System for distending body tissue cavities by continuous flow irrigation

• US 20070021713A1
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alka Kumar, Atul Kumar
• Original Assignee: Alka Kumar, Atul Kumar
• Inventors: Kumar, Alka, Kumar, Atul
• Granted Patent: US 8,652,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/777 Determination of loss or gain of body fluids due to suction-irrigation, e.g. during surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3337 Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3341 stabilising pressure or flow to avoid excessive variation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0202 with electronic control means or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0216 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0229 Devices operating in a closed circuit, i.e. recycling the irrigating fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0258 by means of electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0262 manually, e.g. by squeezing a bulb

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and a method for distending a body tissue cavity of a subject by continuous flow irrigation such that minimal or negligible fluid turbulence is present inside the cavity, such that any desired cavity pressure can be created and maintained for any desired outflow rate. The present invention also provides a method for accurately determining the rate of fluid loss, into the subject'"'"'s body system, during any endoscopic procedure without utilizing any deficit weight or fluid volume calculation or flow rate sensor. The system and the methods of the present invention described above can be used in any endoscopic procedure requiring continuous flow irrigation few examples of such endoscopic procedures being hysteroscopic surgery, arthroscopic surgery, trans uretheral surgery, endoscopic surgery of the brain and endoscopic surgery of the spine.

Claims

1. A system for distending body tissue cavities of subjects by continuous flow irrigation during endoscopic procedures the said system comprising:

a fluid source reservoir containing a non viscous physiologic fluid meant for cavity distension;

a fluid supply conduit tube connecting the fluid source reservoir to an inlet port of a variable speed positive displacement inflow pump and an outlet port of the said inflow pump being connectable to an inflow port of an endoscope instrument through an inflow tube for pumping the fluid at a controlled flow rate into the cavity, the flow rate of the said inflow pump being termed as the inflow rate;

an inflow pressure transducer being located anywhere in the inflow tube between the outlet port of the inflow pump and the inflow port of the endoscope;

an outflow port of the endoscope being connectable to an inlet port of a variable speed positive displacement outflow pump through a outflow tube for removing the fluid from the cavity at a controlled flow rate, the flow rate of the said outflow pump being termed as the outflow rate,

an outlet port of the outflow pump being connected to a waste fluid collecting container, and

characterized in that a housing tube having a controllable constriction site is being provided between the fluid source reservoir and the inflow tube such that the same by-passes the inflow pump;

wherein housing tube provides a route for any excess fluid being pumped by the inflow pump to bypass the inflow pump and go back to the fluid supply tube or the fluid source reservoir.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid source reservoir containing the non-viscous physiologic fluid is maintained at atmospheric pressure or at a pressure greater than the atmospheric pressure.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a proximal open end of the fluid supply tube is connected to the fluid source reservoir and a distal end of the tube is connected to the inlet port of the variable speed positive displacement inflow pump.

4-25. -25. (canceled)