WASTE CONTROL APPARATUS

• US 20100280536A1
• Filed: 11/12/2008
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Inventors: Hartwell, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,480,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/167
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3203 Fluid jet cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/784 by filtering, sterilising or disinfecting the exhaust air, e.g. swellable filter valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/882 Draining devices provided with means for releasing antimicrobial or gelation agents in the drained fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/707 Testing of filters for clogging

Abstract

Liquid jet surgical cutting apparatus (10) and a method of use thereof are described, the apparatus comprising: a fluid reservoir (12) containing a supply of cutting fluid (14); a pump (16) to supply the cutting fluid to a liquid jet surgical cutting instrument; a liquid jet surgical cutting instrument (20); a drain conduit (22) to receive and drain waste cutting fluid (14) and entrained debris wherein the drain conduit is operably connected to a waste canister (24), the waste canister having vacuum means (26) operably connected thereto to apply a vacuum to an interior of the waste canister and to said drain conduit.

Claims

1. Liquid jet surgical cutting apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a fluid reservoir containing a supply of cutting fluid;

a pump to supply the cutting fluid to a liquid jet surgical cutting instrument;

a liquid jet surgical cutting instrument;

a drain conduit to receive and drain waste cutting fluid and entrained debris wherein the drain conduit is operably connected to a waste canister, the waste canister having vacuum generating means operably connected thereto to apply a vacuum to an interior of the waste canister and to said drain conduit the waste canister also having filter means on an outlet port thereof, first pressure sensing means operably connected to an interior of the waste canister and second pressure sensing means operably connected intermediate said filter means and said vacuum generating means.

2. Liquid jet surgical cutting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vacuum generating means is an electrically powered vacuum pump.

3. Liquid jet surgical cutting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the filters comprise at least one selected from the group comprising hydrophobic, odour and anti-bacterial filters.

4. Liquid jet surgical cutting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the waste canister is connected to the drain conduit by valve means.

5. Liquid jet surgical cutting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the waste canister has a gelling agent.

6. A method of using liquid jet surgical cutting apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a fluid reservoir containing a supply of cutting fluid;

providing a pump to supply the cutting fluid to a liquid jet surgical cutting instrument;

providing a liquid jet surgical cutting instrument;

providing a drain conduit to receive and drain waste cutting fluid and entrained debris;

the method further comprising the steps of operably connecting the drain conduit to a waste canister and providing the waste canister with vacuum generating means operably connected to the waste canister to apply a vacuum to an interior of the waste canister and to said drain conduit;

providing said waste canister with filter means in an outlet port thereof;

providing first pressure sensing means operably connected to an interior of said waste canister;

providing second pressure sensing means intermediate said filters and said vacuum generating means.

7. A method according to claim 6 including the further step of operating the vacuum means for all of the time whilst a surgical procedure is being carried out.

8. A method according to claim 6 including the further step of delaying cessation of the operation of the vacuum means until a predetermined time after a liquid cutting jet has been stopped.

9. A method according to claim 6 further including the step of measuring a pressure differential between said first and said second pressure sensing means to determine a waste canister full condition.