Surgical cassette having an aspiration pressure sensor
View Patent ↗A cassette having a molded flow channel contained on an elastomeric sheet that is bonded or mechanically attached to a rigid substrate. The flow channel projects outwardly from the exterior of the cassette so that a peristaltic pump having pump head rollers mounted radially from the axis of rotation of the pump motor compress the elastomeric flow channels against the rigid substrate during operation.
1. A cassette, comprising:
a) a body having an exterior;
b) a relatively flexible sheet attached to the body, the sheet containing at least one molded fluid channel, the fluid channel projecting outwardly from the exterior of the body and being in a generally arcuate shape;
c) an aspiration pressure sensor interface on the exterior of the body; and
d) a raised boss around the pressure sensor interface.
2. The cassette of claim 1 wherein the sheet comprises a molded aspiration fluid channel and a molded irrigation fluid channel.
3. The cassette of claim 1 wherein the sheet comprises a flexible, easily molded material.
4. The cassette of claim 3 wherein the sheet comprises silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.
5. The cassette of claim 1 wherein the fluid channel is planar.
6. The cassette of claim 1 wherein the fluid channel has at least one transition region wherein the cross-sectional area of the fluid channel tapers.
7. The cassette of claim 1 wherein the fluid channel has at least one pinch valve site.
8. The cassette of claim 1 wherein the cassette further comprises a plurality of identifying tabs projecting from the exterior of the body.
9. A cassette, comprising:
a) a body having an exterior;
b) a relatively flexible sheet attached to the body, the sheet containing at least one molded fluid channel, the fluid channel projecting outwardly from the exterior of the body and being in a generally arcuate shape and containing at least one pinch valve site;
c) an aspiration pressure sensor interface on the exterior of the body;
d) a raised boss around the pressure sensor interface; and
e) a plurality of identifying tabs projecting from the exterior of the body.
10. The cassette of claim 9 wherein the sheet comprises a molded aspiration fluid channel and a molded irrigation fluid channel.
11. The cassette of claim 9 wherein the sheet comprises a flexible, easily molded material.
12. The cassette of claim 11 wherein the sheet comprises silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.
13. The cassette of claim 9 wherein the fluid channel is planar.
14. The cassette of claim 9 wherein the fluid channel has at least one transition region wherein the cross-sectional area of the fluid channel tapers.
15. A cassette, comprising:
a) a body having an exterior, the exterior having sides;
b) a relatively flexible sheet attached to the body, the sheet containing at least one molded fluid channel, the fluid channel projecting outwardly from the exterior of the body and being in a generally arcuate shape;
c) an aspiration pressure sensor interface on the exterior of the body; and
d) a plurality of latching surfaces formed in the sides of the body.
16. The cassette of claim 15 wherein the sheet comprises a molded aspiration fluid channel and a molded irrigation fluid channel.
17. The cassette of claim 15 wherein the sheet comprises a flexible, easily molded material.
18. The cassette of claim 17 wherein the sheet comprises silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.
19. The cassette of claim 15 wherein the fluid channel is planar.
20. The cassette of claim 15 wherein the fluid channel has at least one transition region wherein the cross-sectional area of the fluid channel tapers.
21. The cassette of claim 15 wherein the fluid channel has at least one pinch valve site.
22. The cassette of claim 15 wherein the cassette further comprises a plurality of identifying tabs projecting from the exterior of the body.
23. A cassette, comprising:
a) a body having an exterior, the exterior having sides;
b) a relatively flexible sheet attached to the body, the sheet containing at least one molded fluid channel, the fluid channel projecting outwardly from the exterior of the body and being in a generally arcuate shape and containing at least one pinch valve site;
c) an aspiration pressure sensor interface on the exterior of the body;
d) a raised boss around the pressure sensor interface;
e) a plurality of identifying tabs projecting from the exterior of the body; and
f) a plurality of latching surfaces formed in the sides of the body.
24. The cassette of claim 23 wherein the sheet comprises a molded aspiration fluid channel and a molded irrigation fluid channel.
25. The cassette of claim 23 wherein the sheet comprises a flexible, easily molded material.
26. The cassette of claim 25 wherein the sheet comprises silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.
27. The cassette of claim 23 wherein the fluid channel is planar.
28. The cassette of claim 23 wherein the fluid channel has at least one transition region wherein the cross-sectional area of the fluid channel tapers.
29. A cassette, comprising:
a) a body having an exterior;
b) a relatively flexible sheet attached to the body, the sheet containing at least one molded fluid channel, the fluid channel projecting outwardly from the exterior of the body and being in a generally arcuate shape;
c) an aspiration pressure sensor interface on the exterior of the body, the interface having a well; and
d) an aspiration exit port in the well, the aspiration exit port providing aspiration fluid flow into the well and being located above a bottom of the well.
30. The cassette of claim 29 wherein the sheet comprises a molded aspiration fluid channel and a molded irrigation fluid channel.
31. The cassette of claim 29 wherein the sheet comprises a flexible, easily molded material.
32. The cassette of claim 31 wherein the sheet comprises silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.
33. The cassette of claim 29 wherein the fluid channel is planar.
34. The cassette of claim 29 wherein the fluid channel has at least one transition region wherein the cross-sectional area of the fluid channel tapers.
35. The cassette of claim 29 wherein the fluid channel has at least one pinch valve site.
36. The cassette of claim 29 wherein the cassette further comprises a plurality of identifying tabs projecting from the exterior of the body.
37. The cassette of claim 29 wherein the cassette further comprises at least one vent port in the pressure sensor well.
38. A cassette, comprising:
a) a body having an exterior;
b) a relatively flexible sheet attached to the body, the sheet containing at least one molded fluid channel, the fluid channel projecting outwardly from the exterior of the body and being in a generally arcuate shape;
c) an aspiration pressure sensor interface on the exterior of the body, the interface having a well; and
d) a plurality of alignment features in the exterior.
39. The cassette of claim 38 wherein the sheet comprises a molded aspiration fluid channel and a molded irrigation fluid channel.
40. The cassette of claim 38 wherein the sheet comprises a flexible, easily molded material.
41. The cassette of claim 40 wherein the sheet comprises silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer.
42. The cassette of claim 38 wherein the fluid channel is planar.
43. The cassette of claim 38 wherein the fluid channel has at least one transition region wherein the cross-sectional area of the fluid channel tapers.
44. The cassette of claim 38 wherein the fluid channel has at least one pinch valve site.
45. The cassette of claim 38 wherein the cassette further comprises a plurality of identifying tabs projecting from the exterior of the body.
46. The cassette of claim 38 wherein the cassette further comprises a pressure sensor well and an aspiration exit port located above a bottom of the well.