Microsurgical system cassette assembly

Abstract

A cassette assembly for a microsurgical system. The cassette comprises a body portion, a collection vessel and a suction conduit which may be occluded to interrupt suction. The cassette may also include an occludable infusion conduit for providing infusion through the cassette to a surgical site.

I claim: 
     
       1. A cassette assembly adapted for releasable securement to a control console for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising: a housing having at least one rigid surface and having an externally accessible suction port;   a first port internal to said housing in fluid communication with said suction port;   a second port internal to said housing and means through which fluid may flow to a source of vacuum in a control console;   a first occludable tubular conduit means disposed in said housing and coupled between said first and second ports and providing fluid communication therebetween;   at least a portion of said occludable tubular conduit means aligned with said housing rigid surface;   a collection vessel supported by said housing and having a first port for providing fluid communication between a source of vacuum and said collection vessel and having a second port in fluid communication with said first occludable tubular conduit means.   
     
     
       2. The cassette of claim 1 wherein said occludable tubular conduit means includes a piece a flexible rubber tubular conduit having an occludable portion disposed along said rigid surface of said housing. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said housing includes an upper portion and a lower portion; wherein said occludable tubular conduit means is disposed in said lower portion and said lower portion includes an opening therein to expose an occludable portion of said occludable tubular conduit means.   
     
     
       4. The cassette assembly of claim 2 wherein said housing includes a body portion and a collection vessel removably mounted on said body portion. 
     
     
       5. A cassette assembly adapted for releasable securement to a control console for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising: a housing;   an externally accessible fluid access port means on said housing for providing fluid communication between a surgical situs and the housing;   a first port in fluid communication with said fluid access port means disposed interior to said housing;   a second port means interior to said housing and through which fluid may flow;   a flexible first occludable tubular conduit means coupled between said first and second interior port means and providing fluid communication therebetween, a portion of said first occludable tubular conduit means facing a backstop means;   backstop means aligned with at least a portion of said first occludable tubular conduit means to provide a support against which said first occludable tubular conduit means may be compressed to shut off fluid communication between said first and second interior ports when cooperating with an interrupting occluding means on a control console;   a collection vessel supported by said housing and having a first port for providing fluid communication between a source of vacuum and said collection vessel and having a second port in fluid communication with said first occludable tubular conduit means.   
     
     
       6. The cassette assembly of claim 5 further including a check valve in fluid communication with said fluid access port means and said first port. 
     
     
       7. A cassette assembly adapted for releasable securement to a control console for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising: a housing;   an externally accessible fluid access port means on said housing for providing fluid communication between a surgical situs and the housing;   a first port in fluid communication with said fluid access port means disposed interior to said housing;   a second port means interior to said housing and through which fluid may flow;   a flexible first occludable tubular conduit means coupled between said first and second interior port means and providing fluid communication therebetween, a portion of said first occludable tubular conduit means facing a backstop means;   backstop means aligned with at least a portion of said first occludable tubular conduit means to provide a support against which said first occludable tubular conduit means may be compressed to shut off fluid communication between said first and second interior ports when cooperating with an interrupting occluding means on a control console;   said housing including a body portion and a collection vessel removably mounted to said body portion.   
     
     
       8. The cassette assembly of claim 7 further including a vent providing fluid communication to said collection vessel through said housing. 
     
     
       9. The cassette assembly of claim 7 further including a filter disposed in said vent passage. 
     
     
       10. A cassette assembly adapted for releasable securement to a control console for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising: a housing having an externally accessible suction port;   a first port internal to said housing and in fluid communication with said suction port;   a second port internal to said housing and means through which fluid may flow to a source of vacuum in a control console;   a piece of flexible rubber tubular conduit disposed in said housing and coupled between said first and second ports and providing fluid communication therebetween, said flexible rubber tubular conduit having an occludable portion disposed along a rigid surface of said housing against which said flexible rubber tubular conduit may be compressed to shut off fluid communication between said first and second ports when cooperating with an interrupting occluding means on a control console;   said housing including an upper portion and a lower portion;   wherein said flexible rubber tubular conduit is disposed in said lower portion and said lower portion includes an opening therein to expose an occludable portion of said flexible rubber tubular conduit in response to a signal; and,   a selectably occludable vent means in fluid communication with said first port and adapted for venting said first port to the atmosphere in response to a signal;   said vent means disposed in said upper housing portion, containing said suction port.   
     
     
       11. A cassette assembly adapted for releasable securement to a control console for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising: a housing;   an externally accessible fluid access port on said housing for providing fluid communication between a surgical situs and the housing;   a first port in fluid communication with said fluid access port means disposed interior to said housing;   a second port means interior to said housing and through which fluid may flow;   a flexible first occludable tubular conduit means coupled between said first and second interior port means and providing fluid communication therebetween, a portion of said first occludable tubular conduit means facing a backstop means;   backstop means aligned with said portion of said first occludable tubular conduit means to provide a support against which said first occludable tubular conduit means may be compressed to shut off fluid communication between said first and second interior ports when cooperating with an interrupting occluding means on a control console;   a check valve in fluid communication with said fluid access port means and said first port; and,   said housing including a body portion and a collection vessel removably mounted to said body portion. .Iadd.   
     
     
       12.  A cassette assembly adapted for releaseable securement to a control console for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising: a housing having at least one rigid surface and having at least one opening through said housing for a suction conduit;   means in said housing for communicating with a source of vacuum in a control console;   a suction conduit disposed through said at least one opening and including an occludable tubular portion disposed in said housing for providing fluid communication to a collection vessel;   at least a portion of said occludable tubular portion aligned with said housing rigid surface;   said collection vessel supported by said housing in fluid communication with a source of vacuum and said occludable tubular portion of said suction conduit. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       13.  A cassette assembly adapted for releaseable securement to a control console for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising: a housing;   a conduit;   at least one opening through said housing for receiving said conduit, said conduit including a flexible occludable tubular portion disposed in said housing for providing fluid communication within said housing, a portion of said occludable tubular portion facing a backstop means;   backstop means aligned with at least a portion of said occludable tubular portion to provide a support against which   said occludable tubular portion may be compressed to shut off fluid communication through said occludable tubular portion when cooperating with an interrupting occluding means on a control console;   a collection vessel supported by said housing in fluid communication with a source of vacuum and said occludable tubular conduit means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       14.  A cassette assembly for releaseable securement to a control console for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising: a housing;   at least one opening through said housing;   a conduit means extending through said at least one opening and having a flexible, occludable, tubular portion disposed in said housing, a portion of said flexible occludable tubular portion facing a backstop means;   backstop means aligned with at least a portion of said flexible, occludable, tubular portion to provide a support against which said flexible, occludable, tubular portion may be compressed to shut off fluid communication therethrough when cooperating with an interrupting occluding means on a control console;   said housing including a body portion and a collection vessel removeably mounted to said body portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       15.  A cassette assembly adapted for releaseable securement to a control console for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising: a housing having at least one opening therethrough; means in said housing for communicating with a source of vacuum in a control console;   a piece of flexible rubber tubular conduit disposed in said housing and extending through said at least one opening in said housing, said rubber tubular conduit having an occludable portion disposed along a rigid surface of said housing against which said flexible rubber tubular conduit may be compressed to shut off fluid communication therethrough when cooperating with an interrupting occluding means on a control console;   said housing including an upper portion and a lower portion;   wherein said flexible rubber tubular conduit is disposed in said lower portion and said lower portion includes an opening therein to expose an occludable portion of said flexible rubber tubular conduit; and,   a selectably occludable vent means in fluid communication with said flexible rubber tubular means and adapted for venting said flexible rubber tubular means to the atmosphere in response to a signal;   said vent means disposed in said upper housing portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A cassette assembly adapted for releaseable securement to a control console for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising:   a housing having at least one opening therethrough;   a conduit extending through said opening in said housing and providing fluid communication between a surgical situs and the housing;   said conduit including a flexible occludable tubular portion disposed in said housing, a portion of said occludable tubular conduit portion facing a backstop means;   backstop means aligned with said occludable tubular conduit portion to provide a support against which said occludable tubular conduit portion may be compressed to shut off fluid communication therethrough when cooperating with an interrupting occluding means on a control console;   a check valve in fluid communication with said occludable tubular conduit portion; and,   said housing including a body portion and a collection vessel removably   
     
     
        mounted to said body portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17.  A cassette assembly for releaseable securement to a control console for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising: a housing;   at least one opening through said housing;   an infusion conduit means extending through said at least one opening and having a first end adapted for connections to a source of fluid and having a second end and having a flexible, occludable, tubular portion disposed in said housing, a portion of said flexible occludable tubular portion facing a backstop means;   backstop means aligned with at least a portion of said flexible, occludable, tubular portion to provide a support against which said flexible, occludable, tubular portion may be   compressed to shut off fluid communication therethrough when cooperating with an interrupting occluding means on a control console. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.8.  The cassette assembly of claim 17 further including a second opening through said housing and wherein said infusion conduit passes through said at least one opening and said second opening. .Iaddend.