Abstract:
Eliminating leaks of molded fluid channels by providing a front housing, rear housing, and a gasket, wherein the front housing has one or more molded fluid channels and one or more seal channels, and wherein at least a portion of the gasket is located between the front and rear housing; molding the gasket onto the rear housing to create a single unit, wherein the gasket has one or more seal lips configured and dimensioned to couple with the one or more seal channels; and assembling the front housing to the rear housing having the gasket, wherein the one or more seal lips couple with the seal channels. A surgical cassette manifold having a front and rear housing, and a gasket therebetween. The front housing having molded fluid channels that mate with the gasket and the gasket having multiple valves and a sensor/diaphragm accessible through the rear housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/776,988 filed on Feb. 26, 2013, which claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 61/612,307 filed on Mar. 17, 2012, the contents of each are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is generally related to methods, devices, and systems for controlling surgical fluid flows, particularly during treatment of an eye. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    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. This capsular bag is a thin, relatively delicate structure which separates the eye into anterior and posterior chambers. 
         [0004]    With age, clouding of the lens or cataracts are 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. 
         [0005]    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 humour in the posterior chamber of the eye. 
         [0006]    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. 
         [0007]    While a variety of specific fluid transport mechanisms have been 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; and 2) vacuum-based aspiration systems using a vacuum source, typically applied to the aspiration flow through an air-liquid interface. These two categories of aspiration flow systems each have unique characteristics that render one more suitable for some procedures than the other, and vice versa. 
         [0008]    Among positive displacement aspiration systems, peristaltic pumps (which use rotating rollers that press against a flexible tubing to induce flow) are commonly employed. Such pumps provide accurate control over the flow volume. The pressure of the flow, however, is less accurately controlled and the variations in vacuum may result in the feel or traction of the handpiece varying during a procedure. Peristaltic and other displacement pump systems may also be somewhat slow. 
         [0009]    Vacuum-based aspiration systems provide accurate control over the fluid pressure within the eye, particularly when combined with gravity-fed irrigation systems. While vacuum-based systems can result in excessive fluid flows in some circumstances, they provide advantages, for example, when removing a relatively large quantity of the viscous vitreous humour from the posterior chamber of the eye. However, Venturi pumps and other vacuum-based aspiration flow systems are subject to pressure surges during occlusion of the treatment probe, and such pressure surges may decrease the surgeon&#39;s control over the eye treatment procedure. 
         [0010]    Different tissues may be aspirated from the anterior chamber of the eye with the two different types of aspiration flow. For example, vacuum-induced aspiration flow may quickly aspirate tissues at a significant distance from a delicate structure of the eye (such as the capsular bag), while tissues that are closer to the capsular bag are aspirated more methodically using displacement-induced flows. 
         [0011]    Conventionally, fluid aspiration systems include a console and a fluidic cassette mounted on the console. The fluidic cassette is typically changed for each patient and cooperates with the console to provide fluid aspiration. Generally, a single type of cassette is used by a particular console, regardless of whether the procedure will require positive displacement aspiration, vacuum-based aspiration, or both. U.S. Pat. No. 8,070,712; U.S. Published Application 2008011431; and U.S. Published Application 20080114291 provide examples of cassettes currently used in the marketplace, the contents of each are herewith incorporated by reference in their entirety as if set forth herein. U.S. application Ser. No. 13/776,988 provides examples of cassettes, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if set forth herein. 
         [0012]    In light of the above, it would be advantageous to provide improved devices, systems, and methods for eye surgery. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present invention provides a method of eliminating leaking of molded fluid channels, including: providing a front housing, rear housing, and a gasket, wherein the front housing has one or more molded fluid channels and one or more seal channels, and wherein at least a portion of the gasket is located between the front housing and the rear housing; molding the gasket onto the rear housing to create a single unit, wherein the gasket has one or more seal lips configured and dimensioned to couple with the one or more seal channels; and assembling the front housing to the rear housing having the gasket, wherein the one or more seal lips couple with the seal channels. The seal channels may be located on an outside perimeter of the molded fluid channels and the seal lip may be tapered. In addition, the one or more seal lips may extend substantially perpendicular from a surface of the gasket. The molded fluid channels may also be substantially perpendicular with a surface of the front housing and/or the seal channels may be substantially perpendicular with a surface of the front housing. In addition, the seal lips may be configured and dimensioned as pre-alignment structures enabling proper assembly with corresponding seal channels. The method may further include one or more alignment pins and corresponding pin holes, wherein after molding the gasket onto the rear housing to create a single unit, coupling the alignment pins with the corresponding pin holes. The method may also include, after assembling the front housing to the rear housing having the gasket, ultrasonically welding the front housing to the rear housing. In addition, the method may include, after assembling the front housing to the rear housing having the gasket, press fitting the front housing to the rear housing. 
         [0014]    The present invention provides a surgical cassette manifold, having a front housing, a rear housing, and a gasket, wherein the front housing comprises one or more molded fluid channels and one or more seal channels, herein the gasket is coupled with the rear housing and at least a portion of the gasket is located between the front housing and the rear housing, and wherein the gasket has one or more seal lips configured and dimensioned to couple with the one or more seal channels. The surgical cassette manifold may further include a reservoir, wherein the reservoir has a first portion with a first circumferential edge located in the front housing, a second portion with a second circumferential edge located in the rear housing, and wherein at least a portion of the gasket is located between the first and second circumferential edge when the front housing and rear housing are assembled. In addition, upon assembly of the surgical cassette manifold, the gasket creates a mechanical seal between the first portion and the second portion of the reservoir. The seal channels may be located on an outside perimeter of the molded fluid channels and the seal lip is tapered. The one or more seal lips extend substantially perpendicular from a surface of the gasket. The molded fluid channels may be substantially perpendicular with a surface of the front housing and/or the seal channels may be substantially perpendicular with a surface of the front housing. The seal lips may be configured and dimensioned as pre-alignment structures enabling proper assembly with the seal channels. In addition, the rear housing may further include one or more alignment pins and the front housing further includes one or more corresponding pin holes, wherein the one or more alignment pins and one or more pin holes are configured and dimensioned to mate upon assembly of the front housing and rear housing. 
         [0015]    The present invention provides a surgical cassette manifold, having a front housing and a rear housing, wherein, the rear housing has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is configured and dimensioned to make contact with a surgical console, wherein the first side has one or more retainer clips, wherein the retainer clips have a first prong and a second prong, wherein the first and second prong extend substantially perpendicular from a plane of the rear housing and have an opening between the first and second prong configured and dimensioned to accept a flexible tubing and retain the flexible tubing once accepted through the opening. The first prong and the second prong may have a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the opening has a length between the distal ends that is smaller than the length between the proximal ends. The distal end of the first prong may have a first face and the distal end of the second prong has a second face, wherein the first and second face of the opening create an angle. The angle may be an acute angle and the angle may be between 30 degrees and 90 degrees. 
         [0016]    The present invention provides a surgical cassette manifold, including a front housing, wherein the front housing has a first side, a second side, a top and a bottom, wherein the first side has a drain port having a connection configured and dimension to couple with a drain bag, wherein the drain port is located approximately equidistance from the top and the bottom of the first side, and wherein the drain port is recessed such that the drain port is substantially flush with a surface of the first side of the front housing, wherein the second side of the front housing has one or more molded fluid channels which are fluidly connected to the drain port and wherein the front housing has one or more seal channels; a rear housing having a gasket coupled thereto, wherein the gasket comprises one or more seal lips configured and dimensioned to couple with the one or more seal channels to seal the one or more molded fluid channels; and wherein the one or more molded fluid channels comprises a vertical molded channel and the gasket has a seal lip that is configured and dimensioned to mate with the vertical seal channel to seal the vertical molded channel, wherein a bottom of the vertical molded channel couples with a lower tube connection that is coupled with a peristaltic pump and a top of the vertical molded channel couples with the drain port. The surgical cassette manifold may also have a handle, wherein the handle is coupled with the first side of the front housing and extends outwardly from the first side, wherein the handle is located substantially in the middle of the front housing between the first and second sides and above a horizontal midline between the top and bottom. In addition, the front housing further may have a first pump ramp and a second pump ramp, wherein the second pump rump is located near the bottom and a curvature profile of the second pump ramp extends outwardly beyond a surface of the first side but not beyond the handle. 
         [0017]    The present invention provides a surgical cassette manifold, including a front housing, a rear housing, a gasket, and a tubing segment, wherein the gasket is coupled with the rear housing, and wherein upon assembly of the surgical cassette manifold, at least a portion of the gasket is located between the front housing and the rear housing, wherein the rear housing has a first lower tube connection and a second lower tube connection, wherein the first lower tube connection is configured and dimensioned to couple with a first end of the tubing segment and the second lower tubing segment is configured and dimensioned to couple with a second end of the tubing segment thereby creating a first portion of a peristaltic pump, wherein the first lower tube connection and second lower tube connection have an in flow and out flow path on a same axis. The surgical cassette manifold may further include a reservoir and the peristaltic pump may be configured and dimensioned to drain fluid from the reservoir via the first and second lower tube connections and tubing segment. 
         [0018]    The present invention provides a surgical system, including a cassette having a front housing, a rear housing, and a reservoir, wherein the front housing has one or more molded fluid channels, and wherein the front housing, rear housing, and reservoir are made of a transparent material; a console having a cassette receptacle configured and dimensioned to receive the cassette, wherein the cassette receptacle has a light, wherein when in operation, the light is configured to illuminate the cassette enabling visualization of fluid flow through the molded fluid channels and/or into the reservoir. In addition, the system may further include a cassette detector, wherein the cassette detector is configured to determine the pumping functionality of the cassette. The pumping functionality may be selected from the group consisting of peristaltic, Venturi, or both. The cassette detector may be a reflective object sensor, a photo interrupter sensor, ultrasonic, a laser distance sensor, a bar code sensor, or a pattern recognition sensor. 
         [0019]    The present invention provides a surgical cassette manifold, including a reservoir, wherein the reservoir has a sump and a baffle, wherein a port for fluid outflow is located within the sump; a front housing, wherein the front housing has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side has one or more fluid channels and a first half of the reservoir; and a rear housing, wherein the rear housing has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side has a second half of the reservoir and a gasket molded to at least a portion of the first side, wherein the first half of the reservoir comprises a baffle located near a top of the reservoir; wherein the sump is configured and dimensioned to draw fluid to the port to reduce turbulence in the reservoir. The cassette may further include a fluid level window, wherein the baffle is configured and dimensioned to limit fluid contact with the fluid level window. The baffle may be angled toward the sump to direct fluid flow from the fluid channels to the port. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The present invention is best understood with reference to the following detailed description of the invention and the drawings in which: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an eye treatment system in which a cassette couples an eye treatment probe with an eye treatment console; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are exploded views of an exemplary surgical cassette manifold for use in the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3A  is perspective front view of the front housing of an exemplary surgical cassette manifold; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3B  is perspective back view of the front housing of an exemplary surgical cassette manifold; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4A  is a front perspective view of the rear housing of an exemplary surgical cassette manifold; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4B  is a back perspective view of the rear housing of an exemplary surgical cassette manifold; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4C  is front perspective view of the rear housing of an exemplary surgical cassette manifold; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4D  is a back perspective view of the rear housing of an exemplary surgical cassette manifold; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4E  is front perspective view of the rear housing of an exemplary surgical cassette manifold; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4F  is a back perspective view of the rear housing of an exemplary surgical cassette manifold; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4G  is a back perspective view of an assembled exemplary surgical cassette having rear housing shown in  FIGS. 4E and 4F ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5A  is back view of the rear housing of an exemplary surgical cassette manifold; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of the rear housing along N-N of an exemplary surgical cassette manifold; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5C  is a cross-sectional view of the rear housing of an exemplary surgical cassette manifold; 
           [0035]      FIG. 5D  is a larger view of a portion of cross-sectional view of the rear housing of the exemplary surgical cassette manifold shown in  FIG. 5C ; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an exemplary surgical cassette with attached tubing and drain bag. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0037]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a system  10  for treating an eye E of a patient P generally includes an eye treatment probe handpiece  12  coupled to a console  14  by a cassette  100  mounted on the console. Handpiece  12  may include 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 the console  14  and/or cassette  100  into the eye. Aspiration fluid may also be withdrawn through a lumen of the probe tip, with the console  14  and cassette  100  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  100  will often comprise a disposable (or alternatively, re-sterilizable) structure, with the surgical fluids being transmitted through flexible conduits  18  of the cassette that avoid direct contact in between those fluids and the components of console  14 . 
         [0039]    When a distal end of the probe tip of handpiece  12  is inserted into an eye E, for example, for removal of a lens of a patient with cataracts, an electrical conductor and/or pneumatic line (not shown) may supply energy from console  14  to an ultrasound transmitter of the handpiece, a cutter mechanism, or the like. Alternatively, the handpiece  12  may be configured as an irrigation/aspiration (I/A) 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  12  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  12  (or a separate probe structure) may also be provided, with both the aspiration and irrigations flows being controlled by console  14 . 
         [0040]    So as to avoid cross-contamination between patients without incurring excessive expenditures for each procedure, cassette  100  and its flexible conduit  18  may be disposable. Alternatively, the flexible conduit or tubing may be disposable, with the cassette body and/or other structures of the cassette being sterilizable. Regardless, the disposable components of the cassette are typically configured for use with a single patient, and may not be suitable for sterilization. The cassette will interface with reusable (and often quite expensive) components of console  14 , which may include one or more peristaltic pump rollers, a Venturi or other vacuum source, a controller  40 , and the like. 
         [0041]    Controller  40  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 touch screen user interface  42 ), and the like. Controller  40  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  40  may have (or be coupled to) a recording media reader, or the code may be transmitted to controller  40  by a network connection such as an internet, an intranet, an Ethernet, a wireless network, or the like. Along with programming code, controller  40  may include stored data for implementing the methods described herein, and may generate and/or store data that records perimeters with corresponding to the treatment of one or more patients. Many components of console  14  may be found in or modified from known commercial phacoemulsification systems from Abbott Medical Optics Inc. of Santa Ana, Calif.; Alcon Manufacturing, Ltd. of Ft. Worth, Tex.; Bausch and Lomb of Rochester, N.Y.; and other suppliers. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrates a surgical cassette manifold of the present invention, including components of surgical cassette manifold  101 . Cassette or surgical cassette  100  is an assembly surgical cassette manifold  101  having fluid pathways and connected tubing configured to manage one or more of the following: fluid inflow, fluid outflow, fluid vacuum level, and fluid pressure in a patient&#39;s eye E when coupled with console  14 . As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , surgical cassette manifold  100  has a front housing  102 , a rear housing  104 , a first tubing  106 , and a second tubing  108 . Rear housing  104  may also have gasket  110  co-molded or over-molded with rear housing  104 . 
         [0043]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show front housing  102  in more detail.  FIG. 3A  shows a front perspective view of front housing  102 , which may have a handle  112  (e.g. finger grip handle), drain port  114 , and attachment clip  116 .  FIG. 3B  shows a back perspective view of front housing  102 , which may have molded fluid channels  118 , a first portion  120   a  of reservoir  120 , a first pump ramp or profile  122  configured and dimensioned for mating with a peristaltic pump, and a second pump ramp or profile  124  configured and dimensioned for mating with a peristaltic pump. 
         [0044]    A drain bag  16  (see  FIG. 6 ) may be attached to the front of front housing  102  via the drain port  114  and attachment clip  116  such that when surgical cassette  100  is coupled with console  14  and fluid is aspirated from an eye E of a patient P, the fluid is capable of being collected in the drainage bag  16  via drain port  114 . The drain bag  16  may be supported on surgical cassette manifold  101  by attachment clip  116  and/or drain port  114 . 
         [0045]    Drain port  114  on front housing  102  of surgical cassette manifold  101  may be recessed allowing for a lower or low profile handle  112 . Having a low or lower profile drain port  114  allows a drain bag (not shown) to sit flush again front housing  102 . In an embodiment, placing drain port  114  substantially in the middle of the surgical cassette manifold from top to bottom moves the location of the center of mass of surgical cassette manifold  101  making the surgical cassette manifold more ergonomic. Moreover, locating drain port  114  closer to the upper/top edge of front housing  102  allows for a more compact assembly of the surgical cassette manifold and allows for better access to components/handles of console  14 . See  FIG. 6 . 
         [0046]    In an embodiment, a fluid channel  118  runs in a vertical direction from lower tube connection  136  (that is fluidly connected to the second tubing segment  108  that makes up the second peristaltic pump) to drain port  114  out to the drain bag  16 . This molded fluid channel  118  eliminates the need for tubing. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 3B , front housing  102  also may have seal channels  125 , which are configured and dimensioned to mate with a seal lip  126  (shown in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 C, and  4 E) that extends outwardly or perpendicularly from the surface of gasket  110  and is a part of gasket  110  to create a seal or lid over molded fluid channels  118 . The seal lip may have any dimension suitable for mating with seal channel  125 . In an embodiment, seal lip  126  may be tapered, starting thicker at its proximal end and becoming thinner towards its distal end. In another embodiment, seal lip  126  may be slightly larger than seal channel  125  to create a snug fit. In a further embodiment, co-molding or over-molding gasket  110  onto rear housing  104  eliminates the potential leak path in the direction of rear housing  104 . Seal lip  126  provides positioning alignment on front housing  102  and rear housing  104 . 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIGS. 4A-4F , various exemplary embodiments of rear housing  104  are shown.  FIG. 4A  is a front perspective view of rear housing  104  and  FIG. 4B  is a back perspective view of rear housing  104 . As shown in  FIG. 4A  rear housing  104  has a gasket  110  co-molded or over-molded to it. Gasket  110  has seal lip  126  which extends away or protrudes in a substantially perpendicular direction from a plane of gasket  104  and rear housing  104 . Gasket  110  may include a pressure/vacuum sensor diaphragm  128 , vent valve control dome  130 , and/or irrigation valve control dome  132 . Vacuum/pressure sensor diaphragm  128  may be a sealed flexible annular membrane with a central magnetic coupling disk which deforms: (1) proportionally outwards under fluid pressure conditions compressing a magnetically-coupled force displacement transducer of console  14  allowing for non-fluid contact measurement of fluid pressure level inside the aspiration fluid pathways of surgical cassette manifold  101 ; and (2) proportionally inwards under fluid vacuum conditions extending the magnetically-coupled force displacement transducer of console  14  allowing for non-fluid contact measurement of fluid vacuum level inside the aspiration fluid pathways of surgical cassette manifold  101 . 
         [0049]    In an embodiment, gasket  110  may be molded, co-mold, or two-shot molded onto or with rear housing  104 . Molding gasket  110  onto rear housing  104  in such a manner reduces or eliminates a leak path which is possible with molded fluid channels when using two different materials. In an embodiment, a method of eliminating leaking of molded fluid channels by combining two different materials for creating a proper seal is envisioned resulting in an easier manufacturing method by creating a self-aligning gasket  110 . In an embodiment, when assembling rear housing  104  to front housing  102  mating of seal lip  126  and seal channel  125  can be achieved using a plurality of alignment pins  127  which mate with their counterpart pin holes  129 . Using alignment pins  127  and pin holes  129  as opposed to the flexible seal lip  126  and seal channel  125  allows for an easier and more efficient assembly process. Thus, molding gasket  110  onto or with rear housing  104  results in pre-alignment/pre-keyed/pre-orientation of seal lip  126  for properly sealing molded fluid channels  118  on front housing  102 , thus reducing or even eliminating leaking and increasing ease of manufacture. 
         [0050]    Rear housing  104  may also include a second portion  120   b  of reservoir  120 , upper tube connections  134 , lower tube connection  136 , and one or more tubing retainer clips  138 . In an embodiment, upper tube connections  134  have a slight taper from bottom toward the top so that the tubing stays on the upper tube connections  134 . See  FIG. 5D . Lower tube connection  136  may have a tapered head (as shown in  FIG. 5A ) to secure second tubing  108  to lower tube connections  136 . 
         [0051]    In an embodiment, second tubing  108  may have a first end and a second end that couple with lower tube connections  136 . Once surgical cassette manifold  101  is assembled, second tubing  108  and ramp  124  are configured to couple with a peristaltic rollers located on console  14  (not shown) to create a peristaltic pump. In an embodiment, lower tube connections  136  are on the same axis, i.e. there is axial alignment of the inflow and outflow of the tubing  108 , and maintain a specific distance apart resulting in a more accurate peristaltic pump due to the controlled length of second tubing  106 , which provides a consistent flow rate and a consistent interface with ramp  124  and peristaltic rollers. Moreover, such aligned and consistent interfaces results in less noise/sound generated by the peristaltic pump during operation. 
         [0052]    In an embodiment, reservoir  120  may have a sump  121 . Sump  121  is a portion of reservoir  120  that extends below a bottom  120   c  of reservoir  120  that promotes fluid to flow from the reservoir  120  to sump  121  and out a lower tube connection  136  via the second tubing  108 . Sump  121  (1) reduces turbulence of the tank by pulling bubbles away from the level detector housed in the console  14  that couples with window  131  for more accurate detection of the fluid in reservoir  120 ; and (2) ensures drain inlet port  133   a  fluidly connected to a lower tube connection  136  is always below fluid, therefore fluid is consistently pumped out and not air, which may cause the drain bag  16  to balloon. In an embodiment, window  131  may be a prism. 
         [0053]    In another embodiment, the fluid level detector and window  131  are located on one side of reservoir  120  and sump  121  and baffle  135  is on the other side of reservoir  120 . This configuration ensures limited or no interaction between the fluid entering and exiting the reservoir and the fluid level detector and window  131  to allow for a more precise reading of the level of fluid in reservoir  120 . Moreover, the combination of baffle  135  and sump  121  provides a guide for the fluid entering reservoir  120  from molded fluid channels  118  and exiting through drain pump inlet port  133   a  to reduce turbulence in reservoir  120 . Fluid may exit reservoir  120  via drain pump inlet port  133   a  via lower tube connection  136 , which may be coupled with a first end of second tubing  108  and a second end of second tubing  108  may be coupled to a second lower tube connection  136  which is coupled to drain pump outlet  133   b . Drain pump outlet  133   b  is coupled with a drain bag  16  to allow fluid to be removed from reservoir  120  via the second peristaltic pump. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIGS. 4C and 4D , rear housing  104  is shown in an alternative embodiment with respect to how first tubing  106  couples with rear housing  104 . Pump tube inlet  137   a  and pump tube outlet  137   b  couple with barbs  136 , which in turn are configured and dimensioned to couple with first tubing  106 . See  FIG. 2   b . During assembly rear housing  104  is mated with front housing  102  and first tubing  106  is configured to conform with first pump ramp or profile  122 , which is configured and dimensioned for mating with a peristaltic pump located within console  14  (not shown). 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIGS. 4E and 4F , rear housing  104  is shown in an alternative embodiment with respect to how first tubing  106  couples with rear housing  104 . A first end and a second end of first tubing  106  are fed through a gap  139  of tubing catch  140  and pump tube inlet  137   a  and pump tube outlet  137   b  couple with the first end and the second end of first tubing  106  via upper tube connections  134  by placing the first end and the second end of the first tubing  106  over the upper tube connection  134 , which connect to molded fluid channels  118 . Other mechanisms of connecting the first and second ends of first tubing  106  to upper tube connection  134  known in the art are also contemplated.  FIG. 4G  shows assembled cassette  100  having the rear housing  104  embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4E and 4F  with first tubing  106  fed through gaps  139  of tubing catch  140  of rear housing  104 . 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , tubing retainer clips  138  (shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B ) may have a first prong  138   a  and a second prong  138   b  creating an opening  140 . Tubing retainer clips  138  protrude substantially perpendicularly from a plane of the back side of rear housing  104 . In an embodiment, tubing retainer clips  138  may slightly angle towards each other as shown in  FIG. 5A . Tubing retainer clips  138  are configured and dimensioned to assist with easy assembly of surgical cassette manifold  101  and maintaining first tubing  106  in a specific orientation after assembly. Tubing retainer clips  138  may be over center clips. 
         [0057]    During assembly of surgical cassette manifold  101 , a first end and a second end of first tubing  106  are coupled with upper tube connections  134  (see  FIG. 4B ) via pump tube inlet  137   a  and pump tube outlet  137   b  by placing the first end and the second end of the first tubing  106  over the upper tube connection  134 , which may connect to molded fluid channels  118 . Once the first and second end of the first tubing  106  is coupled with the upper tube connections  134 , first tubing  106  may be pushed through opening  140 . First tubing  140  may pushed through opening  140  between the first prong  138   a  and the second prong  138   b  by an operators hand, using tool or through an automation step with equipment. The nature of the tubing allows for it to deform under pressure and fit between the first prong  138   a  and second prong  138   b . In an embodiment, first tubing  106  may be stretched to minimize the diameter of the tubing to enable insertion between first prong  138   a  and second prong  138   b . Once first tubing  106  is through first prong  138   a  and second prong  138   b , the shape and size of first prong  138   a , second prong  138   b , and opening  140  prevent first tubing  106  from backing back out through opening  140  after assembly. In an embodiment, each prong has an angle to help with easing first tubing  106  into opening  140  and the angle between the first prong  138   a  and the second prong  138   b  is a as shown in  FIG. 5B . In an embodiment, the angle between first prong  138   a  and second prong  138   b  may be approximately 60 degrees. In another embodiment, the larger the angle the easier to insert tubing  106  into opening  140 , however a 0 degree angle would not help much. In an embodiment, the angle between first prong  138   a  and second prong  138   b  may be between 30 degrees and 90 degrees. 
         [0058]    As discussed above and shown in  FIGS. 3B and 4A , reservoir  120  may be comprised of two pieces with an elastomeric seal in between the two pieces. For example, reservoir  120  may include first portion  120   a  and second portion  120   b . In prior art tanks that are composed of multiple pieces, adhesives are used resulting in additional material for assembly. In contrast, in an embodiment of the present invention, when front housing  102  and rear housing  104  are ultrasonically welded together with gasket  110  co-molded to the rear housing, gasket  110  creates a seal around and between the edges of the first portion  120   a  and the second portion  120   b . In the present embodiment, the joining of the first portion  120   a  and the second portion  120   b  with the co-molded or over-molded gasket  110  results in a mechanical seal. In another embodiment, the front housing  102  and rear housing  104  may be press fit together with or without the use of adhesives to replacing ultrasonic welding. These techniques may have a cost savings advantage of avoiding extra material from a manufacturing and cost of goods perspective. In another embodiment, other mechanisms of assembly that may be used to combine front housing  102  and rear housing  104  include, but are not limited to, laser welding, a rotating latch, a snap clip latch, or fasteners, such as screws, rivets, and/or pins. 
         [0059]    According to an embodiment, having a first portion  102   a  and a second portion  102   b  with a gasket  110  decreases the dimensional tolerance requirements for the first and second portions where the gasket portion comes in contact with the reservoir  120  due to the compressive nature of the seal. In an embodiment, gasket  110  has a seal lip  126  that mates with a seal channel  125  on second portion  102   b  of the reservoir tank  120  of the rear housing  104 , thereby creating a seal when the front housing  102  and rear housing  104  are mated. In an embodiment, there is no need to actually displace or squeeze the gasket between the two covers to create a non-leaking seal, although some pressure may be accommodated or desired, or may result from tolerances during manufacturing. See  FIG. 3B . 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5C , in an embodiment, rear housing  104  may have one or more venting/securing holes  142 . The functionality of venting/securing holes  142  is two-fold. First, venting/securing holes  142  assist with venting or gas release during the co-molding or over-molding process when gasket  110  is coupled with rear housing  104 . Holes  142  assist with the flow of material to minimize or eliminate the back pressure. Second, venting/securing holes  142  may be reversed tapered to help secure or increase adherence of gasket  110  to rear housing  104 . For example, should the chemical reaction binding gasket  110  to rear housing  104  not occur or not completely occur, a mechanical adhesion can be achieved with the reversed taper of venting/securing holes  142 .  FIG. 5C  shows a cross-section along J-J showing holes  142 . Holes  142  may have any degree of taper suitable for securing gasket  110  to rear housing  104  and/or making molding/manufacturing easier. 
         [0061]    In an embodiment, surgical cassette manifold  101  may be made substantially of a plastic material except for gasket  110 . The plastic material may be acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene, viton, or other rigid plastic or plastic material. In addition, the material may be such that it is transparent enabling a user to visualize various features of surgical cassette manifold  101 . For example, all components may be transparent, including reservoir  120 . In an embodiment, a lights emitted from console  14  may be shone through surgical cassette manifold  101  to provide a backlight and allow a user to visualize the fluid flow as it flows from handpiece  12  through molded fluid channels  118  into reservoir  120  out to the drain bag  16 . In embodiment, the backlight may also be used as a surgical cassette manifold type detector. 
         [0062]    All references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety including any references cited therein. 
         [0063]    Although the present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, changes and modifications can be carried out without departing from the scope of the invention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the claims.