Opthalmic fluid flow control system

A fluid control apparatus for use with a surgical irrigation and aspiration instrument adapted for irrigation and aspiration of a surgical site located in a small elastic chamber, said fluid control apparatus comprising:

• an irrigation fluid conduit means including valve means for conducting irrigation fluid from a single source of irrigation fluid to the surgical site,
• an aspiration fluid conduit means for removing fluid from the surgical site,
• a suction means in fluid communication with said aspiration fluid conduit means for providing suction in said aspiration fluid conduit means,
• a pressure sensitive transducer means in fluid communication with said aspiration fluid conduit means for generating, when said controllable pump means is pumping, a pump control signal for said controllable pump means proportional to the rise in vacuum in said aspiration fluid conduit means induced by said pump means, and said transducer means sensing a vacuum rise in said aspiration fluid conduit means and for disconnecting said aspiration fluid conduit means from the source,
• a liquid pressure equalizing means for admitting irrigation liquid from the single source of irrigation liquid when said valve means is opened to said aspiration fluid conduit means when a blockage occurs therein to vent the vacuum therein so as to remove the blockage, and
• said liquid pressure equalizing means including a pressure equalizing conduit providing communication for the irrigation liquid from the single source of irrigation liquid to said aspiration fluid conduit means, said pressure equalizing means allowing the equalizing of the pressure in said aspiration and irrigation conduit means.