Flexible tube having a tapered diameter portion for use with endoscopic irrigation instruments
First Claim
1. An endoscopic irrigation instrument for use with a pressurized source of irrigation fluid, comprising:
- a) a flexible irrigation tube having a proximal end having a first inner diameter, a distal portion having a second inner diameter smaller than said first inner diameter, and a portion of tapered inner diameter which tapers from said first inner diameter to said second inner diameter, with said proximal end being coupled to the irrigation source;
b) a pinch valve means located adjacent said distal portion of said flexible irrigation tube, said pinch valve means for pinching said flexible irrigation tube and controlling flow of the irrigation fluid through said irrigation tube at a location of said flexible irrigation tube other than where said flexible irrigation tube has said first inner diameter;
c) a fluid chamber which receives said distal portion of said flexible irrigation tube; and
d) a cannula having a proximal end coupled to said fluid chamber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic irrigation instrument includes a fluid chamber, a cannula coupled to a distal end of the fluid chamber, a tapered irrigation tube which couples at its proximal end to a fluid source and which couples at its distal end to an irrigation port of the fluid chamber, and a pinch valve which controls the flow of fluid from the irrigation source to the fluid chamber and hence through the cannula to the surgical site. The tapered irrigation tube is arranged so that it has a first relatively larger constant inner diameter and relatively larger wall thickness on its proximal end until it tapers down in both inner diameter and wall thickness at a location slightly proximal the pinch valve. By the time the tapered irrigation tube passes the pinch valve in the endoscopic instrument, the tapered irrigation tube is at a second relatively smaller constant inner diameter and a relatively smaller wall thickness. The tapered irrigation tube thus enables greater fluid flow, pinch valve control at the thin distal end, and tube reliability at both high and low fluid pressures.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. An endoscopic irrigation instrument for use with a pressurized source of irrigation fluid, comprising:
-
a) a flexible irrigation tube having a proximal end having a first inner diameter, a distal portion having a second inner diameter smaller than said first inner diameter, and a portion of tapered inner diameter which tapers from said first inner diameter to said second inner diameter, with said proximal end being coupled to the irrigation source; b) a pinch valve means located adjacent said distal portion of said flexible irrigation tube, said pinch valve means for pinching said flexible irrigation tube and controlling flow of the irrigation fluid through said irrigation tube at a location of said flexible irrigation tube other than where said flexible irrigation tube has said first inner diameter; c) a fluid chamber which receives said distal portion of said flexible irrigation tube; and d) a cannula having a proximal end coupled to said fluid chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification