# US 9,750,637 B2 · Aspiration device with vacuum limiter

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- Number: US 9,750,637 B2
- Document ID: US9750637B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/696,913
- Filed: 2015-04-27
- Published: 2016-10-27
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2015-04-27
- Assignees: Novartis AG
- Applicants: Novartis AG
- Inventors: Philipp Schaller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750637B2

## CPC

- A61F 9/00736: {Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments (A61F9/008 takes precedence)}
- A61M 1/7411: {by changing the size of a vent (in combination with changing the cross-section of the line A61M1/7413)}
- A61M 1/7415: {by deformation of the fluid passage}
- A61M 2210/0612: Eyes
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- 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

Systems, devices, and methods include a hand-held instrument with an aspiration conduit extending therethrough and with an aspiration needle arranged to aspirate fluid from a surgical site. A vacuum limiter is associated with the aspiration conduit. The vacuum limiter includes an opening formed in a wall of the aspiration conduit, an actuator disposed in the opening, and a biasing element biasing the actuator to a closed position that prevents passage of fluid through the opening. The biasing element is arranged to permit the actuator to displace from the closed position to a relief position so that fluid passes through the opening when a threshold vacuum is reached within the lumen. The actuator can further displace to an override position that prevents passage of fluid through the opening.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ophthalmic surgical system, comprising:
a handle comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end; and
an aspiration conduit defining an aspiration passageway;
an aspiration needle extending from the distal end of the handle, the aspiration needle comprising:
a lumen in fluid communication with the aspiration passageway; and
an opening formed at a distal end of the needle, the opening arranged to aspirate fluid from a surgical site; and
a vacuum limiter associated with the aspiration conduit, the vacuum limiter comprising:
an opening formed in a wall of the aspiration conduit and in fluid communication with the aspiration passageway;
an actuator disposed in the opening; and
a biasing element biasing the actuator to a closed position that prevents passage of fluid through the opening, the biasing element being structurally arranged to permit the actuator to displace from a closed position to a relief position so that fluid passes through the opening when a vacuum threshold is reached within the aspiration passageway.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is moveable to an override position that substantially prevents passage of fluid through the opening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is hour-glass shaped with:
a narrow waist;
a first end having a width greater than a width of the opening; and
a second end having a width greater than a width of the opening.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the first end is disposed within the aspiration passageway and wherein the second end is disposed outside the aspiration passageway.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the first end includes a sealing surface engageable with an inner surface of the aspiration conduit, and wherein the second end includes a sealing surface engageable with an outer surface of the aspiration conduit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is formed of silicone.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the biasing element comprises a plurality of support legs that couple the actuator and the aspiration conduit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the biasing element comprises a spring element.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the aspiration conduit comprises a peak, and wherein the opening is formed in the aspiration conduit at the peak.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises a handle opening, and wherein the actuator is accessible at the handle opening.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
an aspiration line extending from the handle and in fluid communication with the aspiration passageway; and
a vacuum source in fluid communication with the aspiration line and configured to generate a vacuum in the aspiration line, the aspiration passageway, and the lumen of the aspiration needle.

### Claim 12

An ophthalmic surgical system, comprising:
a handle sized and shaped for grasping by a user, the handle comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end; and
an aspiration conduit defining an aspiration passageway, the aspiration conduit extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
an aspiration needle extending from the distal end of the handle, the aspiration needle comprising:
a lumen; and
an opening in fluid communication with the lumen and arranged to aspirate fluid from a surgical site, the lumen being in fluid communication with the aspiration passageway;
a vacuum limiter associated with the aspiration conduit, the vacuum limiter comprising:
an opening formed in a wall of the aspiration conduit so that the aspiration passageway is in communication with an exterior of the aspiration conduit; and
an actuator disposed in the opening and moveable between a closed position that prevents passage of fluid through the opening in lower vacuum scenarios, a relief position that permits the flow of fluid through the opening in higher vacuum scenarios, and an override position that prevents passage of fluid through the opening during the higher vacuum scenarios.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The ophthalmic surgical system of claim 12, further comprising a biasing element that biases the actuator in the closed position, the biasing element being structurally arranged to permit the actuator to displace to the relief position when a threshold vacuum is reached within the aspiration passageway.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the actuator is hour-glass shaped with:
a narrow waist;
a first end having a width greater than a width of the opening; and
a second end having a width greater than a width of the opening.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the first end is disposed within the aspiration passageway and wherein the second end is disposed outside the aspiration passageway.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the first end includes a sealing surface engageable with an inner surface of the aspiration conduit, and wherein the second end includes a sealing surface engageable with an outer surface of the aspiration conduit.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the biasing element comprises a plurality of support legs that couples the aspiration conduit and the actuator.

### Claim 18

A method of using an ophthalmic surgical system, comprising:
grasping a handle of a surgical device, the handle comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end; and
an aspiration conduit defining an aspiration passageway;
introducing an aspiration needle of the surgical device to a surgical site, the aspiration needle extending from the distal end of the handle, the needle comprising a lumen and an opening providing fluid communication between the surgical site and the lumen, and the lumen being in fluid communication with the aspiration passageway; and
aspirating fluid through the aspiration passageway at an initial vacuum level with a vacuum limiter in a closed position, the vacuum limiter being arranged to automatically move from the closed position to a relief position that permits the flow of fluid through an opening in the aspiration conduit when the vacuum increases beyond a vacuum threshold that is greater than the initial vacuum level.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further comprising selectively depressing the actuator of the vacuum limiter from the relief position that permits the flow of fluid through an opening in the aspiration conduit to an override position that prevents passage of fluid through the opening during said higher vacuum scenario.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the vacuum limiter comprises an actuator having wide first end, a second end, and a narrow waist between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end and the second end are larger than the opening in the aspiration conduit.