| abstract |
A surgical cassette (10) comprising : a housing (12,12'); a fluid chamber formed within the housing (12,12'); identifying means associated with the housing (12,12'); and a drain bag (14) in fluid communication with the fluid chamber through a peristaltic pump tube (16). The identifying means may comprise a plurality of identifying tabs (36,36') which preferably are arranged in a pattern, a bar code (42) or a magnetic strip. A surgical cassette identification system (34) is provided which comprises : a surgical instrument (4) housing a cassette receiving portion (48); a surgical cassette (10) having a housing (12,12') that is removably installable in the cassette receiving portion (48); identifying means associated with the housing (12,12'); and detection means located in the surgical instrument (11) which detects the presence or absence of the cassette (10) and where a cassette (10) is installed identifies the cassette (10). <IMAGE> |