Irrigation handpiece with built in pulsing pump

• US 20040210186A1
• Filed: 05/04/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Gately, Nicholas V., Sertic, James L., Grulke, David H., Arnett, Jeffery D., Hilsbos, Ruth A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,144,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/35
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/75 Intermittent or pulsating suction A61M1/63, A61M1/772 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/772 operating alternately
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/774 Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/82 Membrane pumps, e.g. bulbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0208 before use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/022 Volume; Flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/025 supplied directly from the pressurised water source, e.g. with medicament supply combined with bidets A61M3/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0258 by means of electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/902 Suction wands

Abstract

A pulsed irrigation handpiece comprises a pulsed irrigation liquid outlet for applying liquid pulses to a surgical site, a pump unit reciprocatingly driveable for pumping pulses of irrigation liquid through the outlet, an electric powered drive unit for reciprocatingly driving the pump unit, and a housing containing the pump and drive units. A irrigation inlet hose leads from the pump unit out of the handpiece housing and is connectable to a remote irrigation liquid source. An irrigation inlet hose adjacent the remote end thereof and electric conductors extending along the irrigation inlet hose transfer electric power from the supply unit to the drive unit in the handpiece. Removable tips are alternatively removably attachable to the irrigation liquid outlet adjacent the front end of the handpiece.

Claims

1. A disposable, compact, self-contained, pulsed irrigation, surgical handpiece, comprising:

a pulsed irrigation liquid output for applying irrigation liquid pulses to a surgical site;

a collapsible chamber pump expandable and contractible for pumping pulses of irrigation liquid through said output;

an irrigation liquid supply for supplying irrigation liquid to said pump;

an electrically powered drive responsive to electrical energization for expanding and contracting said collapsible chamber pump;

a compact, self-contained electric power supply connected in circuit to said drive for electrically energizing said drive;

a hand actuated switch electrically interposed in circuit between said electrical power supply and said drive and actuable for energizing said drive from said electric power supply;

a hand-held handpiece housing relatively locating said pump, electrically powered drive, and switch in operative relation with each other.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said electrical power supply comprises a compact disposable battery assembly connected electrical conductors in circuit with said drive and switch.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said battery assembly includes at least one electrical battery, said irrigation liquid supply comprising an elongate flexible irrigation liquid tube connectable to a remote irrigation liquid source.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the drive includes an electric motor drivingly connected to a reciprocating linkage to said pump, said handpiece housing comprising two fixed together, concavely opposed, housing parts containing said pump and drive and at least a portion of said irrigation liquid supply, said pump and irrigation liquid supply portion and reciprocating linkage and handpiece housing comprising molded plastic elements for production at low cost.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which the power supply comprises a casing for containing electrical batteries, said handpiece housing comprising a pair of concavely opposed parts fixed together so that structure therein is not readily visable.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said handpiece housing includes a hollow barrel and handle, a suction tube having an outboard end portion connectable to a suction source outside said handpiece and an inboard portion in said handle, said irrigation liquid supply including an irrigation liquid tube, said drive and tubes extending side-by-side lengthwise snugly in said handle toward said barrel, said handle having a free end wall remote from said barrel through which said suction and irrigation liquid tubes extend into said handpiece housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 including an adapter comprising a stub tube and a fixed transversely thereon and fixedly engaging said free end wall of said handle, said stub tube having interior and exterior ends respectively extending into and out of said housing one of said tubes being clamped to said handle end wall by said plate and the other having intermediate portions fixed to and communicating through said stub tube.

36. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said housing includes a barrel extending forward from said handle, a motor transmission unit operatively interposed between said motor and said pump for reciprocating said pump driven member in response to motor rotation, said transmission unit extending from said motor toward the join of said handle and barrel, said tubes extending along said handle between said trigger and transmission unit.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 in which said motor has a rotating pinion gear rotatably engagable with and driving a face gear, said face gear being operatively drivingly coupled to an eccentric member for rotation of said eccentric member by said motor, said driven member opposing said eccentric member, and a yoke located between a portion of said driven member and said eccentric member for converting rotation of said eccentric member to reciprocation of said portion of said driven member, said gears eccentric member and yoke defining said transmitting unit.

4. (canceled)

9-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A pulsed irrigation handpiece, comprising:

pulsed irrigation liquid outlet for applying liquid pulses to a surgical site;

a pump having a reciprocatingly driveable bellows for pumping pulses of irrigation liquid through said outlet;

a powered drive operatively engageable with said pump for reciprocatingly driving same;

hand-held handpiece housing for relatively locating said pump and drive in operative relation with one another.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 in which said bellows is axially collapsible has a coaxial headed stub protruding from a drive end wall thereof, said drive comprising a reciprocating drive fork oriented transverse to the bellows axis and having a U-shaped slot receiving said stub, with said drive fork trapped axially between said bellows drive end wall and a head on said stub, and a snap fit detent cooperating between said U-shaped slot and said stub for preventing nonintended disengagement therebetween.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 in which said pump has a hollow body with an end toward said bellows, said end having an axially extending annular flange, said bellows being cup shaped with an end opening toward said body and defined by a further axially extending annular flange, one said annular flange substantially coaxially telescoping over the other said annular flange, a resilient circular cross section O-ring radially disposed sealingly between said annular flanges.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 in which said pump has a hollow body, said body and bellows having opposed axial ends telescoped one over the other and open to each other, said bellows having a radially outward opening groove axially adjacent said body, said handpiece housing having an inner peripheral surface, a plate-like rib fixed with respect to said inner peripheral surface and projecting generally radially inward into said groove and thereby axially locating said bellows in said housing.

20. (canceled)

23-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A pulsed irrigation surgical handpiece, comprising:

a pump for supplying pulsed irrigation liquid to a surgical site;

a drive actable for driving said pump;

a hand-held handpiece housing for housing said pump and drive;

an elongate, elastically bendable trigger member pivoted adjacent its upper end to said housing and bendable intermediate its ends on a backing fulcrum fixed on said housing means upon a pull on a lower portion of said trigger member toward the handpiece housing means by the hand of a user;

a control in said housing actuable by said trigger member for actuating said drive.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 including a leg fixed to a lower end portion of said trigger member and extending at an angle therefrom into said housing, said control comprising an electrical conductive wiper on said leg slidably engageable with electrically conductive contacts fixed in said housing.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 in which said electrically conductive contacts are located to be engaged in sequence upon a gradual pull in of said trigger member, an electrical power supply having different voltage terminals connected to respective ones of said contacts to enable operation of said pump at different speeds, a detent interposed between said trigger member and said housing to provide tactile feedback of trigger position to a hand of a user.

30. The apparatus of claim 27 including an element on said leg for limiting pivoting of said trigger member away from said handpiece.

31. A pulsed irrigation handpiece, comprising:

a hand-held handpiece housing and an associated pulsed irrigation liquid outlet for applying liquid pulses to a surgical site;

a powered driver in said housing;

a reciprocatingly driveable, expansible chamber pump in said housing and connected to said driver and outlet for pumping pulses of irrigation liquid through said outlet, said pump having a bellows, said pump having a hollow body with an end toward said bellows, said end having a first annular flange, said bellows being cup shaped and having an end open toward said body and defined by a second annular flange, said flanges being substantially coaxially telescoped one over the other;

a resilient O-ring seal radially resiliently disposed in sealing relation between radially spaced annular surfaces of said telescoped annular flanges, said radially spaced annular surfaces being of axial length exceeding the axial extent of said O-ring.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 in which said bellows has an annular groove in its periphery adjacent said body, said handpiece housing having a fixed internal rib radially inwardly projecting into said bellows groove to positively prevent axial movement of said bellows away from said body.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 in which said pump has a rear end portion driven by said driver and a front end portion having a fitting releasably mounting an elongate tubular tip assembly and thus for delivering irrigation liquid pulses to a surgical site from said pump, said front end fitting comprising an irrigation liquid conduit coaxial with said front portion of said pump and a suction conduit aligned parallel with said irrigation liquid conduit and fixed side-by-side therewith in over-under relation.

34. A pulsed irrigation handpiece, comprising:

a hand-held handpiece housing and an associated pulsed irrigation liquid outlet for applying liquid pulses to a surgical site;

a powered driver in said housing;

a reciprocatingly driveable, expansible chamber pump in said housing connected to said driver and outlet for pumping pulses of irrigation liquid through said outlet, said pump including an expansible chamber member and an irrigation liquid inlet valve interposed between a source of irrigation liquid and the interior of said expansible chamber member, said pump having an irrigation liquid outlet valve interposed between the interior of said expansible chamber member and said liquid outlet.

35. A pulsed irrigation surgical handpiece, comprising:

a hollow housing comprising a handle;

an elongate trigger movably mounted on said housing;

a suction tube and an irrigation liquid tube extending side-by-side along said handle behind said trigger;

an electric motor spaced between the top and bottom of said handle and located in said handle behind said tubes;

a pump comprising a member driven by said electric motor, said pump being connected to said irrigation liquid tube for pumping irrigation liquid for deliver to a surgical site.

38. A pulsed irrigation surgical handpiece, comprising:

a pump for supplying pulsed irrigation liquid to a surgical site;

a drive actuable for driving said pump;

a hand-held handpiece housing for housing said pump and drive, said housing comprising a handle and a barrel extending forward from a top portion of said handle;

a elongate trigger member having an end portion located with respect to said housing in such way as to permit generally pivotable movement of at least the major length of said trigger member forward from and rearward toward said handle, said trigger member extending along a front part of said handle, said trigger member having a lower portion extending into the front of a lower portion of said handle, said trigger member and said handle being of similar length, the bottom of said trigger being adjacent the bottom of said handle;

a control in said housing actuable by said trigger member for actuating said drive.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said drive comprises a motor located in said handle adjacent a rear wall of said handle, flexible suction and irrigation tubes extending upward into said handle toward said barrel, said tubes extending in front of said motor and behind said trigger member and a housing front wall.

40. The apparatus of claim 38 including suction and irrigation tubes extending lengthwise within said handle generally behind said trigger member, wherein said drive extends within said handle lengthwise along the rear wall of said handle behind said tubes, said drive including an electric motor having a casing adjacent said housing rear wall, said motor having a bottom facing the bottom of said handle and having electrical connectors, said motor having an output shaft extending along said handle toward said barrel, said drive including a gear set extending behind said tubes along said handle rear wall up from said motor output shaft toward said barrel, said drive including an eccentrically driven yoke extending behind said tubes up from said gear set along said handle rear wall and a member driving said pump from said yoke.

41. A pulsed irrigation surgical handpiece, comprising:

a pump for supplying pulsed irrigation liquid to a surgical site;

a drive actuable for driving said pump;

a hand-held handpiece housing for housing said pump and drive, said handpiece having a generally upstanding handle and a barrel extending forward from an upper portion of said handle, said drive including an electric motor in said handle and a rotation-to-reciprocation motion transfer device located in said handle above said motor and operatively connecting said motor to said pump, said pump including an expansible/contractible portion operatively driven by said motion transfer device, said pump having a substantially rigid chamber which extends forward along said barrel and away from said expansible/contractible portion, said pump having at least one valve on said chamber operable to facilitate output of irrigation liquid by said pump;

a pumped irrigation liquid output conduit extending forward from the front end of said chamber along said barrel toward the front end of said barrel.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 in which said chamber has a length axis extending substantially in the direction of the length axis of said barrel, said valve being spaced intermediate the ends of said barrel.

43. The apparatus of claim 41 including an irrigation liquid conduit extending upward in said handle toward said barrel, a generally planar rib extending transversely between said chamber and an adjacent, intermediate portion of the inner peripheral wall of said barrel, said intermediate portion of said barrel being well spaced between the ends of said barrel, said rib at least assisting substantially fixed location of said chamber in said barrel particularly in a direction toward said adjacent barrel peripheral wall, said rib extending around only a portion of the circumference of said chamber and so leaving a space partway around said chamber through which extends the plane of said rib, said irrigation liquid conduit extending through said space containing said plane of said rib to said chamber and therewith into communication with the interior of said chamber.

44. A disposal compact self-contained suction irrigation surgical system comprising:

a motor powered irrigation pump;

a handpiece mounting a hand displaceable member actuable for initiating and regulating irrigation flow from said pump to a surgical site;

an electric switch on said handpiece, said hand displaceable member being operatively associated with said electric switch for actuating such electric switch and thereby said pump motor;

a casing containing batteries and locatable remote from said handpiece and connected to said handpiece by an elongate irrigation liquid conduit and electrical wires running along said irrigation liquid conduit, said casing having a hollow spike protruding from one end thereof, said spike being connectable with a conventional irrigation liquid supply bag for receiving irrigation liquid, said hollow spike being fixed to said casing and in communication with a liquid path containing said pump and irrigation liquid conduit.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 in which said handpiece carries an irrigation liquid output tip for applying irrigation liquid to a surgical site, said casing being freely moveable with respect to said handpiece and containing electrical contacts for batteries, said elongate conduit comprising an elongate flexible irrigation liquid hose extending from said handpiece remotely to said casing, said electrical wires comprising elongate flexible electrical conductors fixed with respect to, and running with, said elongate irrigation liquid hose between said casing and said handpiece and being in circuit with said motor and switch for operation of said pump upon actuation of said switch.

46. The apparatus of claim 45 including an irrigation liquid supply bag to be hung at a convenient location remote from a surgical site and having an output fitting configured to receive said spike on said casing and thereby hang said casing from said liquid supply bag.