Irrigation system for use with endoscopic procedure

• US 5,176,629 A
• Filed: 09/20/1991
• Issued: 01/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Nevers, Craig S., Kullas, Karen E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/763,866
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 604/27, 604/28, 604/30-35, 604/65, 604/67, 604/73, 604/118, 604/141, 604/147, 604/153, 604/246
• US Class Current: 604/31
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• 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 3/0233 characterised by liquid supply means, e.g. from pressurised reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0241 the liquid being supplied by gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0254 the liquid being pumped by the patient's weight A61M3/0225
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0275 Pulsating jets; Vibrating nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/025 two
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/06 Pumps having fluid drive
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/22 by means of valves F04B49/03 takes precedence

Abstract

An irrigation system for irrigating and pressurizing a body cavity during an endoscopic procedure, such as during arthroscopy, includes a source of irrigation liquid, a pneumatically driven pump for pumping irrigation liquid from the source into the body cavity. The pump develops pulsatile flow and its operation is controlled by a pressure regulator that regulates the pressure of air applied to the pump. The system enables disablement of the pumping function of the pump while permitting gravity flow of irrigation liquid to the body cavity. The pump and associated tubing is inexpensive and adapted for one-time, disposable use.

Claims

1. An irrigation system for irrigating, and automatically maintaining a constant fluid pressure in, a body cavity during an endoscopic procedure comprising:

a source of irrigation liquid;

a first, inflow conduit for delivering irrigation liquid into the body cavity;

a pressurized fluid driven pump means for pumping liquid from the source to the inflow conduit at a variable fluid flow rate, said pump having an output and constructed to produce an average fluid pressure at the pump output which average pressure is proportional to the pressure of fluid that drives the pump;

pressure regulating means for regulating the pressure of the driving fluid to a value which is substantially constant around a selected value;

a second conduit connecting the source of irrigation liquid with the pump;

a third, outflow conduit adapted to direct flow of irrigation liquid out of the body cavity; and

means for regulating flow of irrigation liquid out of the body cavity so that fluid pressure develops in the cavity.

2. An irrigation system as defined in claim 1 wherein the pump means is constructed to develop a pulsatile output.

3. An irrigation system as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein the pump means is pneumatically driven.

4. An irrigation system as defined in claim 3 wherein the pump means and second conduit are comprised of a polymeric material.

5. An irrigation system as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein the pump means is constructed and arranged to enable gravity flow of liquid through the pump means when the pump means is not operating.

6. An irrigation system as defined in claim 5 wherein said gravity flow is enabled by means comprising:

the pump means having a movable pump element separating the pump means into a pumping chamber and a driving chamber;

the pump means being so constructed and arranged that the movable pump element does not obstruct flow of liquid through the pumping chamber;

said first and second conduits being connected to the pumping chamber;

one-way valve means associated with a flow path extending through said conduits and said pumping chamber for establishing one-way flow toward the body cavity;

whereby upon disablement of the pump means, irrigation liquid may flow by gravity through the system to the body cavity.

7. An irrigation system as defined in claim 6 wherein the movable pump element comprises a diaphragm adapted to oscillate within the pump means.

8. An irrigation system as defined in claim 7 wherein the pump means and second conduit are comprised of a polymeric material.

9. An irrigation system as defined in claim 7 further comprising:

said pump means being constructed and arranged to shut off automatically when a predetermined output pressure level has been reached and to restart immediately when the output pressure drops below said predetermined level.

10. An irrigation system as defined in claim 6 wherein the system is free of electrical devices.

11. An irrigation system as defined in claim 6 wherein the pump means and second conduit are comprised of a polymeric material.

12. An irrigation system as defined in claim 6 further comprising:

said pump means being constructed and arranged to shut off automatically when a predetermined output pressure level has been reached and to restart immediately when the output pressure drops below said predetermined level.

13. An irrigation system as defined in claim 5 wherein the pump means and second conduit are comprised of a polymeric material.

14. An irrigation system as defined in claim 5 further comprising:

said pump means being constructed and arranged to shut off automatically when a predetermined output pressure level has been reached and to restart immediately when the output pressure drops below said predetermined level.

15. An irrigation system as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein the system is free of electrical devices.

16. An irrigation system as defined in claims 1 or 2 further comprising an adjustable restrictor clamp associated with the first conduit.

17. An irrigation system as defined in claim 16 further comprising:

said pump means being constructed and arranged to shut off automatically when a predetermined output pressure level has been reached and to restart immediately when the output pressure drops below said predetermined level.

18. An irrigation system as defined in claim 1 wherein the pressure regulator has a fixed maximum output limit.

19. An irrigation system as defined in claim 18 wherein said maximum limit corresponds, in conjunction with the pump means, to a pump output pressure of about 300 mm Hg.

20. An irrigation system as defined in claims 1, 2, 18 or 19 wherein the pump means and second conduit are comprised of a polymeric material.

21. An irrigation system for irrigating a body cavity during an endoscopic procedure as defined in any of claims 1, 2, 18 or 19 further comprising:

said pump means being constructed and arranged to shut off automatically when a predetermined output pressure level has been reached and to restart immediately when the output pressure drops below said predetermined level.

22. An apparatus for use in an irrigation system for irrigating a body cavity with an irrigation liquid from an irrigation source and maintaining a constant liquid pressure in the body cavity during an endoscopic procedure, the system having means for restricting irrigation liquid from flowing out of the body cavity to cause liquid pressure to build up inside of the body cavity, the apparatus comprising:

a first inflow conduit for delivering irrigation liquid into the body cavity;

a pressurized fluid driven pump means for pumping liquid from the irrigation source to the inflow conduit at a variable flow rate, said pump having an output connected to the first inflow conduit and constructed to produce an average fluid pressure at the pump output which average fluid pressure is substantially proportional to the pressure of fluid that drives the pump; and

pressure regulating means for regulating the pressure of the driving fluid to a value which is substantially constant around a selected value.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein the pump is adapted to develop a pulsatile output.

24. An apparatus as defined in claims 22 or 23 wherein the pump is constructed and arranged to enable gravity flow of liquid through the pump when the pump is not operating.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein the apparatus is comprised of a polymeric material.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein said gravity flow is enabled by means comprising

the pump having a movable pump element separating the pump into a pumping chamber and a driving chamber;

the pump being so constructed and arranged that the pumping element does not obstruct flow of liquid through the pumping chamber;

said first and second conduits being connected to the pump chamber;

one-way valve means associated with the flow path extending through said conduits and said pumping chamber for establishing one-way flow toward the body cavity;

whereby upon disablement of the pump, irrigation liquid may flow by gravity through the system to the body cavity.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 26 wherein the apparatus is comprised of a polymeric material.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 26 wherein the movable pump element comprises a diaphragm adapted to oscillate within the pump.

29. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein the apparatus is comprised of a polymeric material.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein the pump is pneumatically driven.

31. An apparatus as defined in any of claims 22-30 wherein the apparatus is comprised of a polymeric material.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 22 further comprising:

regulating means connected between the pump and a source of pressurized driving fluid for regulating the pressure of the driving fluid so that the liquid pressure in the body cavity can be controlled by adjusting the regulating means.

33. A method for irrigating a body cavity during an endoscopic procedure comprising the steps of:

providing a source of irrigation liquid;

providing a first inflow conduit for delivering irrigation liquid into the body cavity;

pumping, by a pressurized fluid driven pump, irrigation liquid from the source to the inflow conduit at a variable flow rate, said pump having an output connected to the first inflow conduit and constructed to produce an average fluid pressure at the pump output which average fluid pressure is substantially proportional to the pressure of fluid that drives the pump;

restricting the flow of irrigation liquid out of the body cavity so that fluid pressure builds up in the body cavity; and

regulating the pressure of fluid that drives the pump so that the driving fluid has an average pressure value which is substantially constant around a selected value.