Surgical system

• US 20080082040A1
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl Zeiss Surgical GmbH (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Carl Zeiss Surgical GmbH (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Kubler, Christoph, Eichler, Michael, Maier, Tobias
• Granted Patent: US 7,947,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/77 Suction-irrigation systems aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463

Abstract

A surgical system controls a fluid and includes an irrigation line for conducting an irrigation fluid; a first fluid vessel for holding the irrigation fluid; and, a surgical handpiece. The irrigation line has a first end connected to the first fluid vessel and a second end connected to the handpiece. The system further includes a suction pump having an inlet and an outlet; an aspiration input line arranged between the inlet of the suction pump and the surgical handpiece so as to permit the suction pump to draw fluid through the surgical handpiece; a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the fluid in the aspiration input line; a collection vessel; an aspiration output line connecting the outlet of the suction pump to the collection vessel so as to permit fluid from the outlet of the suction pump to be conducted into the collection vessel; a second fluid vessel for accommodating irrigation fluid therein; an aspiration ventilation line for connecting the second fluid vessel to the aspiration input line; and, a venting valve provided in the aspiration ventilation line and the venting valve being switchable in dependence upon the fluid pressure in the aspiration ventilation line.

Claims

1. A surgical system for controlling a fluid, the surgical system comprising:

an irrigation line for conducting an irrigation fluid;

a first fluid vessel for holding the 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 fluid through said surgical handpiece;

a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the fluid in said aspiration input line;

a collection vessel;

an aspiration output line connecting said outlet of said suction pump to said collection vessel so as to permit fluid from said outlet of said suction pump to be conducted into said collection vessel;

a second fluid vessel for accommodating irrigation fluid therein;

an aspiration ventilation line for connecting said second fluid vessel to said aspiration input line; and

,

a venting valve provided in said aspiration ventilation line and said venting valve being switchable in dependence upon the fluid pressure in said aspiration ventilation line.

2. The surgical system of claim 1, further comprising:

a fill line for conducting fluid to fill said second fluid vessel;

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 through said fill line.

3. The surgical system of claim 2, wherein the fluid in said second fluid vessel has a maximum fluid level;

said fill line has a second end terminating at a predetermined distance from said maximum fluid level so as to preclude a direct touching contact between said second end of said fill line and the fluid in said second fluid vessel.

4. The surgical system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for detecting the fluid level in said second fluid vessel.

5. The surgical system of claim 1, further comprising an overflow vessel and an overflow line connected to said second fluid vessel for conducting excess fluid from said second fluid vessel to said overflow vessel.

6. The surgical system of claim 2, wherein said fill line has a second end connected to said second fluid vessel.

7. The surgical system of claim 6, wherein said second end of said fill line is connected to said second fluid vessel via mechanical or chemical connecting means or via a thermal connecting process.

8. The surgical system of claim 6, wherein said second fluid vessel has a wall with at least one elastically deformable region.

9. The surgical system of claim 6, wherein said second fluid vessel has a tube-like configuration.

10. The surgical system of claim 6, wherein said fill line, said second fluid vessel and said aspiration ventilation line are configured as a single piece.

11. The surgical system of claim 1, further comprising an irrigation valve mounted in said irrigation line.

12. The surgical system of claim 11, wherein said irrigation valve is mounted between said handpiece and said fill line.

13. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein said second fluid vessel has a base;

and, said aspiration ventilation line conducts fluid from said second fluid vessel from a location thereon at or close to said base thereof.

14. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein said pressure sensor detects fluid pressure in said aspiration input line close to said handpiece.

15. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein said pressure sensor detects fluid pressure in said aspiration input line within said handpiece.

16. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein said handpiece has a tip and said pressure sensor detects fluid pressure in said aspiration input line at the immediate vicinity of said tip.

17. A method for controlling fluid when venting an aspiration input line in a surgical system which includes:

an irrigation line for conducting an irrigation fluid;

a first fluid vessel for holding the irrigation fluid;

a surgical handpiece wherein an occlusion can occur during a surgical procedure;

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;

said aspiration input line being arranged between said inlet of said suction pump and said surgical handpiece so as to permit said suction pump to draw fluid through said surgical handpiece;

a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the fluid in said aspiration input line;

a collection vessel;

an aspiration output line connecting said outlet of said suction pump to said collection vessel so as to permit fluid from said outlet of said suction pump to be conducted into said collection vessel;

a second fluid vessel for accommodating irrigation fluid therein;

an aspiration ventilation line for connecting said second fluid vessel to said aspiration input line; and

, a venting valve provided in said aspiration ventilation line and said venting valve being switchable in dependence upon the fluid pressure in said aspiration ventilation line;

the method comprising the steps of;

after a break-up of said occlusion in said handpiece, detecting an increase of vacuum pressure in said aspiration input line; and

,

switching said ventilation valve to supply fluid from said second fluid vessel via said aspiration ventilation to said aspiration input line.