling the flow of aspiration fluid in an aspiration chamber of a surgical cassette. SOLUTION: The aspiration chamber having an aspiration port 632 positioned at or close to the bottom of an aspiration chamber 624 is provided. When the aspiration fluid enters the aspiration chamber from below the fluid surface (e.g., from a port located at the bottom or on a sidewall close to the bottom), it does not create disturbance at the liquid/air interface and thus does not disturb continuous level sensing. Also, since the aspiration port is placed at or very close to the bottom of the aspiration chamber, the liquid inside the chamber can be fully used for sustained reflux and push priming. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a surgical cassette having an acoustic air reflector. SOLUTION: A surgical cassette is provided which has a rigid fluid channel formed into a rigid plastic component or housing. The piezoelectric crystals of an ultrasonic flow meter are positioned on one side of the fluid channel. The side wall of the fluid channel opposite the piezoelectric crystals is exposed to fluid in the flow channel on its interior side and is exposed to ambient air on its exterior side. The interface between the wall and the air acts as an acoustic reflector for the action of the ultrasonic flow meter. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
A surgical cassette having an aspiration chamber or infusion chamber with a sensing portion and a storage portion. The sensing portion has a small transverse cross sectional area and facilitates accurate fluid level measurements. The storage portion has a larger transverse cross sectional area to facilitate fluid storage.
Abstract:
A surgical cassette having an aspiration chamber with a bubble separating structure. The bubble separating structure facilitates accurate, reliable measurement of the fluid level in the chamber.