The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 29, 1997
Filed:
Oct. 28, 1994
James C Barnitz, Schwenksville, PA (US);
Joseph M Curley, Lansdale, PA (US);
David C Downey, Holland, PA (US);
Iolab Corporation, Claremont, CA (US);
Abstract
A vacuum system and a method of operating a vacuum system. The system comprises a vacuum line, a pump, a pump motor, a pressure adjusting assembly, a pressure sensor and a control device. The pump is connected to the vacuum line for drawing fluids therefrom, and the motor is connected to the pump to drive the pump. The pressure adjusting assembly is connected to the vacuum line for conducting fluid into that line at an adjustable rate. The pressure sensor is connected to the vacuum line to generate a pressure signal representing the pressure in the vacuum line. The control device receives the pressure signal and generates a system control signal that is used to adjust the pressure in the vacuum line. The specific manner in which the pressure in the vacuum line is adjusted depends on the value of that pressure, and in particular, whether that pressure is in a first range or a second range. If the pressure in the vacuum line is in the first range, the pressure in the vacuum line is adjusted by varying the amount of fluid conducted into that line through the pressure adjusting assembly. If the pressure in the vacuum line is within the second pressure range, the pressure in the fluid line is adjusted by varying the speed of the pump. The vacuum system is well suited for use during ophthalmic surgery to aspirate the surgical site.