Irrigation solution re-circulating system
First Claim
1. A continuous re-circulating system for recirculating a generally clear irrigation solution used in surgical procedures, comprising:
- a reservoir of irrigation solution;
a solution supply line for joining said reservoir of irrigation solution in fluid communication with a surgery site for delivering a controlled volume of the irrigation solution to the surgery site;
a return line for further joining the surgery site in fluid communication with said reservoir such that said reservoir, said supply line, said surgery site and said return line form a loop;
a pump connected to said return line for returning irrigation solution from said surgery site to said reservoir of irrigation solution; and
at least one means for filtering the solution connected to said return line for removing contaminants from said irrigation solution prior to return to said reservoir to permit re-circulation of the filtered solution to the surgery site wherein said at least one filtering mean comprises a semi-permeable membrane that removes occluding contaminants so as not to impair visualization through the solution at the surgery site.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An irrigation solution re-circulating system comprises a reservoir of irrigation solution, a solution supply line for joining the reservoir in fluid communication with a surgery site for delivering a controlled volume, pressure, and temperature of the irrigation solution to the surgery site, and a return line for further joining the surgery site in fluid communication with the reservoir. A pump, which is preferably non-hemolyzing, is connected to the return line for returning a controlled volume of the irrigation solution from the surgery site to the reservoir. The system further comprises at least one filter connected to the return line for removing contaminants from the irrigation solution prior to return to the reservoir to permit re-circulation of the solution without impairing endoscopic visualization of the surgery site, while providing solution for expanding the surgery site to permit performance of the attendant surgical procedure.
71 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A continuous re-circulating system for recirculating a generally clear irrigation solution used in surgical procedures, comprising:
-
a reservoir of irrigation solution; a solution supply line for joining said reservoir of irrigation solution in fluid communication with a surgery site for delivering a controlled volume of the irrigation solution to the surgery site; a return line for further joining the surgery site in fluid communication with said reservoir such that said reservoir, said supply line, said surgery site and said return line form a loop; a pump connected to said return line for returning irrigation solution from said surgery site to said reservoir of irrigation solution; and at least one means for filtering the solution connected to said return line for removing contaminants from said irrigation solution prior to return to said reservoir to permit re-circulation of the filtered solution to the surgery site wherein said at least one filtering mean comprises a semi-permeable membrane that removes occluding contaminants so as not to impair visualization through the solution at the surgery site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method for continuous recirculation of a generally clear irrigation solution from a surgery site comprising the steps of:
-
supplying an initial quantity of generally clear irrigation solution from a solution reservoir to the surgery site; drawing irrigation solution from the surgery site; filtering the irrigation solution for removing contaminants therefrom; and directing the filtered irrigation solution to the solution reservoir and then into the surgery site at a controlled flow rate including passing the filtered irrigation solution through a collection container and then to the reservoir of the irrigation solution wherein filtering is performed during the directing step and removes occluding contaminants from the solution. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification