Patent ID: 7947009

Claim:
A surgical system for controlling a fluid, the surgical system comprising: an irrigation line for conducting a sterile irrigation fluid; a first fluid vessel for holding the sterile irrigation fluid; a surgical handpiece; said irrigation line having a first end connected to said first fluid vessel and a second end connected to said handpiece; a suction pump having an inlet and an outlet; an aspiration input line arranged between said inlet of said suction pump and said surgical handpiece so as to permit said suction pump to draw aspirant fluid through and away from said surgical handpiece; a pressure sensor for detecting changes in pressure of the fluid flowing in said aspiration input line during aspiration of the fluid; a collection vessel for collecting said aspirant fluid; an aspiration output line connecting said outlet of said suction pump to said collection vessel so as to permit said aspirant fluid from said outlet of said suction pump to be conducted into said collection vessel; a second fluid vessel for accommodating only sterile irrigation fluid therein; an aspiration ventilation line for connecting said second fluid vessel to said aspiration input line; a venting valve provided in said aspiration ventilation line and said venting valve being switchable in dependence upon said changes in pressure of the fluid flowing in said aspiration input line so as to allow only sterile irrigation fluid from said second fluid vessel to flow from said second fluid vessel into said aspiration input line during said aspiration thereby causing only sterile irrigation fluid to prevent an unwanted drop in said pressure during a surgical procedure; a fill line for conducting sterile irrigation fluid to fill said second fluid vessel therewith; said fill line having a first end connected to said irrigation line; and, a fill valve disposed in said fill line for blocking and clearing the flow of fluid from said irrigation line through said fill line to said second fluid vessel.