# US 6,719,011 B2 · Turbine fluid flow resistor

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- Number: US 6,719,011 B2
- Document ID: US6719011B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/188,132
- Filed: 2002-07-01
- Published: 2004-01-01
- Granted: 2004-04-13
- Earliest claimed: 2002-07-01
- Assignees: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
- Inventors: Laurence J. Cull; James T. Perkins; Matthew J. Fitzgerald
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6719011B2

## CPC

- F16K 47/12: the throttling channel being of helical form
- A61M 1/74: {Suction control (underwater drainage A61M1/61)}
- F15D 1/02: in pipes or conduits
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- 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)}
- F15D: FLUID DYNAMICS, i.e. METHODS OR MEANS FOR INFLUENCING THE FLOW OF GASES OR LIQUIDS

## Abstract

A fluid flow resistor 10 for use in ophthalmic surgery includes a housing 12 having an inlet 14 and an outlet 16. An elongated turbine 22 is caused to spin within the housing 12 by a flow of fluid which extracts energy from the fluid flow and effectively increases a resistance to fluid flow from the inlet 14 to the outlet 16.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fluid flow resistor cassette for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising:
an aspirant fluid collection cassette for receiving and collecting aspirant fluid from a surgical site in a reservoir;
a housing integrally formed with the cassette, such that the housing includes an inlet for receiving the aspirant fluid and an outlet in communication with the reservoir; and
an elongated turbine disposed within the housing, such that a flow of aspirant fluid from the inlet will cause the turbine to spin, thereby extracting energy from the fluid flow and effectively increasing a resistance to the fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The resistor of claim 1 further includes a bearing between the housing and the turbine for allowing the turbine to spin with a minimal frictional resistance.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The resistor of claim 1 wherein the turbine includes an elongated center shaft about which a thread is formed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The resistor of claim 1 wherein each turn of the thread is spaced along the center shaft a sufficient distance to allow aspirant particles to flow from the inlet to the outlet without becoming clogged.