US 12,403,237 B2
Automatic infusion valve
Sean Christopher Madden, Mission Viejo, CA (US); and Parthasarathy Parishram, Irvine, CA (US)
Assigned to Alcon Inc, Fribourg (CH)
Filed by Alcon Inc., Fribourg (CH)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/644,220.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/126,675, filed on Dec. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0193323 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. A61M 1/00 (2006.01); A61F 9/007 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 1/774 (2021.05) [A61F 9/00754 (2013.01); A61M 1/742 (2021.05); A61M 1/743 (2021.05); A61M 2210/0612 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A valve assembly configured for bi-directional flow of gas and infusion liquid therethrough during ophthalmic procedures, comprising:
a first portion configured to allow a bidirectional flow of gas therethrough, comprising:
a first conduit having a first port configured to couple to a source of gas; and
a first cavity having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end fluidly coupled to the first port via the first conduit, the second end having a cross-sectional area greater than a cross-sectional area of the first conduit;
a second portion configured to allow bi-directional flow of gas and infusion liquid therethrough, comprising:
a second conduit having a second port and a third port on an opposing side of the second conduit as the second port, wherein the second port, the second conduit, and the third port provide a first flow passageway through the second port, the second conduit, and the third port; and
a second cavity in fluid communication with the second port and the third port, the second cavity adjacent to the first cavity;
wherein the second port is configured to couple to a source of liquid and wherein the third port is configured to couple to an infusion line for an ophthalmic surgical site; and
a filter partitioning the first cavity from the second cavity, the filter comprising a hydrophobic membrane partially defining the second cavity along a planar face of the hydrophobic membrane;
wherein the first portion, the filter, and the second portion are configured to allow a flow of gas from the first port, through the first portion, through the filter, through the second portion, and out of the third port;
wherein the first portion, the filter, and the second portion are further configured to allow a flow of gas from the third port, through the second portion, through the filter, through the first portion, and out the first port; and
wherein the first portion, the filter, and the second portion are further configured to allow a flow of infusion liquid from the second port, through the second portion, and out the third port while further configured to provide vacuum from the first port to aspirate gas from the flow of infusion liquid in the second portion, such that the aspirated gas flows from the infusion liquid in the second portion, through the filter, through the first portion, and out the first port.