Fluid-flow cassette for an ophthalmic surgical instrument

Abstract

A cartridge or cassette adapted to be attached to an apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid to and from a surgical handpiece. The cassette includes irrigation and aspiration fluid-flow paths and consisting of interconnected tubing having inlet and outlet port's associated with the case of the cassette that are accessible for attachment to fluid and vacuum sources. The rear cover of the case includes cutouts enabling the cassette to be releasably and registerably attached to a surgical instrument. A sensor on the instrument engages a portion of the cassette to verify that the cassette is correctly positioned and is appropriate for use with the instrument. Locking means on the instrument releasably engage the cassette in position. Irrigation fluid may be redirected into the aspiration channel of the handpiece in response to a reflux signal.

1 . A tubing cartridge for engagement with a cartridge-receiving portion of an instrument, the cartridge-receiving portion having a substantially flat surface with a locking mechanism and first and second pinch valves projecting outwardly from the flat surface, the tubing cartridge comprising: 
 a) a housing having a case with a detachable rear cover, the rear cover containing first and second valve apertures and a locking aperture, and a locking mechanism activator thereon;    b) an irrigation tube having an input end and an output end and a housed portion wherein the housed portion is contained within the housing and the input and output ends of the irrigation tube extend from the housing; and    wherein when the tubing cartridge is placed against the cartridge-receiving portion and the locking mechanism activates, a first portion of the housed portion of the irrigation tube engages the first pinch valve.    
   
   
       2 . The tubing cartridge of  claim 1  further comprising an aspiration tube having input and output ends and a housed length, the housed length being contained within the housing and the input end and the output end of the aspiration tube extending outwardly from the housing.  
   
   
       3 . The tubing cartridge of  claim 2  further comprising a reflux tube contained within the housing wherein one end of the reflux tube connects to the irrigation tube and the other end of the reflux tube connects to the aspiration tube and wherein when the tubing cartridge is placed against the cartridge-receiving portion and the locking mechanism activates, a portion of the reflux tube engages the second pinch valve.  
   
   
       4 . The tubing cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the irrigation tube exerts a force that pushes the tubing cartridge away from the surface of the cartridge-receiving portion of the instrument.  
   
   
       5 . The tubing cartridge of  claim 2  wherein the aspiration tube exerts a force that pushes the tubing cartridge away from the surface of the cartridge-receiving portion of the instrument.  
   
   
       6 . The tubing cartridge of  claim 1  further comprising an identifier associated with the cartridge, the identifier being capable of indicating whether the cartridge can be used with the instrument.  
   
   
       7 . The tubing cartridge of  claim 6  wherein the identifier comprises a resistor, an RFID, or a bar code.  
   
   
       8 . The tubing cartridge of  claim 6  wherein the identifier further indicates whether the cartridge has been used.  
   
   
       9 . The tubing cartridge of  claim 1  further comprising a memory device coupled to the cartridge, the memory device including an identifier indicating whether the cartridge can be used with the instrument.  
   
   
       10 . A pump/sensor cartridge for engagement with a cartridge-receiving portion of an instrument, the cartridge-receiving portion of the instrument being a substantially flat surface having a locking mechanism, a pinch valve, and a peristaltic pump head projecting outwardly from the surface, the pump/sensor cartridge comprising: 
 a) a housing having a case and a rear cover, the rear cover having a valve aperture and a locking aperture and a locking mechanism activator thereon;    b) an aspiration tube having an input end and an output end, a housed portion and a looped portion wherein the housed portion of the aspiration tube is contained within the housing and the looped portion and the input and output ends of the aspiration tube extend from the housing;    wherein when the pump/sensor cartridge is placed against the cartridge-receiving portion and the locking mechanism activates, the housed portion of the aspiration tube engages the first pinch valve and the looped portion of the aspiration tube engages the peristaltic pump head.    
   
   
       11 . The pump/sensor cartridge of  claim 10  wherein the looped portion of the aspiration tube includes a pair of legs coupled by a connecting portion, one of the legs being shorter than the other leg.  
   
   
       12 . The pump/sensor cartridge of  claim 10  further comprising an identifier associated with the cartridge, the identifier indicating whether the cartridge can be used with the instrument.  
   
   
       13 . The pump/sensor cartridge of  claim 12  wherein the identifier comprises a resistor, an RFID, or a bar code.  
   
   
       14 . The pump/sensor cartridge of  claim 12  wherein the identifier further indicates whether the cartridge has been used.  
   
   
       15 . The pump/sensor cartridge of  claim 10  further comprising a memory device associated with the cartridge, the memory device including an identifier capable of indicating whether the cartridge can be used with the instrument.  
   
   
       16 . A cartridge for engagement with a cartridge-receiving portion of a surgical instrument comprising: 
 a) a housing and    b) an identifier associated with the housing wherein the identifier is capable of indicating whether the cartridge can be used with the instrument,    wherein the cartridge is a tubing cartridge or a pump/sensor cartridge.    
   
   
       17 . The cartridge of  claim 16  wherein the identifier comprises a resistor, an RFID, or a bar code.  
   
   
       18 . The cartridge of  claim 16  wherein the identifier further indicates whether the cartridge has been used.  
   
   
       19 . The cartridge of  claim 16  wherein the identifier is located within a memory device associated with the cartridge.  
   
   
       20 . A cartridge for engagement with a cartridge-receiving portion of a phacoemulsification instrument comprising: 
 a) a housing and    b) an identifier associated with the housing, the identifier capable of indicating whether the cartridge can be used with the instrument,    wherein the cartridge is a tubing cartridge or a pump/sensor cartridge.    
   
   
       21 . The cartridge of  claim 20  wherein the identifier comprises a resistor, an RFID, or a bar code.  
   
   
       22 . The cartridge of  claim 20  wherein the identifier further indicates whether the cartridge has been used.  
   
   
       23 . The cartridge of  claim 20  wherein the identifier is located within a memory device associated with the cartridge.  
   
   
       24 . A cartridge for engagement with a cartridge-receiving portion of a phacoemulsification instrument comprising: 
 a) a housing and    b) an identifier associated with the housing, the identifier capable of indicating whether the cartridge can be used with the instrument,    wherein the cartridge is a tubing cartridge or a pump/sensor cartridge.    
   
   
       25 . The cartridge of  claim 24  wherein the identifier comprises a resistor, an RFID, or a bar code.  
   
   
       26 . The cartridge of  claim 24  wherein the identifier further indicates whether the cartridge has been used.  
   
   
       27 . The cartridge of  claim 24  wherein the identifier is located within a memory device associated with the cartridge.  
   
   
       28 . A cassette for engagement with a cassette-receiving portion of a surgical instrument comprising: 
 a) a housing having a pump/sensor section and a tubing section and    b) an identifier associated with the housing wherein the identifier is capable of indicating whether the cassette can be used with the instrument.    
   
   
       29 . The cassette of  claim 28  wherein the identifier comprises a resistor, an RFID, or a bar code.  
   
   
       30 . The cassette of  claim 28  wherein the identifier further indicates whether the cassette has been used.  
   
   
       31 . A cassette for engagement with a cassette-receiving portion of a phacoemulsification instrument comprising: 
 a) a housing having a pump/sensor section and a tubing section and    b) an identifier associated with the housing wherein the identifier is capable of indicating whether the cassette can be used with the instrument.    
   
   
       32 . The cassette of  claim 31  wherein the identifier comprises a resistor, an RFID, or a bar code.  
   
   
       33 . The cassette of  claim 31  wherein the identifier further indicates whether the cassette has been used.  
   
   
       34 . A method comprising: 
 a) sensing an identifier on a tubing cartridge or a pump/sensor cartridge mounted on an instrument;    b) determining if the cartridge is capable of being used with the instrument based on the identifier; and    c) locking the cartridge in place if the cartridge is capable of being used with the instrument.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising emitting a warning if the cartridge is not capable of being used with the instrument.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the identifier is a resistor, an RFID, or a bar code.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the identifier further indicates whether the cartridge has been used.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the identifier is located within a memory device associated with the cartridge.  
   
   
       39 . A method comprising: 
 a) sensing an identifier on a cassette mounted on an instrument;    b) determining if the cassette is capable of being used with the instrument based on the identifier; and    c) locking the cassette in place if the cassette is capable of being used with the instrument.    
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising emitting a warning if the cassette is not capable of being used with the instrument.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the cassette includes a pump/sensor section and a tubing section.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the identifier is a resistor, an RFID or a bar code.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the identifier further indicates whether the cassette has been used.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the identifier is located within a memory device associated with the cassette.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the instrument comprises a phacoemulsification instrument.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the instrument comprises a phacoemulsification instrument.