# US 5,704,927 A · Controlled vacuum in ophthalmic retinal surgery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,927 A - Document ID: US5704927A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/667,450 - Filed: 1996-06-21 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1994-06-08 - Assignees: Syntec, Inc. - Inventors: Richard J. Gillette; James C. Easley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704927A ## CPC - A61M 1/74: {Suction control (underwater drainage A61M1/61)} - A61M 1/61: {Two- or three-bottle systems for underwater drainage, e.g. for chest cavity drainage} - A61M 1/631: {Emptying the suction container without interrupting suction} - A61M 1/72: {Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit} - A61M 1/743: {by changing the cross-section of the line, e.g. flow regulating valves (A61M1/7413 takes precedence)} - A61M 1/63: {with means for emptying the suction container, e.g. by interrupting suction} - A61M 2205/12: with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit - A61M 2210/0612: Eyes - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract The invention relates to a cassette 12 and vacuum aspiration collection system 10 for ophthalmic surgery. The cassette 12 comprises two parts 14, 16 under vacuum where the smaller part 14 discharges into the larger part 16 and the vacuum provided to both parts is provided by a single unit 30. The vacuum control system 10 has improved response to the user's demand. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical cassette having two interconnected chambers, a first chamber having a volume of at least about 25 cc connected through a controlled vacuum conduit means to a second chamber having a volume at least about four times that of the first chamber, the chambers also being interconnected by a controlled orifice such that when the chambers are simultaneously under vacuum from a single vacuum source, the level of vacuum in the second chamber is at least 40 mm Hg absolute greater than in the first chamber thereby assisting the passage of aspirant through the controlled orifice from the first chamber to the second larger chamber substantially without interruption of the vacuum level in the first chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein the controlled orifice is a hole whose opening is controlled by a valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surgical cassette of claim 2 wherein the valve is a flap valve controlled by a float. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein the controlled orifice comprises a valve controlled by a float such that when aspirant accumulates in the first chamber to a predetermined level, the float opens the valve to allow a portion of the accumulated aspirant to flow through the orifice from the first chamber to the second chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein the first chamber has a volume of about 50 cc and the second chamber has a volume of about 500 cc. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein when the chambers are under vacuum, the vacuum in the second chamber reaches a level of at least about 550 mm Hg absolute and the vacuum in the first chamber does not exceed a level of about 400 mm Hg absolute. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The surgical cassette of claim 1 wherein the first chamber is contained within the second chamber. ### Claim 8 An apparatus having a surgical cassette in combination with a vacuum source comprising: (a) a surgical cassette with a first chamber having a first volume, and a second chamber having a second volume, the volume of said second chamber being at least about four times that of the first chamber, the chambers being interconnected by a controlled orifice; (b) the vacuum source being connected to the second chamber to provide a vacuum of at least about 400 mm Hg gauge, the vacuum being maintained at a predetermined level; and (c) conduit means for applying the vacuum of the second chamber to the first chamber such that the vacuum of the first chamber quickly approaches the vacuum of the second chamber, the controlled orifice permitting passage of aspirant through the controlled orifice from the first chamber to the second chamber substantially without interruption of the vacuum level in the first chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the controlled orifice is controlled by a valve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the valve is a float valve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first chamber has a volume of about 50 cc and the second chamber has a volume of about 500 cc. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein when the chambers are under vacuum, the vacuum of the second chamber reaches a level of at least about 550 mm Hg absolute and the vacuum of the first chamber does not exceed a level of about 400 mm Hg absolute. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 including a vacuum regulator to regulate the vacuum in the first chamber to a level selected by an external control means, the level being at least about 40 mm Hg absolute less than the vacuum level of the second chamber; and an aspiration line connected from the first chamber to a surgical device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first chamber of the cassette has a volume of about 50 cc and the second chamber of the cassette has a volume of about 500 cc. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the controlled orifice is a hole whose opening and closing is controlled by a valve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the valve is controlled by a float. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein when the chambers are under vacuum, the vacuum level in the first chamber does not exceed about 400 mm Hg gauge and the level of the vacuum in the second chamber reaches a level of at least about 550 mm Hg gauge. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein thee first chamber of the cassette has a volume of about 50 cc and the second chamber of the cassette has a volume of about 500 cc and when the chambers are under vacuum, the vacuum level in the first chamber does not exceed about 500 mm Hg gauge and the level of the vacuum in the second chamber reaches a level of at least about 550 mm Hg gauge.