Fluid management system for arthroscopic surgery

• US 5,830,180 A
• Filed: 11/08/1996
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AVAcore Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aquarius Medical Corporation
• Inventors: Kane, John, Roundy, James S., Egan, Michael J., Etherington, Roger, Chandler, W. Jeffrey, Cassaday, Ernest W., Phillips, Howard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woo, Julian W.
• Application Number:
  US08/744,883
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 604/30, 604/48, 604/65, 604/67, 604/259, 604/35
• US Class Current: 604/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/72 Cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• 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 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3393 by weighing the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/08 Supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0201 Cassettes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0208 before use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0216 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/022 Volume; Flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0241 the liquid being supplied by gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0258 by means of electric pumps

Abstract

An improved fluid management system for irrigation of a body cavity and in particular for use in arthroscopic surgery having a pressurized fluid circuit for supplying irrigation fluid and a vacuum fluid circuit for withdrawing waste fluid from the cavity. In a preferred embodiment there is an uninterrupted fluid supply comprised of a plurality of sterile solution saline bags with an automatic spiker to perforate the bags. The system is processor controlled with numerous safety and design features to automate arthroscopy to the highest degree possible. Some of the features include the monitoring and tracking of cavity pressure and flow rates to predetermined pressure and flow rates, tracking cavity to mean blood pressure, overpressure protection, a plurality of pressure and flow rate baseline settings, monitoring, setting and controlling saline supply, and specialized functions for providing pressure and flow rates for typical surgical procedures such as lavage, clear view, and burr/shaver. One or more vacuum discharge lines may be provided with an automatic self-cleaning feature. The system is compact and optionally employs a number of disposable components, including a novel fluid accumulator. In one preferred embodiment there is a compact gravity irrigation fluid management apparatus employing automatic pressure regulating means. An improved console for monitoring out-of-fluid anomalous conditions is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A fluid management system for irrigation of a body cavity comprising:

a reservoir of fluid suspended a height "h" above the body cavity, said reservoir containing a fluid discharge conduit leading from said reservoir to the body cavity, with said reservoir providing fluid under pressure to said body cavity in accordance to the height "h" in gravitational head;

means for raising and lowering said reservoir of fluid to vary said gravitational head of pressurized fluid to said body cavity;

control means to control said means for raising and lowering said reservoir of fluid;

wherein said control means are processor based and further comprising means to sense pressure inside said body cavity, said control means controlling said means for raising and lowering said reservoir of fluid to vary the height "h" in response to said means to sense pressure.

2. A fluid management system for irrigation of a body cavity comprising:

a reservoir of fluid suspended a height "h" above the body cavity, said reservoir containing a fluid discharge conduit leading from said reservoir to the body cavity, with said reservoir providing fluid under pressure to said body cavity in accordance to the height "h" in gravitational head;

means for raising and lowering said reservoir of fluid to vary said gravitational head of pressurized fluid to said body cavity, wherein said means for raising and lowering said reservoir of fluid comprises a winch attached to a cable, a pulley, and an arm holding said pulley, said cable attached to said reservoir of fluid and disposed about said pulley, and a motor controlling the winding and unwinding of said winch.

3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said means to control said means for raising and lowering control the powering on and off of said motor.

4. A portable fluid management system for irrigation of a body cavity comprising:

a cart having wheels and at least one vertically extending arm;

a pulley mounted on said arm, said pulley guiding a cable;

a reservoir of fluid attached to said cable, said reservoir having a fluid discharge conduit leading from said reservoir to withdraw fluid from said reservoir to a body cavity;

a winch driven by a motor for reeling in said cable, wherein the length of the cable determines the height said reservoir is raised above ground and the amount of gravitational head pressure supplied by said reservoir;

means to control said winch; and

means to sense the pressure in said body cavity, wherein said control means in response to said pressure sensing means may drive said winch to adjust the height of said reservoir.

5. The invention according to claim 4, wherein said arm is telescoping, said control means comprises a processor that is voice activated, and further comprising fastening means on said cable to disconnect said cable from attachment to said winch.

6. The invention according to claim 4, wherein pulley is supported by two arms, said arms being telescoping, and wherein said control means, said winch and said motor are housed inside said cart.

7. In an improved fluid management system for irrigation of a body cavity comprising:

a supply of irrigation fluid;

an accumulator, mounted on a post, for receiving said irrigation fluid;

means for sensing the amount of fluid in said accumulator, said sensing means mounted on said post;

means for pumping said irrigation fluid from said irrigation fluid supply to said accumulator;

a supply conduit connecting said accumulator to a body cavity for irrigation of said body cavity;

control means for sensing said means for sensing the amount of fluid in said accumulator to control the pumping of said pumping means;

wherein said accumulator is kept full by said control means to provide a reservoir of fluid, wherein;

said control means further comprises a count-down timer set to count down time from a predetermined time, and actuated to start counting down when said pumping means are powered on to pump irrigation fluid to said accumulator in response to said sensing means;

said count-down timer reset to said predetermined time when said pumping means are powered off to stop pumping irrigation fluid in response to said sensing means;

means for producing an alarm in response to said count-down timer, wherein said count-down timer produces a signal to activate said alarm means when said count-down timer reaches zero.

8. The invention according to claim 7, further comprising:

a unit housing said alarm means and said post, said unit having a clamp for attachment to an I.V. pole;

said pumping means is a peristaltic pump;

said sensing means is a sensor to sense the weight of fluid in said reservoir, said reservoir hanging from a cantilevered arm attached to said post.