Disposable aspirator cassette

In a vitrectomy system including a vitrectomy unit, a surgical primary cassette configured for plugging into said vitrectomy unit to activate the same, said vitrectomy unit being operable with said surgical cassette to cause a vacuum to be produced at a vacuum port of the cassette, whereby a vitreous cutter includes as aspirating port for connection via tubing to the vacuum port of the cassette, for vacuuming fluids from a surgical site in an eye undergoing vitrectomy into a reservoir within said cassette, wherein the improvement comprises:

• a disposable secondary cassette configured for installation between the vacuum port of said primary cassette and the aspirating port of said vitreous cutter, to receive contaminated eye fluid in a manner isolating the primary cassette from any contact with the eye fluid, thereby avoiding contamination of the primary cassette and making it available for continuous use, said secondary cassette comprising:
• a housing having first and second opposing open ends between which a hollow cavity or interior volume is provided;
• first and second caps secured to said first and second ends, respectively, for providing an air tight seal therewith;
• partition means installed within said housing for dividing the volume into first and second regions having an air tight and fluid seal therebetween, said first and second regions being located between interior sides of said first and second caps, respectively;
• first and second ports mounted onto and through said first and second caps, respectively, for providing a fluid pathway into or out of said first and second regions, respectively, said first region being filled with a medically non-contaminating fluid or liquid, and said second region with ambient air;
• and
• said first port being adapted for connection to the vacuum port of said primary cassette, and said second port being adapted for connection to the aspirating port of said vitreous cutter, whereby as a vacuum produced at said vacuum port of said primary cassette sucks non-contaminating fluid out of said first region of said housing, said partition means responds by decreasing the volume of said first region, and increasing the volume of said second region, thereby producing a vacuum at said second port for sucking eye fluid from said aspirating cutter into said second region of said housing.