Liquid venting surgical system
View Patent ↗A surgical system having a cassette with an aspirant collection chamber and an aspiration exhaust line that drains into the aspirant collection chamber. A fluid line containing a valve allowing fluid from the irrigation fluid container to be vented into the aspirant collection chamber. A source of pressurized air is connected to the irrigation fluid container and is used to pressurize the fluid container. When the pressure within the fluid container needs to be increased, pressurized air from the pressurized air source is allowed to enter the fluid container. When the pressure within the fluid container needs to be decreased, irrigation fluid is allowed to be bled out of the fluid container and inter the collection chamber. In this manner, a direct fluidic connection with the gas contained within the fluid container does not need to be maintained.
1. A surgical system, comprising:
a) a surgical console containing an aspiration pump mechanism;
b) an aspiration line fluidly connected on a first end to a handpiece and to the aspiration pump mechanism on a second end so that the aspiration pump mechanism draws fluid through the handpiece;
c) a cassette containing a fluid reservoir, the cassette being held in operative association with the surgical console;
d) an aspiration exhaust line fluidly connecting the pump mechanism to the reservoir so that fluid drawn through the handpiece by the pump mechanism flows into the reservoir;
e) an aspiration vent line, the aspiration vent line fluidly connecting the reservoir to the aspiration line between the handpiece and the pump mechanism;
g) a vent valve spaced within the aspiration vent line; and
h) a source of irrigation fluid fluidly connected to the fluid reservoir.
2. A surgical system, comprising:
a) a surgical console containing an aspiration pump mechanism;
b) an irrigation line fluidly connected on a first end to a handpiece and to an irrigation fluid container on a second end so that irrigation fluid flows to the handpiece;
c) a cassette containing a fluid reservoir, the cassette being held in operative association with the surgical console;
d) an irrigation vent line fluidly connecting the irrigation fluid container with the reservoir; and
e) a valve spaced in the irrigation vent line.
3. A method of operating a surgical console, comprising the steps of:
a) providing an irrigation fluid container;
b) pressurizing the irrigation fluid container;
c) providing a surgical cassette having a fluid reservoir;
d) fluidly connecting an irrigation line to the fluid reservoir through a valve;
e) variably opening the valve to allow irrigation fluid contained in the irrigation fluid container to enter the fluid reservoir and thereby variably maintain the pressure within the irrigation fluid container.