Fluid management system for arthroscopic surgery

• US 6,024,720 A
• Filed: 08/28/1998
• Issued: 02/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AVAcore Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aquarius Medical Corporation
• Inventors: Kane, John, Egan, Michael J., Etherington, Roger, Chandler, W. Jeffrey, Cassaday, Ernest W., Phillips, Howard S., Roundy, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woo, Julian W.
• Application Number:
  US09/141,489
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 604/35, 604/65, 604/66, 604/67, 604/80
• US Class Current: 604/35
• 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 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• 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

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for irrigation of a body cavity comprising:

means for providing an uninterrupted and continuous supply of fluid for irrigation of a body cavity;

means for pressurizing the irrigation fluid to a body cavity to create pressure inside the body cavity;

a flexible supply conduit inflow line connecting the supply of irrigation fluid to the body cavity;

a fluid discharge conduit outflow line leading from the body cavity to withdraw fluid from the body cavity;

means for creating a vacuum in the fluid discharge conduit outflow line to create suction inside the body cavity;

means for controlling the suction and pressure inside the body cavity, and

wherein the means for pressurizing the irrigation fluid is a positive displacement peristaltic pump, and

wherein the means for creating a vacuum comprises a vacuum pump, and wherein the vacuum pump is connected to a vacuum tank, the peristaltic pump pumps irrigation fluid into a pressurized accumulator, and further comprising a pressure sensing means for sensing pressure inside the body cavity;

a valve to control the rate of fluid passing through the outflow line, and wherein the means for controlling the vacuum and pressure inside the body cavity comprises a processor that controls the peristaltic pump and the valve, the processor receiving signals from the pressure sensing means; and

a second outflow line substantially in parallel with the outflow line leading from the body cavity, and a second valve to control the rate of fluid passing through the second outflow line, and wherein the processor controls the second valve.

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

a supply of irrigation fluid;

means for pumping said irrigation fluid from said irrigation fluid supply to a body cavity;

a supply conduit connecting said supply of irrigation fluid to said body cavity;

a fluid discharge conduit leading from said body cavity to withdraw fluid from said body cavity;

an accumulator in fluid communication with said supply conduit and connected between said pumping means and said body cavity,

a post for mounting said accumulator,

wherein said accumulator is raised to a height above said pumping means.

3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said accumulator is pressurized with irrigation fluid by said means for pumping and has an inlet port, an outlet port, and a vent port to atmosphere, said inlet port receiving irrigation fluid from said pumping means, said outlet port discharging said irrigation fluid to flexible conduits leading to said body cavity, wherein said accumulator is sealed from atmosphere and vents to atmosphere through said vent port, said accumulator receiving pressurized irrigation fluid from said pumping means, and further comprising a weight sensor mounted on said post for weighing the contents of said accumulator.

4. A spiker for the spiking of a flexible saline bag comprising:

a trocar mounted on a hollow piston housed in a piston chamber within a housing, said trocar in close proximity to a flexible sealed bag containing fluid having an inlet and fixedly secured with respect to said trocar;

said trocar being protracted from said housing to spike said sealed bag;

said piston chamber and said hollow piston having fluid ports, said ports in fluid communication when said trocar is protracted, to allow said fluid from the spiked sealed bag to flow into a supply conduit.

5. The spiker according to claim 4, wherein said hollow piston is actuated to a protracted position by a linear actuator.

6. The invention according to claim 4, wherein said linear actuator is a pneumatic cylinder.