Patent Publication Number: US-2021178036-A1

Title: System level fluidics and controls

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/949,436, filed Dec. 17, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of Technology 
     The present invention relates generally to pressure and vacuum pumps for phacoemulsification surgery, and, more specifically, to a pressure and vacuum pump including at least two diaphragm pump heads for providing vacuum and pressure simultaneously. 
     Description of the Background 
     The optical elements of the eye include both a cornea (at the front of the eye) and a lens within the eye. The lens and cornea work together to focus light onto the retina at the back of the eye. The lens also changes in shape, adjusting the focus of the eye to vary between viewing near objects and far objects. The lens is found just behind the pupil and within a capsular bag, the capsular bag being a thin, relatively delicate structure which separates the eye into anterior and posterior chambers. 
     With age, clouding of the lens or cataracts is fairly common. Cataracts may form in the hard central nucleus of the lens, in the softer peripheral cortical portion of the lens, or at the back of the lens near the capsular bag. Cataracts can be treated by the replacement of the cloudy lens with an artificial lens. Phacoemulsification systems often use ultrasound energy to fragment the lens and aspirate the lens material from within the capsular bag. This may allow the capsular bag to be used for positioning of the artificial lens, and maintains the separation between the anterior portion of the eye and the vitreous humor in the posterior chamber of the eye. 
     During cataract surgery and other therapies of the eye, accurate control over the volume of fluid within the eye is highly beneficial. For example, while ultrasound energy breaks up the lens and allows it to be drawn into a treatment probe with an aspiration flow, a corresponding irrigation flow may be introduced into the eye so that the total volume of fluid in the eye does not change excessively. If the total volume of fluid in the eye is allowed to get too low at any time during the procedure, the eye may collapse and cause significant tissue damage. Similarly, excessive pressure within the eye may strain and injure tissues of the eye. 
     While a variety of specific fluid transport mechanisms may be used in phacoemulsification and other treatment systems for the eyes, aspiration flow systems can generally be classified in two categories: 1) volumetric based aspiration flow systems using positive displacement pumps (e.g. peristaltic); and 2) vacuum-based aspiration systems using a vacuum source, typically applied to the aspiration flow through an air-liquid interface within a reservoir (e.g. Venturi). Both systems may be incorporated into one treatment system and/or cassette. Cassette (“pack”) systems can be used to couple peristaltic pump drive rotors and/or vacuum systems of the surgical consoles to an eye treatment handpiece, with the flow network conduit of the cassette being disposable to avoid cross-contamination between different patients. 
     To mitigate such occurrences, staff operating a system typically begin each procedure with a fresh cassette and irrigation source prior to each case, and monitor the fluid visually throughout surgery. However, conventional configurations do not efficiently provide for easily exchangeable cassettes which can optimally perform certain intended functions. As such, improvements are needed in the art to address these issues. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention discloses system for distributing fluid in a phacoemulsification surgical system, comprising, a cassette for use with a surgical console having a set of channels suitable for fluid movement, a diaphragm pump, further comprising an inlet, an exhaust, at least two pump heads, and a connecting rod configured to oscillate causing the diaphragm to move up and down. Further, in response to oscillation of the connecting rod, air may be drawn into the inlet and forced out via the exhaust. The at least two pump heads may be diaphragm pump heads and may provide a vacuum fluidly available within the cassette and may provide a positive pressure fluidly available within the cassette or to a pressure reservoir. Further, each of the pump heads may operate simultaneously. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate disclosed embodiments and/or aspects and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention, the scope of which is determined by the claims. 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic illustrating an eye treatment system in which a cassette is coupled to an eye treatment probe with an eye treatment console under one embodiment; 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic illustrating a surgical eye treatment console under another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of an exemplary cassette system for an eye treatment system under one embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustrating a cassette under another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary dual function pump and drive mechanism in accordance with at least one disclosed embodiment; and 
         FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C  are system level diagrams of an exemplary dual function pump and drive mechanism in accordance with at least one disclosed embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, many other elements found in typical surgical, and particularly optical surgical, apparatuses, systems, and methods. Those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that other elements and/or steps are desirable and/or required in implementing the present invention. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements and steps is not provided herein. The disclosure herein is directed to all such variations and modifications to the disclosed elements and methods known to those skilled in the art. 
     The figures and descriptions provided herein may have been simplified to illustrate aspects that are relevant for a clear understanding of the herein described apparatuses, systems, and methods, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, other aspects that may be found in typical similar devices, systems, and methods. Those of ordinary skill may thus recognize that other elements and/or operations may be desirable and/or necessary to implement the devices, systems, and methods described herein. But because such elements and operations are known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, for the sake of brevity a discussion of such elements and operations may not be provided herein. However, the present disclosure is deemed to nevertheless include all such elements, variations, and modifications to the described aspects that would be known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Embodiments are provided throughout so that this disclosure is sufficiently thorough and fully conveys the scope of the disclosed embodiments to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. Nevertheless, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain specific disclosed details need not be employed, and that exemplary embodiments may be embodied in different forms. As such, the exemplary embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. As referenced above, in some exemplary embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies may not be described in detail. 
     A surgical cassette, also referred to as a medical pack, a fluidic cassette, or simply, a cassette, is used to facilitate irrigation and aspiration during surgical procedures, such as phacoemulsification surgery. The surgical cassette may be inserted and mounted to a surgical console and become part of an overall phacoemulsification surgery system. The surgical cassette may perform a myriad of functions, such as effluent material collection, tube pressure sensing, and control the flow of fluid through tubing encased within the cassette and between a surgical handpiece and a surgical console. 
     A surgical cassette typically comprises a front plate and a back plate, and may also include a gasket at least partially there between. Other configurations of the cassette are contemplated with the present invention. Molded within either/or the front plate and the back plate may be pathways for fluid flow and/or for tubing to be inserted thereby creating desired pathways for the tubing around the gasket. In an embodiment where there is a gasket, the gasket may comprise one or more valves and one or more sensors to promote fluid flow through the tubing along the desired pathways. In another embodiment, a surgical cassette may have no tubing and/or gasket. In an embodiment where there is no gasket, any valves known in the art may be used, e.g., a rotary valve. 
     Surgical cassettes may utilize different types of sensors to monitor pressure, vacuum, and/or flow of certain fluid lines during the surgical process. Other single use cassettes may use a low-cost pressure diaphragm on the cassette with a console mounted Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT) to measure the deflection of the pressure diaphragm with either a low rate spring pushing the LVDT against the surface of the pressure diaphragm or a magnet coupling the LVDT to the surface of the diaphragm, or a combination of both a spring and magnet. The spring force and/or friction force associated with movement of the LVDT sensing element reduces the accuracy and repeatability of this type system. Other systems may use laser triangulation displacement sensors to measure the deflection of a pressure diaphragm. In addition, other systems may use a ferromagnetic element in the cassette which couples to a magnetic element in the console, which may be coupled with a strain gauge. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1A , a system  10  for treating an eye E of a patient P generally includes an eye treatment probe handpiece  110  coupled with a console  115  by a cassette  250 . Handpiece  110  generally includes a handle for manually manipulating and supporting an insertable probe tip. The probe tip has a distal end which is insertable into the eye, with one or more lumens in the probe tip allowing irrigation fluid to flow from console  115  and/or cassette  250  into the eye. Aspiration fluid may also be withdrawn through a lumen of the probe tip, with console  115  and cassette  250  generally including a vacuum aspiration source, a positive displacement aspiration pump, or both to help withdraw and control a flow of surgical fluids into and out of eye E. As the surgical fluids may include biological materials that should not be transferred between patients, cassette  250  will often comprise a sterilizable (or alternatively, disposable) structure, with the surgical fluids being transmitted through flexible and/or rigid conduits  120  of cassette  250  that avoid direct contact in between those fluids and the components of console  115 . 
     When a distal end of the probe tip of handpiece  110  is inserted into an eye E, for example, for removal of a lens of a patient P with cataracts, an electrical conductor and/or pneumatic line (not shown) may supply energy from console  115  to an ultrasound transmitter of handpiece  110 , a cutter mechanism, or the like. Alternatively, handpiece  110  may be configured as an irrigation/aspiration (I/A) and/or vitrectomy handpiece. Also, the ultrasonic transmitter may be replaced by other means for emulsifying a lens, such as a high energy laser beam. The ultrasound energy from handpiece  110  helps to fragment the tissue of the lens, which can then be drawn into a port of the tip by aspiration flow. So as to balance the volume of material removed by the aspiration flow, an irrigation flow through handpiece  110  (or a separate probe structure) may also be provided, with both the aspiration and irrigation flows being controlled by console  115 . 
     To avoid cross-contamination between patients without incurring excessive expenditures for each procedure, cassette  250  and its flexible conduits  120  may be disposable. However, the flexible conduit or tubing may be disposable, with the cassette body and/or other structures of the cassette being sterilizable. Cassette  250  may be configured to interface with reusable components of console  115 , including, but not limited to, peristaltic pump rollers, a Venturi or other vacuum source, a controller  125 , and/or the like. 
     Console  115  may include controller  125 , which may include an embedded microcontroller and/or many of the components common to a personal computer, such as a processor, data bus, a memory, input and/or output devices (including a user interface  130  (e.g. touch screen, graphical user interface (GUI), etc.), and the like. Controller  125  will often include both hardware and software, with the software typically comprising machine readable code or programming instructions for implementing one, some, or all of the methods described herein. The code may be embodied by a tangible media such as a memory, a magnetic recording media, an optical recording media, or the like. Controller  125  may have (or be coupled with) a recording media reader, or the code may be transmitted to controller  125  by a network connection such as an internet, an intranet, an ethernet, a wireless network, or the like. Along with programming code, controller  125  may include stored data for implementing the methods described herein, and may generate and/or store data that records parameters corresponding to the treatment of one or more patients. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1B , a simplified surgical console is illustrated, where a fluid path may be demonstrated under an exemplary embodiment. In this example, an irrigation source  151  may be configured as a bottle or bag hanging from an IV pole hanger  150 . It is understood by those skilled in the art that, while an integrated IV pole is illustrated, other configurations, utilizing standalone/static IV poles, pressurized infusion sources, and/or other suitable configurations, are contemplated by the present disclosure. 
     An exemplary irrigation path for fluid may be realized via tubing cassette  154  having cassette tubing interface or receptable  153 , which receives fluid from irrigation source  151  via drip chamber  152 . Irrigation line  156 A and aspiration line  157  are coupled to handpiece  158 . Irrigation fluid may flow from drip chamber  152  through the irrigation tubing into tubing cassette  154 . Irrigation fluid may then flow from the tubing cassette through handpiece irrigation line  156 A which may be coupled to an irrigation port on handpiece  158 . Aspirated fluid may flow from the eye through the handpiece aspiration line  157  back to tubing cassette  154  and into a waste collection bag  155 . A touch screen display  159  may be provided to display system operation conditions and parameters, and may include a user interface (e.g., touch screen, keyboard, track ball, mouse, etc.—see controller  125  of  FIG. 1A ) for entering data and/or instructions to the system of  FIG. 1B . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary cassette system showing some of the components and interfaces that may be employed in a phaco system, such as ones illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-B . Handpiece  110  may be connected to (or coupled with) the input side of sensor  221 , typically by fluid pathways such as fluid pathway  220 . Sensor  221  may be a pressure, flow, or a vacuum sensor that measures pressure, flow or vacuum, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, sensor  221  is a pressure sensor. The output side of sensor  221  is connected to valve  202  and also connected to pump  205  within cassette  250  via fluid pathway  222 . Valve  202  may be any known valve in the art, e.g., flow selector valve, rotary valve, etc. Valve  202  may also be coupled with pump  205 . The exemplary embodiment may configure valve  202  to interface between handpiece  110 , vacuum tank  204 , pump  205 , which may be a peristaltic pump but may be another type of pump, and collection  206 . In this configuration, the system may operate valve  202  to connect handpiece  110  with vacuum tank  204  based on signals received from console  115  resulting from the surgeon&#39;s input to user interface  130 . In an embodiment, the handpiece  110  is always connected to pump  205  and valve  202  and may be toggled to connect or disconnect the handpiece  110  to the tank  204 . As discussed herein in greater detail, an aspiration level sensor  210  may be communicatively coupled to vacuum tank  204 . 
     The valve  202  illustrated in  FIG. 2  may provide a connection between vacuum tank  204  and fluid pathway  222 . The exemplary embodiment is not limited to one flow and may be realized using two valves each having at least two output ports, possibly connected together to provide the functionality described herein. For example, a pair of two valves may be configured in a daisy chain arrangement, where the output port of a first valve is directly connected to the input port of a second valve. Console  115  may operate both valves together to provide three different flow configurations. For example, using two valves, valve one and valve two, valve one may use output port one, which is the supply for valve two. Valve two may connect to one of two ports providing two separate paths. When valve one connects its input port to its second output port rather than the output port that directs flow to the second valve, a third path is provided. It is also envisioned that valve  202  may be or comprise one or more pinch valves. The one or more pinch valves may be located along fluid pathway  220 ,  222  and/or  223 , or any other fluid pathway as discussed herein. 
     Console  115  may also comprise vacuum pressure center  260  which may provide a vacuum through fluid pathway  224  to vacuum tank  204 . The vacuum provided through fluid pathway  224  may be regulated by control module  261  based on signals received from aspiration control module  263  which may result from the surgeon&#39;s input to user interface  130  and/or based on other signals received from vacuum pressure sensor  221 . Aspiration control module  263  may also control pump control  264  and allow for operation of pump  205  for the movement of fluid from both the handpiece  110  and the vacuum tank  204  to collector  206  via pathway  225 . 
     In the configuration shown, vacuum pressure center  260  includes a vacuum source  262 , such as a venturi pump and an optional control module  261  (and valve (not shown)), but other configurations are possible. In this arrangement, vacuum pressure center  260  may operate to remove air from the top of vacuum tank  204  and deliver the air to atmosphere (not shown). Removal of air from vacuum tank  204  in this manner may reduce the pressure within the tank, which may reduce the pressure in the attached fluid pathway  220 , to a level less than the pressure within eye  114 . A lower reservoir pressure connected through valve  202  may cause fluid to move from the eye, thereby providing aspiration. 
     Thus, while a single valve  202  (such as for example, a flow selector valve) is illustrated in  FIG. 2  associated with aspiration, it is to be understood that this illustration represents a valve arrangement, including one or more valves performing the functionality described herein, and is not limited to a single device or a single valve. In the exemplary vacuum pressure sensor  221 , a strain gauge or other suitable component may communicate or signal information to console  115  to provide an amount of vacuum sensed in the handpiece fluid pathway  220 . Console  115  may determine the actual amount of vacuum present based on the communicated information. 
     Sensor  221  monitors the pressure of fluid flowing into and out of the line and can be used to determine when fluid flow should be reversed, such as encountering a certain pressure level (e.g. in the presence of an occlusion), and based on values obtained from the sensor  221 , the system may control selector valve  202  and the pumps illustrated. It is to be understood that while components presented in  FIG. 2  and other drawings of the present application are not shown connected to other system components, such as console  115 , they are in fact connected for the purpose of monitoring and control of the components illustrated. 
     With respect to sensor  221 , emergency conditions such as a dramatic drop or rise in pressure may result in a type of fail-safe operation. The exemplary embodiment employs sensor  221  to monitor the flow conditions and provide signals representing flow conditions to the system such as via console  115  for the purpose of controlling components shown including but not limited to selector valve  202  and the pumps shown. The fluid pathways or flow segments of surgical cassette system  200  may include the fluid connections, for example flexible tubing, between each component represented with solid lines in  FIG. 2 . In an embodiment, the fluid connections may include molded fluid channels. 
     Handpiece  110  may be connected to (or coupled with) the output side of irrigation sensor  231 , typically by fluid pathways such as fluid pathway  230 . Sensor  231  may be a pressure, flow, or a vacuum sensor that measures pressure, flow or vacuum, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, sensor  231  is a pressure sensor. The input side of irrigation sensor  231  may be connected to valve  203  within cassette  250  via fluid pathway  232 . Valve  203  may be any known valve in the art, e.g., flow selector valve, rotary valve, etc. The exemplary embodiment may configure valve  203  to interface between handpiece  110 , irrigation tank  242 , pump  240 , which may be a peristaltic pump but may be another type of pump, and irrigation fluid source  112 . In this configuration, the system may operate valve  203  to connect handpiece  110  with gravity feed or pressurized irrigation based on signals received from console  115  resulting from the surgeon&#39;s input to user interface  130 . 
     The valve  203  illustrated in  FIG. 2  may provide a connection between irrigation tank  242 , irrigation fluid source  112 , and fluid pathway  232 . The exemplary embodiment is not limited to one valve and may be realized using two valves each having at least two output ports, possibly connected together to provide the functionality described herein. For example, a pair of two valves may be configured in a daisy chain arrangement, where the output port of a first valve is directly connected to the input port of a second valve. Console  115  may operate both valves together to provide three different flow configurations. For example, using two valves, valve one and valve two, valve one may use output port one, which is the supply for valve two. Valve two may connect to one of two ports providing two separate paths. When valve one connects its input port to its second output port rather than the output port that directs flow to the second valve, a third path is provided. It is also envisioned that valve  203  may be or comprise one or more pinch valves. The one or more pinch valves may be located along fluid pathway  230 ,  232 ,  233 ,  234  and/or  235 , or any other fluid pathway as discussed herein. 
     Console  115  may also comprise irrigation pressure center  270  which may provide a positive pressure through fluid pathway  237  to irrigation tank  242 . Irrigation pressure center may include pressure control  271  and pressure source  272 . The pressure provided through fluid pathway  237  may be regulated by control module  271  based on signals received from irrigation control module  273  which may result from the surgeon&#39;s input to user interface  130  and/or based on other signals received from vacuum pressure sensor  231 . Irrigation control module  273  may also control irrigation pump control  274  and allow for operation of pump  240  for the movement of fluid from irrigation fluid source  112  to collector irrigation tank  242  via pathway  236 . In addition, an irrigation level sensor  211  may be communicatively coupled with the irrigation tank  242 . 
     While a single valve  203  is illustrated in  FIG. 2  associated with irrigation, it is to be understood that this illustration represents a valve arrangement, including one or more valves performing the functionality described herein, and is not limited to a single device or a single valve. In the exemplary irrigation sensor  231 , a strain gauge or other suitable component may communicate or signal information to console  115  to provide an amount of pressure sensed in the handpiece fluid pathway  230 . In another embodiment, depending upon the sensor used, an amount of vacuum or flow may be sensed in the handpiece fluid pathway  230  and communicated to console  115 . Console  115  may determine the actual amount of pressure present based on the communicated information. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary surgical cassette showing some of the features which may be employed in a phaco system. Cassette  300  may include a series of detents, also referred to as notches or catch surfaces, along its outer edge for receiving at least a portion of a retention device which may be associated with a surgical console to facilitate the retaining of the cassette to the console and to at least partially assist in properly seating the cassette in the portion of the console meant to receive the cassette. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a cassette may include at least three sets of detents capable of accepting an attachment means provide by the console, such as, for example, upper detents  310 , center detents  311 , and lower detents  312 . As will be described in greater detail below, the detents may be operated on in tandem or in a piecemeal fashion by a retention device of the surgical console. 
     An exemplary cassette may also include at least one pressurized fluid inlet  321  which may be in fluid communication with at least one filter within filter cavity  320 . The pressurized fluid, for example, air, may be supplied to the cassette through fluid inlet  321  and introduced into pressurized irrigation tank  340  and may be in further communication with pressure sensor  360 . There may similarly be at least one vacuum inlet  323  which may be in fluid communication with at least one filter within filter cavity  323 . The vacuum applied through vacuum inlet  323  may be in communication with vacuum tank  342  and may be in further communication with aspiration channel  330  and aspiration channel  370 . Each of the pressurized irrigation tank  340  and vacuum tank  342  may include a level sensing device  344  and  346 , respectively. 
     Irrigation fluid may enter the cassette through inlet  382  and may enter irrigation channel  332 . Irrigation valve  350  controls the flow of irrigation fluid and may allow for gravity fed irrigation fluid to be supplied to irrigation outlet  380  from irrigation channel  332  or pressurized irrigation fluid from pressurized irrigation tank  340 . In either instance, and even when irrigation valve  350  is in the “off” position relative to both irrigation fluid sources, the amount of pressure associated with the delivery of the irrigation fluid may be measured by irrigation sensor  360 . Similarly, aspiration pressure may be measured by the aspiration sensor  362  in close proximity to aspiration inlet  384 . Aspiration fluid which may enter though aspiration inlet  384  may enter aspiration channel  330  under pressure produced by at least one peristaltic pump, for example, and may also enter vacuum tank  342  under the influence of at least a partial vacuum through valve  352 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , an exemplary pressure and vacuum pump  205  is shown. A dual function pump used in conjunction with the phacoemulsification surgical system provides the generation of vacuum and pressure simultaneously. The exemplary pump shown may provide a dual-headed brushless diaphragm pump. The pump may include an inlet  404  and an exhaust  402 . In an embodiment, inlet  404  may be coupled with an inlet valve and exhaust  402  may be coupled with an exhaust valve. Diaphragm  406  may move in an up and down motion ( 410 ). In an embodiment, diaphragm  406  may include at least two diaphragm pump heads (see for example  FIG. 5A , pressure pump head  503  and vacuum pump head  505 ) above a diaphragm pump housing  412 . In other embodiments, diaphragm  406  may include more than two diaphragm pump heads, e.g. three, four or more. In a preferred embodiment, diaphragm  406  pump includes two pump heads and the pump heads are double headed diaphragm pump heads. In another embodiment, one or more pump heads is a double headed diaphragm pump head. The pump housing may cause a connecting rod  408  to oscillate therefore causing the diaphragm to move up and down ( 410 ). On a downward stroke, the diaphragm would draw air into the inlet. On an upward stroke, air would be forced out via an outlet. The diaphragm may hermetically seal a compression chamber  414  of a drive mechanism  416 . 
     A benefit of the dual function pump is the pump transfers, evacuates, and compresses air without the need of oil. Further benefits of the brushless pump is that it has a longer life than a traditional brushed configuration. The pump may come with an electronic controller capability of speed control, reading tachometer voltage, soft start (remote on/off) and the generation of an error out signal. 
     A dual function pump as described herein reduces the number of required pumps from two to one due to its capability to produce high flow pressure and deep vacuum simultaneously. The diaphragm pump is considerably less noisy than other conventional pressure and vacuum pumps. This is achieved through the pump running slower and via lower power consumption. A dual function pump as described provides a significant performance margin for what is required of the system to enable the system to run at a lower duty cycle. 
     A single pump being utilized, as opposed to dedicated pressure and vacuum pumps, requires additional valving to shut on or off the vacuum/pressure when the respective function is needed or not needed. In one example, when the surgical system does not need pressure the pressure isolation valve may switch its output to atmosphere and when pressure is needed whether for vitrectomy, pressurized irrigation, or both, the valve will redirect pressure flow into a pressure reservoir. 
       FIG. 5A  is a diagram of an exemplary dual function pump system  500  having dual function pump/high flow pump  501 . Dual function pump  501  includes a pressure pump head  503  and a vacuum pump head  505 . In another embodiment, the dual function pump system  500  may also include a pump isolation valve  507  and a pressure tank  509  coupled with pressure pump head  503 . Pressure tank  509  may be coupled with a transducer  511 . Also, in an embodiment, dual function pump system  500  may also include a pump isolation valve  513  and vacuum tank  515  coupled with vacuum pump head  505 . Vacuum tank  515  may be coupled with a transducer  517 . The transducers  511  and  517  may be any transducer known in the art, e.g. a pressure transducer. 
     In an embodiment, dual function pump system  500  may be incorporated into a larger system  550  as shown in  FIGS. 5B and 5C . Additional components such as isolation valves, tanks, check valves, filters, vent valves, and moisture traps may also be included into dual function system  500  or as shown in the larger system  550 . The addition, removal and change in arrangement of components is also contemplated. 
     Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the herein described apparatuses, engines, devices, systems and methods are susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions. There is no intention to limit the scope of the invention to the specific constructions described herein. Rather, the herein described systems and methods are intended to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope and spirit of the disclosure, any appended claims and any equivalents thereto. 
     In the foregoing detailed description, it may be that various features are grouped together in individual embodiments for the purpose of brevity in the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that any subsequently claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited. 
     Further, the descriptions of the disclosure are provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples and designs described herein, but rather is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.