Dual Pump Arthroscopic Irrigation/Aspiration System With Outflow Control

• US 20160199565A1
• Filed: 03/22/2016
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conmed Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Conmed Corporation (Jefferies Financial Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stubkjaer, Eric, Blight, David D., Miller, Peter C., Guenther, Karl W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,369,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/72 Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/772 operating alternately
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/80 Suction pumps A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6081 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0201 Cassettes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0202 with electronic control means or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0208 before use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0212 after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0216 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/022 Volume; Flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0258 by means of electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/28 Clamping means for squeezing flexible tubes, e.g. roller clamps tube strippers A61M1/83

Abstract

A fluid pump system having a first fluid pump for pumping fluid from a source to a surgical site and a second fluid pump for removing fluid from the surgical site at a first predetermined rate, wherein said fluid pump system intermittently operates in conjunction with a surgical tool which, when operational, removes fluid from the surgical site at a second predetermined rate greater than said first predetermined rate, the improvement including a sensor for sensing a predetermined parameter of the surgical tool and providing an output signal indicating that the surgical tool is operating; and an actuating means responsive to said output signal to actuate said second fluid pump to remove fluid from the surgical site at second predetermined rate.

Claims

1. In a fluid pump system having a first fluid pump for pumping fluid from a source to a surgical site and a second fluid pump for removing fluid from the surgical site at a first predetermined rate, wherein said fluid pump system intermittently operates in conjunction with a surgical tool which, when operational, removes fluid from the surgical site at a second predetermined rate greater than said first predetermined rate, the improvement comprising:

a sensor for sensing a predetermined parameter of the surgical tool and providing an output signal indicating that the surgical tool is operating; and

an actuating means responsive to said output signal to actuate said second fluid pump to remove fluid from the surgical site at second predetermined rate.

2. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said first fluid pump and said second fluid pump are situated within a pump console, the pump console connected to said sensor by a signal line.

3. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said surgical tool is powered through an electrical power cord and wherein said sensor is adapted to be situated adjacent to said power cord and to detect a predetermined parameter associated with the electrical current flowing therein.

4. The improvement according to claim 2, wherein said surgical tool is powered through an electrical power cord, said power cord extending between said surgical tool and said pump console, wherein said sensor is adapted to be situated adjacent to said power cord and to detect a predetermined parameter associated with the electrical current flowing therein.

5. The improvement according to claim 3 wherein said sensor is adapted to detect radio frequency emanations from said power cord.

6. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein

said surgical tool comprises an electrical power cord and wherein said sensor comprises:

a clamp for selectively engaging said power cord, said clamp comprising a base member and a holding member movable relative to said base member, said clamp adapted to engage said power cord when said base member and said holding member are in a first position relative to each other and to disengage said power cord when said base and said holding members are in a second position;

a first signal member in one of said base member or said holding member;

a second signal member in the other of said base member or said holding member;

wherein said first and second signal members cooperate to produce a first signal when said clamp is in said first position and a second signal when said clamp is in said second position, said first signal representative of said surgical tool being turned on and said second signal representative of said surgical tool being turned off.

7. The improvement according to claim 6 wherein said first signal member is a magnet and said second signal member is a Hall sensor.

8. The improvement according to claim 7 wherein said magnet is adjacent to said Hall sensor when said clamp is disengaged from said power cord and removed from said Hall sensor when said clamp is engaged with said power cord.

9. A method for increasing and decreasing fluid flow from a work site in an arthroscopic surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:

providing a fluid pump system comprising;

(i) a first fluid pump for pumping fluid from a source to a surgical site;

(ii) a second fluid pump for removing fluid from the surgical site at a first predetermined rate, wherein said fluid pump system intermittently operates in conjunction with a surgical tool which, when operational, removes fluid from the surgical site at a second predetermined rate greater than said first predetermined rate;

(iii) a first sensor for sensing a predetermined parameter of the surgical tool and providing an output signal indicating that the surgical tool is operating;

(iv) a first fluid input tube joining the surgical site to the second pump and a second fluid input tube joining the surgical tool to the second pump;

(v) a shuttle valve for alternatively pinching one or the other of said first and second fluid input tubes, or neither tube, said shuttle valve including a pinching member that has a linear slot and is positioned in a track for movement between a first position in which neither of said first or second fluid input tubes is closed, a second position in which only said first fluid input tube is closed, and a third position in which only said second fluid input tube is closed;

(vi) a motor having a rotatably reciprocating output drive shaft;

(vii) a cam member fixedly attached to said output drive shaft and supporting a drive pin that is received in the linear slot of the pinching member to reciprocate between two arcuately spaced positions when said drive shaft rotatably reciprocates; and

(viii) a second sensor positioned to sense the position of said arcuate cam and for producing signals alternatingly representing said first, second and third positions;

receiving said output signal from said first sensor indicating said surgical tool is operational;

detecting said output signal at said motor;

rotating said cam member to said arcuately spaced position wherein said second sensor detects said second position of said cam member; and

pinching said first fluid input tube.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

rotating said cam member to said arcuately spaced position wherein said second sensor detects said third position of said cam member; and

pinching said second fluid input tube.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal indicating said first fluid pump and said second fluid pump are not operational;

detecting said signal at said motor;

rotating said cam member to said first position; and

releasing said pinching member from said first fluid input tube and/or said second fluid input tube.

12. A method for pressures sensing comprising the steps of:

providing a fluid pump system comprising;

(i) a console having a first fluid pump for pumping fluid from a source to a surgical site and a second fluid pump for removing fluid from the surgical site at a first predetermined rate, wherein said fluid pump system intermittently operates in conjunction with a surgical tool which, when operational, removes fluid from the surgical site at a second predetermined rate greater than said first predetermined rate, the improvement comprising;

(ii) a sensor for sensing a predetermined parameter of the surgical tool and providing an output signal indicating that the surgical tool is operating;

(iii) an actuating means responsive to said output signal to actuate said second fluid pump to remove fluid from the surgical site at said second predetermined rate;

(iv) a first fluid inflow tube attached to a first transducer disposed within said first fluid pump, wherein said first fluid inflow tube is connected to a fluid inflow port; and

(v) a scope sheath comprising said fluid inflow port and a pressure sensing port, wherein said pressure sensing port is connected to a second fluid inflow tube attached to a second transducer on said pump console;

detecting operation of said first fluid pump and said second fluid pump wherein a pressure sensed by said first transducer is less than a predetermined amount; and

receiving pressure data from said first transducer.

13. A method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

detecting operation of said first fluid pump and said second fluid pump wherein said pressure sensed by said first transducer is greater than a predetermined amount;

receiving a signal from said second transducer indicating said second fluid inflow tube is operational; and

receiving pressure data from said second transducer.