Transport device for sterile media

• US 20070129680A1
• Filed: 08/24/2004
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH (C. Erbe GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH (C. Erbe GmbH)
• Inventors: Kuhner, Ralf, Hagg, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 8,083,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3203 Fluid jet cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/063 for measuring volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension

Abstract

For water-jet surgery pump devices are known by means of which a sterile fluid is transported through a reservoir to the surgical instrument by means of piston pumps or similar volumetrically transporting pumps. In accordance with the present invention it is proposed either to construct drive means for the pumps in such a way that their suction cycle is shorter than the output cycle, or to provide a pump with at least three pump chambers and to construct the drive means in such a way that the suction and output cycles of the pump chambers overlap one another.

Claims

1. Transport device for sterile fluids to transport a sterile fluid from a source to a consumer, comprising

a pump that transports volumetrically, with a suction cycle for drawing in said fluid and an output cycle for ejecting said fluid;

conduit and valve devices for connecting said pump to the source and to said consumer; and

drive means to drive said pump, that is constructed and connected to said pump in such a way that said suction cycle is shorter than said output cycle.

3. Transport device according to claim 1, wherein said pump comprises at least one first and one second piston/cylinder unit defining first and second pump chambers, which can be controlled in a push-pull manner in such a way that said suction cycle in said the first pump chamber is shorter than said the output cycle in said second pump chamber (35, 36) and conversely.

4. Transport device according to claim 1, wherein said drive means is constructed in such a way that said output cycles overlap.

5. Transport device according to claim 1, wherein said drive means is constructed in such a way that said fluid is supplied to said consumer with a substantially constant pressure.

6. Transport device according to claim 1, wherein said pump is releasably connected to said drive means.

7. Transport device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said pump, said conduits, and said valve means, is constructed as a disposable unit.

9. Transport device according to claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises a single controllable drive motor and gear mechanisms with a gear-train input connected to said drive motor and a gear-train output for each said pump chamber.

2. Transport device for sterile fluids to transport a sterile fluid from a source to a consumer comprising

a pump that defines at least three pump chambers and that transports volumetrically, with a suction cycle for drawing in said fluid and an output cycle for ejecting said fluid;

conduit and valve devices for connecting said pump to said source and to said consumer; and

drive means to drive said pump, that is constructed in such a way that the suction and output cycles of said pump chambers overlap one another.

8. Transport device according to claim 2, wherein said drive means for each pump chamber comprises a separate, controllable drive motor.

10. Transport device according to claim 2, wherein said drive means is constructed in such a way that said output cycles overlap.

11. Transport device according to claim 2, wherein said drive means is constructed in such a way that said fluid is supplied to said consumer with a substantially constant pressure.

12. Transport device according to claim 2, wherein said pump is releasably connected to said drive means.

13. Transport device according to claim 2, wherein said drive means comprises a single controllable drive motor and gear mechanisms with a gear-train input connected to said drive motor and a gear-train output for each said pump chamber.